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Most of us unaware how much groceries really cost
A recent MSN quiz showed that most of us don’t know the price of food we buy regularly. Here’s how to micro-manage your supermarket spending…
Image © Getty Images
If you haven't noticed, we're in recession. Bills are high, food prices are high and wages remain stubbornly stagnant.
That's if you have wages; unemployment may have fallen but it still stands at 2.56 million, according to the Office for National Statistics.
So lots of attention has turned to saving money at the supermarket. Yet despite the squeeze, it turns out we're pretty rubbish when it comes to shopping.
Are we really penny pinching?
MSN Money recently ran a quiz asking how much everyday groceries - from milk and bread to fish fingers and beans - actually cost in the supermarket.
There were 15 questions in total, but the average score was just 6.4 - less than half!
That figure is worryingly low for two reasons: first, it means we're not watching the pennies as closely as we should be in this age of austerity.
Second, most of us are unable to spot a good deal/when we're being ripped off because we don't know what things actually cost - and that means we're wasting cash and lining supermarkets' pockets.
So what can the nation's shoppers do to get back in control of their big weekly shops? Here are some ideas.
Carry receipts with you
Sometimes, the simplest tips are the best. Whenever you shop, keep hold of your receipt so you have a record of the prices. If you keep the last month's-worth of receipts in your wallet or handbag, they're always handy for reference.
Even if you're not such an extreme money-saver as to carry old receipts through the supermarket, comparing prices as you shop, you can compare them afterwards.
That way, you'll spot any hefty price hikes and can adapt your shop the following week.
Be wary of special offers
When you see a sign boasting "Now just £1.99", you probably assume you're getting a good deal.
But there have been cases where unscrupulous retailers have used this tactic to make hikes in price look like discounts.
If you have your previous week's receipt handy you can easily double check just how 'special' these offers really are.
Learn more about the devious tactics retailers use with our article 'Supermarket tricks to watch out for'.
Image © Getty Images
Comb through your receipt
Did you pick up a special offer during your shop? Plenty of customers have reported that these discounts weren't applied at the checkout.
Unless you check your receipt, you'll never know that you got the deal you expected to get.
Supermarkets must refund you the difference in these cases, and some shoppers report being given a complimentary voucher as a 'thank you' for flagging up the error.
Compare online
If you've never used mysupermarket.com, then now's the time to start. It's a really handy website that lets you compare the cost of your shopping at Tesco, ASDA, Sainsbury's, Waitrose and Ocado.
You can use it to compare the overall cost of your shop and find the cheapest supermarket overall. But it's even more useful than that.
As you add items to your shopping basket, the website flags up where you can save money within each supermarket by making use of multi-buys and special offers.
Even if you use it occasionally simply to refresh yourself on the cost of your shopping and reassure yourself that you're still using the cheapest shop, you'll find yourself more familiar with the prices and offers available.
Set yourself a reduction challenge
Food prices are still rising and most of us have seen our supermarket shopping bill creep steadily up over the last few years.
But once you're wise to the supermarkets' tricks and are in proper control of how much you're spending, you can start to bring the cost down.
Set yourself a challenge, even just a small one. Decide that you'll spend less on your groceries each week, even if it's as little as 50p a time.
Having such a clear money-saving goal can sharpen your bargain hunting. And aiming to reduce your spend week on week is a great way to fight inflation.
Do you have any suggestions for keeping on top of supermarket prices? Do you keep notes? Use your phone to take photos of prices? Share your tips with other readers using the comments below.
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24Comments
31/08/2012 08:31
31/08/2012 09:35
31/08/2012 12:35
I buy most of the fruit and veg and other basics in Aldi, then go down the road to Asda to get the rest of the shopping which Aldi doesn't stock
On a good week, this can save up to £30 on a £90 shopping trip
An article on the radio late the other night claimed that supermarkets only pay 1/3 price than is charged at the checkout.
So if Aldi can make a profit compared to the other big supermarkets, it just shows how expensive and marked up in price they really are (corporate greed with a smile!!)
31/08/2012 12:31
I use one of the budget supermarkets (beginning with an A) because it's where I can afford and I know exactly the cost of each item I buy. This is unfortunately borne out of necessity not choice but I refuse to be ashamed about it. I have never been a food snob and I don't suffer from brand fetish. If I could afford to shop in farm shops maybe I would consider it but I'm certainly not going to berate myself for not being able to. I live within my means, simple as.
31/08/2012 08:37
But, it is always stated that any votes / polls are statistically invalid. These votes don't include all of 'Us' and not even all of people accessing MSN, only those who thought it was worthwhile voting on something with limited validity.
Another poor, make weight story from MSN. When will you get some decent, professional reporterd?
31/08/2012 11:57
Surely quality not price should be the issue. Given western countires throw away one third of the food they buy there is plenty of room to buy and consume more wisely.
I buy most of my food from a farmshop and most non food items from a small organic place that refills my bottlesof wash liquid etc. I grow some veg,herbs myself and make soups when there is a glut and stuff is cheaper.
Shopping in supermarkets and buying anything from big companies just feeds the corporate machine.
31/08/2012 11:33
This is a little bit horse sht really, I looked at the quiz but the prices were so close together you could of imagined paying either one of them depending on which shop you were in, what I know is when I go shopping I don't look to get ripped off, I know to within a little bit what things are worth !
31/08/2012 10:22
What I'd like to know is how many people actually took this quiz and how many people took it seriously? Regardless of it's participants, 'quiz' results are hardly representative of the whole UK population, are they?
I'd also like to know how the questions were worded. Are MSN referring to popular brands or supermarket brands? Prices vary widely...
31/08/2012 12:52
31/08/2012 11:49
i find just shopping around can help, eg litre of milk from heron a small player in food retail will cost 69p from all major supermarkets this will cost 89p, dont get it wrong there are many good offers to be found in the major players. Its not always easy to shop around with the busy life we all have today, easy for me being semi retired, but if as sometimes happens you have a local market, just have a look at fruit and vegetables and you will be amazed at the prices for what is quite often better and fresher produce
31/08/2012 11:47
31/08/2012 12:38
31/08/2012 12:35
31/08/2012 10:31
99% of tourists, JCLs & G!mp lovers @ MU [Cayman Islands} inc are clueless with regard to what the present temporary 'owners' are doing to our club. If you want to do something about it then sack sky & come along to the Fan / Loyal Reds anti-Glazer Protest @ Stalybridge Celtic this Sunday. Starts @ 2.50pm for approx 2 hours. (Bower Fold, Stalybridge). Unless you think Glazers really are doing a great job trousering our profits?
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