Cut down your supermarket bills with these 4 tips
Today, supermarket chain Morrisons announced it expects UK’s lorry driver shortage to push up product prices this year, bumping up the price of Brits weekly shop.
With this in mind, Nick Drewe, a discount expert at WeThrift, reveals some simple tips on how British supermarket shoppers can reduce their costs at checkouts.
1. Avoid purchasing pricier brands and switch to supermarket own brands instead
“Whilst many of us will stick to the brands we know and love, supermarkets such as Aldi and Lidl are constantly producing brand-inspired products which look and taste pretty much the same as the real thing, but at a fraction of the cost.
“For those who are set in their ways, and only willing to eat their favourite branded goods (e.g. Heinz beans and Weetabix), it’s worth remembering that cheaper, own-brand groceries are shown to be better for you as they have less fat, sugar, salt and calories than pricier alternatives!”
2. Time your supermarket trips wisely
“Try to time your supermarket trips for when your local stores are likely to have just added yellow ‘reduced’ stickers to stock that needs to be sold that day. Making the most of these heavily discounted deals will help you to fill your freezer up with discounted meat, fish, and freezer meals for cheaper food options in the coming days and weeks.
“Normally supermarket workers will start discounting products that are about to pass their sell-by-date later on in the afternoon or early evening, so a food shop after work is the perfect time to grab a bargain.
“Many supermarkets also have clearance sections where products that cannot be sold at their RRP or may have damaged packaging can be found. Just make sure to check you are happy with the item and that the goods aren’t compromised before heading to the checkout.”
3. Take advantage of loyalty schemes
“Loyalty schemes like Tesco Clubcard and myLidl allow customers to build points over time, with customers benefiting from money-off vouchers and other rewards that can contribute to future shops.
“Another advantage of Clubcard, in particular, is a sufficient amount of Tesco’s products are on ‘Clubcard price’ meaning they are discounted down from their original price. Instantly you will feel yourself knocking money off your basket price.”
4. Shop your items in a particular order to help budget
“A trick which can help many shoppers is starting your shopping in the more expensive aisles, e.g. meat, fish and alcohol, and work your way to the more affordable aisle, e.g fruit and veg, tinned foods, so you can keep a better track of what you’ve spent and factor in a budget.
“Many supermarkets now have self-scanning devices, allowing shoppers to scan their own items on the go, which is really helpful for knowing how much your basket price is up to so you aren’t getting a shock at the till.”