How to save money on your groceries: Leave the kids at home

IF YOU'VE ever stood at the supermarket check-out and been flummoxed by the cost of your weekly grocery bill, there is every chance you have shopped with your little ones in tow.
By The Newsroom
Published 24th Feb 2016, 09:58 BST
Updated 24th Feb 2016, 10:00 BST
You'll shop for less if you do it aloneYou'll shop for less if you do it alone
You'll shop for less if you do it alone

Parents spend an average £20 more on their shopping when they take their children to the supermarket, research by Debt Advisory Centre has found. And the picture is even worse for a fifth of parents who admitted their bills can jump by as much as £40 a week when children are allowed to wander the aisles.

While many supermarkets have removed tempting treats from their checkouts, it appears children are still determined to spend their parents’ money.

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The biggest culprits that children ask their parents for are sweets and toys, but they are also attracted by food with branding specially designed for children. With so many products targeted at children these days, particularly those tied-into to their favourite films, it’s easy to see why they make demands.

While many tired parents give-in to the demands of their children to avoid a confrontation in the middle of a busy shop, other parents find a surprise item lurking at the bottom of their basket, even though they said ‘no’ in the chocolate aisle.

With the average shopping bill in the UK standing at £86* for a week’s groceries, these small treats can add-up and that is driving savvy parents to make big savings by not taking their children to the supermarket.

In fact, more than two-thirds of parents say they now shop without their children to save both money and time.

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If you fall into the third of parents who still take your children to do the shopping it might be worth trying some distraction tactics. Try writing out a shopping list of their own so they spend time finding and collect the different items on it.

Or you could make your child the official organiser of the trolley, so each time you take something off the shelf, pass it to them and ask them to organise the trolley. You can let them choose how they want to organise it such as the main colour of the packaging or by food groups.

If all else fails, try giving them a small amount of change for treats and telling them that when they’ve spent that money, they can’t have more.

With millions of families living on tight budgets and struggling to make their incomes stretch, every penny counts – so it’s essential to avoid those unwelcome surprises at the check-out.

TOP 5 CHILDREN’S SUPERMARKET HABITS

1. Asking for sweets or drinks

2. Asking for toys or games

3. Persuading you to buy things that aren’t on your list

4. Asking for food that’s branded for children

5. Putting things in the basket without you realising

Debt Advisory Centre: 0161 871 4881

• Research by mySupermarket.

Related topics:Parents