Shoppers continue to face eye-watering prices at the supermarket as UK food prices continue to soar to a record-high of 10.6 per cent this month.
In a bid to help save some of their hard-earned money, cash-strapped shoppers have been changing up their shopping habits during the cost of living crisis.
As prices continue to rocket, many have even been making the switch to discounted supermarkets such as Aldi who promise their customers lower prices when compared to the Big Four.
The rise in popularity for the German grocer and demand for lower prices has seen Aldi officially overtake Morrisons as the UK's fourth largest grocer.
And while switching to discounted supermarkets can certainly save you money on your food bill, there are ways that you can save money at any supermarket.
To help all supermarket shoppers cut back on their weekly shopping bill, the experts at NerdWallet have delved into the hashtag #Groceryshoppinghacks on TikTok to find the 10 savviest ways to make your money go further.
You might find that you are already doing some of these tips already, but hopefully there may be a few that you have yet to try out. If you are looking to save money at the supermarket, then here are ten savvy money-saving shopping tips inspired by TikTok.
Time your weekly shop to find the most yellow sticker items on the shelves
We've all heard about yellow-sticker deals and how they can be a good way to save money off your food shop, but did you know that the best deals can be found at different times.
Most supermarkets do their reductions at different times of the day, meaning it can be worth finding out when your local store does theirs so you don't miss out on the best deals.
For example, Morrisons and Sainsbury's best deals are said to be after 6pm, while Asda shoppers can find theirs at around 7pm.
Bring your own bags or baskets
How many times have you headed to the supermarket without bags and ended up paying the extra charge? Don't worry, we have all done it no matter how many times we say we will remember the next time.
If you are a little like us, then it is worth keeping your reusable bags where you can easily grab them for your next shopping trip; maybe in the car, or by your front door - you could even write bags at the top of your grocery list.
If you’re taking your car with you when you shop, another clever tip is to keep storage baskets in the boot. This will make packing and unpacking groceries a lot quicker as you can unload your shopping straight from the trolley. Plus, you’ll have fewer trips to and from the car when you get home.
Choose loose over packaged
Purchasing loose fruit and vegetables instead of pre-packed can not only save you money, but can also reduce plastic consumption.
You might also not need the quantity of fruit and vegetables that are in the packets. Therefore, by opting for loose produce, you only buy the quantity, size and quality you actually want.
Switch to value brands
Switching from premium or branded products to supermarket own value brands can save shoppers up a third on their weekly shopping bill.
While the main difference is usually on price, some of them these days are said to taste as good, if not better, than some pricier brands. You can lock in savings every time you buy these cheaper items, and if you’ve found that they don’t match up and you can taste the difference, you’ve spent less and you can try an alternative product that suits your budget.
Shop online
Savvy TikTok users have recommended shopping online as this will remove the temptation of impulse buys you find in the store - leading to less money being spent!
It also gives you the time to browse any deals and offers that might be available, leading to a potentially bigger saving at the checkout.
Avoid baskets where possible
If you're only popping in for a couple of items, then one hack is to avoid getting the basket if you can. This reduces the temptation to pick up items you didn’t plan on buying.
Avoiding a basket where possible can be a simple, yet effective, way to stick to your grocery list, and just buy what you came in the store for - especially if you only came in for a few ingredients you forgot during your last visit. Once you’ve grabbed the items you need, there's only a certain amount of extra items you can carry, which should keep your grocery budget in check and help prevent impulse buying from being tempted by deals whilst in store.
Get a loyalty/rewards card
Many supermarkets, including Asda, Tesco and Sainsbury's, offer their customers a loyalty card that lets them earn points in exchange for money off their next shop.
Other benefits of these types of cards include birthday discounts, early access to products and exclusive deals/offers.
Pick from the back of the shelf
One of the savviest tricks to make sure that you are getting the freshest produce as possible is to grab items from the back of the shelf.
Items at the back usually have a longer best-before or use-by dates, while those at the front are the items the supermarket needs to sell within their own timeframe.
As they may be fresher, they should last longer, and reduce the likelihood of it being wasted by going out of date before being used.
Don't shop at eye level
One clever trick that many shoppers have been adopting recently is to look for items on the bottom shelves - as this is where some of the most affordable buys are placed.
Usually, supermarkets tend to put premium priced products at eye level to encourage shoppers to purchase them, which has led to many shoppers encouraging others to look for value branded items on the bottom.
Alternatively, shoppers may be able to find cheaper priced products in the longer life aisle as opposed to fresh options.
Download food waste apps
Not only do we want to reduce our food bills, but reducing our food waste is also a good option to help out our bills and the environment.
Some of these apps involve rescuing food from cafes, restaurants, bakeries, shops and neighbours that might otherwise be destined for the bin. This initiative allows consumers to eat cheaply and do their bit for the environment, while businesses can enjoy extra customers and avoid throwing away their produce.
The Too Good To Go app has recently risen in popularity for helping shoppers pick up a bargain on food that stores would otherwise be throwing away.
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