For many of us, shopping takes up a large chunk of the monthly budget. Whether you’re looking to save money on food shopping, or trying to cut the cost of your online buying, we’ve pulled together a few tips to help you keep costs low.

Work out what you spend your money on
Make a list of everything you buy in a typical month. This will make it easier to work out where you can make cuts.

Shop around
Check out the competition and compare prices. For example, it might be cheaper to go to a different supermarket, or buy your electronics from a different website.

Beware of special offers
Vouchers, special offers and cashback deals were invented to make you spend more, not less. Never buy something you don’t need just because it’s on offer.

Don’t impulse buy
Think carefully before making a purchase – especially if it’s expensive. At the very least sleep on it, it might seem less appealing in the morning.

Check reviews
If you’re not sure about a product, check online to see if there are any reviews. Just type its name into a search engine, followed by ‘review’.