Use this weekly supermarket savings tracker to compare Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Morrisons and Aldi without relying on headline discounts alone. You’ll find a repeatable price-check method, a printable staples table, guidance for multi-buy and seasonal offers, and a simple way to decide whether one shop or a split shop gives better value.
Overview
A cheap weekly shop is not always the one with the lowest shelf price on a single item. The better comparison is the total cost of the products you actually need, adjusted for pack size, loyalty pricing, delivery charges, travel and waste. This matters particularly during seasonal shopping events, when supermarkets promote different products at different times.
Use this tracker every Thursday, or on the day you normally plan your shop. Record the price and pack size for the same product specification at each supermarket, then compare the unit price. A monthly re-check can identify broader changes, while extra checks are useful before Christmas, Easter, back-to-school shopping, bank holidays and summer gatherings.
Prices and promotions can vary by branch, postcode, availability, online account and loyalty scheme. Treat the table as a decision tool rather than a permanent ranking of supermarkets. The cheapest store for one basket may not be the cheapest for another.
Printable weekly comparison table
Copy this table into a notes app, spreadsheet or printed shopping sheet. Add the exact pack size, not just the product name. If a product is unavailable, mark it clearly instead of treating a substitute as a direct comparison.
| Staple | Pack or specification | Tesco | Sainsbury’s | Asda | Morrisons | Aldi | Best unit price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milk | Record size and type | ||||||
| Bread | Record loaf size | ||||||
| Eggs | Record quantity and size | ||||||
| Butter or spread | Record weight | ||||||
| Cheese | Record weight and type | ||||||
| Rice | Record weight and variety | ||||||
| Pasta | Record weight and type | ||||||
| Potatoes | Record weight | ||||||
| Fresh fruit | Record variety and weight | ||||||
| Fresh vegetables | Record variety and weight | ||||||
| Chicken or meat | Record cut and weight | ||||||
| Fish | Record type and weight | ||||||
| Cereal | Record weight and variety | ||||||
| Yoghurt | Record pack quantity | ||||||
| Tea or coffee | Record quantity or weight | ||||||
| Tinned tomatoes | Record tin size | ||||||
| Baked beans | Record tin size | ||||||
| Cooking oil | Record bottle size | ||||||
| Flour | Record weight | ||||||
| Sugar | Record weight | ||||||
| Toilet roll | Record roll count and sheet details if shown | ||||||
| Kitchen roll | Record roll count | ||||||
| Laundry detergent | Record washes or volume | ||||||
| Washing-up liquid | Record volume | ||||||
| Shampoo | Record volume and type | ||||||
| Toothpaste | Record tube size | ||||||
| Pet food | Record weight and type | ||||||
| Baby products | Record size and quantity | ||||||
| Frozen food | Record weight and variety | ||||||
| Seasonal item | Add Christmas, Easter or event staple |
How to estimate the cheapest weekly shop
Start with your real shopping list and divide it into three groups: essentials, flexible substitutions and seasonal or promotional items. Do not compare every product if that would take too long. The 10 to 15 items you buy most often usually provide a more useful benchmark than a large basket filled with occasional purchases.
- Match the specification. Compare the same weight, quantity, product type and quality level. A branded item should not be compared with a supermarket own-label alternative unless you are intentionally assessing a substitution.
- Calculate unit price. Use price divided by weight, volume or quantity. For example, a hypothetical £2.40 pack weighing 800g costs £0.30 per 100g. This prevents a larger-looking pack from appearing cheaper when it is not.
- Separate ordinary and loyalty prices. Record whether a price requires a Clubcard, Nectar, Rewards or another loyalty account. A loyalty price may be worthwhile, but it should not be presented as the standard price for every shopper.
- Check the full basket total. Add delivery, collection or travel costs. If a second shop requires a special journey, include the reasonable extra cost before deciding that it saves money.
- Test the offer against your usage. A multi-buy only reduces your cost if you will use the extra products before they spoil or become unnecessary.
A simple decision formula is: effective shop cost = product total + delivery or travel cost − genuine savings used. Keep rewards and future points separate unless you know you will use them and understand any restrictions.
Inputs and assumptions to record
Write the following beside the table each week:
- Shop date and whether prices were checked online or in store.
- Postcode or branch area, where relevant.
- Exact pack sizes and product specifications.
- Any loyalty-card price, coupon, voucher or app-only condition.
- Offer end date, minimum spend or quantity requirement.
- Substitutions you would accept if the preferred product is unavailable.
- Expected waste, especially for fresh food and large packs.
- Delivery, collection, parking or additional travel costs.
For seasonal events, add a separate column for the item’s intended use. For example, a larger pack bought for a family gathering may be sensible, while the same pack for an ordinary week may create waste. Also check whether the promotion applies to the exact flavour, size or variant you need; a displayed offer may cover only selected products.
Worked examples
Example one: unit-price comparison. Suppose the same type of rice is available as a hypothetical 1kg pack for £1.80 at one store and a 500g pack for £1.05 at another. The first costs £0.18 per 100g; the second costs £0.21 per 100g. If you need only 500g and cannot store the remainder, the smaller pack may still be the practical choice, but the larger pack has the lower unit price.
Example two: a multi-buy. Assume a hypothetical offer reduces three identical items from £1.20 each to £3.00 in total. Buying three saves £0.60 only if all three would otherwise be purchased. If one item is unused or wasted, the effective saving is lower. Record both the advertised saving and the saving after expected waste.
Example three: split shopping. Imagine Store A is £4 cheaper on your 15-item core basket, while Store B is £3 cheaper on a seasonal group of products. If visiting both adds £5 in travel costs, the split shop does not produce a net saving. A delivery order may change the calculation again, so compare the complete checkout cost rather than isolated shelf prices.
When to recalculate
Refresh the top-30 table every Thursday to capture common weekly promotion changes, but treat that as a working routine rather than a guarantee that every offer changes on that day. Perform a fuller audit each month, checking pack sizes, loyalty prices, multi-buy rules and your most frequently purchased products.
Recalculate before Christmas, Easter, back-to-school shopping, bank holidays and planned gatherings. Add seasonal staples early enough to compare alternatives, then check availability and offer conditions again shortly before buying. Revisit the tracker whenever your household size, diet, budget, storage space or usual shopping method changes.
Before your next shop, choose five actions: copy your list into the table, check the unit price of your regular staples, mark loyalty or voucher conditions, test every multi-buy against actual usage, and include travel or delivery costs. Keep the completed version so you can compare the next week’s basket without starting again. For broader loyalty and offer ideas, see our guide to supermarket offers this week and our comparison of Clubcard, Nectar and cashback savings.
