As the cost-of-living crisis continues to bite, Newstalk is here to show you the best ways to save on your bills.
Cut-the-Cost offers tips and advice on how to save on everything from your phone bill and energy costs, to essentials such as bin collection and broadband.
This week we're taking a deep dive into your weekly shopping bill, to see exactly how much you can save and where.
We've broken down prices in four national retailers - Tesco, Supervalu, Lidl, Aldi and Dunnes Stores - to see which comes out on top.
So let's get scanning...
Tesco
Own brand | Other leading brand
Milk (1 ltr) €1.05 | Avonmore (1 ltr) €1.49
Bread €0.89 | Brennans €1.99
Butter (227g) €1.85 | Kerrygold (227g) €2.49
Toilet paper (9 pack) €4.00 | Andrex (9 pack) €6.00
Washing up liquid (500ml) €0.85 | Fairy (320ml) €2.00
Dishwasher tablets (40 tablets) €3.50 | Fairy (38 tablets) €10.00
Tea (80 teabags) €1.49 | Barry's (100 teabags) €3.80
Coffee (200g) €2.65 | Nescafé Gold Blend (200g) €7.49
Toothpaste (100ml) €1.50 | Colgate Triple Action Toothpaste (75ml) €1.50
Eggs Free Range 6 Pack €2.25 | Ballyfree Free Range 6 Pack €3.25
Ketchup (550g) €0.90 | Heinz (460g) €4.60
Own brand total: €20.93 | Other brand total: €44.61
Supervalu
Own brand | Other leading brand
Milk (1ltr) €1.05 | (Avonmore (1ltr) €1.49
Bread €0.89 | Brennans €1.99
Butter (454g) €2.99 | Kerrygold (454g) €4.29
Toilet paper Luxury Range (9 pack) €3.65 | Andrex (9 pack) €6.00
Washing up liquid (500ml) €0.83 | Fairy Max Power (370ml) €2.50
Dishwasher tablets (30 tablets) €1.64 | Fairy Platinum Plus (34 tablets) €10.50
Tea (80 teabags) €1.39 | Barry's (80 teabags) €3.80
Coffee (100g) €1.25 | Nescafé Gold Blend (100g) €5.00
Toothpaste Colgate Total (75ml) €6.50***
Eggs Free Range 6 pack Medium €1.95*
Ketchup (470g) €0.65 | Heinz (460g) €3.50
Own brand total: €16.29 | Other brand total: €45.57
Lidl
Own brand | Other leading brand
Milk (1 ltr) €1.05*
Bread €0.89 | Brennans €1.99
Butter (454g) €2.99 | Kerrygold (454g) €4.29
Toilet paper (24 pack) €8.49 | Cushelle (24 pack) €16.50
Washing up liquid (500ml) €0.83 | Fairy (645ml) €2.50
Dishwasher tablets (40 tablets) €2.39*
Tea (80 teabags) €1.45 | Barry's (80 teabags) €3.80
Coffee (200g) €2.29 | Nescafé Gold Blend (200g) €7.49
Toothpaste (125ml) €1.49 | Colgate Triple Action Toothpaste (75ml) €1.49
Eggs Free Range 6 Pack Large €2.25*
Ketchup (500g) €0.75 | Heinz (910g) €4.99**
Own brand total: €24.87 | Other brand total: €43.05
Aldi
Own brand | Other leading brand
Milk (1 ltr) €1.05*
Bread €1.19 | Brennans €1.99
Butter (454g) €2.99 | Kerrygold (454g) €4.29
Toilet paper (9 pack) €2.29*
Washing up liquid (500ml) €0.83*
Dishwasher tablets (40 tablets) €2.39*
Tea (80 teabags) €3.99 | Barry's (80 teabags) €3.80
Coffee (200g) €2.09 | Nescafé Gold Blend (200g) €7.49
Toothpaste (125ml) €1.49 | Colgate Triple Action Toothpaste (75ml) €1.49
Eggs Free Range 6 Pack Large €2.25*
Ketchup (560g) €0.75 | Heinz (910g) €4.99**
Own brand total: €21.31 | Other brand total: €24.05
Dunnes Stores
Own brand | Other leading brand
Milk (1ltr) €1.05 | Avonmore (1ltr) €1.49
Bread €0.89 | Brennans €1.99
Butter (454g) €2.99 | Kerrygold (454g) €4.29
Toilet paper (9 pack) €3.65 | Andrex (9 pack) €6.00
Washing up liquid (500ml) €1.09 | Fairy (520ml) €3.50
Dishwasher tablets Fairy Platinum €11.00***
Tea €1.49 | Barry's €3.80
Coffee Nescafé Gold Blend (200g) €7.50***
Toothpaste Colgate Triple Action Toothpaste €1.50***
Eggs Free Range 6 Pack Large €2.25 | Ballyfree Free Range 6 Pack Large €3.25
Ketchup €1.00 | Heinz €4.99
Own brand total: €14.41 | Other brand total: €49.31
*no 'Other Leading Brand' product was available in-store
**only limited 'Other Leading Brand' products were available in-store, such as larger bottles
***no 'Own Brand' was available
A view of a cash register drawer of euro coins and bills. Image: Demianastur / Alamy Stock PhotoConsumer expert and host of The Home Show Sinead Ryan said time can really be your friend.
"When it comes to trying to cut down on your grocery bills, your biggest friend is time," she said.
"Lots of lots of busy families don't have the time to go around to different supermarkets looking for bargains.
"If you do, that is exactly where you're going to pick them up.
"Some stores, like Aldi and Tesco for instance, have veg inside the door that's on special offer.
"If you can wait until 4pm or after, go to the discount shelves in the fridge and you'll pick up the food that is going to be discarded.
"Ask the staff when they put it out and be the first in the queue to get it.
"Sign up to apps like Too Good To Go, which use local shops in your area.
"You won't always know what you're going to get... but it'll be considerably cheaper than buying it fresh."
Loyalty cards
Sinead said there is only one way to handle loyalty cards.
"When it comes to loyalty cards, the only advice is to be disloyal," she said.
"Download all of the apps for stores you're likely to be in, put them in a folder on your phone and you'll always have it to hand.
"Learn slow-cook recipes using cheaper cuts of meat; there are lots of fantastic places to go for that.
"Bord Bia have them, Neven Maguire is great, Donal Skehan - all those recipes can be followed and they could save you a lot of money as we come into the autumn," she added.
