How to avoid the pitfalls:

Be aware of the cost of items. You can't know if something is a bargain if you have no idea of the usual price. I went as far as setting up a list of commonly purchased items in a spreadsheet along with their cost.

Never shop when hungry, you will end up buying more than you planned to buy.

Make a shopping list & stick to it.

Menu plan: This can help you in many ways. You will avoid buying a product & using only a small amount & discarding the rest. If you know what you are eating for the week you will save unnecessary trips to the supermarket.

It is commonly assumed that buying in bulk will save you money but this is often not the case. Either bring a calculator or work out in your head the unit price & see which is cheaper, the larger or the smaller product. You will often be surprised.

Supermarkets often package goods 'for your convenience'. For example, I recently saw pre-packaged beans being sold at 4 times the cost of putting them in the bag yourself. Always compare the cost of pre-packaged vs un-packaged.

Generic products, especially basics such as salt, sugar etc., are much cheaper than the 'label' version.

Compare prices. Don't just grab the product that is at eye level, typically this is the most expensive brand. Look up & down & compare the prices of different brands.

Specials:

Perishable foods such as fruit, vegetables, bread, dairy & meat are often marked down towards the end of the day.

Always buy non perishable products such as toilet paper, nappies, washing powder etc., when it's on special.

Grow your own:

Often basic fruit & vegetables can be easily grown at home with very little space required. These would include herbs, tomatoes & salad ingredients. These can be grown in pots if space is limited.

There are also 'mini' versions of certain fruits & vegetables which require much less space than their full sized counterparts.

Make your own:

Packaged & pre-prepared foods can cost a small fortune & inferior quality ingredients are often used. Where possible make it from scratch, not only will you save money but they often taste better too.

Natural cleaning products:

There's an array of natural & environmentally friendly products that can be used instead of commercially available cleaning products. These are usually much cheaper too. Commonly used products include white vinegar, bicarbonate of soda & borax. Not only will you save a small fortune but you are also helping save the environment.

Do you have any further suggestions on how to save money at the supermarket? If so, please contact me.