How to save money on your weekly supermarket shopping

According to a 2015 report, the average household spends £83.60 every week on food and drink.

And it’s easy to see why – we’ve all occasionally committed the cardinal sin of wandering aimlessly around the supermarket aisles popping anything and everything that takes our fancy into the trolley.

Overspending on the weekly supermarket shopping is an incredibly easy mistake to make, and, in this post, we’ve got 7 ways you can save money on your food shopping.

Before you head out and grab that trolley, read the advice below carefully.

1. Plan the shop

   One of the most common reasons for over-spending during the weekly supermarket shop is failing to plan. Head there without a shopping list and you’re almost certain to buy things you don’t need. Before you leave the house, check the cupboards, plan your meals and make a note of only what you absolutely need.

2. Buy healthy

   The healthier you eat, the less you’ll spend – it’s that simple. Pre-packaged microwave meals and sugar-infested cereals are expensive and bad for you. Buy fresh produce and reduce your portion sizes – you’ll spend less in the supermarket as a result.

3. Don’t ignore coupons

   Newspapers are still full of coupons for supermarkets, so if you’re an avid reader of the daily news, make sure you use them. It’s far too easy to brush off the odd pound here and there as not worth the cutting-out time, but they all add up!
   

4. Invest in frozen food

   Never heard or thought of food shopping as an ‘investment’? Think about it, and it makes utter sense; the more frozen food you can buy, the less you’ll spend. It keeps longer, and results in less waste or the need to restock. The same can be said for canned and dried produce.

5. Don’t give in to in-store offers

   Not all offers are as they seem, so before you grab the ‘buy-one-get-one-free’ deal on yoghurts, have a look at alternative brands to see if you can get the same for less. You’ll often find the deals themselves can be beaten if you have a closer look at the aisle on which they reside.

6. Forgo big brands

   Supermarket-branded food and drink is nearly always a brilliant, cheaper alternative to the big brands. Before opting for what you’re familiar with, try out what the store has to offer – you’ll be surprised by how similar they are. You can apply the same theory to cleaning products, which can be chronically expensive if you only buy big brands.

7. Try home delivery

   The cost of shopping extends beyond the till receipt. What about the cost of petrol to and from the store? Supermarket home delivery services are becoming increasingly popular and for good reason. Firstly, the cost of delivery is often favourable. Also, the ability to shop from the comfort of your home means you can easily double-check you’re not buying what you don’t need.

There you have it – saving money on the weekly supermarket shop isn’t difficult at all. We hope the tips above help you with your household budget ensuring you have more money in your back pocket.

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