Eye-watering food study shows extra cost of 'convenience' stores - saving tips
As the cost of living continues to see wages stretched more and more each month - the rise in food costs has also made supermarket shopping a little harder for most.
With some simple shopping hacks in the bag, it could mean spending less and saving more while not missing out on your fridge favourites.
Consumer experts have waded in with their helpful tips on how to make out money stretch further - including the time of day you shop.
The first simple tip is not to head to the supermarket on an empty stomach - which means avoiding throwing those extra few treats into your basket, that aren't really needed.
If you're not too hungry while shopping, you'll be more inclined to simply get what's needed.
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Trying to shop around can also help. It's always easiest to get all we need from one quick stop at one store - but prices for the exact same items differ from one supermarket to the next - so checking out and comparing prices can be really helpful.
Adjusting your shopping routine just a little could help you save on food (Getty Images)If you try shopping later in the day or the evening, you might also be lucky in picking up some bargains on reduced items which might need shifting from the shelves that day.
While we're all drawn in by those reduced stickers, the special offer bargains can also be hugely tempting - but they might not always save you money.
Often the special offers will be advertised on something you don't really need. So try not to get excited about offers if they're not all that necessary - you could end up actually spending more.
When it comes to choices of what gets thrown into the trolley, trying to pack in more veggies and less meat and fish can help, although a balanced diet is needed and meat can be swapped out for other proteins, like beans or chick peas.
Also, if you're looking for staples including herbs, spices, tinned goods, dips or sauces, then heading to the world food aisle could cut the cost as lesser known brands are sold cheaper - and sometimes tastier!, writes the Cash Lady.
Research found you could be spending £800 over the odds using smaller supermarket convenience stores (Derby Telegraph/Simon Deacon)The tips will come in useful for families who use supermarket convenience stores after new research shows they could be paying around £800 a year over the odds.
Consumer group Which? compared prices at Tesco Express and Sainsbury’s Local with their larger supermarkets and online.
It discovered people buying the same 75 items at Tesco Express, including Anchor Spreadable Butter, a Hovis white loaf and own-brand milk, would be spending an average £15.73 extra a week – £817.91 a year – than those shopping online or at a larger Tesco store.
At Sainsbury’s, Which? researchers compared the prices of 69 groceries, including Heinz tomato soup, McVitie’s biscuits and Birds Eye Potato Waffles.
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They found shoppers using Sainsbury’s Local instead of going online or to a larger store would have spent an extra £477.93 over the year.
Filling up on fresh and seasonal veggies can help cut costs (Getty Images)Which? acknowledged that grocery prices fluctuate but said its analysis revealed big mark-ups at both Sainsbury’s Local and Tesco Express. Head of food policy Sue Davies said: “Shopping at a supermarket convenience shop comes at a cost.”
Sainsbury’s said: “Our Local stores are in city or town centre locations and operating costs are higher.”
Tesco said: “We work hard to ensure our customers get great value online, in a large store or in an Express store."
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