How to save money at the supermarket

A study found using a trolley as opposed to a basket can help you save money. Photo / Getty

Whether it's making simple supermarket brand swaps, listening to upbeat music or opting for the discounted wonky vegetables, experts have shared their incredibly simple money saving tips to help keep your shopping bill down.

Here are seven top tips to curb your supermarket spending.

1. Listen to house music

If you pop your headphones in and listen to upbeat house music, it will make you shop quicker and buy less, according to research. Martin Lindstrom, author of Brandwashed: Tricks Companies Use to Manipulate Our Minds and Persuade Us to Buy, found that shoppers who listened to slow music whilst shopping bought 29 per cent more.

2. Switch supermarket brands

Financial expert and SodaStream ambassador Sue Hayward says that if you always buy brands, swap them for supermarket versions. And if you already buy those, give the "budget" version a go. Swapping brands in your trolley can knock a third off your bill.

3. Ditch the hand-held basket

Whilst it may seem counter-intuitive, a study published in the Journal of Marketing Research revealed that using a trolley as opposed to a basket can help you save money.

4. Buy "wonky" veg

Buying "wonky veg" or budget brand salads and vegetables can add up to substantial savings over the course of a year. They may not look pretty but once sliced and chopped you won't tell the difference in a salad or stir fry.

5. Stock up on frozen food

Frozen foods are great to have on hand for quick dishes and save money. You'll pay a lot more for fresh alternatives.

6. Stop those impulse buys

Never go to the supermarket without a list, or when you're hungry. Chances are, you'll end up with a trolley full of "impulse buys" and there will probably be an expensive sandwich in there too!

7. Shop late in the day

Most supermarkets start reducing the prices of fresh food from midday onwards if it's got a short shelf life. Check the bargain sections in the fridge aisles for reduced stickers!