Many Irish households are trying to save money in any way they can as they struggle to cope with the cost of living crisis.
Prices have increased across the board on everything from fuel to food.
Money-savvy shoppers have been finding ways to save money on their grocery bills, including buying products that have been discounted due to a shorter self life - yellow sticker food.
READ MORE: Shoppers urged to bin ham sold in stores across Ireland over salmonella and Listeria fears
You may have seen shoppers hanging around aisles towards the end of the day in the hope of picking up a food bargain, Manchester Evening News reports.
This is because it's common practice for supermarkets to sell food that's nearing its use-by date at a discounted price at the end of the day.
Seeing a flash of yellow sticker on a supermarket shelf means a real bargain could be on the horizon.
There is no set time for yellow sticker foods to be made available to the public - but there are windows of time where yellow sticker food will make an appearance.
For example, the window from 1pm to 3pm is a good time to pick up discounted sandwiches or meal deals.
Best times for yellow stickers in Irish supermarkets
Each of the supermarkets has slightly different timings for putting their yellow sticker reduced items out on the shelves.
- Tesco - 6pm and onwards
- Aldi - 9am (when the stores open)
- Lidl - 8am (when the stores open)
- M&S- 30 minutes before stores close
- SuperValu - More likely on weekends when big deliveries arrive
The exact timings are subject to change, and differ from store to store. It's also worth noting that the day after a big event like the Eurovision or FA Cup Final is also a brilliant time to grab a yellow sticker bargain.
Where to look for yellow sticker food
Often there will be a dedicated area for yellow sticker items, such as a chiller cabinet for foods that need to be eaten on the day or within 24 hours.
Some non-perishable foods such as crisps, with a lapsed best-before date, can also be found near the checkouts of supermarkets.
At Aldi, stickers can be placed on items twice a day in accordance with the Best Before Date. For example, anything marked with today’s date would be marked 30% off this morning. Any of the same stock that remains in stores this evening would be marked as 75% off. Discounted items are actually marked with a red 30% off or 75% off sticker.
Tips on how to get the best out of your weekly shop
Get familiar with the times that shop assistants wielding their precious yellow sticker guns do their rounds. Make a note of when you see certain bargains appear and see if you can spot a pattern.
If it is a special time like a bank holiday weekend, Halloween or Christmas, make a note in your diary and visit your local supermarket either at the end of the day, or the morning after. Chances are product lines of past events, such as festive chocolates or Easter eggs will be heavily marked down.
Get breaking news to your inbox by signing up to our newsletter .
