Top Tips For British Expats Doing Food Shopping Abroad

When you choose to move abroad, it goes without saying that you will have lots of different things to adjust to. Whilst you will have to tackle big things such as settling into a new job and adapting to a new culture, there will probably be some smaller things to get to grips with too. It can be easy to overlook, but one thing that you will do on a regular basis is food shopping and of course, this will be different when you’re living in a new country. 

Before you moved, it was likely that you had a favourite British supermarket and people tend to go to the same store every time they need to pick up essentials because they know exactly where everything is. When you move to a new country, not only will you be going to a new supermarket but there will be lots of different hurdles to overcome too. So, to help British expats doing food shopping abroad for the first time, below are some helpful generalised tips. 

Explore the local shops 

Before you attempt your first big food shop, it is worthwhile exploring your local shops and finding out what they have to offer. Not all shops will be like British supermarkets and they won’t necessarily be able to provide you with everything you’re looking for. It isn’t uncommon to need to visit multiple stores, and maybe even some markets too, for your weekly essentials, so try to figure out where you’re likely going to have to visit to get everything on your list. 

Translate your list before you go shopping

This is one of the best pieces of advice to give to any British expats doing food shopping abroad and you should always ensure that you know what items are called in the local language. Having a list written in English won’t be helpful, so make sure that you translate your shopping list before you head out to the store. This really will make the whole process much easier and prevent you from coming home with all of the wrong items. 

Look at what others around you do 

Whenever you move to another country, to really get to grips with how the locals do things, it is beneficial to pay attention to them when you’re out and about. Whilst you’re exploring the local shops, take a look at the people around you and how they’re shopping, this may sound like a strange thing to do but it is really helpful. When you do your first big shop, you will then have a better idea of what you need to do/should do when shopping in your new country. 

Don’t be afraid to try new things

It is fair to say that you probably won’t recognise many of the brands that are on the shelves in front of you when doing your food shop, so the first time you buy things will be a bit of a gamble. It will take some time to get to know which brands you like, the same way you have to with new British foods, so don’t be afraid to try new things. Instead of sticking to what you think you know, branch out and try some of the local produce too. 

Carry both cash and card 

When using your debit card or credit card abroad, you need to be prepared for potential hiccups. For example, your bank may flag your spending as suspicious activity and block your card or the local supermarket might not even accept the card you’re wanting to use. For this reason, it is worthwhile carrying some cash with you when doing your first few food shops until you know how you’re able to pay in different places. 

Doing food shopping abroad 

Of course, depending on the country that you move to, food shopping may not be too dissimilar from what you were used to here in the UK, however, this isn’t always the case and you may find that this simple task takes some real adjusting to. Hopefully, the tips above will help you when you’re navigating your new local supermarket/s for the first time and the process of doing so won’t be quite as daunting. 

Should you still be wanting to purchase some of your favourite British foods when living abroad, be sure to visit the British Essentials online store today. Here you will find all of the best British brands and the most-loved products that they supply, and we will happily ship them to you no matter where you are in the world. Just because you’re no longer living in the UK doesn’t mean you have to stop enjoying British food, so feel free to browse our site today.