Food Bills

It is a supermarket world, isn't it?
In the UK the supermarkets would appear to rule the retail food world, as well as branching into everything else including banking! You can buy almost everything you need for the family from one visit to one of the major supermarkets.

But are they good value?
The answer is 'yes' but there is a lot one can do to save money each week.

Find out which supermarket suits you and provides the food and household items that you want at the prices you are prepared to pay.

The mainstream supermarkets include Sainsbury's and TESCO but shops such as Lidl, Aldi, Netto and Iceland seem to be cheaper than the larger supermarkets. One reason for this is that these stores tend to sell only one, sometimes two, brands of each product. So they have the quality of food but not necessarily a choice for each product. According to recent news reports these stores have become very popular!

If you really are aware of the prices in the different shops, then you can save money by spending a little bit of extra time going to several different shops getting the items you want at the cheapest prices.

Avoid buying items on impulse. The supermarkets display many non-food 'special purchase' items. These look to be good value and probably are. But if you didn't want that item before going shopping then you probably don't need to buy it now!

Some top tips when you go shopping

1. Don't buy on impulse!
If you didn't need it before you arrived at the shop then you won't need it when you get back home.

2. Don't take the kids with you. It is very difficult to focus on what you are buying if you are under continual pressure to buy everything that they see and want!

3. If you do take children to the supermarket then remember that the lower shelves (the ones at the children's height) are full of items that they will want you to buy! The supermarkets expect the children to see these items and to give you grief until you buy them!

4. Make a list of the regular non-food items that you actually need; such as bleach, washing powder, etc. before you go. First of all you will not miss anything that you need but it will cut down on impulse buying.

5. Check the prices of the items you are buying.
The price tickets have a price per 100g or some such measure. Compare this with the other similar items. Compare it with the different sizes of the same product! I have seen on many occasions that the larger packs actually cost more per 100g than the smaller, supposedly more expensive, packs.

6. Brand Names Cost EXTRA
The brand name items cost more. Why? One reason is that they have to recover the cost of advertising!
The second reason is that they rely on people thinking that the brand name products are better quality! These days I doubt the supermarkets will sell 'own brand' products that are going to be worse quality than the branded products! It is often just a packaging and quantity difference!

7. Don't assume that special offers are good value for you!
Those special offers are designed and priced for you to buy. They may mean that you need to spend more money than you would want to! The same applies to the BOGOF (buy one get one free) items. If you only want one item then why spend extra money getting two!

8. Check the use-by date
Don't buy items that will be out of date before you get round to using them! There is a general discussion on sell by dates at the moment. Too much food is being wasted because it is close to, or has reached, the use by date.

9. Supermarkets are not necessarily the best place for everything!
For example fresh fruit and vegetables may well be better value in local market and specialist shops.

10. Don't just buy everything from one shop. Know your local shops. Take some extra time to go to each shop and buy what you want and save money!

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