9 useful tips to help save on your weekly food shop

Saving as much as possible is now a must and there are a few tips to help make the most out of your weekly food shop.

With the help of data analysts Kantar and personal finance group Ocean Finance, we have detailed some tips to take forward.

From using loyalty cards, to certain times to shop being optimal for more discounts being available it will hopefully give some help.

What tips can help you save money on your weekly food shop?

Use supermarkets instead of convenience and local stores to save up to 9.5%

Using supermarkets has found to be cheaper than your local convenience shop (PA)

It might be that your local convenience store is closer, however, research from Which? found that over the course of a year, you could be paying 9.5% more for shopping at local stores as opposed to regular supermarkets.

Don’t go shopping without a meal plan and shopping list

According to the Money Advice Service, people who make a list are three times less likely to overspend than those who don’t.

Planning ahead and sticking to what you put down should see temptation resisted to add anything else whilst you are there.

Head to your supermarket at the optimum time for yellow sticker savings

You’ll find the biggest bargains when you keep an eye out for those yellow stickers. Try heading to the supermarket at the following optimal times for reduced items:

• M&S – An hour before they close
• Morrisons – 6pm
• Sainsbury’s – 6pm
• Asda – 7pm
• Waitrose – 6pm

While these can differ between stores, often going to the supermarket an hour before closing will offer the lowest reductions.

Don’t be a brand snob to save up to 38%

This is a useful tactic to go with the supermarket-own products rather than the usual brands.

In 2021, Which? revealed Aldi as the cheapest supermarket of the year, with a basket of 22 branded and unbranded goods costing £24.03. This is 38% cheaper than Waitrose, at £33.06.

Aldi are a good option for price-saving according to Which? (PA) (Image: PA)

Never shop on an empty stomach

It always helps to do your shopping after you’ve had a meal. If your stomach’s rumbling, there’s a high chance you’ll give in to the hunger pangs and chuck some tempting treats in the trolley.

Of course, it’s fine to treat yourself, but try to factor them in on your list, to curb impulse buying.

Head to the frozen aisle for your vegetables

Fresh fruit and vegetables are great - but if you’re on a tight budget, you can still get your five-a-day in frozen form.

Also, if you’re getting a week’s worth of food in one go, buying frozen stuff means you'll have fewer problems with food going off before you use it.

Have some meat-free days

Research shows that meat-eaters spend an average of £752 on meat each year, alone.

Plus, with more and more people considering a plant-based diet, there are now lots of tasty meat-free recipes to follow online.

Buying less meat will help save money in the long-term (PA)

Start couponing to save money

They appear in supermarket magazines and on packaging (like crisp packets and cereal boxes). 

The trick is to only use coupons for things you’d normally buy anyway, or your shopping bill could soon add up. 

Use loyalty cards

It’s a good idea to shop around, but at the same time, loyalty can pay off. Loyalty cards can help you to rack up points at your favourite supermarket, which can lead to some helpful savings.

Just make sure no deals persuade you into buying something you wouldn't normally purchase.