With the cost of living crisis, many people are looking at ways they can save a bit of money and one savvy shopper has shared his best bargains.
Tom Church, who is the co-founder of the money-saving community LatestDeals.co.uk, has shared some of the best own-brand versions of popular supermarket products. He has found cheaper alternatives for a number of big brands including Cadbury, Heinz, and McCain's.
He said he has changed his shopping habits to mitigate the effects of soaring inflation and living costs and is now sharing his top tips with others. Tom 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."
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The Mirror has rounded up some of the best bargains as flagged by Tom.
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.
“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.”
Ben & Jerry’s Cookie Dough Ice Cream
Was £4.75; Now £3, vs Aldi Gianni’s Cookie Dough Ice Cream, £1.75 (Saving £3)
Tom said it can be tough to justify paying out for branded products while costs soar.
“Ben & Jerry’s Cookie Dough Ice Cream is something I’d never pay full price for. At £4.75 it’s just not worth it!,” he said.
“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.”
McCain’s Slow Baked Jackets
Was £3.25; Now £2.25, vs Aldi Four Seasons Ready Baked Jackets, £1.65 (Saving £1.60)
A jacket potato makes for a quick, cheap and easy meal - and thankfully Tom has found a great deal on ready-baked potatoes.
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.
“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!”
Cadbury Hot Chocolate
Was £3; Now £2, vs Tesco Stockwell Hot Chocolate, £1.02 (Saving £1.98)
Thousands will be rushing to get themselves a steaming cup of hot chocolate with winter fast approaching.
Tom said: “It’s not long until winter and Christmas menus will be unveiled in coffee shops across the country.
“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? 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.”
Heinz Tomato Ketchup
Was £1.70; Now £1, vs ASDA Just Essentials Ketchup, 42p (Saving £1.28)
This much-loved cupboard staple can be yours for as cheap as 42p according to Tom.
He 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!”
Cadbury Mini Rolls
Was £2.50; Now £1.50, vs Sainsbury’s Mini Rolls, 99p (Saving £1.51)
Snack lovers will be pleased to hear that chocolate mini rolls are on offer at Iceland and Sainbury’s.
Tom said: “Cadbury Mini Rolls are such a great snack. 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!”
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.
“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!” said Tom.
Chicago Town Cheesy Stuffed Crust
Was £4.50; Now £3.25, vs Tesco Stuffed Crust Cheese Pizza, £2.40 (Saving £2.10)
For Brits looking to cut back on their takeaway spending, these Pizza’s offer a tasty and much cheaper alternative.
“Saving on takeaways is another easy way to keep your food bills down,” Tom said.
“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!” He added.
Mr Kipling Cherry Bakewells
Was £2.35; Now £1, vs Aldi Cherry Bakewells, 95p (Saving £1.40)
Tom said: “So far, I’ve been showing you how swapping big brands for supermarket ones can save you extra money. 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!”
Nutella 750g
Was £5.25; Now £4.50, vs Iceland Chocolate Hazelnut Spread, £1.50 (Saving £3.75)
Chocolate lovers will be thrilled to know that they can get their hands on a large tub of Nutella for much less this winter.
“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 says that his list of top supermarket bargains has already saved him almost £20, which he expects will add up to a significant amount over time.
He added: “Many of us are concerned about the rising cost of living, but there are ways to keep your bills down.
“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.”
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