Tesco shoppers could slash food bills by £260 a year with easy cooking switch

SUPERMARKET giant Tesco has shared a simple way for shoppers to slash their food bill – and you could save up to £260 a year.

Households will have noticed that their bill at the checkout has soared recently, leaving many to look for ways to cut costs.

But experts at Tesco have worked out that shoppers could save up to £260 a year by reducing the amount of food they throw away.

That’s money many households can’t afford to waste during a cost of living crisis, as runaway inflation is driving food prices up.

Shoppers are facing forking out £533 more a year just to fill the fridge up.

But at the same time, three-quarters of UK households admit to throwing away forgotten items lurking in cupboards, according to research by Tesco.

The supermarket is encouraging shoppers to take part in its Use Up Day campaign, where once a week, people cook a meal using up food already in their kitchen.

Tony McElroy, head of campaigns at Tesco, said that shoppers can also benefit from making a list before they head out to the shop.

Making a list will help to stay focused on getting the items that you really need, rather than being drawn into impulse purchases.

Tony McElroy said: “At Tesco, we want our customers to be able to get more out of their food shop whilst keeping delicious meals on the table.

“A little planning can help to spend less and reduce food waste, helping both our pockets and the planet.”;

He added that take stock to see what food they already have will make it easier to write a list of what is needed before going out to buy more food.

How can I find the best deals in the supermarket?

Get a loyalty card

Signing up for a supermarket loyalty card can often help you to get cheaper prices on essentials.

If you have a loyalty card, you may find you can get extra points or discounts, particularly if you buy petrol from the same supermarket.

The Sun recently compared the best supermarket loyalty cards in this handy guide.

Asda is the latest supermarket to promise shoppers extra perks, bringing it in line with Lidl, M&S, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s and Tesco.

But it’s worth comparing loyalty schemes – and remember you don’t have to stay loyal, despite the name.

Known when to shop

Heading to the shops when products are marked down and bright yellow discount stickers are applied can save you serious dough.

If you shop in the evening, you are more likely to find goods that have been marked marked down.

But each branch of a supermarket will have their biggest discounts at slightly different times of day.

We put together a handy guide to what time supermarkets including Aldi, Asda, Tesco and Lidl reduce their prices.

Make a list

One of the most common mistakes shoppers make is going out underprepared.

Making a list will help to stay focused on getting the items that you really need, rather than being drawn into impulse purchases.

Another tip is to choose a smaller trolley – or a basket, if possible – to shop with.

A bigger trolley will look emptier even after you’ve finished trawling the aisles, and can encourage you to pick up more items.

Swap to own brand

Ditching items with labels like “finest”; in favour of “own”; or “value”; can be worthwhile.

The Sun regularly tests supermarket own brand products to see if they can beat the big brands.

Lidl’s own brand Freeway Cola costing 47p beat other supermarket’s own brands to be crowned the best by The Sun.

While the budget supermarket’s own brand orange juice was also found to be the best alternative to Tropicana.

The brand’s Smooth Orange Juice costs £2.75 compared to Lidl’s Simply Orange Juice, which is just 55p.

You can also try checking frozen alternatives to fresh fruit and vegetables, and looking on the lower shelves where customers are known to find better deals.

Meanwhile, we found out from a supermarket expert how you can get your weekly shop cheaper in every aisle.

We also revealed the cheapest supermarket in the country – and it’s not what you expect.