Saving money on your supermarket shopping doesn’t have to be complicated. With the right tools and strategies, you can transform every trip into an opportunity to earn rewards, claim cashback, and even make a little extra cash on the side.

Some of the best savings actually happen before you even reach the checkout, simply by choosing how you pay.

Whether you're looking for the best cashback apps, savvy card options, or clever ways to profit from everyday errands, this guide has you covered.

Discover how to maximise your savings and make your shopping work harder for you with these five simple tips.

 

Here are five ways you can be savvy with your supermarket shopping.  These tips will help you to not only save money when shopping in-store, but you can make money too!

1. Buy discounted supermarket gift vouchers before you shop

One of the simplest ways to save money on your supermarket shopping is to pay with discounted gift vouchers instead of your usual debit card.

The idea is straightforward. You buy a supermarket gift card at a small discount, then use that gift card to pay for your groceries in-store or online. You’re spending the same amount as usual, but because the voucher cost you less, you keep the difference.

Over time, this becomes an easy habit that reduces your food bill without changing where or how you shop.

There are several UK apps that offer discounted supermarket gift vouchers, including JamDoughnut, Cheddar, and Sprive. The discount varies depending on the retailer and the app, but even small percentages add up quickly when used consistently.

What makes this approach especially effective is that the saving happens before you even step into the shop. You’re locking in a discount on money you were already planning to spend.

Some platforms also let you use those savings strategically. For example, Sprive allows you to route cashback or savings towards mortgage overpayments, turning everyday food shopping into a way to reduce interest and shorten your mortgage term. That makes this method particularly appealing if you’re focused on long-term financial goals, not just short-term savings.

Used regularly, discounted gift vouchers are a quiet but powerful way to get more money out of every in-store shopping trip, without relying on time-limited offers or complicated schemes.

To give you a clearer idea of how this works in practice, here are three popular UK platforms that offer discounted supermarket gift vouchers in slightly different ways:

• JamDoughnut offers instant cashback when you buy digital supermarket gift cards through the app. You purchase the gift card, receive it immediately, and use it to pay for your shopping as normal. The cashback is credited straight away, making it a quick and easy way to reduce grocery costs without waiting weeks for rewards to clear.
  Click here to get the JamDoughnut cashback app on the App Store or Google Play. Register on the app and nter JamDoughnut referral code 2XYM for a welcome bonus.

• Cheddar works more passively. Once linked to your bank account, it tracks eligible spending and applies cashback automatically at participating retailers, including supermarkets and gift card offers. It’s ideal if you want savings to happen quietly in the background with minimal effort.
  Use my Cheddar referral code PTXKBZZ and earn a £5 free cash welcome bonus if you buy your first gift card within 14 days. 
  Sign up for Cheddar by clicking here! 

• Sprive combines discounted supermarket gift cards with a longer-term money-saving goal. You can buy gift cards at a discount, then choose to direct the savings towards mortgage overpayments. This turns everyday food shopping into a way to reduce interest and shorten your mortgage over time, which can add up to significant savings in the long run.
  I have a Sprive referral code for a welcome bonus to get you started! Just enter Sprive referral code 3OVDPUBK when signing up. 
  Click here to download the Sprive app today using my referral link

2. Use a rewards credit card to pay (and pay it straight back!)

The key here is not to get into debt but to make the most of cashback, points, or rewards from your everyday spending.

Here’s how we do it:

• Choose the right rewards card:
  We have a Tesco credit card that gives us Tesco Clubcard points on all purchases. Not just in Tesco but everywhere we shop. These points convert into Clubcard vouchers, which we often exchange for 2x their value in restaurant vouchers (e.g., Pizza Express). We also have a Sainsbury’s credit card that offers Nectar points on purchases. These can be redeemed for Sainsbury’s shopping, travel, or even eBay purchases. Both these cards give points which can be used in the respective supermarkets to get discounts on food shopping bills. 

• Why use a rewards card?
  By putting all our usual household spending on these cards, we earn rewards without spending anything extra.

• Pay it off instantly:
  To avoid interest, we set up online payments from our current account to the credit card. After every purchase, we log in and pay it off immediately. This ensures we never carry a balance and avoid interest fees.

