Here are a few tricks on how to shop smartly amid the brutal price hike in Hungary
Prices have ceased to rise in recent months, but Hungarian wages are still far below the EU average. Here are a few tips and tricks on how to shop smartly in Hungary.
Stagnating prices
From the 1st of June, mandatory shop sales will kick off in most local supermarkets. Every month, ATV will assess by how much the prices of ten staple food items on an average Hungarian family’s shopping list have changed since the last recording.
This time, the cost of bread and milk seems to have stalled, while price-capped eggs are still holding their prices.
The latest report on earnings has been published by the Hungarian Central Statistical Office (KSH). In March, the gross monthly wage stood at HUF 577,900 (EUR 1,549.23), while the net monthly wage was HUF 398,000 (EUR 1,066.95). This shows that real wages fell by 7 percent. Shockingly, Hungarian employees earn only 40 percent of the EU average wage.
On a positive note, macro-analyst József Hornyák says inflation is gradually easing. The last time we observed such a rapid monetary deterioration was back in 2008 during the global economic crisis, he stressed.
Tricks to shop smartly
It’s worth comparing the product prices of each supermarket chain before you set out for your weekly grocery shopping. Lidl Hungary, for instance, is offering its customers more than the 10 percent price cuts, as a response to a country-wide regulation. Therefore, you can get your hands on massive discounts, ranging from 20 to 50 percent, writes pénzcentrum.hu.
Lidl’s wheeze is to pass the price advantage of the purchase price cuts on to customers, and even beyond. Between 1 and 7 June, there will be discounts of up to 25-30 percent on fresh meat and meat products.
“Our company is constantly working to support the Hungarian people in line with the strategic ambitions of the Government of Hungary, and we have already taken a number of steps to do so. Thanks to our latest measure, the We give more campaign, we are dropping our prices by 20-50 percent instead of the mandatory 10 percent reduction, which means an average discount of 31 percent in the first week. As the market-leading supermarket chain in Hungary, we consider it important to offer the best possible prices in every case, as this is how we can be at utmost help to all our customers,” said Judit Tőzsér, Head of Corporate Communications at Lidl Hungary.
Where are those tips?
Visiting Lidl sounds more like an advertising trick for Lidl instead of saving money. Lidl and Aldi are just like Tesco, Auchan (and Metro) not the cheapest places to go. If you need to drive 30-40 km to the shop (+ 40 km back home) it makes shopping more expensive.
Weekly shopping might be a great idea or twice, better once a month. Many Hungarians go daily. Keep in mind if you go for one or two items you easily buy more.
1. Make a shopping list during the month.
2. Calculate how much money you need.
3. Visit the ATM once a month and pay with cash for: groceries, gasoline, public transport, schoolfees, pets, birthdays/festivities, pocket money.
4. KNOW your prices
5. Do not use your bankcard/Visa. Cash only!
6. Bake your own bread, cakes, pie, cookies
7. Make your breakfast/lunch at home instead of buying it.
8. Do not waste 1000+ forint a day on lunches, snacks, drinks on your way to the supermarket, school, work or while driving in the car.
9. Cut your own fruit/vegetables, make your own salad.
10. Do not buy cans, small bottles, packages of drinks.
11. Do not buy fixed prepared food (know what you eat!) save money and cook yourself. You can prepare meals for several days if you don’t want to cook daily or need a quick meal.
12. Make your own washing detergent out of the small piece of handsoap.
13. Have a look into your cupboards/fridge and eat/use what you have first.
14. Before you go shopping re-read your shopping list and remove what you no longer need!
15. Calculate how much cash you need and leave your debit bank card (+ phone) at home! Do not spend more than you can afford.
Lidl “…we are dropping our prices by 20-50 percent instead of the mandatory 10 percent reduction, which means an average discount of 31 percent in the first week..”
It is NOT a (n average) discount if you rise prices with 50% just because you can! For sure it’s more than 50% in the name of covid, war and so on (next pandemic is prepared). Better not doing the daily/weekly or even monthly groceries at Lidl or Aldi. All those supermarkets made billions of euros profit.
I often hear statements like “Hungarian employees earn only 40 percent of the EU average wage.” That may be true but the cost of living here is also much, much lower than in Western and even much of former Eastern Europe. My monthly electric bill, for instance, is less than 3,000 Fts. Show me a place in Europe where electric costs less than 10 bucks or where you can take clean, efficient, reliable, safe public transportation for less than a dollar.
It’s ASTOUNDING returning from Milan recent days – the HORRENDOUS price VARIATIONS at Lidl & Aldi to those we PAY in Hungary.
WHY – to shop at Lidl or Aldi- in Milan – is it MUCH MUCH cheaper than Budapest, Hungary ???
It’s REDICULOUS -what’s gone on in Hungary and REMAINS out of control – these massive PRICE variations.
Steiner Michael- Icome back at YOU to answer.
WHY 2 years ago a loaf of bread cost 325 huf and to-day – the same loaf at Aldi costs 999 Huf?
Who else can Hungarians buy there Electricity from ?
Respectfully, we know you are a FULLY paid up member of Fidesz by your admission through this commentary platform provided by DNH.
Steiner Michael – the “narrowness” of your opinions especially when articles such as this – its THEME, effects millions of the “lower” socio economic citizens of Hungary, a growing % of our population, who are being PULVERIZED and RAVAGED – by the continuation of cost of living INCREASES in Hungary.
Orban – through propaganda – the VEILING of FACT – is AGAIN misleading the Hungarian population, through a Government, that is in the category of being INSOLVENT.
NOTHING – Aldi & Lidl and “others” – is going to substantially lower in pricing other than SLOW moving items – those that are Wants rather than day to day – NEEDS.