I tried this super simple hack to save money on cheese and it only takes 2 minutes
I'll never go back
![Grated cheese on a wooden board next to block of cheese with grater in the background](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5tGi8PbHfqmh4r5m6BDR8h-415-80.jpg)
We've all noticed the price of our food shopping going up over the last 18 months. Even if we shop at the cheapest supermarkets, and make the most of our supermarket loyalty cards, food is really expensive right now.
Take cheddar cheese for example. In February 2022, the average price of a kilogram of cheddar cheese was £6.20. Skip to July 2023, and it's £9.55, according to the Office of National Statistics. But with cheese being such a family food shop staple, it's never been more important to understand how you can cut the cost.
So I tried this mum's money-saving hack - and I'm telling you, it's a game changer!
Watch @Moneymumofficial’s cheesy tip
Many people (myself included) don't always realise just how much extra they are paying for the convenience of pre-prepared items, like grated cheese.
But a popular mum and money influencer, who has more than 300,000 followers on Instagram, has shared a super simple hack that can save you 25% on the shopping trolley essential.
Filming in her local supermarket, @Moneymumofficial shared how she compares the prices of grated cheese and a block of the exact same cheese and shares her tip for getting the convenience of the more expensive option for less.
A post shared by Gemma Bird (@moneymumofficial)
A photo posted by on
While in her local Tesco supermarket, Gemma Bird, aka @Moneymumofficial shared that a 250g bag of grated extra mature cheddar costs £2.65, while a 400g block of the same cheese costs £3.20.
GoodtoKnow Newsletter
Parenting advice, hot topics, best buys and family finance tips delivered straight to your inbox.
So on the face of it, you might opt for the bag of grated cheese because it’s cheaper and super convenient (even though you actually get less).
But Gemma goes on to point out that it is crucial to compare the price per kilogram of each of the cheese options to discover the true price difference. Looking at the labels on the supermarket shelf, Gemma points out that the grated cheese costs £10.60 per kilogram, while the block of the exact same cheese costs only £8 per kilogram (if you tend to do your food shopping online, you should find a price per kilogram next to the product price for easy comparison).
That means for every kilogram of this grated cheese you buy, you are paying £2.60 (or an extra 25%) for someone to grate it for you.
Gemma then shares her hack of buying the block version of her favourite cheese and grating it when she gets home, storing it in food bags (and even freezing it) so that it’s still super convenient and ready whenever she needs it.
Followers commented on Gemma’s post, offering even more tips for perfect at-home grated cheese. One commented that if you add a teaspoon of cornflour to the bag of grated cheese you can prevent the cheese from clumping together. Similarly, another commented that she likes to spread the grated cheese out on a tray and freeze it before putting it in a bag to also prevent clumping.
Grated cheese price versus a block in other supermarkets
And it's not just Tesco where grated cheese is more expensive. We compared the prices of mature cheddar in the biggest supermarkets to see how much you're paying for someone to grate the cheese for you.
Header Cell - Column 0 | Grated cheese (per kg) | Block of cheese (per kg) | Difference |
---|---|---|---|
Aldi | £7.96 | £6.38 | £1.58 |
Sainsbury's | £8.90 | £7.50 | £1.4 |
Asda | £10.20 | £7.50 | £2.70 |
Morrisons | £11.46 | £10.83 | £0.63 |
Waitrose | £8.80 | £7.86 | £0.94 |
For anyone like me, who has been paying extra for grated cheese because of the convenience, I timed myself grating an entire 400g block of cheddar - and it took me less than two minutes.
So now, whenever I am doing my food shopping and I'm tempted by the convenience of grated cheese, I remind myself how quickly I did it myself, the fact that I could freeze it, and the fact it tasted exactly the same when defrosted, and decide that I should opt for the block instead.
Whenever you do your food shop, it's worth wising up to the sneaky ways supermarkets get you to spend more money. And if you shop at Tesco, make sure you know how to collect more Clubcard points, and reclaim up to two years worth of lost Clubcard vouchers.
Sarah is GoodtoKnow’s Consumer Writer & Money Editor - which means she writes about everything from this year's top toys and the newest toy releases, to discounts on days out and childcare costs. Sarah is passionate about helping mums save money wherever they can - whether that's spending wisely on the right toys and kidswear or keeping on top of the latest news around child benefit, the motherhood penalty. A writer, journalist and editor with more than 15 years' experience, Sarah is all about the latest toy trends and is always on the look out for toys for her nephew or Goddaughters so that she remains one of their favourite grown ups. When not writing about money or best buys, Sarah can be found hanging out with her rockstar dog Pepsi, getting opinionated about a movie or learning British Sign Language.
-
10 top tips for less stressful family holidays with tweens, or teens, by an expert
Learning to 'reset' holiday expectations with teens saved the day, shares expert
By Sarah Ockwell-Smith Published
-
Is your teen 'nose covering' in photos? It isn't a 'secret signal' we reveal the real reason
Teenagers are jumping on the 'nose trend' in family photos
By Charlie Elizabeth Culverhouse Published
-
Two-child benefit cap: what is it and will it be scrapped?
We look at what the two-child benefit cap is and the likelihood of it being abolished, amid mounting pressure on the Prime Minister to scrap it
By Sarah Handley Published
-
Are you missing out on up to £2,000 a year to help with childcare costs? Here's how to claim it
With 1.3 million parents eligible, and only 500,000 claiming it, you could be missing out on free cash from the government to help with the cost of childcare and holiday clubs over the summer
By Sarah Handley Published
-
Morrisons launches Family Picnic Box for £20, but there is a way you can get it for less
Avoid sky-high food prices, and additional mental load, on day trips with the kids this summer with this genius picnic box from Morrisons
By Sarah Handley Published
-
Holiday childcare costs up 6% says new report, with supply shortages still an issue
Working parents facing higher costs when it comes to sorting childcare provisions during the school holidays
By Sarah Handley Published
-
Parents share the devastating impact of two-child benefit cap, as 1.6m children now affected
Campaigners urge the new government to scrap the controversial policy
By Sarah Handley Published
-
Don’t miss! 50% off kids tickets at Merlin attractions, including Madame Tussauds, SEA LIFE, and the London Eye
Merlin is offering discounted child tickets at loads of attractions across the nation, just in time for summer holidays - and it's teamed up with TikTok's ice cream twins to do it
By Sarah Handley Published
-
Primary school 'costing parents £6,000' according to new research - here's 6 ways to save money
The seven years of primary school can cost parents thousands of pounds, with lunches and school uniforms the biggest challenges. But there are ways savvy parents can ease the pressure of the financial burden
By Sarah Handley Published
-
Do I qualify for a school uniform grant? Parents can get up to £200 to cover costs from July
Hundreds of councils are helping parents cover school uniform costs this year and thousands of parents are eligible for the help
By Charlie Elizabeth Culverhouse Published