Saving money is always a good idea but it is especially important in times of financial hardship and difficulties. With one of our major weekly or monthly expenditures being the supermarket shopping it is clear that this is one of the first areas of our spending where we should be looking for ways to reduce this cost, and there are many ways in which this can be achieved, as the following examples will show.

1 Own brands

Many people are hooked onto named brands and will not purchase the same product offered within the supermarkets 'own brand' range because they believe that it will be of inferior quality. Although in some instances this might be true it is not generally the case. Generally today the quality of own brand goods is virtually the same as renowned branded products. In many cases it also has to be remembered that the known and own brand goods are created using the same production process and therefore have the same nutritional and taste value. However, the price differential can be as much as 50%, which represents a significant saving.

In addition, most supermarkets have their own bakery and delicatessen sections, where products are not only cheaper than branded goods available close by but will also be fresh. These products have the added advantage of being a healthier option than processed foods.

2 Buy one get one free

No doubt we have all been subjected to the BOGOF promotions. In certain cases these can represent a major cost reduction. However, such an offer should only be taken advantage of in cases where you are likely to use the product on a regular basis, for example, staple foods such as butter, sugar, teas and jams amongst others.

If there is a two for one offer on such products then it makes sense to add these to your shopping basket as these can lead to significant savings on your shopping cost. However, it is important not to extend this habit to products that you rarely use as this can lead to money being wasted when you have to throw away a barely used product that has exceeded its use by date.

3 Special offers

Special offers are slightly different to the previous two for one option. In these cases there might simply be a saving either on the cost, for example a certain amount deducted from the cost for a set period, or extra content, such as 50% extra for the same price. In both cases, and again if it is a product that you use on a regular basis, purchasing special offers will help you to save money

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