Despite most families making an effort to trim their grocery bill in the cost of living crisis, the average shopper makes over 200 trips to the supermarket every year - and spends over £4,200 at the chekout
The latest figures from Barclays showed that households made further cutbacks on their weekly grocery bills in March as inflation continued to squeeze budgets to the limit. According to data analysts Kantar, supermarket inflation hit 17.5% in the month to March 19, reaching another record high.
However spending on groceries increased 7.1% in March - well below the food price inflation rate - as one in six households said they were trying to find ways to reduce the cost of their weekly shop.
Read more: Shopping expert shares 14 tips he says could save up to £200 at Aldi
However, supermarkets are clever at finding ways to make you spend more in store, from treats at the checkout to the familiar walk to the back of the store to track down essentials such as milk or bread.
According to the director of online supermarket Britsuperstore, Richard Price, retailers have become adept at helping you to part with your cash, but knowledge is power, so being aware of the sneaky tricks will help you to avoid falling for them next time you pop out for a couple of items.
Look out for:
Growing trolleys
Richard says: "Over the years supermarket trolleys have grown in size! The larger the cart, the more likely you'll end up spending more, so try to stick to a hand basket instead. Research found that when the size of the cart doubled, consumers bought 40% more."
Items at the tills
Richard says: "Whilst you're waiting in line you'll notice all the chocolate and sweet stuff is placed there for you to pick up while you wait. Try and use self-service tills that have a faster checkout time or set yourself a challenge to not buy anything placed at the tills."
Pre-cut vegetables and fruits
Richard says: "Pre-cut food looks so attractive, with its colourful packaging and promise of less work. However, when you see pre-cut produce, think about the price difference and double-check, as it’s normally more expensive."
Fragrant items in the front
Richard says: "Flowers and other pleasant-smelling items like baked goods are often put in the front of the supermarket, so you'll be smelling them when you first walk in. This will also trigger your salivary glands, making you more prone to impulse buys. Make sure to eat before you shop as this will avoid buying anything due to hunger."
Products at eye level
Richard says: "Items that are placed at eye level on the shelves tend to be pricier name-brand goods, which are the products the supermarkets want you to buy. Check out the lower shelves for similar items that have lower prices and fewer mark-ups."
Music
Richard says: "Supermarkets tend to play slower music to give a calm no-rush atmosphere leaving you in the store for a lot longer. To battle this when you are doing your weekly shop make sure to set yourself a time to carry out the shop (an hour is a great starting point)"
Eggs
Richard says: "Supermarkets keep their eggs in strange places around the store so you have to go down the aisles looking for them. To help make a list at the start of your shop and don’t buy anything else even when you are looking for other produce!”
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