15 Ways To Save On Your Food Shopping
There are many useful websites that discuss shopping tips and tricks to slash food bills, especially this one from Money Saving Expert. Here are our favourite ways to save on your food shopping. Why not try them and see for yourself?
1. Don’t be tempted by sweets and magazines that are by the till – the checkout is your last port of call in a supermarket, this is where top-selling sweets and magazines are often displayed.
2. Supermarket managers lay products out to tempt customers into buying items they probably didn’t plan on buying. Don’t be sucked in by the fancy displays!
3. Brands – many people prefer to stick to high quality brands of food. You may think buying a high priced can of beans is better than say the store’s own brand. Wrong.
4. Instead buying your usual brand of, let’s say, orange juice, buy a couple of the store’s own brand to see if there really is any difference.
5. The same can be said for toiletries, shampoos and cleaning products. Many shoppers prefer well-known brands of washing powder, shower gel and cleaners. Good old-fashioned ways to clean your home shouldn’t be forgotten like lemon juice and white vinegar.
6. Use coupons – many people are now on track to save cash by using coupons. These can be found in newspapers, magazines and on the internet, so start collecting them now.
7. A good tip to save money is to never shop when you’re hungry. You’re more likely to buy food you don’t really need or food that isn’t on your shopping list.
8. Online – Asda, Tesco, Sainsbury’s and many others offer online shopping. You’re less likely to go overboard when you can monitor the overall cost as you shop. You can also utilise the many discounts on offer, like these money saving voucher codes for Morrisons.
9. Buy in bulk – buying in bulk can almost certainly save you cash on your shopping bill. Things like cans of fizzy drinks, washing up liquid, washing powder and softener can be bought in packs.
10. Don’t be taken in by TV or newspaper ads – although supermarkets depend on TV and newspaper advertisements, don’t be taken in. Do your own maths and don’t always buy multi-buy offers.
11. Cash back – many websites are paid by online stores for advertising their services to customers. You can often get money back by applying online.
12. Buy one get one free (known as BOGOF) – these offers can be good however they can also be there to exploit impulse buying, make sure you only buy what you need.
13. Loyalty schemes – not always what they appear. Sometimes sneaky tactics are used to keep customers in the supermarket. Remember you don’t always get something for nothing.
14. Club card voucher codes – you get one point for each pound you spend. Every three months the points are sent to you as voucher codes to spend, this is a great idea.
15. Rival supermarkets often promise to refund the difference when you shop with another store. A good trick is to split your shopping into bargain and full-price items to take advantage of this offer.
*This is a collaborative post.
I do most of these now to be honest but I am a terrible impulse buyer at the tills!
Many of the grocers in the U.S. offer to refund your money if you’re not satisfied with the store brand. I’ve never found a store brand product I was dissatisfied with. Most store brands are packaged by the same companies as the leading brands.
Some great tips, and certainly some that I will use, as you can imagine shopping for nine is a little bit expensive1
Ekk I bet! I really hope they help you in the long run! x
some great tips here thank you x
I rarely go food shopping now I either get my carer to go for me or my mum to add on a few on to her online shop so I hardly buy much food (there’s no point when you can’t eat much) but I still spend a fortune, the prize of food & soft drinks is ridiculous!
It is crazy isn’t it – we do most of it online, which saves Ash stashing extra in the basket but still!
I’ve started buying store brand stuff because it’s SO much cheaper and for *most* products, there really is no difference!
My motto is “look after the pennies and the pounds will take care of themselves.” Any saving is worth having, no matter how small. It all adds up.
That is so very true – ever penny you save helps for sure 🙂 X
We bulk buy most of our food at costco and use our deep freezer to freeze what we can and its helped when we have had only a small budget. Luckily when we go to the supermarket there isnt many aisles we go down anymore … it avoids the temptation 🙂
Great tips! Clubcards and coupons have saved me loads in the past! Buying in bulk has also saved me a fair bit, especially things like meats when they are on offer!
I love using coupons, love the total going down at the tills. Since Inwent on maternity pay, we have been buying own brand food and toiletries and I don’t think there is any difference in quality but we have some extra pennies x
I utilise some of these tips when I am shopping like buying store own brands than famous brands, never shopping hungry which can be touch since I shop after work and I am usually hungry but nice tips
You’ve shared so many great points here. I buy online at Tesco now and use the clubcard points xxxx
Great tips! I’ve learned not to shop when I’m hungry as we usually end up buying so many unnecessary items! I always make sure little man has a snack and a drink before leaving home if he is coming too! 🙂
There are some great tips here! I always find that I spend less when I order online, there is less temptation! We tend to buy quite a few shops own brand products too, and that makes a huge difference xx
These are great tips. I knew about some but not others. Like, my husband and I try to avoid shopping when hungry (doesn’t always work) and we usually buy in bulk (also because the nearest supermarkt is 7km way). We don’t shop online usually because don’t think any of the supermarkts we usually go to offer it.
Great ideas and tips -I agree that it is not a good idea to shop when you are hungry, and I try and leave the children at home! Kaz x
This is a super blog post! Very interesting!
I have fell victim to the “BOGOF” Several times
Fab tips! I do all my shopping at Aldi because the range is much smaller – less choice equals less opportunity to spend. x
I always spend a lot less when ordering online, it is the way to go. Just need to remember to do it! x
I used to work for Tesco and my son works for Asda so know all their times for reducing items ;0)
These are really good tips. I need to save some money on my food shopping.
Great tips, I always try to shop after I have eaten otherwise I buy far to many snacks
I do a lot of these things, but there’s some new ideas in this post for me! I really ought to use more coupons. I’m terrible for never using them!
I admit I am hopeless at remembering to use coupons, I usually have them with me as well x
This is a fab post – I love the tips for making food shopping easier or cheaper. It’s something that you actually can’t avoid or skimp on! H x
I recommend online shopping to keep an eye on your budget. You can keep pruning the list to get inside the budget limit you set ie £100 or move non-essentials to the following week if you have enough to last til then. It also helps you to see whether you can select a cheaper alternative to your usual product. Plus you can check your cupboards then and there rather than get yet another tin of beans!!!
These are great tips! I always buy my groceries online and try to behave, although the odd chocolate finds its way into my virtual basket 😉
some great tips here and I am a sucker for brands as always think they must be better
Some great tips here. I tend to only shop at the supermarket once every couple of months and use local stores/farmshops day to day.
I really need to use coupons more and I find I spend a lot less when I shop online. I wish I could do an Aldi shop online!
Some great tips here, I am one for bargains and if I can get a bargain or two I am very happy x
Thanks for the tips, I always get so overwhelmed in supermarkets and impulse buy things I don’t need! (like Pringles when they’re on offer in Tesco!)
*i have no shame in
Dang autocorrect!
I have no when in looking for , and using, coupons. Every penny counts!
Great post. Thanks for sharing these money saving tips.