Five tricks supermarkets play to make you spend MORE MONEY and how you can beat them

HAVE you ever popped into the supermarket for one thing and ended up with a trolley full?

Supermarkets use many tactics and tricks to get us to spend money.

Earlier this year some promised to change confusing price promotions after an investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) found many were misleading customers.

However, there are many legit ways that they tempt us into paying out more than we planned. We picked five of the top tricks and reveal how to avoid them.

1. Treats near the checkout – never go shopping when you’re hungry

Supermarkets love to prey on tired, hungry and irritable shoppers. That’s why there’s always a lot of snacks as you wait in line at the checkout.

Some supermarkets have introduced healthier options but the theory is still the same – they hope that you spot something you want and then you buy it, spending more money in the process.

Don’t get caught out by this! Never go shopping when you’re hungry.

This might sound really obvious but you’ll end up buying things that you don’t want and you’re more likely to be tempted into something unhealthy and expensive.

2. Special offers/ buy one get one free / 2 for 1s – compare prices before you shop

Lots of supermarkets claim they have banished special offers in favour of lower prices, after they came in for a lot of criticism.

However, they will never been a totally offer free zone. They use big writing and colourful signs to tempt us in.

The truth is that suppliers pay supermarkets to have their products placed in a prime position and on special offer as they know this will mean more customers will buy it.

Remember, always check if a deal is really a deal. For more expensive items – like loo roll, nappies and washing power, for example – you can compare the cost online before you shop to make sure you’re getting the best price.

The grocery comparison website MySupermarket is a great place to start. You don’t have to even order your food through them – you can just compare and then head to the cheapest supermarket, safe in the knowledge that you’re not getting ripped off.

3. Dirty display tricks – make sure you look up and down the shelves

Did you realise that supermarkets stack their shelves tactically? I bet you didn’t.

They tend to put the most expensive items in your eye-line, in an attempt to make you spend more.

This also works on your kids as they items are positioned so they can reach out and grab them.

It really is no coincidence that they put more expensive branded items in your eye-line and the own-brand cheaper ones are out of your initial sight.

If you look below or above then you’ll find the cheaper items.

4. You pay for convenience – don’t be lazy, loose is cheaper

If you’re whizzing around the supermarket and pushed for time then it might be tempting to pick up pre-prepared vegetables and fruit – but you’ll pay the price.

Buying items this way will cost you more money because the supermarket has to pay someone to pack them up.

Opt for loose fruit and vegetables to keep costs down. You’ll also help the environment by saving on packaging and producing less waste.

5. More expensive items near the front – don’t get temped in

Most supermarkets push high margin departments – the ones they make the most money on – like flowers and fresh baked goods near the front door.

This means you encounter them when your basket or trolley is empty and your spirits are high, making you more likely to buy them.

Remember this, don’t be tempted by something you don’t need or can’t afford to spend money on.

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