Tesco shopper used little-known trick and saved a fortune

Most shoppers are looking to save money on their food shop - and it turns out there's a really simple way to make sure you're getting the best deals

Most shoppers are looking for ways to cut costs, with many trying to save money on their supermarket bills. But a simple trick for finding the lowest prices is often overlooked - just look at the bottom shelf.

Food budgeting expert Lorna Cooper has previously pointed out this tip, mentioning that people focus too much on products placed at eye level or those featured in promotions, missing out on cheaper options situated lower down. She has noticed followers of her Facebook page 'Feed your family for about £20 a week' frequently ask where she finds such bargain items – and it's all about looking in the right places.

Emma Gill, Parents Editor at Manchester Evening News, tested this 'down low' strategy during a substantial shop at Tesco this week to see how much could be saved compared to top-shelf big-brand items. She found: "I was surprised by just how many shelves were laid out in this way and for a lot of people, especially those in a rush or shopping with children and getting distracted, it would be easy to miss the cheaper items. There's obviously a quality difference between some of the products - and not everyone is as happy to buy the own brand or budget goods - but with the cost of living crisis still hitting hard, a lot of shoppers are having to make different choices, or are at least willing to give cheaper products a try."

The price disparities are staggering in some cases. For instance, a 1kg pack of Tesco's long grain rice is priced at £1.25, while its more affordable Grower's Harvest brand costs just 52p for an equivalent-sized pack.

A litre of Tesco orange or apple juice from the shelf is £1.25, whereas the Grower's Harvest brand, located on the bottom shelf, is only 85p. Prominent brand curry sauces exceed £2, or £1.50 with the eye-catching Clubcard offer, yet its less expensive alternatives are situated on the bottom shelf for a mere 99p, reports the Express.

A similar pattern was observed with soup, where Heinz tins were priced at £2 each, or three for £4, but Tesco's own brand, found on the bottom shelf, was only £1.10. While the 'low shelf, low price' rule primarily applied to tinned and cupboard items, it was also evident in some refrigerated sections.

An eight-pack of Richmond sausages was priced at £2.60 at eye level, with the Tesco version costing £1.79 positioned lower down; mature cheddar was £3 for 400g, with the cheaper £2.49 Creamfields blocks on the bottom shelf; and its more affordable Willow Farms chicken breasts, priced at £6.49 a kg and matched to Aldi's prices, were also on the bottom shelf. However, it's still worth keeping your eyes peeled elsewhere.

The top shelf featured a Clubcard offer on chicken breasts, which was even cheaper at £5.79 a kg.

While the results were mixed for loaves, the 'low down' rule seemed to apply to other bakery items. For instance, Tesco's eight-pack of tortilla wraps cost £1.20, compared to a six-pack of Mission Deli branded ones priced at £1.60.

Similarly, Tesco's eight-pack of chocolate brioche rolls was available for £1.60 on the bottom shelf, while a six-pack of Pitch ones was priced higher at £1.75. With eggs, it was clear that shoppers had discovered where to find the best deals, as the entire bottom shelf housing the 15-pack of mixed-weight eggs for £1.99 was completely sold out.

In the freezer section, branded and non-branded products were placed side by side. However, it was easy to be swayed by Clubcard offers, such as McCain Skin on Fries costing £3 for 800g when right next to it was a 900g bag of Tesco's own brand for just £2.50.

The same was true for the £4 Clubcard offer for 38 Birds Eye chicken dippers (50% chicken breast), whereas Tesco's pack (53 percent chicken) contained 44 dippers and was only £3.45. Emma noted: "The swaps I made meant an overall saving of more than £20, so it's not small change."

Budgeting expert Lorna shared her advice: "I know I have mentioned supermarket psychology before but I wanted to mention it again. Often when I put the prices of items I buy on here people immediately say 'where do you buy that so cheap? We don't get."

An observant local shopper has pointed out that while his Tesco branch, which isn't the biggest, does stock cheaper product ranges, these are cunningly placed: "This is a my local Tesco which is fairly small but the cheaper ranges are still available. But they are out of eye level. Hidden low down on the shelf out the way where, unless you are specifically looking for them, you are unlikely to notice them. Check the whole shelf! ". When the Manchester Evening News queried Tesco regarding the strategic placement of more affordable products, a spokesperson maintained: "We offer a wide range of products in our stores, with a variety of branded and own-brand products to suit customers' needs. Thanks to our combination of Aldi Price Match, Low Everyday Prices, and Clubcard Prices, shoppers can be sure they will get great value at Tesco however they decide to shop."

Additionally, the savvy shopper has cleverly outlined potential savings by opting for lower-shelf or Tesco-brand items over their main-brand counterparts, demonstrating significant price differences on a variety of goods:

- McVitie's Jaffa Cakes 220g £2 / Tesco Jaffa Cakes 282g £1.35 / Save 65p.

- Tesco shelf orange or apple juice £1.25 / Grower's Harvest shelf orange or apple juice 85p / Save 40p.

- Tesco fridge orange juice £2 / Grower's Harvest fridge orange juice £1.19 / Save 81p.

- Tesco fridge apple juice £2 / Grower's Harvest fridge apple juice 99p / Save £1.01.

- Cadbury Brunch bars £1.35 / Tesco Raisin Munch Bars £1.15 / Save 20p.

- Heinz Beanz and Sausages £2 / Tesco Beans and Sausages 56p / Save £1.44.

- Heinz Ravioli £2 / Tesco Beef Ravioli £1 / Save £1.

- Heinz Big Soup £2 / Tesco Chunky Soup £1.10 / Save 90p.

- Tesco Tuna Chunks 72p / Stockwell Tuna Chunks 55p / Save 17p.

- Ambrosia Custard £1.60 / Tesco Custard £1 / Save 60p.

- KP Dry Roasted Peanuts 250g £3.25 / Tesco Dry Roasted Peanuts 200g £1.20 / Save £2.05.

McVitie's Chocolate Digestives 266g are now £1.30 with Clubcard, while Ms Molly's Chocolate Digestives 300g are just 65p. Tesco Long Grain Rice is priced at £1.25, but Grower's Harvest Long Grain Rice is only 52p.

Patak's Naans are £1.50 with Clubcard, but Tesco Naans are a mere 80p. Patak's curry sauce is also £1.50 with Clubcard, but Tesco curry sauce is just 99p.

Hellman's Light Mayonnaise 430ml is £2 with Clubcard, but Tesco Light Mayonnaise 450ml is only 86p. Sarsons Malt Vinegar 250ml is £1.15, but Tesco Malt Vinegar 568ml is just 35p.

Richmond sausages are £2.60, but Tesco sausages are only £1.79. Mature cheddar is £3, but Creamfields Mature Cheddar is just £2.49.

Country Life Salted Butter is £2.75, but Tesco Salted Butter is only £1.79. Sun-Pat Peanut Butter 300g is £2.25 with Clubcard, but Tesco Peanut Butter 340g is just £1.09.

Mission Deli Tortilla Wraps six-pack is £1.60, but Tesco's eight-pack is only £1.20. Pitch Brioche Rolls six-pack is £1.75, but Tesco's eight-pack of chocolate brioche rolls is just £1.60.

St Pierre Brioche Burger Buns are £2.50, but Tesco Brioche Burger Buns are only 99p. Fairy Washing Up Liquid 320ml is £1, but Tesco Washing Up Liquid 500ml is just 69p.

Doritos 180g are £1.75 with Clubcard, but Tesco Tortilla Chips 200g are only £1.10.