For most of us, shopping regularly at the supermarkets is the most convenient way of buying the food and supplies we need. But the supermarkets are clever and whilst it is possible to get a lot for not very much, it's probably easier to spend a lot more than you planned or need to. So here are some simple tips – some of which you might already know and others that might surprise you. If your financial circumstances have now changed, following as many tips as possible could make the difference to keep your finances on track.

Only buy what you need. 

This one seems obvious, but it's so easy to get caught up in a spending frenzy. If you don't need it, don't buy it.

Buy supermarket own brands.

Buying supermarket basic and budget ranges can produce significant savings. However, taste tests carried out by people like "Which", where big-name brands are blind tested against supermarket-own brands, often show surprising results – although is it a surprise?

Try cheaper cuts of meat and use less.

Ah, the fillet steak, the chicken breast (maybe wrapped in some parma ham!). What is it about these cuts of meat? If we're honest with ourselves, isn't it really that they are convenient? TV cookery programmes often feature chefs cooking these cuts because they can be cooked in a pan and on camera. They are quick, easy and satisfying to prepare but are they tastier? A slow-cooked chicken casserole using chicken thighs is more delicious made with that cut, and braising steak cooked in a slow cooker can be easily "knocked together" in the morning and ready for the evening meal. Also, use less meat. Chilli can be made healthier and less expensively by increasing the veggie/beans to meat ratio. 

Buy in bulk 

Buying in bulk is a simple way to save. If you own or manage your own business, it's worth signing up with a wholesale retailer or membership club such as Costco, which has 28 warehouses in the UK. There is an annual membership fee of £26.40. 

Use price-match promises

Tesco, Asda and Ocado all offer discounts to customers if their shopping could have been bought cheaper from certain rivals, so make a habit of swiping your loyalty card or registering your receipt online after every supermarket shop. 

Watch out for discounts.

Special discounts, such as buy-one-get-one-free deals, can offer good value, but be careful. Only buy items you need and are likely to keep and use - toiletries such as toothpaste and shampoo are a good example, as are toilet rolls. 

Yellow Sticker items

Not for everyone this, and with recent belt-tightening – the "cheap shelf" has become the scene of some competitive barging and shoving on occasions. If you happen to pass and they've just put it all out, you can get some fantastic bargains. Of course, you need to be sure you'll eat what you buy, and if you have planned your meals for the day already, purchases will either need to be cooked that day or put straight in the freezer. Some people think it's a wonderfully serendipitous way of shopping for food. Ready meals bought for a quarter of their original price can be easily "zhushed up" and augmented. 

Make your lunch 

Take a packed lunch to work or school. Buying lunch may be easier when you a have hectic morning, but if you get organised by making lunch the night before, you could save £20+ per week.

Meal plan 

Plan your meals out for the following week, and go through your cupboards, fridge and freezer. If possible, plan meals around what you already have. 

Write a shopping list. 

Ever gone grocery shopping, forgotten what you need and bought duplicates? Write a shopping list and stick to it.

Eat your leftovers 

If you have leftover food, eat it up. Food is often safe up to 3 days after cooking, although always check and use your common sense.

Keep food fresher for longer. 

Make the most of your fridge and freezer. Freezing leftovers instead of binning them will save you money and time, as you've got an instant meal for a day when you don't fancy cooking. And storing food properly in your fridge will give it longer shelf life. For example, cucumbers turn soft because the refrigerator is too cold - wrap them in a tea towel to keep them crisper. And avoid putting milk in the door rack, as it's warmed whenever the door is opened. 
 

Updated: March 2022