Top Tips for Grocery Shopping Saving

Snugglebunny8

am making a note of everyone's tips as well as leaving some myself, picked up some new ones, thanks! x

lifebeginsagain

Thank you all so much for taking the time to reply.

I will definately been checking out some of the sites you've recommended.

I have also decided to bring out the breadmaker again to make our own bread and rolls:D.

We have decided not to buy any more puds and desserts and biscuits/snacks - I will make them.

I am also wondering if I am better off doing one big shop a month to bulk buy toilet rolls etc.. for the month as buying in bigger packs will work out cheaper and then I just need to buy meat and fresh fruit and veg each week.

All our dinners are homemade already - no ready meals.

Ilona I don't think I've kept my last shopping list otherwise I would have been more than happy for you to have a peep;)

Hazel1980

I bulk buy loo roll which works out cheaper.

I visit farmfoods once a month to do a big freezer shop and this saves me about £40 per month. I have a small feezer in my garage so I can bulk buy.

I also avoid going to the supermarket in between shops and get bread and milk from the local corner shop and make sure I only take enough cash to get what I need so I'm not tempted by chocolate lol.

Hazel1980

Do you shop online? That saves me a fair bit as I'm not tempted to buy rubbish.

RHYSDAD

When you've finished shopping in Sainsbury's or wherever and before you go to pay, go through your trolly discarding all the items you never intended to buy in the first place and were seduced into picking up by the supermarket's clever marketing. Saves a fortune!

Lugh_Chronain

Or just bring a shopping list with you and get only the things you need. I do this all the time. The only time I get treats is when they are on offer, I check online first before I do a shop, appears quite frequent too, so I'm not too deprived. I can afford to do this though [luckily].

FrugalFranny

Same as above really:

1.Write a list and stick to it (A lot harder than it sounds lol)
2.Take the money you need and leave the card(s) at home (I do allow myself a spare £5-£15 for unexpected price increases and the odd real BOGOF/bargain that crops up)
3.Go after you've eaten, the fuller you feel the less you'll go 'mmmmmmmm they look good'.
4.Avoid browsing, blinkers on!This is a miltary operation! In, Grab listed items, Out
5.Any allergy (especially a peanut allergy) is one of those things that crops up when you least expect it, safest bet (and cheap) is 'from scratch cooking'. I batch cook for this to save time and the "I'm hungry NOW!" problem. A few pre-cooked meals in the freezer ready to go "ping!" in the microwave will save you having grumpy hungry peeps milling around.
6.Homemade snack food will solve most allergy problems, and mean that they don't feel 'left out' when everyone else can just nip to the cupboard and grab a packet of something.

Cheap brands that do well:

Loo paper from Iceland is £1 for four and is really good, pretty soft yet strong enough to survive most situations. It's not anything special, but hey, what's it for at the end of the day?

Also Pound Land have some really good offers on cleaning products, got 750ml of mister muscle all purpose spray for a £1 the other day, and Oust air freshner. I do like those products I'll admit, ran out of bicarb the other day and needed cleaning/freshning products ASAP (blasted cats! lol).

As for meat, veg, I usually haggle with the local market sellers at the end or the day when they are closing up. Never tried it on a big store, but I have got the odd 50p or so knocked off for dented tins and so on. Don't be afraid to use your charm, bat those eye lashes!

The pennys soon add up.

Lugh_Chronain

You could also make a shopping list with the prices written on it as well to help you to compare prices in other stores. Maybe keep your receipts as this will save time from having to check prices online if you have a lot you think you need to compare as it can take an age to do otherwise.

I do this when shopping in Aldi's and Lidl's stores especially though I tend to check online first, saves me from leaving stuff if I'm not sure of the prices. I would most likely leave empty handed if I didn't make a list this way. I don't always do this, just now and again.

However, make sure not to copy prices down in any of the stores you visit as they can get very defensive if you do. A journalist got threatened with arrest recently after doing this, he was nearly arrested for the 'crime' of doing a price check on some bottles of water in a Tesco store he was shopping at.

Snugglebunny8

not a Mr T fan but recently tried the recommended Springforce loo rolls, 1.99 for 9, found them very good!

for the girls, Mr S own brand and Basics s. towels are very cheap and really good, much better than other own brands and basics range under 50p, but the 99p Mr S own brand packs are as good as Always etc, but at half the pice - just in case people wondering wether to try or not.

Snugglebunny8

other Mr S Basics we use and find really good;

Basics Marmalade 30p- hubby says its as good as the expensive stuff

Basics teabags 27p - I buy branded ones on half price offers but also use these, cant tell the difference

Basics 2 x part baked baguettes, 39p - realy tasty, crisp up nicely.

wondered if anyone tried Mr S own brand of yeast extract? we get through jar of Marmite a week and its 2.99 now everywhere near me, keeping eye on Amazon to bulk buy but still as expensive, would love to know if own brand any good before I risk it!