With the cost of living crisis starting to bite, families face an even harder punch to the pocket with food prices going up sharply.
Research from data analytics firm Kantar revealed that food prices in the UK are now 5.2% higher than they were a year ago - and the speed of this rise is the highest in nearly a decade
According to the firm's previous research, savoury snacks, fresh beef and cat food alone increased by 4.3%, with the firm predicting in February that annual food shopping bills might rise by an average of £180 due to inflation.
But food shopping is an essential part of our day-to-day lives and not something we can cut out from our routines to save money.
Personal finance expert Ocean Finance has shared nine simple but clever ways for Brits to save up to 47.5% on their weekly food shop.
Use supermarkets instead of convenience and local stores
Your local convenience store might be closer and so quicker for you to nip into for a shop. However, research from Which? has revealed that by doing this you could end up paying 9.5% more for food shopping over the course of a year.
If you're frustrated by how much money you’re spending on groceries, switching up where you shop could be an easy answer.
Go shopping with a meal plan and shopping list
People who go shopping with a list are three times less likely to overspend than those who don’t, according to the Money Advice Service.
The next time you're about to head out for a food shop, take a few minutes to jot down everything you need for the week ahead. Try to plan things out as much as you can, including ingredients for each meal you plan to cook.
Making a list isn't enough, of course - it's important that you stick to your list and avoid the temptation to pick up anything extra to avoid splurging.
Head to your supermarket at the cheapest time for yellow sticker savings
Keep an eye out for the discounted food at supermarkets - typically tagged with yellow stickers - in order to find the biggest bargains. Try heading to the supermarket at the following optimal times for reduced items:
- M&S – An hour before the store closes
- Morrisons – 6pm
- Sainsbury’s – 6pm
- Asda – 7pm
- Waitrose – 6pm
These timings can vary between stores but a good rule-of-thumb to get the lowest reductions could be going to the supermarket an hour before closing.
If you want to buy an item that is due to expire that day and you see a worker with the yellow stickers, there’s also no harm in asking them if it can be reduced.
Don't be a brand snob
There's nothing wrong with having a favourite brand. But if you're looking to save money, then it's worth ditching the pricey brands.
In 2021, Which? revealed Aldi as the cheapest supermarket of the year, with a basket of 22 branded and unbranded goods costing £24.03. So if you shopped at Aldi in comparison to another supermarket - like Waitrose - you could end up saving 38% on food.
Never shop on an empty stomach
Being around endless food options on an empty stomach is definitely not great for your wallet. So it's always good to have a meal before you head out for grocery shopping.
If your stomach’s rumbling, there’s a high chance you’ll give in to the hunger pangs and chuck some tempting treats in the trolley. It's completely fine to treat yourself and slip in a few goodies, but try to curb impulse buying.
Head to the frozen aisle for your vegetables
Fresh fruits and veg is great, but if you're on a tight budget, head straight for the frozen aisle. If you're getting a week's worth of food at one time, buying frozen stuff means the food will last longer as well.
Research also shows that fresh foods actually lose vitamins and minerals over time and freezing them preserves these nutrients. So you might even end up eating healthier with frozen fruits and veg.
Have some meat-free days
Research shows that meat-eaters spend an average of £752 on meat each year, alone. Just think of how much that could be reduced by implementing some vegetarian dishes into your weekly food plan.
Plus, with more and more people considering a plant-based diet, there are now lots of tasty meat-free recipes to follow online.
Start couponing to save money
You can find coupons in supermarket magazines and on packaging such as crisp packets and cereal boxes. Collect these and use them for things you’d normally buy anyway. This helps prevent your shopping bill from adding up.
It's also worth writing to manufacturers telling them about how much you like - or don't like - their products. There's no guarantee, but sometimes they might try to entice to keep your loyalty with some vouchers.
Use loyalty cards
Investing in a loyalty card always pays off. Loyalty cards can help you to rack up points at your favourite supermarket, which can lead to some hefty savings.
Just be warned that you aren't persuaded into buying something you wouldn't normally purchase just because of a seemingly good deal.
