With inflation set to soar past 10% in the UK, part of the hit consumers has faced has come with the price of eating. We examined some ways to keep your food bill down.
Supermarkets Want You To Spend Loads
Everything they do is designed for this purpose. Where they place items, colourful displays, offers and more. So key is not to fall into their traps. Know what you want and stick to it. Discipline is key, and the understanding that offers are only good on items you would have bought anyway.
Be In Charge
It’s crucial to adopt the proper attitude if you’re on a tight budget. Don’t enquire, “How can I obtain all the delights I want at the cheapest price?”. Instead, state: “What can I afford on my £XYZ budget?”
Above all, a budget is only one component of a larger plan. How much you prioritise going grocery shopping will depend on your other expenses.
Ways To Keep Your Food Bill Down – Welcome Offers
To “capture” new consumers, online retailers frequently distribute initial discount coupons. You know the sort. Perhaps £15 off £60 at Sainsbury’s. Use price comparison sites, or the excellent Money Supermarket site to see what you could save.
Ways To Keep Your Food Bill Down – Ditch Premium
Supermarkets categorise their products into many groups and use oblique language to let you choose whether you want anything “luxury” or “basic.”
Costs, presentation, and occasionally ingredients rise as you advance the brand level. It’s not uncommon for a manufacturer’s brand and own brand to be produced in the same plant by the same workers. Though it can be challenging to demonstrate with specific products).
Premium. It implies a reward when it uses terms like “finest” or “extra special.”
Branded. products like Kellogg’s cereal or McVitie’s Jaffa Cakes.
unique brand. These are frequently packaged in a manner like those of manufacturer’s brands, but with the supermarket’s own spin.
Value. The titles of the products, such as “basic” or “savers,” are meant to convey that they have been pared down to the bare essentials. Tesco, however, has replaced its “Everyday Value” line with “brands” that are only available in its stores, such as Eastman’s, Stockwell & Co., and Hearty Food Co.
Don’t fall for this con. Much of this food is the same. Go value or Own Brand, you probably won’t notice the difference. Do a blind taste teste to prove this!
Do The Same With Non-Food
Strangely enough, research indicates that compared to food, consumers are more inclined to stick with branded laundry detergents, shower gels, and other cleaning supplies. However, these goods don’t even need to be tasted. Therefore the savings are substantial. Try downshifting these as a result.
However, traditional frugal consumers wouldn’t begrudge us if we didn’t mention that you can thoroughly clean a house with white vinegar and lemon juice.
Shop On A Full Stomach
Although it may seem simple, it is true that when you are hungry, you are more inclined to make unnecessary purchases.
Moreover, avoid pick-up stores. Don’t pick up a basket if you stop by your neighbourhood store to grab a pint of milk during the middle of the week. If you do that, it usually gets filled. Purchase a pint of milk if you want one, then go.
ways To Keep Your Food Bill Down – Comparison Sites
Trolley, a useful tool for comparison, allows you to compare the prices of goods at the major supermarkets.
You may also create notifications for when the cost of your preferred goods decreases.
Tesco, Asda, Waitrose, Ocado, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, and other major retailers are examined.
Even if you plan on visiting a store in person, it’s still worthwhile to check to see which is the cheapest for you as the prices it displays are online prices that are frequently reflected in-store.
To discover the cost of a product at various retailers, simply search for it. You may create price alerts; all you need to do is register for free.
You can compare the information to store prices as you shop using an app available for both Apple and Android phones.
Loyalty Schemes
discounts of as much as 50%
If a particular supermarket offers a free loyalty programme and you frequently visit it, joining is a no-brainer.
When you shop, programmes like Tesco’s Clubcard and Sainsbury’s Nectar provide you points that may be exchanged for discounts on future purchases or prizes from a small group of partners. However, you may also use these programmes to access exclusive discounts on a variety of goods each week, which might result in annual grocery savings of £100s.
