Main points
- Use a basket instead of a cart to prevent overshopping and keep costs under control
- Check your closets before shopping to avoid buying items you already own
- Get creative with recipes and use substitutes to save on buying new ingredients
Created with the help of AI. Quality guaranteed by Metro editors.
I’m sure you’ve heard the saying ‘never shop hungry’.
More often than not, this will lead to impulse buys, causing you to spend more money than it should.
But that’s likely not the only mistake you’re making when making yours weekly shopaccording to Cathrine Jansson-Boyd, a professor of consumer psychology at Anglia Ruskin University.
The expert says we have become too ‘habitual’ with ours grocery shopping – going to the same thing supermarkets and buying the same things every week, and it’s adding to our food bill.
But by changing the way we approach shopping, some of these extra costs can be cut.
So how do you do it? Here are Cathrine’s top tips…
Take a proper inventory of your kitchen
It sounds obvious, but Cathrine says you’d be surprised how many people don’t really know what’s in their cupboards, fridge and freezer.
“This is a particularly common way to lose money, as many products go unused and eventually end up in the bin,” she says.
Never buy without setting a budget and don’t go over that amount
Having a set amount in place will help you ‘focus’ and pay attention to the offers so you can avoid overspending and get more for your money.
If this is something you’ve struggled with, Cathrine recommends signing up to supermarket loyalty apps and using the scan and purchase feature, as these keep a tally of the total cost.
Own brand and frozen products can save you 50%
Retail and supermarket expert Oisín Hanrahan is urging people to be ‘flexible’ when shopping in order to save money.
A key way to do this is to choose different variants of your favorite items, including branded versions of them.
Oisín, CEO of supply chain platform Keychain, explains: ‘Private label products have grown in popularity in recent months due to the cost of living crisis, with supermarkets introducing new lines of more affordable items.
‘Be open-minded about these when making your shopping list and substitute where necessary.’
Buying frozen items instead of fresh can also keep costs down. “This is particularly powerful when it comes to fish, which can sometimes be up to 50% cheaper when bought frozen,” he says.
“It also comes with the added bonus of lasting much longer, which saves you throwing food away.”
And if you’re looking to save money on meat, the expert suggests making the most of cheaper cuts, such as steak or stew, and chicken legs instead of breasts or thighs.
There are also smart choices to be made when it comes to pre-cut, peeled, grated or grated produce.
‘An easy way to save is to just buy the whole thing. A clove of garlic can often cost four times less than an equivalent amount pre-minced. And you’re not paying the price in the package.
“Just taking that extra time to prepare your own vegetables and other groceries can save you a huge amount of money in the long run.”
Deviate from the recipe
If you’re following a specific recipe, you’re probably planning to buy every ingredient it recommends. But according to Cathrine, that would be a mistake. Instead, get creative with cooking to save money.
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‘You don’t need to buy everything that is required. Instead, take a look around the house to see what you already have that could be used as a replacement.’
For example, you may have a lot of unused spices in your cupboard that you can use instead of the spices you don’t have.
Don’t always go to the same supermarket
Food prices vary by store, so it may be cheaper to shop elsewhere.
The same goes for those who shop online, as you probably have your shopping list entered on the website and just keep re-ordering the same items.
“Doing this can be expensive if you don’t check for price changes and compare with other stores,” warns Cathrine.
For those curious, Aldi was named the UK’s cheapest supermarket in February 2026 by Who.
Use a basket, not a cart
When it gets full and heavy, you’ll stop shopping much faster than with a large cart.
Don’t just look at the purchase price
Be sure to look at the unit price as well and don’t just fall for the discount.
‘Signs related to the sale and general discount it grabs people’s attention (often unintentionally), and by focusing on the low price, we don’t compare whether it’s really a good value,” shares Cathrine.
Avoid large products unless you use them all
Buying in bulk often seems like the best value, but you should take your time and think about whether you really need it.
Will you actually use them all, or will some die before you use them? If it’s the latter, it really wasn’t the best choice for you.
This article was first published on March 10, 2026.
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