The Results
Whilst M&S definitely came out on top for a few things (especially sausage rolls!), YAC members were surprised how often we picked Aldi as our favourite of the two (particularly for fruit, vegetables and sandwich meats). We were astonished at how much cheaper Aldi products were and how much more we could get for our money in a budget supermarket. In fact, the entire shop was about half the cost in Aldi as it was in M&S! It reminded all of us of the importance of shopping around. Whilst M&S might be great for the occasional treat, there are definitely cheaper alternatives out there that are just as good!
This activity made YAC think about how we all can reduce our food bills more generally – Tom and Rob with the help of YAC members compiled their Top 10 Tips and Tricks for a cheaper food shop…
- Plan ahead and go in with a list to stop you topping up with expensive extras. People who take a shopping list save on average £200 a year on their food shop!
- Try supermarket own brand food – it’s substantially cheaper and can be just as good. Some own brand tea bags for example can be up to 95% cheaper than the most expensive brands.
- Buy in bulk – check out the shelf labels for the price per weight. Buying a huge bag of pasta might seem pricey initially but you won’t need to replace it for quite some time!
- Make your own sandwiches. It might be convenient but buying a ready made sandwich every day soon adds up. Even the cheapest sandwich will still cost more to buy every day than a loaf of bread and packet of meat which can last all week!
- Use your freezer! Portion up bread, meat or cooked meals like curry, Bolognese or chilli. This reduces waste and means you always have something ready to defrost and eat.
- Store food correctly to prevent waste. Put cheese in resealable bags in the fridge, potatoes in a dry, dark, well ventilated cupboard (not a plastic bag or air tight box) and keep bread fresh in a bread bin.
- Check out whether frozen fish and vegetables could save you money. Choosing frozen salmon over fresh can save you up to 55% for example!
- Choose cheaper cuts of meat. Chicken legs or thighs, for example, are much cheaper than chicken breast and often tastier too.
- Double check those offers. They might sound like a bargain but are they actually cheaper than other brands?
- This may sound unexpected, but don’t always buy the cheapest product. Some things cost more for good reason. Buy sausages and burgers with plenty of meat rather than fat, gristle and who-knows what. They’re probably better for you, cost just a little more and you don’t have to eat five of them to feel full.
Happy Shopping!
Rob Barton and Tom Byrne
posted by Mark Butcher