Money
Getting the best deal
Beat the price hikes and save £100s
The cost of a basket of staple food has soared by 20 per cent since last year while some commodities such as butter are up by an astonishing 60 per cent
But don't go off your trolley, says Teena Lyons. Stick to the money-saving code of buying only what you need. Follow our seven step guide to keeping your shopping bills low.
One. Don't discount the discounters. Discount supermarkets such as Aldi, Lidl and Netto are increasingly seeing more affluent shoppers who may previously have overlooked them. Why? Well, in many cases products are priced at up to 30 per cent below big supermarkets.
Two. Break the habit. If you have always shopped at the same store, take a moment to check out the opposition. The easiest way to find the cheapest store for your requirements is to shop online at www.mysupermarket.com, which compares the prices across four superstores, Asda, Sainsbury's, Tesco and Waitrose after you set up a basic list.
Three. Timing. Turn up at your local fruit and veg market at the end of the day and you will easily bag a bargain on goods that might not keep for longer than a few days.
Four. Don't be lazy. Save money by not buying pre-packed or pre-prepared food. Most people really don’t need someone else to trim their beans, cut up their carrots or grate their cheese. For taking on these basic food preparation skills, supermarkets will more than double the price of the core item. No thank you.
Five. Ban the brands. Cut back on branded, top-end goods such as toilet paper, paper towels or tinned tomatoes and check out the own brands. Many brand-name manufacturers make own brand items too, so with a little trial and error you can get the taste you love at a fraction of the cost.
Six. Get a deal. Remember, the High Street is feeling the credit crunch pinch too – so if you have the cash, all sorts of bargains are on offer. For tips on current deals, special offers and cut-price treats try www.moneymagpie.com. Only buy what you really need though.
Seven. Cut out the middle man. Buying from wholesalers can save a lot of money, so it is worth checking out a new website called www.maggleit.com where by getting together, consumers can buy at wholesale prices. If you spot something you like on the site, add yourself to a list of buyers and for everyone that adds themselves to the list, the price per item will reduce by an amount the website agrees with the supplier.
The more people that add themselves to the list, the cheaper the item gets. You won't get your item quickly, but it will be cheaper.
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