The rate at which food prices are rising is at one of the highest levels in decades. Many supermarkets are already taking measures to help their customers where possible – extending their own brand ranges and offering discounts. However, if you want or need to find additional ways to save on your food shopping, you’ll need to stay savvy and agile.
To help you cut the cost of your food bills, money-saving experts from the cashback site, TopCashback, have rounded up five easy to follow tips.
Bulk buying isn’t always best value for money
Remember that bulk-buying is not always the best deal, and in fact can end up being a false economy. Working out the cost per item/per gram is a great way of seeing how much you’re saving and if the deal is worth buying.
Take for example, an individual can of baked beans on sale for 70p and a four pack for £3.50. This adds up to 70p extra when buying the multipack, which could be another tin of beans. Supermarkets will display how much an item is per gram which makes it easy to compare the amounts on offer.
Consider switching brands
Shopping around and switching brands can also save you money. Remember to look at both well-known brands and supermarket own ranges when you shop.
Own brands can be cheaper, but if branded items are on offer, you may save more opting for that instead. The trick is to be flexible and not committed to one brand over another.
Avoid impulse buys
Evaluate what you need for the week, versus what you want in the moment. With online shopping, book a delivery slot a week in advance. You can review your shopping list and checkout much closer to the delivery date – perhaps there’s an item that’s now on offer that wasn’t before?
For in store shopping, make and stick to a list and remember that supermarkets work with brands to carefully position goods in places that meet your eyeline. Before mindlessly putting it in your trolley, again, consider if you need it right now.
Look out for reductions and online offers
A lot of supermarkets start the reductions at around 6pm, often meaning you can pick-up items for more than half the price. If you buy something that’s near its sell-by date, simply freeze the product.
If you don’t have the time to be going out to do your shopping, but still want a discount, shop online through sites like TopCashback.co.uk and get money back on your groceries instead. You could also check your bank provider for perks, enabling you to layer your cashback deals.
Invest time in meal planning
Meal planning may feel laborious at the start, but once you’re in the habit, you’ll reap the rewards. Planning ahead removes the need to browse and impulse buy which obviously results in less money in your pocket each month.
To help with inspiration, you can follow influencers like Miguel Barclay (@OnePoundMeals) who demonstrates how to cook delicious meals on a tight budget. Supermarket social media accounts have similar content – feed your family for a fiver, for example.
