- Use a basket instead of a trolley to prevent over-shopping and keep spending in check
- Check your cupboards before shopping to avoid buying items you already have
- Get creative with recipes and use substitutes to save on buying new ingredients
I’m sure you’ve heard the adage ‘never shop hungry’.
More often than not, doing so will lead to impulse buying, causing you to spend more money than necessary.
But it’s likely this isn’t the only error you’re making when doing your weekly shop, according to Cathrine Jansson-Boyd, a professor of consumer psychology at Anglia Ruskin University.
The expert says we’ve become too ‘habitual’ with our grocery shopping – going to the same supermarkets and buying the same things each week, and it’s adding up on our food bill.
But by making changes to the way we approach shopping, some of that extra spending could be cut.
So, how do you do it? Here are Cathrine’s top tips…
Take proper inventory of your kitchen
It sounds obvious, but Cathrine says you’d be amazed how many people don’t actually know what’s in their cupboards, fridge and freezer.
‘This is a particularly common way to waste money, as many products go unused and eventually end up in the bin,’ she says.
Never shop 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 offers, so you can avoid overspending and get more for your money.
If this is something you’ve struggled with, Cathrine recommends signing up for supermarket loyalty apps and using the scan and shop feature, as these keep a tally of the total cost.
Deviate from the recipe
If you’re following a specific recipe, you’re probably planning on buying every ingredient it recommends. But according to Cathrine, this would be an error. Instead, get creative with cooking to save money.
‘You don’t have to buy everything that is required. Instead, have a look at home to see what you already have that can be used as a substitute.’
For instance, you may have a lot of unused spices in your cupboard that you could use in place of spices you don’t have.
Own-brand and frozen products can save you 50%
Retail and supermarket expert, Oisín Hanrahan, urges people to be ‘flexible’ when shopping, in order to save money.
A key way to do this is to choose different variants of your go-to items, including own-brand versions.
Oisín, the CEO of supply chain platform Keychain, explains: ‘Private label products have skyrocketed in popularity in recent months because of 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 needed.’
Buying frozen items instead of fresh could also cut costs. ‘This is especially potent 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 out.’
And if you’re looking to save money on meat, the expert suggests making the most of cheaper cuts, like chuck or stewing steak, and chicken legs instead of breast or thighs.
There are also smart choices to be made when it comes to pre-cut, peeled, minced, or grated products.
‘An easy way to save is to simply buy those things whole. A clove of garlic can often cost four times less than an equivalent amount pre-minced. And you’re not paying the mark-up on packaging.
‘Just taking that extra time to prepare your vegetables and other groceries yourself can save you a huge amount of money in the long term.’
Don’t always go to the same supermarket
Food prices vary depending on the shop, so it may be cheaper to shop elsewhere.
The same goes for those who do online shops, as you probably have your shopping list entered on the website and just keep on re-ordering the same items.
‘Doing so can be costly if you don’t check price changes and compare to other stores,’ Cathrine warns.
For those curious, Aldi was named the cheapest supermarket in the UK in February 2026 by Which.
Use a basket, not a trolley
When it fills up and gets heavy, you will stop shopping much sooner than you would with a big trolley.
Don’t just look at the purchase price
Be sure to look at the unit price too and don’t just fall for discounts.
‘Sale-related signs and general discounts attract people’s attention (often involuntarily), and while focusing on the low price, we don’t compare whether it is indeed good value,’ Cathrine shares.
Avoid supersized products, unless you’ll use it all
Buying in bulk often seems like better value, but you should take your time and think about whether you really need it.
Will you actually use it all, or will some go off before you’ve used it? If it’s the latter, it wasn’t really the best deal for you.
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