The Weekly Supermarket Challenge

One of the most dangerous activities when trying to reduce your spending has to be the weekly trip to the supermarket. I can remember when the supermarket first arrived – it was so exciting – everything at your fingertips – we were all certainly seduced.

Ten years ago after a marriage breakup I had to learn very quickly how to cope with a dramatic change in income. I looked hard at what was happening when I shopped and slowly changed. It became so successful that when money wasn't so tight I found I enjoyed the satisfaction I had at beating them at their own game and it must have saved me many pounds and pennies.

We have been conditioned into shopping weekly. It suits the supermarket bosses. But do you need to? With a little organisation you can make the supermarkets work to your convenience, not their's.

I am not saying that these tips will work for you – we all have different lifestyles – but have a look, one or two might work.

The number one rule I live by is NEVER shop without a list. It is so simple but is the best money saver I know. I always check my pantry, fridge and freezer.

Have a good look at the supermarket you are using. Are you paying for the packaging, layout and music that follows you around the store. I also don't use the same supermarket for all my shopping. I plan my shopping over a four week period and visit the store that gives me the best bargain for a particular product. Lidl, for exampple, sell salt at 12p, large bags of flour, both self raising and plain at 12p, baked beans are 9p, bread 19p, 12 rolls for 19p. In the Uk, Asda have the cheapest organic produce followed by Tesco's. Check out the supermarkets near you.

Check the sell by date. If it is the day I am shopping I take advantage of any mark down. Meat, for example, if you can't use it on the day, can be frozen. I am very careful with chicken though as this doesn't keep as well as beef .

Do look at the buy one, get one free offers BUT ONLY IF YOU WOULD HAVE BOUGHT IT ANYWAY. A bargain isn't a bargain if it isn't on your list.

Use generic products. I do indulge when I buy my tea, somehow I haven't found anything that tastes quite like PJ Tips, LOL. But we use store brand shampoos, washing powders, toilet rolls, most of our cleaning products as well as any tinned or packaged food. We have trained our taste buds to particular tastes and flavours, I give a store brand product a few weeks trial before I decide whether they will remain on my shopping list. I, for instance, use Asda's baked beans. They are a fraction of the cost of the more popular brands and we prefer the taste. They aren't as sweet and are less salty and the tins are packed with beans, not just filled to the top with sauce.

When you can buy in bulk. This may take a little organising but half a day reorganising your pantry and sorting out storage will pay it's way. Things like herbs and spices are very expensive when bought in small quantities, a six monthly trip to somewhere like Holland & Barrett will not only save you money but will introduce you to a wider variety of tastes.

Use Farmer's markets and take a close look at your local store. The village I live in has the best green grocer I have seen. He buys locally, gives a great service and is cheaper than the supermarket.

And change what you eat. I can't remember when I last ate a ready made meal. I cook everything from scratch. Tonight, for example, we had my version of a hotpot. The ingredients? Simple. Lamb shoulder, potatoes, carrots, onions, thyme and beef stock. It was delicious and cost less than a fifth of the cost of two ready made hotpots from the supermarket. As you introduce new recipes you will slowly build up the ingredients in your pantry.

A friend of mine never takes her family when she does the weekly shop. “Less decisions, less arguments”, are her reasons.

If, for some reason you have to delegate the shopping, send a responsible adult. I once foolishly had my son do the shopping when I was unable to. It can really muck up you budget, believe me I know, we had baked beans on toast three nights that week, LOL.

But I found when I started out on this journey that the best way of me cutting down on my weekly shopping bill was to see it as a challenge. I am a pretty optimistic and stubborn individual and I have to admit I got a kick out of beating the budget. There are always at least two ways of dealing with any problem and I found I like to win.

DO you have any shopping tips you could add. Please let us know either in a comment or maybe your own post linked to “Buddy's”