We share some top-tips to cut the cost of your groceries
From loyalty cards to yellow stickers, paying less for your weekly shop is achievable, as long as you go about it correctly.
As of October 2026, shop-price inflation has risen to the highest level in more than two years. The rise stems from the conflict in the Middle East — retailers have been attempting to absorb the increased costs, but they’re now forced to pass some of the additional costs on to their customers. In the autumn budget, the Chancellor announced a cut to import tariffs on household staples, which will help somewhat, but is unlikely to make a noticeable change to our food bills.
So we’re all feeling the pinch. Here are some of the ways you can save some money at the supermarket.
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Write a shopping list
Knowing what you need to buy can help to avoid impulse purchases, so write a list and try your best to stick to it. Of course, you might see good offers that you just have to pick up (more on these later), but knowing roughly what your meals will be for the week stops you from overbuying.
If you don’t have time for a full list, take a look in your freezer, fridge and cupboards before you head off shopping too. Taking a quick photo of what’s already at home is a handy hack to help you remember.
Doing this stops you buying things you don’t need and will also reduce any food waste – everything you throw away is wasting your cash. UK households still throw away around £2 of food each day according to the climate action group WRAP – that’s over £700 in a year.
Switch your supermarket
We’re often drawn to the same supermarket. Maybe we’ve always gone there, or maybe it’s just the closest one. But it’s definitely worth trying out some alternatives to see if they can bring the price of your shopping down.
Although sometimes going out of your way to visit more than one can be counterproductive, your time might be better spent doing other things.
Compare prices
One of the best ways to see if it’s worth going elsewhere is to use a price comparison site. These will tell you who sells the product you want for the lowest price, and sometimes show you price history too, so you can work out if a special offer is actually special at all.
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Check for cashback and coupons
Before you embark on your weekly supermarket trolley dash, take a look at cashback apps like Checkout Smart, Green Jinn or Shopmium.
These apps give you money back for buying particular products, sometimes as much as the entire value, thereby making the product free. Just pick up the product, make sure you get a receipt and upload a photo when you get home.
Don’t forget to be on the lookout for coupons too. From magazines and newspapers to Facebook and Instagram, always be on the lookout for coupons. We sometimes share freebies you can get from supermarkets on our supermarket deals page — the best way to hear about them first is in our newsletter.
And if you’re shopping online, there are often vouchers for newbies to save a decent chunk on your first shop.
Understand the supermarket tricks
Supermarkets invest a lot of time in the psychology of how you shop. They’ll start you with fruit and veg not because it’s practical, but because they make us feel better about what we’re buying – look how fresh it all is.
Then they make you push that trolley through all the aisles before you reach the essentials (that’s why milk is often at the back), hoping you’ll pick up extras en route. Sometimes they rejig the layout to force you to explore areas you’d normally pass by.
They also keep big brands at eye level, hoping you don’t look up or down to cheaper, own-brand alternatives.
Then it’s all the chocolate at the tills – tempting you as you queue (although thankfully it looks like these are on their way out!). And don’t go shopping when you’re hungry – studies have actually shown that you will be more inclined to buy more.
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Switch to own-label
Consider buying the supermarket’s own-label products — they’re comparable to the bigger named brands but will cost you less.
There are always some products where you’ll never taste a difference – I mean, can you honestly say you can taste the difference between Tesco kidney beans and Napolina kidney beans once they’re mixed into your spicy chilli? You will, however, notice the difference in price – 39p versus £1 a tin.
For other items, many are actually made in the same factories as the well-known brands, though that doesn’t mean they will be made to the same recipe or taste the same.
But there’s a chance you’ll actually prefer them. You’ve just got to try them to find out. Waitrose Essential baked beans, for example, are now my favourite – having overtaken Heinz in the ‘I’ll never swap’ beans taste test!
And you can do the same with things like toilet rolls, washing detergent, dishwasher tablets and other household products. Own brands are often pounds cheaper than the popular brands, and if you look at what’s in them, you’ll find very little difference.
My favourite own-label saving is Tesco’s washing liquid. It cleans clothes as well as any of the brands I’ve tried, yet costs just 6p per wash, compared to Persil, for example, which costs 16p per wash. That saves me 10p every time I put a wash on.
Shop the world food aisle
Take a stroll down the world food aisle next time you’re in the supermarket and you may find yourself some bargains. Things like spices come in much bigger packs and are much better value than the small spice jars we normally buy, and rice can be bought in bulk for a much lower price.
Keep an eye on the prices, though, as they do fluctuate, and some things can cost more than the regular price.
I’m a big fan of the cheaper coconut milk they sell in these aisles, but I have found the tinned tomatoes are of poorer quality. Give them a try and find your favourites.
We’ve got more top tips for shopping in the world food aisle.
Spot the yellow labels
Reduced food and drink can save you money, but don’t be tempted to buy too much if you’re not going to use it, however good a bargain it is.
But if it can be frozen, then go ahead and stock up on those bargains. Food like meat, dairy and fish can be put straight in the freezer when you get home. Here are our tips on freezing food.
Try to find out when reductions take place at your local supermarkets so you don’t miss out. Most stores will start marking down prices from late afternoon/early evening, but obviously it varies by store and by day.
If you do find the golden hour at your local supermarket, and it isn’t too much of a bun fight, then consider timing your weekly shop for around that time.
Swap to already frozen produce
And it’s not just reduced items or leftovers that can go in the freezer. Since frozen foods last longer than fresh, many tend to be cheaper than their fresh counterparts, as there is less spoilage and waste for the cost to cover. Just consider the price of fresh raspberries against frozen raspberries.
As I’m writing, a quick look at the Sainsbury’s website shows that fresh raspberries are £15 per kg, whilst frozen are £11.43. And that’s just one example. There are so many products that are cheaper from the frozen aisle.
Plus, keeping your freezer full will actually save you energy and therefore money! So there’s your excuse to try more foods from the frozen aisles!
Tinned or canned food also tends to be cheaper than fresh, again because of its long shelf life, so take a wander down the canned aisle to see what you can find.
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Stock up when your favourites are on offer
If you have room for it (and can afford it), buying in bulk is a good idea. So if your favourite cereal is on offer, buy enough to last you a few months or longer.
Though don’t over buy as you run the risk of not getting through things before they go off. This works best on consumables with a long shelf life.
Check price per unit
To help you work out the cheapest pack size, or even compare prices of different brands, check on shelf labels to find out the price per unit. They’ll be things like per 100g or per 100ml. It’s not perfect, and sometimes different brands can’t be compared easily, but it can help.
Use loyalty cards
Don’t forget to use your supermarket loyalty cards, especially as the current trend is to offer lower prices to loyalty card holders. Many will also require you to activate vouchers before you shop to get money off, so don’t forget to do this. Unfortunately, I often find myself remembering in the supermarket car park!
