Food is getting more expensive in supermarkets – 10 ways to cut the cost of your grocery shop
FOOD prices are edging upwards. They're now 0.4 per cent higher than they were in February last year, thanks to the fall in the value of sterling.
But competition between the bigger retailers is shielding shoppers from cost increases for the time being, figures show.
Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium, which produced the data, said: "It is clear that the significant underlying cost pressures which have been building over the last year are beginning to filter through into shop prices.
"Global food prices were on average 16 per cent higher at the beginning of this year compared to last, whilst over the same period the value of the pound fell around 15 per cent."
While February saw an increase of 0.4 per cent in the prices of food sold in shops, non-food prices were down 1.8 per cent on the previous year.
Dickinson said: "Looking further ahead, retailers, who operate in a highly competitive market with narrow margins, will be increasingly hard pushed to protect their customers from the inevitable impact of these rising cost pressures.
"We can therefore expect this impact to start manifesting in shop prices over the course of the year."
British shoppers have already seen prices go up, with food and drink suppliers pushing up prices in supermarkets up and down the country - blaming Brexit and the dwindling value of the pound for doing so.
But there are simple ways to cut bills, and below we list 10 tips for saving money on your food shop.
1. Compare food prices online
As with any purchase you're about to make, you should always compare retailers to see who's offering the best prices.
There are sites available online that allow you to compare prices of everyday items across Britain’s most popular supermarkets.
Mysupermarket is one good example and, as well as price comparisons, has sections like "Savvy Buys" which lay out the biggest discounts of the day.
Prices change all the time, so you’ll need to keep checking back to make sure you’re still getting the best deal.
2. Avoid multi-buy deals
You might think you're getting a good deal if a product is part of a multi-buy or buy-one-get-one-free (Bogof) offer, but to give the impression of giving a good deal, supermarkets sometimes push up the price per item and exaggerate original prices to make them seem cheaper.
In fact, some studies claimed that Bogof deals were tricking shoppers into spending an extra £1,274 a year.
Sainsbury's has since announced that it will be ditching all multi-buy deals over the next few weeks. But shoppers in other supermarkets should avoid them altogether.
3. Use coupons and discount codes
Some people make a career out of hunting out the best bargains and find themselves having to pay very little for a supermarket shop.
But for those of us who are less committed to bargain hunting, it pays to check sites like MoneySavingExpert and VoucherCloud to nab supermarket discounts and voucher codes.
A simple search online could help you save £10 or £20 off an online order, or money off items you habitually buy.
4. If you order your grocery shop online, make sure you choose a quiet delivery slot
Many supermarkets charge more for deliveries made at popular times, like at the weekend and during the evenings.
If possible, try and book cheaper delivery slots - as off-peak times are often up to £5 cheaper than busier times.
Also - make sure you go in store for smaller shops, as many supermarkets, such as Waitrose and Sainsbury’s, impose a minimum spend for free deliveries, so you'll have to spend above a certain amount each time if you want to avoid the fee.
5. Buy own-brand goods
This one is obvious, but unbranded goods are significantly cheaper than their branded counterparts, so opting to buy the former could cut your bill down considerably.
And those who opt for own-label products aren't necessarily sacrificing on taste.
Most would agree, for instance, that branded and unbranded tinned tomatoes taste very similar, and own-label Tesco Italian chopped tomatoes cost 35p for 400g, while Napolina's same-sized chopped tomatoes tin costs 95p - 60p more.
6. Make the most of supermarket loyalty schemes
Sainsbury's and Tesco both offer loyalty schemes to customers, which can result in money-off future shops.
Each time you shop and use your loyalty card, you'll earn points that can be turned into money-off vouchers or discounts.
Though it's not necessarily worth changing where you shop just to take advantage of loyalty schemes, it is worth signing up to cards offered by the shops you visit regularly.
7. Use cashback websites to make extra savings
You can earn cashback each time you make a grocery order online, giving you extra savings on your weekly shop.
If you're not already a member of a cashback website, you just need to simply sign up to one (Topcashback.co.uk and Quidco are two of the best) - making sure you click the free / basic membership option - click through to the supermarket you want to shop on via the cashback website, and start shopping.
Instead of going directly to the retailer, you can access the shop through a link in the cashback website, and any purchase made will be registered with the cashback site.
You still receive your item directly from the retailer, and the casback earned will be added to your online account
8. Avoid impulse buys
Supermarkets are carefully crafted to get you to spend more than you anticipated.
The Money Advice Service told The Sun Online that shoppers typically spend 21 per cent more than they intend to each time they visit the supermarket.
Whether it’s chocolate bars or biscuits at the till, or a bargain bottle of plonk, supermarkets have a string of tricks up their sleeve to get you to spend more.
The cost of impulse buys can add up, so they’re best avoided.
9. Find yellow sticker bargains
Heading to the supermarket late in the evening can be a great way of bagging deals.
Reduced items with the magic yellow sticker can be up to 75 per cent cheaper than the retail price, and if you have a big freezer then its the perfect way to stock up on the best brands for less.
There are three reasons food is reduced in the supermarket; it has a short shelf life, it is superficially damaged, or it is no longer being sold – think seasonal items like Easter eggs.
Supermarkets tend to slap a yellow sticker on these items mid-morning and in the evening.
MoneySavingExpert put together a table outlining the best times to visit the big name supermarkets to pick up the best yellow sticker deals.
10. Never shop on an empty stomach
It goes without saying that when we are hungry, we will spend more in a supermarket.
Nearly 60 per cent of people spend more than they intended when food shopping on an empty stomach, the Money Advice Service said.
Women tend to buy more snacks like chocolate and sweets when shopping hungry, while men are more likely to go for meat, alcohol and ready meals.
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