Could the 6-1 method help you save money on groceries?

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Bababam (0:57)

Could the 6-to-1 method help you save money on groceries?

Thanks for asking. As of March 2024, the UK inflation rate stood at 3.2 percent, well below the record levels that had been seen a year prior. But still the cost of living crisis is fighting, and grocery shopping is one of the areas in which prices rose the most across 2022 and 2023 Thinking of ways to save on groceries has become really important, and we've got a special tip for all of you listening today. The 6-to-1 method comes from renowned American chef Will Coleman. Let's listen to him talking about it in a TikTok post from January 2024, which has been liked over 150,000 times since.

Will Coleman (1:50)

This makes grocery shopping way easier, way cheaper, and you get in and out, so you're not there all day long.

Bababam (1:57)

What does the 6-to-1 method entail then?

It gets its name from the assortment of products that Coleman recommends purchasing as part of your grocery run. Six veggies, five fruits, four sources of protein, three starches, two spreads, and one indulgent treat. Appearing on Good Morning America in January 2024, Coleman talked about the benefits of taking this approach.

Will Coleman (2:24)

The 6-to-1 method has saved me hundreds of dollars because you come in the grocery store with a plan. You're not just shopping for anything.

Bababam (2:30)

That's right. It's all about planning. Shopping lists are useful because they help us avoid making unplanned purchases. A Psychology Today article from 2021 cited studies that showed this to be true for both in-person and online shopping. However, the 6-to-1 method isn't solely about stretching your budget. It's also about relearning how to shop efficiently while considering other factors like environmental impact, time-saving and improving your dietary habits. By following the 6-to-1 method, you're less likely to contribute to food waste too, which is a global problem as between 25 and 30% of all food produced ends up getting wasted. Does the 6-to-1 method actually work though? The beauty of such methods lies in their shareability on social media, which is what causes them to go viral in the first place. And there are countless positive accounts on TikTok and Instagram from people who've tried the 6-to-1 method.

Writing for BuzzFeed in March 2024, Ross Yoder shared pictures of all the food items he bought when testing out 6-to-1. His shopping basket came to just under $80, excluding delivery fee and tip. And he was particularly impressed with that given he's used to spending well over $100 on a week's worth of groceries. He also noted that he could have saved an additional $15 to $20 if he'd shopped at a more budget-friendly grocery store. Even more impressive was that he was able to create 8 different recipes from his purchases and covered 28 servings.

There you have it.

Now you know whether the 6-to-1 method could help you save money on groceries. In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions and help you understand the true meaning behind the trends, concepts and acronyms that are making headlines. Listen along and you will really know for sure.