I’ve saved thousands with supermarket yellow stickers – I’ve been knocked OVER by other shoppers but won’t stop
A BARGAIN hunter has revealed that her routine trip to the supermarket can involve fighting off other shoppers.
Anna Lykova, 42, said she saves around £50 a week by buying yellow sticker products that slash the cost of her groceries in half.
A duck for £3 and a prime rib joint for about £7 are among the money-saving deals she’s snapped up.
Anna said the secret to cutting the cost of food shopping is knowing which stores offer discounts and when.
She’s been religiously looking for yellow stickers at the supermarket since she was a “poor young professional” living in London about 20 years ago.
“There was a Tesco on my way home that did reduced food and that’s what fed me,” she told LatestDeals.co.uk.
“A lot of getting good bargains is luck and also knowing when shops do it.”
Anna revealed that everything she buys is frozen to keep it fresher for longer.
When cooking, she uses vegetables alongside her reduced-priced meat to make multiple meals.
A chicken may be cooked into a soup for one dish but last up to three days when budget-friendly noodles are added.
She raved that her freezer still contains meat bought when Aldi had great bargains last Christmas.
Anna said she never judges anyone for buying discounted foods but she wouldn’t copy those who clear a shelf.
“I once got knocked down by a woman in Tesco during a Sunday reduction,” she said.
“This was before they introduced queues and restrictions on items.”
She has learned the best time to go shopping by politely asking staff at the store when they usually make reductions.
“I find Poundland fantastic for sandwiches – most mornings there is a selection of sandwiches for about 50p,” she said.
When do supermarkets put out yellow-sticker bargains?
The time supermarkets reduce their products vary across stores.
Here’s a rough supermarket-by-supermarket guide:
Aldi
Aldi uses a red sticker to show reductions on fresh products such as bread, meat, fruit and vegetables.
This is when they have reached the last day of shelf life.
Red stickered items are most commonly found at opening and closing times.
M&S
Reduction times can vary from store to store but is most likely to occur near closing time.
Asda
Asda told Which? that yellow stickers are applied twice a day – in the morning and evening.
Co-op
Co-op told The Sun its reduced-to-clear prices are generally applied about four hours before the store closes.
Lidl
Lidl has a similar procedure to Asda and Aldi with reductions twice a day.
However individual stores may opt to reduce prices throughout the day.
Morrisons
Shoppers online have said that Morrisons does the best bargains first thing in the morning.
However, the store told Which? that there are no specific times for yellow sticker price cuts.
Sainsbury’s
Sainsbury’s told The Sun it’s at the store manager’s discretion whether to offer discounts.
However, shoppers have reported that the best deals are in the evening from 6pm.
Tesco
Tesco has said there is no specific time for reduction, but again most people found that prices were reduced from 6pm.
Waitrose
As with most of the other stores, Waitrose shoppers have said the best reductions are found before closing.
However, the store stated that there is no specific time for yellow stickers to be applied.
Home Bargains and B&M are her go-to for cleaning supplies and she has a Tesco Clubcard for cutting the cost of food.
However, the butchers can sometimes be cheaper than supermarkets.
A photo shared on her Instagram account showed four whole chickens, three packets of tandoori chicken thighs, pork chops, beef mince and frozen foods.
“Anyone else love a yellow sticker shop? Should have been £85 paid £23,” she wrote in the caption.
Anna said it’s important not to be “greedy” when shops discount products and staff will remember you if you’re friendly towards them.
“I feel so happy saving so much money as bills keep rising so any saving is amazing,” she said.
“Grabbing a bargain makes everyone happy.”