• Interest-free buffer:
  Both of these cards also offer 0% interest on purchases for an extended period (e.g., 30 months). While we always aim to pay in full, this feature provides extra protection if unforeseen circumstances arise.

• Other card options:
  If Tesco or Sainsbury’s doesn’t suit you, there are plenty of other rewards cards offering cashback, air miles, or other benefits. Research which one aligns best with your spending habits.

Tip: Only use a credit card for purchases you can afford to pay off immediately. Only do this if you have the willpower to use it for your normal budgeted monthly spending, not if you will be tempted to buy more than you can afford. The aim is to maximise rewards, not to accumulate debt.

3. Check Roamler and BeMyEye for mystery tasks

Roamler is an app for your smartphone offering in-store audits, many of which can be performed discreetly during your regular shopping trip. I always check mine before heading to a store to see if I can make some extra money while running errands.

Tasks are often simple, like taking a photo of a flower display or checking if an item is in stock, and pay a couple of pounds. Over time, these small tasks can add up to a nice extra income.

You need an invite code to register. For more details, check out this blog post: How to make money from your phone with the Roamler app

BeMyEye is another app that works in a similar way. It lets you earn money by discreetly taking photos of displays, noting prices, or recording feedback from sales staff. The tasks are straightforward and perfect for fitting into your daily routine.

Getting started with BeMyEye:

• Sign up using the invitation code 0rg1zy to get £1 free after completing your first mission.
• Alternatively, click here to sign up.

Both apps are excellent ways to turn your regular shopping trips into an opportunity to earn extra money.

4. Get coupons and cashback from these apps

Want to save money on your grocery shopping? Supermarket cashback apps are a fantastic way to get discounts, try new products for less, or even for free. These apps let you claim cashback on selected items by simply uploading your receipt after shopping. Here are some of the best ones:

• GreenJinn: If you shop in-store at Tesco, Sainsbury’s, or Waitrose, check the GreenJinn app for coupons on your shopping. You’ll often find deals with up to 50% or even 100% off, allowing you to try new products for free. Simply select the offers in the app, buy the items in-store, and upload a photo of your receipt for verification. Cashback is credited to your account, and you can cash out once you reach £1.50.

• Shopmium: Similar to GreenJinn, Shopmium offers cashback on selected items. Sign up by clicking my referral link here  to receive a welcome bonus. Alternatively, enter my Shopmium referral code 46e3t when signing up.

• CheckoutSmart: Like Clicksnap, CheckoutSmart offers similar deals on grocery shopping. If you’re not using Quidco, opt for this app, as cashback can be withdrawn directly to PayPal or via BACS. To avoid withdrawal fees, wait until you’ve accumulated £20 or more. Sign up at www.checkoutsmart.com

Handy tip: Sometimes, the same offers appear on more than one app, so you may be able to claim it on multiple apps to maximise your savings!

5. Snap your supermarket receipts for even more cashback!

Finally, it’s time for you to take a photo of your receipt on these apps to get even more cashback! Don’t throw away your receipts – snap a photo of them to earn rewards with these receipt apps currently in the UK:

• Shoppix: Snap your receipts to earn points, which can be redeemed for PayPal cash, Amazon vouchers, or Love2shop vouchers. For an extra boost, if it asks for a referral code, enter the code 52YFMN8U for a welcome bonus.

• SnapMyEats: Perfect for food and drink purchases, SnapMyEats lets you earn Amazon gift vouchers by submitting your dining and grocery receipts.

By using these apps, you can turn everyday purchases into easy rewards – a great way to make your shopping work harder for you!

Final word

With these five smart strategies, you can turn every supermarket visit into a chance to save money or even to earn extra cash. From cashback apps and rewards credit cards to mystery shopping and receipt snapping, these tips will help you get the most value out of your everyday spending.

Start using these tips today to take control of your shopping budget and discover just how much you can save. For more ways to boost your income, check out more popular posts:

• How to make £1000 in one month online
• Best refer a friend schemes in the UK
• 5 tested ways to make money as a UK stay at home mum
• Free money offers in the UK