Ten Ways To Reduce Your Grocery Bill

1) Don't shop when hungry: You are more likely to be seduced into buying more if you are hungry. So grab a snack at home before you head out.

2) Make a shopping list & stick to it: This avoids unnecessary spur of the moment purchases that can quickly add up.

3) Check your cupboards: Before heading out check your pantry, fridge etc., to make sure you're not doubling up on products.

4) Menu planning: This not only saves you time, but also money. If you plan your meals in advance, you will reduce the need to make 'top up' visits to the supermarket.

5) Buy in bulk: This works well with products that either don't go off (such as laundry powder) or items you use a lot of. Most butchers are very amenable to offering you reduced prices if you buy meat in bulk. You may even wish to buy a whole side & go in with neighbours or friends.

6)Wastage:  If you have leftovers, either take them to work the next day or freeze them.

7) Grow your own: Even if you don't have a lot of garden space, you can grow some food yourself either in the ground or in pots. Common plants to grow include herbs, tomatoes, potatoes, chilli etc. Not only do you save money, but they taste better too.

8) Sale items: There are many great bargains to be had with sale items. Remember though, they're only good value if you can use them all. There is no point in buying 5 bags of dog food on special if it will take your dog 2 years to get through, by which time the food will have gone off. Products I look out for are large cans of olive oil, laundry detergent, toiletries etc. I never pay full price for these products.

9) Generic items: This can be a bit hit & miss, but many of the generic products are just as good as the more expensive name brand products. Through a bit of trial & error, you can work out which generic products work best for you.

10) Pay attention: Don't just reach for the same old brand that you always buy. Compare prices. Also, don't always assume that the generic brand will be the cheapest, this isn't always the case, especially if a name brand product is on special. Get into the habit of comparing prices. Many stores now also list the price of a product per 100g. Check this & compare between brands.