You can save money on your weekly shop with one easy move

14 September 2023 , 18:07

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Many products are cheaper if you avoid prepared versions (Image: Getty Images/Image Source)

Shoppers can save a packet if they cut out foods already chopped and prepared, research shows.

Although convenience items may save people time, they can cost almost three times more. Everyday foods including cheese, chicken and carrots are cheaper from major retailers than diced or filleted options. In M&S, five chicken thigh fillets without bones cost £5.75 – £3.10 more than the same item with bones.

Sainsbury’s 250g pack of smoked bacon lardons costs £1 more than the same amount of meat that has just been sliced. Sky-high grocery price inflation has slowed to its lowest level in a year, dropping to 12.2% in the four weeks to September 3. Analysts Kantar, which carried out the study, said many people still worry about rising food costs, matched only by concerns about energy bills.

Consumer expert Martyn James added: “Most shoppers won’t be aware of quite how much they are being overcharged. The more the food is fiddled with, prepared or wrapped up in packaging, the more you’ll pay. As this research shows, we all need to check out each and every price label in the supermarket and ask, ‘Is this worth the money?’”

It really does pay to shop around for food that has not been prepared (Getty Images)

PRICE DIFFERENCES:

CHICKEN FILLETS

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M&S Oakham Gold Chicken Thigh fillets 500g - £5.75. M&S Oakham Gold Chicken Thighs 600g - £2.65. SAVING: £3.10

BACON

Sainsbury’s smoked bacon Lardons 250g - £3.25. Sainsbury’s smoked bacon rashers, 10 slices 300g - £2.25. SAVING: £1 plus an extra 50g of bacon

ONIONS

Waitrose Diced Onions 400g - £1.30. Waitrose 3 Onions 450g - 45p. SAVING 85p plus an extra 50g

EGGS

Co-Op 4 free range pre-boiled eggs - £1.85. Co-Op 6 free range boiled eggs - £1.40. SAVING: 45p plus two more eggs

MATURE CHEDDAR

Co-Op Sliced Mature cheddar 200g - £3.20. Co-Op Mature cheddar block 240g - £3. SAVING: 20p plus 150g

CARROTS

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Co-Op carrot batons 300g - £1.35. Co-Op Carrots 500g - 45p. SAVING 90p plus 200g

Ben Griffiths