Tuesday Tips and Tricks - Reduced Food

Welcome to the first Tuesday Tips & Tricks on this blog.  A segment looking at things we can do to save money on our weekly shops.  This week I’m going to talk about a relatively well-known tip but I’m going to explain how to really make the most of the savings.  

You may be wondering: How do I get the most out of reduced food from the supermarkets?  And to answer that I’ve put together a handy checklist that you can use while you’re out and about at the shops. 

1. 1. Is it freezer-ready? 

1. This is one of the most important things to think about when buying reduced food.  Most of the time, you’re not going to be eating the stuff that you’re buying that day, so you need to make sure that you can keep it fresh until you actually want to use it. 

2. 2. Have I already got this in my freezer? 

1. This is something that I forget about at least once a month.  You don’t want to be buying too much of the same thing if you’re not going to eat it.  

3. 3. Will I actually cook this? 

1. This links back to point 2.  Don’t buy food just because it’s cheap. If you can’t think of a use for it, don’t put it in your basket. 

4. 4. Is it a good deal? 

1. Not everything that has been branded yellow is a good deal.  Sometimes the savings are so small that it isn’t worthwhile, especially on name-brand items.  For example, a block of cathedral city cheddar may be reduced by 50p, but the own brand cheese is £1 cheaper.  Always check other products first. 

5. 5. Is it the right time? 

1.  Try to find out what time your local supermarket starts to reduce its products.  That way you’ll be able to get the best choice of the deals, so you can save the most money.