It really does make a difference if you take a list with you when you go shopping as it helps you to avoid costly impulse buys. You may trust a brand name, but buying into brands can burst the budget. Supermarket own brands tend to be cheaper but we sometimes shy away from buying them in the expectation that they will be inferior in some way. Start off by just buying one can or packet of a different brand and if you like it, you can make it a regular item on your shopping list.
Don’t get sucked into BOGOFs ((Buy One Get One Frees). You may end up buying something you hadn’t intended to buy at all, and this eats into on your weekly expenditure.
You may be tempted to go for healthier options of ready meals if you’re watching your weight. However, these can often be costly and many don’t even seem to fill you up! Instead, go for inexpensive, filling and healthy meals made from ingredients such as whole grains and pulses. Rice, bread and pasta make a satisfying and cost-effective accompaniment to any meal.