The economist named a way to reduce food costs by up to 30%

Planning purchases and avoiding impulsive consumption can reduce food costs by up to 30% without changing the diet. This was announced to Izvestia on April 13 by Valery Tumin, a member of the Expert Council on the Development of the Digital Economy under the State Duma Committee on Economic Policy.

"When food takes up 39% of the budget, it becomes a key point for cost optimization. A significant part of the spending is related not so much to rising prices as to the peculiarities of consumer behavior. Many customers come to the store without a clear plan, which contributes to an increase in the number of impulsive purchases," the expert noted.

The expert added that such spending increases under the influence of psychological factors, including fatigue, hunger and marketing techniques in trading floors. As a result, purchase decisions are made directly from the shelf and often turn out to be irrational.

A separate problem remains the high level of food waste. According to research, households generate most of this waste, which leads to direct financial losses — the purchased products are not used and are thrown away.

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Tumin stressed that one of the most effective ways to optimize costs is to plan the menu for the week. This approach allows you to buy only the necessary products and reduces the risk of spoilage.

The expert noted that the most effective tools remain the creation of a shopping list, the use of existing products and a reasonable approach to promotions and wholesale purchases. According to him, the purchase of goods for future use is justified only if they are used further.

He added that in the absence of planning, even favorable offers can lead to additional costs, since some of the products are not used in the end.

Nikolai Berzon, a professor at the Higher School of Economics (HSE) Research University, Doctor of Economics, said on March 28 that one of the simplest ways to manage personal and family budgets is to keep records of expenses and receipts in a table. According to him, it is not convenient for everyone to use computers for accounting, so the easiest way is to have a regular notebook. You can record income in it, which, as a rule, working people receive twice a month.

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