Cheap Groceries Deals

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The supermarket price war is on, and the UK's biggest grocery stores such as Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons are battling it out to offer consumers the best value for their money, and the cheapest prices on staple foods and big brands. According to figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) price inflation jumped to 4.2% in October, with food prices up 0.6% month on month - this means, there really is no better time to start saving on your weekly shop. Here at Latest Deals we offer grocery coupons, discount vouchers and online shopping codes to help you save money at your favourite supermarket whether you’re a beginner or extreme couponing in the UK.

A money-saving blogger made international headlines when he travelled from Sheffield to Essex via Berlin because it was cheaper than taking the train. "Coupon kid" Jordon Cox is on a quest to share his money-saving tips with the nation.

Couponing for beginners in the UK

The basics to couponing are very easy and once you know them you will start to see some decent savings in no time at all. As you grow in confidence and abilities you will pick up more tips and tricks. However the key to being a successful couponer is knowing the basics rules that all good couponers live by.

• To get maximum savings, don’t rush! Wait until the item comes on offer or is on clearance before using your coupon.
• Before shopping in-store plan your trip ahead of time, do your research and compare prices online.
• To make the most of current deals and coupons, shop weekly instead of monthly.
• Carry your coupons round with you at all times as you never know when you will come across an unexpected price reduction, this is how you end up with free items.
• Always take the time to read the retailers’ terms and conditions and coupon policy.
• Make yours and the cashier’s lives a lot easier by always having your coupons in order, for example if you have £10 off a £100 spend is what you will probably need to use.
• The most important rule of all is to always check the coupon’s expiry date!

Types of coupons

If you want to become a successful couponer, it is vital to know all the different types of coupons in the UK that are available and where to get them. The most popular types are manufacturer, newspaper and printable coupons which are widely available but there are lots of others out there.

1. Printable. These are usually found online and are one of the most convenient ways to build up a good collection. They are most commonly a type of “safe” coupon which has a unique number, this is to prevent fraudulent coupons being used.
2. E-coupons. These are for making reductions to your online shopping basket. Most retailers will have a box marked as “Voucher Code” or “Coupon Code” where you can type in or paste your code, hit the apply button and your total will be adjusted accordingly upon checkout.
3. Manufacturer coupons. These are obtained via special promotions or by writing to the company directly. A company will send you coupons for various reasons such compensation for a faulty product or just for giving them some good feedback.
4. Newspaper coupons. They are exactly what they say on the tin, large newspapers will advertise discount vouchers and coupons on the front of the newspaper. The Morrisons coupons of £5 off fruit and veg voucher proved so popular it was nearly impossible to find a copy of the Sun by mid-day.
5. Free sample coupons. These are free coupons by post in the UK. Many free samples will contain a coupon to use against a new product, the company is trying to promote. In many cases these new items will be on offer which is when you can start adding to your stock pile.
6. Catalinas. Always check your receipt once it is handed to you to see if there is a coupon printed on it. You can typically use this next time you shop.
7. Peelies. These are coupons that can be found on supermarket products when you buy them. Some companies will let you try a product for free.
8. Store coupons. Always check your local in-store supermarket’s magazine for coupons. If your local store doesn’t have any in stock then it may be worth contacting their customer service team to see if they will post a few copies out to you.
9. Free food vouchers by the government. The UK government has various programs like the Healthy Start wherein you can get free vouchers every week to spend on milk, plain fresh and frozen fruit and vegetables, and infant formula milk. You can also get free vitamins. If you qualify for the scheme you'll be sent vouchers you can use in over 30,000 shops in the UK.

The image shows where you can enter your coupon code on Tesco's website

Where can I find coupons?

Here at Latest Deals our massive community of bargain hunters are always on the lookout every month to post and share only the best and the freshest deals, voucher codes and coupon codes in the country. There is no need to spend hours searching the net, we have got you covered. Of course there are also plenty of different places to find coupons from company Facebook pages to supermarket receipts, some of them are right under your nose without even realizing it. Once you have been couponing for a short while you will start to spot them everywhere!

How to use your coupons

When you get a coupon, there are five things you need to look at straight away to find out what the best way of using it is:

Which exact product/size of product it applies to

• How much the coupon is worth
• Where it is accepted
• When it expires
• Other terms and conditions

If your coupon has a long expiry date, it might be worth hanging onto it until a really good deal happens.

The difference between one per person vs. one per transaction

Other terms and conditions you need to watch out for include whether the coupon specifies one per person, per transaction or per item. If the coupon is one per person (and you have more than one) then they shouldn’t let you use them both, you can go to a different shop or come back later and try your luck. One per transaction coupons can usually be used more than one at a time if the checkout assistant is willing to do a separate transaction for each item. One per item is the most self-explanatory, and it allows you to take advantage of buy one get one free or two for £xx offers.

Price match vouchers

There are also ways to play the system when you’re shopping at Tesco, Asda or Morrisons, because they offer a version of price matching. The basic tactic is to split your basket into items that are a good deal, and items where you’re spending more than they’re on offer for in another supermarket, and pay for them separately. The reason all the supermarkets can put on price matching offers is because most people are going to naturally lean towards the best value items that are on special offer at the supermarket they’re shopping in, and not know what’s on offer at another.

Asda Price Guarantee receipt checker

Tesco price matches branded items with Morrisons, Asda and Sainsbury’s and there needs to be at least ten different items in your basket, including one identical to one sold at Morrisons, Asda or Sainsbury's to get money off your total with Tesco Brand Guarantee. You might need to put items that are the same price elsewhere in with your more expensive ones to get a voucher. Your discount is worked out automatically at the till up to a maximum of £20 off your shop. While Asda Price Guarantee promises that your shop will be at least 10% cheaper than a comparable shop at Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons or Waitrose when you buy a minimum of eight different items (with at least one that’s also available in another store), or they’ll give you a voucher for the difference.

Coupons for Tesco

Clubcard members get sent new coupons about three times a year, it’ll post them to you but you can also print them. Tesco has a free monthly magazine you can pick up in store. It usually has lots of coupons inside, there aren’t often total freebies, but if you’re going to be buying the items anyway it’s worth taking a look. The Tesco Orchard on the other hand is a scheme where Tesco shoppers are sent coupons both for themselves and their friends. You have to be invited to programmes, but you can increase your chances of

being invited by filling out all of the surveys available to you.

Coupons for Asda

Asda does accept coupons, but they don’t have a loyalty scheme or really issue any coupons of their own. However, look out for the Asda Price Guarantee where you’ll get a voucher for the difference of a cheaper comparable shop at a different supermarket plus 10% extra.