On average, the typical UK household spends a total of £340 per month on their supermarket food shop. As the cost of living continues to rise, Natalie Mitchell at Homehow presents the tips and tricks to save each household £782.96 by December
A list of savings – £280
2021 saw 6.7 million tonnes of food go to waste in the UK alone. Each household throws away 30% of their food shop each year, equating to £280. Grocery shopping armed with a list protects a household from making impulse purchases. It’s often impulse purchases that pave the way to food waste as a household obtains too many perishable goods that are not used in time and therefore, thrown away. Build a shopping list throughout the week to ensure that you don’t purchase any unnecessary goods.
Good timing – £107.20
It’s common for supermarkets to reduce items as they approach their sell-by dates. These yellow sticker items hold reductions of up to 70%. Purchasing just 3 reduced items a week can save the household up to £13.40 a month, totalling over £107.20 by December. Supermarkets begin to reduce items at the same time every week. Get to know the times that your local supermarket does this so you can plan your visits accordingly.
Meat-free Monday – £141.36
Research reveals that 26% of the UK population actively reduced their intake of meat in 2021. With just one meat-free day a week, the average person in the UK can save £17.67 per month. Of course, it doesn’t have to just be one day, as adding more will potentially save more.
The organisation pays – £152
Organising your kitchen can pay dividends. Not only will it inevitably reduce food waste, but it’s also easier to meal plan and prep. Segmenting your cupboards, labelling containers and adopting spice racks allows you to see what you already have, prevent food waste and avoid duplicate purchases. Research shows that those with organised kitchens save up to £4.75 a week.
The world food aisle – £102.40
Shopping in the world food aisle can save you money! Products in the world food aisle such as soy sauce, rice and spice can be up to 75% cheaper, saving an average of £3.20 each shop.
Tips and tricks:
- Buzz word labelling
Whether a product is boasting that it’s high in protein, gluten-free or packed with electrolytes, buzzword labelling can increase the price of a product. If you wish to purchase a product that holds any unique features, read the labelling. Sometimes, the ones that hold the most features are cheaper.
- Eyeline brands
Supermarkets tend to place the most expensive brands within the eye line. Cheaper products can be on the higher or lower shelves. Be sure to scan all the shelves and not to reach for what is in the eye line.
- Paid to be loyal
Several supermarkets hold loyalty schemes that reward shoppers over the course of their shop. Ensure that you keep up to date with all of the loyalty schemes of your local shops.
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