Monthly spending on food puts a massive strain on many households. According to that Federal Statistical Office Food prices will remain at a high level in 2026. A structured purchasing plan helps to counteract this cost pressure.

The so-called 6-to-1 method is currently causing a stir, as the US portal “food52.com” writes. This approach promises to make weekly shopping more conscious, save money and at the same time ensure a balanced diet. But does the trend from the USA keep its promises and are there even more effective strategies on supermarket shelves?

Cheap shopping in the supermarket: This is how the 6-to-1 method works in everyday life

The one from the US food blogger Will Coleman The method developed serves as a mathematical framework for purchasing. You don’t enter the supermarket with a recipe-based shopping list, but rather with clearly defined quantity quotas.

The principle is: Buy six types of vegetables, five types of fruit, four protein sources, three carbohydrate side dishes, two sauces or spreads and exactly one luxury food.

This system limits selection and forces prioritization. Consumers focus on basic ingredients and automatically reduce expensive, heavily processed products. The method also allows flexibility: discover reduced peppers, integrate them into the vegetable quota and plan your meals at home. If you’re cooking for a family, don’t change the ratio (6-5-4-3-2-1), just scale the quantities – about four zucchini instead of one as a vegetable unit.

Protection against psychological traps in the supermarket

From a consumer protection perspective, the method offers solid protection psychological traps in supermarkets and discount stores. Supermarkets want to maximize dwell time and encourage impulse purchases. You systematically block this through strict quotas. Since only one luxury food is allowed, there is no need for expensive groceries at the checkout.

However, practice also shows weaknesses: the rule regulates the quantity but ignores the price. If you choose six premium vegetables, you pay a lot. This is also where the debate about the best strategy resolves itself: A strict meal plan, known as meal prepping, is often even more effective for purely budget control, as the quantities of ingredients are precisely tailored to consumption and nothing spoils. However, meal prepping takes an enormous amount of planning time and is culinary inflexible.

The 6-to-1 method is therefore the ideal compromise for everyone who wants to save time in everyday life, remain flexible and still have a protective structure when shopping.

Checklist: The 4 best ways to save money in the supermarket

In addition to purchasing rules, the specific product selection significantly reduces the price of the shopping cart. These four strategies will help:

1. Prefer own brands: Switching to private label offers the greatest savings potential. According to Stiftung Warentest and analyzes of the app Brand Detectives Own brands have long been operating on a par with expensive brands in terms of quality. Since, among other things, marketing budgets are eliminated, they are significantly cheaper.
2. Compare basic price: The industry often uses “shrinkflation” – hidden price increases through reduced filling quantities. The Hamburg consumer center warns before these deceptive packages. The only objective benchmark is the legally prescribed basic price (price per kilogram or liter) on the price tag.
3. Adjust gaze control: Supermarkets conveniently place high-margin items at eye level. Cheaper alternatives are deliberately located at the bottom of the bending zone or at the top of the stretching zone. Avert your gaze to discover inexpensive options.
4. Go shopping when you’re full: One of the most effective rules is to never go to the supermarket hungry. Hunger leads to high-calorie and expensive impulse purchases.