With the rising cost of living and inflation nearing 14 per cent, it's no surprise that Brits are finding it harder than ever to afford their weekly grocery shop. Shoppers are desperate to find any savings they can make - whether that be trying out cheaper versions of their favourite products, or finding other ways to keep warm to avoid putting the heating on.
Fortunately, one savvy shoppers has shared 10 supermarket hacks that can help people save money on their weekly food shop. Tom Church, the co-founder of money-saving community LatestDeals.co.uk, said he has made changes to his own shopping habits in a bid to save some cash.
He said: "I’ve noticed that while lots of products have increased in price, there are still bargains to be found. Doing your homework before going to the supermarket can save you a lot of money over time - and it all adds up."
Tom has shared some of the best bargain alternatives to our favourite brands that can help save money without compromising on the quality shoppers love.
1. Aunt Bessie’s Yorkshire Puddings, was £2 now £1.50, vs ASDA Just Essentials Yorkshire Puddings, 50p (saving £1.50)
Tom said: "With the weather getting colder, we’re turning to comfort food to get us through those chilly nights - and one staple here in the UK will always be a classic roast dinner. Fortunately, Morrisons has got us covered with some great deals on Aunt Bessie’s Yorkshire puddings. Right now, you can grab a 10-pack reduced from £2 to just £1.50 - and that’s cheaper than any other supermarket!
"If you really want to save, though, ASDA has got an even better deal as they’ve got a 15-pack of Yorkshires in their Just Essentials range for just 50p. In other words, you’re getting five more products for a fraction of the price."
2. Ben & Jerry’s Cookie Dough Ice Cream, was £4.75 now £3, vs Aldi Gianni’s Cookie Dough Ice Cream, £1.75 (saving £3)
Sometimes all you fancy is a bowl of ice cream, but it can be tough justifying spending the cash on such a luxurious treat in the current cost of living crisis. "Ben & Jerry’s Cookie Dough Ice Cream is something I’d never pay full price for," Tom said. "At £4.75 it’s just not worth it. However, if it’s one of your favourites, I recommend hunting for the best price with the Supermarket Comparison Tool - when I gave it a go, I found out that B&M has it down to just £3 in-store at the moment.
"If you want even more bang for your buck, you could nip into Aldi and pick up Gianni’s Cookie Dough Ice Cream - it’s a steal at just £1.75."
3. McCain’s Slow Baked Jackets, was £3.25 now £2.25, vs Aldi Four Seasons Ready Baked Jackets, £1.65 (saving £1.60)
Jacket potatoes are a quick solution when you want an easy meal. "It's always worth having some pre-baked ones in the freezer, as they’re so quick," Tom said.
"I found a great deal in Iceland, as they’re offering a McCain’s four-pack reduced from £3.25 to £2.25. If you’re not bothered about brands, the best option for a tight budget is the own-brand ones from Aldi. They’re only £1.65 and I reckon they taste exactly the same."
4. Cadbury Hot Chocolate, was £3 now £2, Tesco Stockwell Hot Chocolate, £1.02 (saving £1.98)
It’s not long until winter and Christmas menus will be unveiled in coffee shops across the country - for example, the Costa Christmas menu is available from November 3 - but it’s easy to rack up a big bill over time if you make a habit of buying them.
Instead, why not make your own at home? Tom said: "I compared a few supermarkets and found that ASDA’s got the best deal for Cadbury’s hot chocolate right now, as it’s reduced from £3 to £2. However, if you want to save that little bit extra, head into Tesco and pick up their Stockwell & Co hot chocolate for just £1.02."
5. Heinz Tomato Ketchup, was £1.70 now £1, vs ASDA Just Essentials Ketchup, 42p (saving £1.28)
Ketchup is surely a staple that most of us have tucked away in the cupboard for when we want a quick oven dinner. Tom said: "I was pleased to find the Heinz brand reduced in Iceland from £1.70 to 75p - if your family goes through ketchup as quickly as mine does, savings like this make a big difference!
"And, if you’re not fussy about brands, you can save even more. ASDA has a bottle in their Just Essentials range for just 42p - and you get more than double the amount."
6. Cadbury Mini Rolls, was £2.50 now £1.50, vs Sainsbury’s Mini Rolls, 99p (saving £1.51)
"Cadbury Mini Rolls are such a great snack," Tom said. "They’re so easy for packed lunches or when you’re on the go. Iceland has the 10-pack reduced from £2.50 to £1.50 at the moment. A secret tip though, if you’re not bothered about the Cadbury chocolate, go for the Sainsbury’s own ones - they’re just 99p a pack."
7. New York Bakery Bagels, was £1.75 now £1.25, vs Aldi Plain Bagels, 79p (saving £0.96)
If you’re a fan of bagels, ASDA has the New York Bakery ones down from £1.75 to £1.25 at the moment. Tom said: "However, I found an even better deal at Aldi - their plain bagels are only 79p. I always go for these ones, and you really can’t tell the difference."
8. Chicago Town Cheesy Stuffed Crust, was £4.50 now £3.25, vs Tesco Stuffed Crust Cheese Pizza, £2.40 (saving £2.10)
Tom said: "Saving on takeaways is another easy way to keep your food bills down. We all get the craving sometimes though, and whenever I see a cheap alternative, I’ll pick it up and pop it in the freezer, so it’s there when I need it. Chicago Town Pizzas are a guilty pleasure, so when I saw ASDA had reduced their Cheesy Stuffed Crust ones from £4.50 to £3.25, I just had to grab a few.
"Plus, if you want to save even more, Tesco has their own for £2.40. Not only are you saving an additional 85p, they even have a stuffed crust - so you won’t feel like you’re missing out."
9. Mr Kipling Cherry Bakewells, was £2.35 now £1, vs Aldi Cherry Bakewells, 95p (saving £1.40)
"So far, I’ve been showing you how swapping big brands for supermarket ones can save you extra money," Tom said. "However, this isn’t always the case - so it’s always worth checking.
"Here’s a top example. I recently picked up a pack of Mr. Kipling’s Cherry Bakewells from Poundland. They were just £1, saving me £1.35 compared to Morrisons. However, the Aldi equivalent was 95p, so there isn’t much difference at all. If you’re in the mood for some Mr. Kipling cakes, you may as well spend that extra 5p."
10. Nutella 750g, was £5.25 now £4.50, vs Iceland Chocolate Hazelnut Spread, £1.50 (saving £3.75)
If you or the kids are Nutella lovers, you’ll know it can be pretty pricey. Buying a larger jar is generally cheaper, as you get more for your money.
Tom said: "Plenty will be excited to know that ASDA has it reduced at the moment, from £5.25 to £4.50. That’s a good saving, but it’s still much more than I’m willing to pay.
"I kept looking and found some supermarket-brand chocolate hazelnut spread in Iceland. It’s £1.50 for a smaller tub, but still more than £1.50 cheaper - and it tastes pretty much the same in my opinion."
Tom added: "Many of us are concerned about the rising cost of living, but there are ways to keep your bills down. On these ten products alone, I’ve saved nearly £20 - and if I continue making savings like these, they’ll add up to a significant amount over time.
"It doesn’t cost you anything to spend a little extra time researching the best prices in supermarkets - and you’ll see the difference when you head to the checkout."
