Is it worth shopping around at different supermarkets?

LittleRocket

Member
Joined
Jun 14, 2021
Messages
3
Points
23
Age
25
Hi all,

With all this sun and the 6 weeks holiday coming up, groceries are really going to get expensive (the ice creams already!).

Does anybody know, or has anybody tried, shopping around from Asda, Tesco, Aldi etc for different products? So like:

- X from Asda
- Y from Tesco
- Z from Aldi

I'm fortunate that I have quite a few around me so petrol isn't really an issue. Just the time! Are the savings worth it?
 

Jon

Money Making Megastar!
Joined
Oct 17, 2013
Messages
32,378
Points
283
Age
42
Location
Leeds
I find with branded products they all seem to price-match these days!
 
  • Like
Reactions: LittleRocket

LittleRocket

Member
Joined
Jun 14, 2021
Messages
3
Points
23
Age
25
Jon, I thought the same! Until one day I happened to shop in Tesco and Asda on the same day so prices were fresh in mind. Saw some products that were quite a few quid difference. Was in for a shock!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jon

homie

One of the finest Matched Betting helpers around!
Joined
Oct 16, 2016
Messages
2,389
Points
283
You'll save more picking one supermarket and swap all the branded items in your basket for non branded ones. Some are double the price of the supermarket own brands.

You might save a little by shopping around but it depends if you consider the time and effort worth it. I have an Aldi opposite a Tesco where I live so I alternate between them and pick out the things I know are cheaper in each respective store. I wouldn't however drive an extra few miles to Asda or Sainsbury just to save a few extra pence here and there because that isn't a good use of my time (or petrol)

https://www.trolley.co.uk/ compares some branded products across supermarkets however it lacks the function to compare like for like non branded items. For example if you search for tesco crisps it will only return tesco crisps because they are the only company selling them, but to be useful it should compare their price to Asda crisps, Aldi crisps etc.....
 
  • Like
Reactions: LittleRocket

Sherliarty

Money Making Megastar!
Joined
Jan 26, 2016
Messages
1,137
Points
223
I didn't exactly do that but when things were tight I used to shop in the cheapest supermarket which for us was Morrisons, and then I also had a Costco membership so got a lot of other things like tea, biscuits, toiletries, pasta in bulk which saved us money.
 
  • Like
Reactions: LittleRocket

LittleRocket

Member
Joined
Jun 14, 2021
Messages
3
Points
23
Age
25
Thanks for the Trolley.co.uk recommendation! Awesome website, really easy to compare, I didn't know things like that existed.

I do agree about the non-branded items, that's a little bit of nuisance! Especially since they're the cheapest.
You'll save more picking one supermarket and swap all the branded items in your basket for non branded ones. Some are double the price of the supermarket own brands.

You might save a little by shopping around but it depends if you consider the time and effort worth it. I have an Aldi opposite a Tesco where I live so I alternate between them and pick out the things I know are cheaper in each respective store. I wouldn't however drive an extra few miles to Asda or Sainsbury just to save a few extra pence here and there because that isn't a good use of my time (or petrol)

https://www.trolley.co.uk/ compares some branded products across supermarkets however it lacks the function to compare like for like non branded items. For example if you search for tesco crisps it will only return tesco crisps because they are the only company selling them, but to be useful it should compare their price to Asda crisps, Aldi crisps etc.....
 

katyd92

Money Making Megastar!
Staff member
Joined
Jun 23, 2021
Messages
215
Points
128
I think this really comes down to what and how much you are buying. I used to shop about quite a bit but when you take into account petrol, time and such for the sake of a few quid I was probably not actually making a saving.

for things like meat though I think it’s worth it
 

Karonher

Money Making Megastar!
Joined
Jan 25, 2014
Messages
1,899
Points
233
It could also depend on how many supermarkets are local to you. Saving a few pennies here and there could be pointless if you are driving miles.
 
  • Like
Reactions: geebobuk

emtronea

Money Making Megastar!
Joined
Jan 10, 2020
Messages
110
Points
108
Age
42
i shop around, for instance i will go to sainsburys and buy the james brand bacon at 83p and its really nice, then i will go to asda as at the moment you can get 6 tins of heinz ravoli for £4 then i will go to aldi and get wild caught salmon frozen for £4 or i will go iceland and get 4 icecreams i like 70p cheaper, and the good thing about shopping around you get your steps in :p
 

Anakha6

Active Member
Joined
Mar 6, 2022
Messages
37
Points
38
Age
32
Website
www.swagbucks.com
Tesco have Aldi price match on a lot of things now anyway. Generally though, the best money saving tip is just to avoid buying the branded items, the store's own one will taste exactly the same and be half the price.
 

Gloria_UK

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 5, 2022
Messages
11
Points
68
Age
52
Tesco have Aldi price match on a lot of things now anyway. Generally though, the best money saving tip is just to avoid buying the branded items, the store's own one will taste exactly the same and be half the price.
Sainsburys have an Aldi price match too. I don't drive so mostly shop at Sainsburys. I get my biggest savings using Smart Shop. For example I love croissants and this week a pack of 8 croissants is £1.41, down from £1.95, buy as many as you like. So I bought 4 and frozen 3 of them. Red Leicester cheese is £1.26 down from £1.75, buy as many as you like. In recent months I've stocked up on my favourite coffee and various tinned foods. I find the more you use Smart Shop the more offers you get on the things you buy the most of.
 

Members online


Amazon Discount Finder Tool

Find hidden 80%+ savings on Amazon products



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forum statistics

Threads
7,380
Messages
199,737
Members
11,387
Latest member
jbniche1