1

Before you go shopping, check what food and cleaning products you already have. This will stop you buying items you don't need. Plan your entire week's meals in advance, make a shopping list and stick to it. That way, you won’t waste food and you'll save money so you can afford to buy a few well-deserved treats.

2

Try to visit the supermarket without your kids. This may not always be possible, of course, but if you can it will mean you are in a better position to resist those tempting little extras. Give yourself enough time to study prices and compare brands. Rushing could mean you miss bargains. Try not to shop when you're hungry, or you're more likely to pick up more than you need.

3

Take your own shopping bags to the supermarket – keep a supply of them in the car. Remember that every time you re-use a bag, Tesco will give you extra Clubcard Points.

4

Try shopping for non perishables online. You will pay a delivery charge – but you'll cut out the fuel costs of using your car. You can also keep a close eye on expenditure, because an estimated total is displayed online as you shop. And with Tesco, you can alter your list right up to midnight on the day before delivery.

5

At the moment Rachael pays for her shopping with her bank debit card, but paying with a credit card could make her better off. Choose the right cashback credit card and you could claim up to five per cent cashback on your supermarket purchases. With these sorts of cards, just make sure you pay off the balance, in full, every month. Otherwise the interest will outweigh the money you save. Check out internet sites for the best deals. Use your Tesco Clubcard on top of this and of course you get rewarded twice.

6

Buying in bulk can knock pounds off your grocery bill. Bigger packs often mean better value. For example, Rachael's family eat mountains of pasta on a regular basis, so I've suggested buying in large 2kg bags. Other foodstuffs worth stocking large quantities of include rice, dried pulses and beans and tinned items that the family use on a regular basis.

7

Buy-one-get-one-free deals can also offer great value for money – so stock up on essentials when good deals come along. Items such as handwash and shampoo are ideal as you will always need them.

8

It doesn't always pay to be brand loyal. Often own-brand products taste much the same as their more expensive, famous-name equivalents. Everyone has different priorities when it comes to 'scrimping' and 'splurging', so work out which 'value' products your family are most happy with. There's a chance for Rachael to save here on things like baked beans, tinned soup, breakfast cereals and ketchup – and so many other products.

9

Rachael's main area of weakness is convenience foods. These can be expensive, so she should set a limit as to how many she buys each week. Rachael, like all mums, is pushed for time, but she should try batch cooking large quantities of food and then freezing the extra until she needs it. And if you choose the right sort of food, you can stretch it out to make a variety of meals. For example, a whole large chicken could be used for roast dinner, sandwiches, a salad, and chicken soup or stock. Look out for recipes which help your meals go further, see the cookbook for ideas.

10

Look at the way you use products in the home and make note of how you can avoid being wasteful. This doesn't just apply to food, but also to household appliances. Try to be more economical by not using the washing machine or dishwasher unless it is full. Not only will you save money on your energy bills, you simply won't need to use as much detergent either.

11

Gen up on nutrition to save money. For example, wholegrain carbohydrates are better for you than their 'refined' equivalents, and could also save you money. This is because they're more nourishing and keep you filled up for longer, so you're less likely to need pricey snacks between meals.

12

Meat and fish are often the most expensive part of a weekly food shop. But other forms of protein are much cheaper, and can be used to 'pad out' meals so less meat is needed. For example, Rachael could try adding cheap tins of nutritious kidney beans to the mince she buys to make spaghetti bolognese go further. She could also add Quorn to the mince, which is cost efficient but just as tasty.

13

Consider investing in a slow cooker. It'll allow you to buy cheaper cuts of meat and transform them into delicious, tender stews and casseroles.

14

Rachael could put her Clubcard to better use. As she now buys some food online, she should remember to use her vouchers there too. She could exchange her vouchers for Deal Tokens and quadruple her money – using the tokens to pay for family days out, for instance (see above right).

15

Her Clubcard will also get Rachael discounts on her shopping bill. Visit www.tesco.com/clubcard for details.