I’m a supermarket expert and here are six ways you can cut the cost of your food shop
SHOPPERS noticing the cost of their supermarket sweep creeping up are looking for ways to keep costs down - we've rounded up six of the best tips.
We spoke to shopping whizz Naomi Willis about how she manages to do the weekly trolley dash without going over budget.
From the art of finding yellow sticker bargains to muscling in on the best supermarket loyalty schemes, the mum-of-two has a range of tricks up her sleeve to cut the cost of her grocery bill.
And with the cost of living on the rise, it's more important than ever to make sure you're getting the most for your money.
She regularly shares her tips on savvy spending blog .
This time around she's revealed to The Sun six tips to cut the cost of your food shop.
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You don't have to make any drastic changes to what's going into your basket to follow the steps and save on your spends.
It can be as simple as keeping your hands full when you go down the treat aisle, or changing up the store you visit.
Shop around
It might be more convenient to visit one place, but splitting your shop across a few different stores can save you more money.
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One supermarket might have fruit and veg on offer while another has bargain chocolate treats that you can't find anywhere else.
Your overall spend could be cheaper if you spread out where you buy each item.
Naomi said: "To speed things up, I always try using the store’s click and collect service.
"Even with the fee then, you can still save money using each of their current offers."
Trying this tip out online means you can see all the offers stacked against each other as well, instead of trying out your luck on numerous visits to multiple store.
Branch out
Don’t just shop in supermarkets.
Naomi said: "You can pick up bargains from shops like Poundstretcher and B&M for store cupboard essentials.
"You'll also find deals with your local butcher, farm shop and greengrocer, and can get cheaper prices if you bulk buy from a wholesaler."
She's not the only one who knows about the nifty way to keep your spends down.
We revealed that one savvy shopper had managed to save over £200 on her food shop just by taking a trip to the wholesalers instead.
Bag it up
It's an often forgotten part of the supermarket experience, but you've got to put all your shopping somewhere once it's been scanned through the checkout.
Don't forget to bring bags with you, or you could end up forking out a lot more.
Naomi said: "You could add on over £80 a year to your food shop if you buy bags every time - they cost around 20p each and I know I need about eight bags, so that, times 52 weeks, is a big extra cost."
Basket case
"If you’re only nipping in for a few bits, don’t bother with a trolley," said Naomi.
If you want to keep to your budget it might be more of a case for a basket.
Grab one or just hold what you need in your hands explained Naomi.
Otherwise if you have a trolley, it’s easy to add a few too many treats in as you walk up and down the aisles, whereas you can only carry so much with a basket.
Physically restricting yourself means you can avoid overspending.
List it
Shoppers who try to take on the task of the big shop without a list, might find they add more than they needed and they'll over spend.
You might even forget a few things too, and need to head back for another top up shop.
On your second visit you might end up adding even more to the trolley, and the petrol costs of just getting there will soon add up as well.
"If you're anything like me, you’re prone to leaving that list on the kitchen table," Naomi joked.
"A good tip is to remember to take a photo of it as soon as it’s written so you don’t need to struggle from memory."
Sticking to the list is a great way to make sure you don’t go over budget, and meal planning can be another great way to make sure you only get what you need and use it all up.
Sign me up
If you are more of an online shopper, you can save money on the delivery costs by signing up to the supermarket’s delivery plan.
Keep in mind you'll need to pay a monthly fee for the service, but that could work out cheaper than individual slots if you're a frequent orderer.
Asda offers an anytime delivery pass for £6 a month, or £72.00 a year.
While Sainsbury's anytime delivery pass is £60 for 12 months, £35 for six or £20 for three.
Tesco also has a delivery subscription option, costing £7.99 a month.
And an annual Morrisons delivery pass for midweek orders is £35, or £20 for six months and £5 monthly.
You could get your money back though," Naomi explained. "Under the terms of their plans, they will refund you the difference if you end up paying more."
Having a delivery plan also means you get priority bookings for very busy online shopping periods such as Easter and Christmas.
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There's plenty more ways to cut costs too - even timing your shop will pay off. The art of picking which exact date to visit shops like Tesco, and more, will help you save some pennies on your next visit.
Even Martin Lewis has urged everyone to take on the downshift challenge to cut 30% from bills, including at the supermarket.
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