Supermarket prices keep creeping up. Grocery inflation has risen to 5.2%, up from 4.9% last month, as Labour’s Budget of tax increases continues to filter down to pockets. Taking on some easy tips to save some cash matters more now than ever. Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be complicated, and a few clever tools and habits can make your money go further without cutting back on the essentials.

One of the easiest ways to save is to check prices before you shop. Free tools like the “Trolley” app let you compare the cost of items across all big supermarkets, such as Tesco, Asda, Waitrose, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Iceland – the list goes on. Simply download the app and search for a product to find out which store offers the best price. For favourite items, you can set up alerts to get notified when prices drop.

For quick discounts, you’re absolutely missing a trick if you haven’t signed up for any supermarket loyalty schemes yet.

Tesco Clubcard and Sainsbury’s Nectar let you earn points on your purchases that you can turn into discounts and rewards later down the line. They also offer member-only price cuts on selected products week by week, with some prices slashed by up to 50%

The Morrisons More Card works similarly, offering exclusive price cuts to members and personalised promotions. Other loyalty schemes available include Lidl Plus, Asda Rewards, Co-operative Membership, MyWaitrose, M&S Sparks, and Iceland Bonus Card.

Yellow sticker bargains are another great way to save on perfectly good food that’s close to its sell-by date. The time to snap up these savings varies by supermarket. Asda’s big reductions often start around 7pm; M&S discounts usually appear 30 minutes to an hour before closing; Co-op reductions can be worth up to 75% off after 8pm.

Lidl and Aldi shoppers say early morning and late evening are best for cheaper items here. Check with your local stores to get an idea of their discount timings as it could pay off.

Look out for extra discounts, too. If you’re aged over 60, Iceland offers 10% discount on your entire basket every Tuesday when you show your Iceland Bonus card and ID.

Ocado is also running a promotion offering up to 25% discount on a minimum £60 first shop, and free delivery for three months. While there is a maximum discount that can be applied with this promotion – £20 – it still puts a tidy sum back into your pocket.

So find out what works best for you, as adopting even a few of these simple changes can help keep your bills in check even as prices rise.

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DEAL OF THE WEEK 

Morrisons has brought back its popular Fish Fridays and Steak Saturdays deals this week, offering More Card customers 20% discount on these products on those days. The offers are available in store at the fish and butchers counters. Register for a free More Card by visiting morrisons.com/more. If you don’t have access to a computer or mobile phone, speak to a member of staff.

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Gold has been stealing the headlines lately, soaring past $4,000 per ounce for the first time this week – a milestone not seen since the late 1970s. This surge has been driven by a mix of slowing global growth, persistent inflation worries, geopolitical tensions, strong central bank buying, and even the ongoing US Government shutdown. Investors are flocking to gold as a safe haven amid this ongoing uncertainty, pushing demand and prices higher.

But before rushing to buy, take a step back first. As chartered financial adviser Eamonn Prendergast puts it: “The point at which everyone is talking about gold is often a signal to pause and take stock rather than pile in.”

The fear of missing out can push people into making impulsive investments at market peaks, just to regret it later. Gold may be shining now, but it’s not a guaranteed growth asset like shares. It doesn’t pay dividends or income, and your returns depend solely on price movement and timing. Many experts advise that gold should play a supporting role in a diversified portfolio, acting more like insurance against risk than a main driver of wealth.

Gold’s long-term benefit lies in disciplined, measured exposure, not emotional or herd-driven buying. So if you’re thinking of buying gold now, seek professional advice first, and remember that patience and diversification is the best combination during uncertain times.