Savvy shopper who never pays full price for ANY groceries reveals her best tips including bagging beef for 70p
YELLOW sticker shopping can unearth some serious bargains, which is something Emma Wild knows all too well.
Emma, 33, from Leigh, Greater Manchester, managed to save over £40 in ASDA, Tesco and Aldi - even grabbing meat and fish for just 70p.
Emma told money-saving community : “I’m forever bargain hunting as for the last couple of years my partner hasn’t had much luck job-wise so money has been very tight.
“I generally rotate between ASDA, Tesco, Aldi, Food Warehouse and occasionally Lidl and Sainsbury’s.
“I shop at Tesco a couple of times a month as I get my pet food from there - and the Clubcard discounts are great, especially around Christmas.
“For my big shop each week, I go to Aldi as I find it tends to work out cheaper. I like their own brand products - they’re just as good as the bigger ones in my opinion.
“I generally rotate between ASDA, Tesco, Aldi, Food Warehouse and occasionally Lidl and Sainsbury’s.
“I shop at Tesco a couple of times a month as I get my pet food from there - and the Clubcard discounts are great, especially around Christmas.
“For my big shop each week, I go to Aldi as I find it tends to work out cheaper. I like their own brand products - they’re just as good as the bigger ones in my opinion.
“Food Warehouse is another must for me, as I can bulk buy frozen products that will last several weeks. I think the fizzy drinks are excellent value for money too.
“I’ve also had some luck with Magic Bags from the Too Good To Go app. I usually end up sharing them with friends and neighbours - there is typically too much for me and I don’t want anything to go to waste.”
Emma says her secret to finding deals is timing. “I tend to go shopping in Tesco, Aldi and Food Warehouse between 7pm and 8pm, as the shops are usually quieter.
“The food is typically very cheap at this time - I’ve found that the markdowns between 5pm and 7pm aren’t worth it.”
In one ASDA shop, Emma managed to pay £7.26 instead of £24.83, saving £17.57. ‘The salmon fillets were marked down from £3.36 to £1.75, and I paid just 45p for basa fish that was previously £1.79.
“The beef mince was originally £2.80 but I got it for 70p. I also managed to get two sea-bass fillets reduced to 70p from £2.22.
“Two lots of sushi were 50p reduced from £2.66, and a 12-piece wrap platter was £12 but I only paid £3.16!”
The next stop was Tesco, where Emma paid £9.72 instead of £38.84, saving £29.12.
“I paid just £5.93 for Wiltshire cured gammon that was originally £23.68 - I was very happy with that!
“I also got buttered chicken breast for £1.25 instead of £5, and a beef joint that was £10.16 had been marked down to £2.54.”
Emma went on to get a £3.42 pack of pork chops from Aldi for 85p, plus Lidl Scottish salmon fillets marked down from £3.49 to £1.75.
So how did Emma cook all of her bargains?
“I split the fresh meat into portions and froze it. My partner’s mum helped me with the freezing, as I only have a tiny one until I can afford to upgrade.
“I shared some of the meat with her as we have been helping her vulnerable neighbour since the start of lockdown - she had to isolate and struggled to get shopping slots online.
Emma shared some tips for making other meals on a budget.
She explains: “If I know I’m making a slow cooker meal or a stir fry I will look for marked down casserole veg or stir fry kits that are about to expire. I then cook them as soon as I get home, freezing the meals until I need them.
“I also look in the bargain veg bins and keep an eye out for wonky veg. If I find marked down fruit I will make smoothies or overnight oats.”
Emma has some tips for bargain hunters looking to get similar deals. ‘Don’t shop hungry as you will buy more than you meant to, and always take a shopping list.
“I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve come home with several bags of shopping and forgot half of what I intended to buy!”
Tom Church, Co-Founder of LatestDeals.co.uk, said: “I lived for a year off reduced-to-clear yellow stickers and so when I meet a fellow bargain hunter it’s always a pleasure.
";Emma’s savings are an inspiration for those who are shopping on a budget. Making use of the freezer is a great way to make marked down meat and veg last longer.
“I like to buy discounted fruit and make smoothies to freeze. Just remember to leave about half an inch of space at the top of the container so it has room to expand.”
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