🍲 Food without overpaying: where to shop and what to eat for dinner so your wallet doesn't cry

Prices are high, but you can tame your daily grocery bill. The secret lies in three things: the right chain and loyalty card, a smart weekly plan, and a supply of quick dinners that take 10–15 minutes to prepare. Below is a brief and to-the-point guide on where to shop for the best deals, which semi-prepared foods are a lifesaver on weekdays, and what to pack for the office or on the go.

🛒 Where to shop for groceries and how to plan your menu?

Chains and bonuses.

• KIWI (NorgesGruppen): 1% Trumf bonus always + 15% on all fresh fruit/vegetables with KIWI PLUSS; on Thursdays there is Trippel-Trumf (usually 3%, and with Trumf Pay — up to 5%). Register in one click — it's a free ‘default discount’.
• REMA 1000: in the updated REMA app — 10% bonus on all fresh fruit/vegetables always + 25% bonus on 8 seasonal items every week. The bonus accumulates ruble by ruble and is deducted at the checkout.
• Coop Extra: membership in Coop gives you a minimum of 1% ‘shopping dividend’ all year round + at Extra — an 11% bonus on fruit/vegetables for members.

A short weekly savings plan.

1. Create a menu from special offers: open Mattilbud or chain store flyers and choose 3–4 dinners from the promotions.
2. Choose 1–2 versatile staples (rice/pasta/bulgur, tomatoes, beans), 2 protein sources (chicken/fish/eggs/falafel) and seasonal vegetables.
3. Add date discounts to your shopping list: chains often offer 40% off items with a short shelf life (and Coop has a ‘Best før −70%’ section for products past their ‘best før’ date). Plus, in the mornings at Rema, you can find yesterday's bread rolls for ~15 kr and ‘mismatched’ fruit/vegetables for 10 kr/kg.

⏱️ Are there any useful semi-prepared meals ‘for after work’?

Yes, and they save a lot of time if you choose wisely.

• ‘15 minutes and ready’: Oda has a selection of ‘15-minute’ dinners with automatic basket filling — convenient for a busy week without ordering a ‘full’ meal kit.
• Fjordland (microwave/saucepan): complete meals in trays — reheat in the microwave or simply pour into a saucepan. A good ‘backup’ option to keep on the shelf.
• TORO ‘Rett i koppen’: soups ‘straight into a mug’ — minimal dishes and quick snacks between meals.
• Our own budget lines:
  • First Price (Kiwi/Meny/Spar) — the cheapest of the ‘basics’ (cereals, pasta, sauces).
  • REMA (EMV series) — inexpensive alternatives to ‘brands’ under the chain's own label.
  • Coop Xtra — budget items on Coop/Extra shelves.

Life hack: combine ‘semi-finished products + fresh ingredients’. For example, Fjordland side dish + sautéed green beans; ready-made meatballs + salad mix and bread.

🥪 What to take with you to the office/on the road to save money?

To the office.

• Skiir/yoghurt + muesli + berries — filling and quick.
• Knekkebrød + cheese/slices (or chickpea hummus) — ‘long’ carbohydrates, cheap additives.
• ‘Soup in a mug’ (TORO) + sandwich — lunch for 20–30 kr and 5 minutes.
• Thermos mug and tea/coffee from the kitchen — no more impulse coffee breaks.

On the trail/after work.

• Lavash/flatbread + tuna/fava beans/egg — takes 2 minutes to prepare, can be eaten on the go.
• Nuts, banana, bar — cheap and light.
• Thermos of soup (same as TORO) — especially if it's chilly on the fjord.

About snacks and discounts. In the evening, check out the ‘dato shelves’: you can put together tomorrow's lunch for half the price. And on Thursdays, ‘Trippel-Trumf’ adds a bonus percentage to your regular purchases.

The ‘no extra charges’ formula is simple: link one loyalty card to your network (KIWI/REMA/Coop), plan your week based on special offers and keep an ‘emergency shelf’ with Fjordland, soup mugs and a couple of ‘quick’ recipes that take 15 minutes to prepare. Buy extra vegetables and protein at a discount when they are on sale, and your budget will stay on track, even if you have a busy schedule.