Be loyal to your pocket not supermarket and save

Is your loyalty costing you? Loyalty is a great thing as a rule, but not if it means you're overspending on your supermarket shop when you could be saving. Whatever your reason for sticking with the same supermarket, don't let it get in the way of a bargain.%VIRTUAL-ArticleSidebar-supermarkets%

According to our research, the average family spends £149.53 on groceries a week.

But grocery comparison site mySupermarket says you can cut, on average, 30% from your weekly bill by shopping around.

Starting now will set you up with a great habit to continue in 2016.

Find out where you can cut back with our easy to use Budget planner

Shopping basket comparison

Supermarket loyalty myth buster
So what are the real reasons you don't shop around for your groceries? Here are three possibles - and why you should ignore them.

1. You think it doesn't really save that much
This one is really a case of looking after the pennies and the pounds taking care of themselves. Take a look at the graphic above. If your weekly shopping list includes apples, fresh chicken, minced beef and cheddar cheese you could save more than £10 between the cheapest and most expensive options – a saving of £520 a year!

Could you save on your shop with mySupermarket?

2. You'd rather stick to the supermarket nearby
The smaller supermarket convenience stores dotted around residential areas can be more expensive. Plus, if it's convenience you're after, getting your shopping delivered at a time that suits you could be more helpful than nipping down to the shops. Doing one big shop as opposed to lots of little ones also makes it easier to keep track of your budget.

3. You have a loyalty card with the store
Loyalty cards can be useful, but only if you're spending a fair amount of money in store. Don't shop in a store simply for the points but do make sure to pick up any points you are entitled to.