1. Look for cheaper alternatives to the brands you normally buy, i.e. buy the store's own brand, or just a cheaper named brand instead.
2. Consider shopping online. Many people would think this adds extra money on, because of the delivery charge, however there are nearly always money off codes to be found by just searching the web, which will often be of a higher value than the delivery charge, saving money. Also, the fact that you are not actually in the store means it's harder to get tempted to buy extra things you didn't come in for but just see and fancy.
3. Don't go shopping on an empty stomach. You'll feel hungry and end up buying more than you need to because of it. It's best to go just after eating if you can.
4. Set a weekly budget and stick to it. Work out what you're currently spending and what you'd like to spend - make it realistic though - and be rigid with sticking to the budget. If you find you can't buy enough food to last the week either look again at the budget, or even better, at what you're buying to see if you can find cheaper options.
5. Cook more food from scratch. Buying ready meals is not only more expensive than cooking your own food but it's also not as healthy. With your own food you can limit the amount of fat, sugar, salt, etc, and it will also taste fresher. You can make large portions of food such as bakes or lasagne and when they're cooked cut them into smaller portions to freeze. You can save a lot of money this way and always have a home cooked meal ready to reheat after a hard day at work.
6. Look for special offers and sales and bulk buy if possible. Things like toiletries, baking paper, toothpaste, and some store cupboard foods have no or long expiry dates. If something you use is on buy one get one free then consider stocking up while the offer's on. You'll find it reduces your future shops as you won't have to buy these items until your stock runs out.
7. Co-ordinate with a neighbour and buy your shopping together in the one delivery to take advantage of buy one get one free and other offers, and also split the delivery charge.
8. Don't throw food away. Leftovers can be used for sandwiches, bubble and squeak, etc, and old bread can be used for bread pudding or to make breadcrumbs.
9. Buy larger packs if there's a saving to be made (as long as you will use the whole pack before it expires)
10. Make your own baby food, rather than buying it. Even if you're busy you can prepare food at weekends and freeze it in ice cube trays. You'll know exactly what's in it and you'll save money too.
Even if you only follow a few of these tips, changing the way you think about your food shopping will make a big difference in your life (and your bank balance!).
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