Cast your eyes up and down the shelves for cheaper options - Many supermarkets put the most expensive items at eye-level.

Try the cheaper brand - Paying more doesn't always mean you are getting a better product, and if you always buy the most expensive brands you could end up spending as much as 30 per cent more on your overall bill than the shopper who buys the cheapest brand.

Check the ingredients - For example, does the more expensive jar of jam contain more fruit? Labelling regulations now make it easier for us to know what the product we are buying contains - the ingredients must be listed in order of their proportions.

Take your calculator along - Don't take it for granted that the larger the pack is, the better the value. Sometimes family packs are the best value, but sometimes they are not. Work it out yourself, and remember to take into account whether you're going to get through it all before the use-by date.

* If you really don't trust yourself not to make rash purchases, or you don't have easy access to a supermarket, try doing your grocery shopping online. You can shop in the peace and quiet of your home or office in a calm, controlled environment, with your list as guidance.

Information kindly provided by Suzanne Gibbs and Kate Gibbs from The Thrifty Kitchen.