Grocery prices keep climbing, but there are easy ways to stretch what we spend.
As the cost of living remains sky high, anything we can do to save on food shopping is helpful. The good news is that even if we think we’re savvy at the supermarket, there may still be a few tricks we haven’t tried.
Here are five simple ways to make our money go further at the tills.
Avoid convenience stores if possible
It’s not always easy – they are convenient for a reason! But we pay extra for it. Don’t be fooled into thinking we’ll pay the same prices at the same store’s bigger branch down the road.
A Which? investigation found that smaller supermarket branches, like Morrisons Daily, Tesco Express, and Sainsbury’s Local, often charge more than their main stores. There’s often a mark up between 10-20% but depending on the item, with some items costing nearly twice as much as in the larger branches. That’s hundreds of pounds a year!
If we can, it is worth planning ahead and doing one bigger shop instead. Even a small delivery fee will often work out cheaper than using the local corner version of a big chain.
Shop around
If we have a few supermarkets nearby or shop online, it pays to compare.
Which? has an up-to-date list of the cheapest supermarkets and LoveMoney lists the best deals every week. A little time checking before we shop can save us a lot in the long run.
We can also use Trolley.co.uk to check the latest prices from all the big supermarkets in one place.
It shows which store is cheapest for each item and even tracks price changes over time.
Join a loyalty scheme
Most supermarkets offer loyalty cards or apps that reward us for what we spend. They can give money off, special prices, or points we can save up and spend later, like Tesco Clubcard or Nectar from Sainsbury’s.
Others offer instant savings or freebies, like the McDonald’s app, which gives free coffee after buying six. It’s like getting a little bonus for doing what we already do.
To make the most of them, stick to what we already buy, keep an eye on bonus offers, and use points during double-value deals.
Quids in! shares the best tips for using loyalty schemes, which you can find here. To compare loyalty schemes and see savings, Save the Student has a list of best loyalty cards and apps plus their biggest perks.
Look up, down and all around!
Supermarkets are clever. The pricier items are often placed right at eye level where we are most likely to grab them. Which means there can be treasure on the top and (especially) bottom shelves!
There are other hidden savings too. For example, we might find a tin of lentils in the pulses aisle but a cheaper version in the world foods section. Larger packs often work out cheaper per portion if we can afford to buy in bulk.
Embrace budget ranges
Forget the old “own-brand” labels — the cheapest lines now have their own look and name. Budget ranges focus on basics like bread, milk, beans, and pasta. They are often far cheaper than branded or even standard own-brand goods. The only catch is that they might not be stocked in every branch.
Stores may use different names for their budget lines. For example, Sainsbury’s has J. James & Family, Hubbard’s, and Greengrocer ranges. Tesco’s budget brands include Creamfields, Mrs. Molly’s, and Stockwell & Co.
The good news though is that the prices of budget-range items seem to be rising at a slower rate than own-brand and branded goods.
Shopping smarter, comparing prices, and looking beyond the eye-level shelves can all add up. We don’t have to give up the food we love… we just need to be a bit more supermarket savvy!
Image: 1000 Words / Shutterstock
