As the whole world continues to suffer from sour inflation bites of which the UK is no exception, it comes as no surprise when food prices are reported to have skyrocketed by 20% in 2022 alone. So how can students like us avoid spending £4,500 a year on food?

Explore the world food section

You may have never noticed the diverse world food section which houses many items that are rare to produce in the UK. Thanks to competitive and absolute advantage, prices will also be lower while these items are the most authentic as they are imported from their native country.

Another tip would be to purchase seasonal items as the ample supply will lower costs. They will also have more nutritional value as they are fresher and perfectly ripe, while also being a more eco-friendly option due to their local proximity.

Stick with familiarity

If items are available in a supermarket’s own-brand range, choose those and don’t be tempted to upgrade when you practically get the same item and quality for a cheaper price. A win-win situation!

Don’t fall for sneaky sales tricks

Whether it’s the last-minute essentials at the tills which just make you buy more even though you may not need them, eye-level items which are often the priciest, or the exact same items but just in different packaging. Cotton buds, cotton wool, face wipes – all examples of items which can be found for a cheaper price in the baby section.

Instead make use of the discounts section or yellow tags, which start from noon where you are guaranteed to make massive savings with some of the largest discounts reaching the 90% mark towards supermarket closure times.

Buy in bulk

Make use of the online grocery delivery services which will provide more opportunities to order in bulk which is good when you’re living with others as you can also easily reach the minimum shopping amount for free deliveries. Not to mention, there are also many online-only-based offers. Although a word of caution, make sure you actually have enough room to store the items!

Apps and memberships

Check out this website and these supermarket cashback apps to get even more access to promotions and deals. It will also be wise to join supermarket memberships. They are free and will provide you with many exclusive and personalised offers through the SmartShop facility which also results in a faster checkout process!

Get the most of your value

If there’s something genuinely wrong or poor quality about an item, make use of your consumer rights. Chances are there is usually a customer service booth in the supermarket. They usually refund you the full amount when you ask for a return on your items and sometimes, if you’re really lucky, you may even receive a free gift or gift card on top to make up for the supermarkets’ slip-ups.