Supermarket Savings

Ok, so the cursed financial crisis has taken its toll on your travel budget, and you’re starting to realise that dining out each and every night of your holiday in Rio is simply not an option.

But don’t let the budget crisis turn into a culinary crisis – with a wealth of fresh, delicious and cheap ingredients on the supermarket shelves, self caterers can eat very well while spending very little. Whether you’re making your base in a budget hostel or a cost-friendly holiday apartment, don’t let those cooking facilties go to waste, they have the potential to save you an absolute fortune.

The first tip to saving money on your shopping is to seek out the cheaper supermarkets. If you’re staying in Copacabana, Ipanema or Leblon, you’ll most likely find that your neighbourhood supermarket is a branch of Zona Sul. It makes sense to look a little further afield though as, while this chain stocks some superior products, it’s also a darn sight pricier than many other supermarkets. Look for branches of Sendas, or, ideally, Mundial, which offer much of the same stock at significantly lower prices.

if you do make your purchases in Zona Sul, be wary of ‘special offer’ signs that appear to offer great savings. These lower prices actually only apply to shoppers with a Zona Sul loyalty card, meaning that unwary shoppers can often get a nasty shock at the tills.

It pays to purchase different types of groceries on different days and at different supermarkets – most have savings on fruit and vegetables one day, and on dairy, meat etc on other days. Shop around and see who is offering more for less.

Processed, fast food is very expensive in Rio supermarkets, as are imported goods, so it makes sense to be adventurous and try local ingredients. The shelves are heaving with fruit and vegetables, many of which will be unfamiliar, but pretty much all of which are delicious.

If you’re more interested in filling up than in developing exotic new recipes, stock up on meat, rice and beans and you will be full to the brim without spending more than a few reias.

Also keep an eye out for street fruit and vegetable markets, which can be great value if you scout around for the cheapest stalls. Don’t worry – however small the budget, self-caterers won’t go hungry in Rio!