There are plenty of ways for you to save money on your food shopping. In fact, some of these tips are so easy to follow that you might not even feel as though you're compromising at all!
1. Write a List
This may sound obvious, but planning what you're going to buy can go a long way. It will help you to stop making impulse buys, and it will also give you a much clearer idea of the food you need. If you need some additional help, then try and download an app that will help you to add what you need throughout the week. You can then cross it off your list as you make your way around the supermarket, so you won't have anything to worry about at all there.
2. Make the Most out of What You Buy
Before you start writing your list, you have to make sure that you plan out your meals. Start by writing down dinners that all use similar ingredients. This will stop you from throwing food away, and it will also help you to stop those out of date goods from piling up in your fridge. If you are struggling for inspiration, then again, there are so many mealtime apps out there that you can use. When you download them to your phone, you can then input your shopping list and some of them will even come up with meals for you.
3. Freeze Everything
Don't be put off having something just because it is close to the end of its shelf life. This can be a great way for you to grab a real bargain at the supermarket. If you want to make the most out of your shop, then check to see if any of the items that are in the cheap section can be frozen. If they can, pick them up, put them in your freezer and eat them later. This is a great way for you to save money!
4. Bring your own Bag
It's no secret that supermarkets are now charging you for using plastic bags. A standard, single-use bag will cost you 10p. It will then cost you up to £1 if you wanted to pick up a bag for life. If you want to get around this, you need to bring your own bag(s) and reuse it as much as you can. When you do this, you will be helping the environment and your wallet.
5. Don't focus on Brands
Remember that just because something is expensive, that doesn't mean it is always better. One way for you to really get a great result out of your shop would be for you to try and swap 50% of your shopping for unbranded products. When you do this, you could save a huge amount every single year. You may even develop some new spending habits!
6. Search High and Low
Believe it or not, supermarkets are very sneaky. They like to place higher-priced items at eye level so that it is the first thing that you see. If you want to stop this from impacting your budget, look high and low to see if you can get a much better deal.
7. Shop Around
Not sure if you're getting the best deals yet? Consider using a price comparison website to find out how the exact same product is priced at another supermarket. Fill your basket and then find out which store is going to charge you the lowest price. Sites such as LatestDeals are great for this, as they search across all major UK stores. Sites such as this also help you to set up alerts too, so you can be told when an item is going down in price.
8. Coupons
Coupons cover everything from food to health and beauty products. They can also save you hundreds if you take the time to hunt them out. When you do find some coupons, it helps to check the date on them because this will let you know how long you have before the deal expires. Supermarkets don't like to advertise information like this because it makes it harder for them to make money, so this is one way for you to try and get around that.
9. Be Social
Everyone loves to save money, and there are so many Facebook groups out there that are completely dedicated to it. If you want to save the most money, it's a good idea for you to sign up to them. When you do, you will be told where the best deals are and which supermarkets have the cheapest prices at any given time. Groups like this are super handy, and are a fantastic way for you to really take advantage of a good bargain.
10. Get Paid to Shop
That's right- it's entirely possible for you to get money back when you shop. The CheckOutSmart app for example, gives you the chance to browse for products. When you have purchased it, you can then upload the receipt. You will then be reimbursed for the money that you have spent. It's super easy to do, and you would be surprised at how easy it is for you to save a small fortune this way.
11. Not Happy?
If you're not happy then speak up. Complaining will absolutely get you somewhere because most of the time you'll get money back for it. ASDA are known for giving out Spark vouchers if someone has a bad experience, but the decision regarding this will ultimately rest with the manager. The same goes when a product does not meet your expectation. If something is really wrong, like a product contains something that it shouldn't or even if something is out of date then other supermarkets are known for giving out coupons as a way of refunding the customer. It's always worth trying to look into this if you do have a bad experience, so keep that in mind.
