With the cost-of-living crisis continuing to cause concern for families across the UK, we have looked at the best ways to save money on your weekly shop.

The average price of weekly food shops is on the rise as monthly wage packets are stretched even further.

Food inflation remained the key driver behind higher prices, particularly for fresh food, which has been impacted by poor harvests, both in the UK and globally.

5 ways to save money on your weekly food shop

Consumer expert Jenny McCormac at the brand BrandRated reveals the grocery shopping hacks that will save you up to £2,005.61 by December.

Don’t shop hungry

Research reveals that consumers spend up to 64% more on goods when they shop hungry. On average, a family of four spends £128 a week on groceries, with a 64% rise to £209.92 when shopping hungry. The uplift in spend is so significant as it often extends to the purchase of non-food related products such as clothing and furnishings.

Change up your shop

When it comes to grocery shopping, we are often creatures of habit, visiting the same store again and again. In store promotions change every week, often on a Tuesday. As a result, different stores are likely to vary in their affordability month on month. Before you partake in your food shop, take a few minutes to browse online to view the deals in various stores, and shop at which is the cheapest.

Down, and down and down

Shoppers will save up £20.33 a week if they swap branded products to the supermarkets own range. Often, own brand products simply feature less salt and sugar with less fancy packaging. If you traditionally purchase branded products, move one step cheaper than that of the product you usually buy. Once you have tried that, if willing, move another step below on your next shopping trip. Simply stop when you get to the cheapest product that is to your taste.

Shop with wisdom

90% of shoppers make impulse purchases on their visit to the supermarket. To avoid this extra expenditure, it’s worth being aware of several supermarket practices that appeal to consumers. For instance, children’s items are often on the lower shelves, within their reach. Sale items may be at the end of the aisles so that you are forced to walk past them and branded items (that are the costliest), at eye level. Knowing the hacks that supermarkets use allows shoppers to shop (and purchase), mindfully.

Make a list…but not of what you wish to purchase

It’s common practice to visit the supermarket armed with the list of products you wish to purchase. This can lead to savings of £11 as shoppers are less likely to make impulse purchases. However, according to McCormac a list of items that you already have may save you even more.

‘Consumers often look in their kitchen cupboards on autopilot and they are not fully aware of what they already have ‘in stock’. Before you leave, make a list of items that you already have in the kitchen. This will aid in the purchase of ‘add ons’, to cook a recipe rather than buying whole new dinners. It will also avoid the purchase of items that you already have.

Meat free Monday

1 in 4 people in the UK cook the same 4 meals every week. Switching things up and learning new recipes can be a great way to save some money. Adopting a meat free day saves the average household of 4 people £8.30 a week, £398.40 a year. Aim to have at least one meat free meal, of not day, a week.

Making a waste

Research shows that a UK home can throw away up to £496 a year in food. Making optimum use of the freezer reduces food waste, as well as prolongs meal choices throughout the week.