The days of splashing the cash may be over, but this need not necessarily mean zero fun for you and the family.

Here are a few hints and tips to make your family shopping budget go that little bit further...

1. Don’t buy for the sake of it

Supermarket deals are a great way to get more for your money, but always think first about what you’re putting in your basket. For example, you may be able to save 50p by buying two packs of ham or turkey, but are you really going to eat it before its sell-by-date, or will it just end up in the bin?

2. Use discount vouchers

Make the most of vouchers, whether from your last shop or from the internet. If you’re buying something online, check for any discount codes on sites like www.vouchercodes.co.uk(link opens in new window) to see whether you can get free delivery or a discount off your bill. If you’re buying in store, always take with you any vouchers you've been sent or received last time you shopped.

Top tip: Don't forget to check out our latest deals and print off your discount vouchers from The Co-operative Food before you shop! 

3. Use loyalty cards

Most supermarkets and retailers offer some kind of loyalty reward card these days, and with regular shopping the points really do add up, meaning you get money back by means of loyalty points or vouchers.

The Co-operative’s Membership cardholders actually receive a share of the business’s profits. This year every point was valued at 2p, meaning that someone spending £20 a week in The Co-operative Food, £1,500 on a holiday booked with our travel business and buying a funeral plan with The Co-operative Funeralcare would earn £85.80 in the course of a year.

4. Set yourself a budget and stay focussed!

Whatever you’re shopping for, if you leave the house with a budget in mind, you’re less likely to come home with bags and bags of unnecessary goods in tow. So if you’re shoe shopping for the kids, decide beforehand what you want to pay and stick to it, and don’t be tempted to visit the grown ups' shoe section on the way back to the car either!

5. Waste not, want not

Less waste means less shopping, which can only be a good thing if your budget is tight. Getting into the habit of freezing leftovers, eating them for lunch the following day, or planning your meals based on what needs using up, could save you literally hundreds of pounds over the course of a year.