Grocery bills are set to rise by £271 a year, and many of us are looking at where we can make a saving.
Major supermarkets have upped their prices amid the cost-of-living crisis. In Iceland, an average item costs 31p more than it did a year ago – a rise of 11 percent, while Aldi prices have risen by 19p on average – an increase of 9.6 percent. The weekly shop is an essential part of your family budget, and saving a few extra pennies could make a huge difference for some.
So how can you cut down on your grocery spending?
Introductory discount vouchers for new customers
• Sainsbury’s – £15 off a £60 shop using code SPPC22MAY15 for deliveries by May 31
• Iceland – £5 off a £45 shop using code ICEFIVEOFF for the first online spend
• Morrisons – £20 off your first £60 spend at Morrisons on Amazon order using the code SPRINGMOR20 until 11.59pm on May 31
• Co-op – £15 off your first £50 spend at Co-op on Amazon using the code HELLOCOOP15 until June 30
Downshift Challenge
Try dropping one brand level on your groceries, if you can’t tell the difference then stick with the cheaper option.
Downshifting typically cuts grocery bills by 30 percent, even if you swapped half the items, that’s still a 15 percent saving.
Free food at Iceland
Iceland is giving away food on the last day of its shelf life to customers who shop online, to help cut down on food waste.
Free food from Tesco, bakeries, neighbours and more
Instead of binning surplus food, people have started signing up to Olio and offering up their grub to the local community.
Major supermarkets and retailers such as Tesco and Pret a Manger and independent cafes and bakeries have been offering up any leftovers at the end of the day.
Yellow-sticker discounts
Yellow sticker discounts are when items have been reduced to clear, and they can help you slash your grocery bill in half.
The first yellow stickers appear mid-morning, while silly-price reductions begin early evening when stores cut prices by 75 percent or more.
In Asda the final reductions often start around 7pm – and most bargains have been snapped up by 9pm, while you usually have to wait until 8pm for 75 percent discounts in Co-op.
Reductions in Morrisons tend to start late morning or lunchtime, while Sainsbury’s discounts kick-in around 7pm.
Tesco and Lidl reduce food as early as 8am, while big discounts materialise early evening.
Half-price stickers start appearing from 8pm in Aldi, while final reduction stickers can be seen 30 minutes to an hour before closing in M&S.
Timing your shopping trips correctly can help you bag the best bargains.
Buy frozen fruit and veg instead of fresh
Buying frozen food can be 50 percent cheaper than their fresh counterparts, and maintain their quality for longer too.
Grab free fast-food through apps and clubs
Fast-food chains offer new and existing customers discounts and freebies via their apps and membership ‘clubs’.
Here are some freebies that are currently up for grabs:
- KFC – Customers can receive a free side when signing up for the app. Three free loyalty stamps will be awarded after downloading the app, which is enough to redeem a free side. No purchase is required.
- Krispy Kreme – New sign-ups will receive a free original glazed doughnut. Sign up for Krispy Kreme’s newsletter to get the reward.
- Greggs – Customers can get a free hot drink when they sign up for the app. They have previously offered free slices of pizza, sausage rolls, doughnuts, and more.
These freebies can help you save money on your grocery shop.
Meal Planning
Meal planning is a great way to keep your supermarket spending down. If you stumble across a great bargain in the yellow sticker section, remember to adjust your meal plan to avoid any food waste. You could always save your cheap food for next week to bring the cost down then instead.
