From gift cards for out of date items to "Smiley Vouchers" these insider tips can make all the difference to your grocery costs.
Some of the tips come from by blogger Coupon Mama, with the help of long-serving Asda employees.
Many of these tricks will work at every supermarket, so it's worth a try even if you shop elsewhere.
Get money back for out of date products
If you buy something only to notice when you get home that it's out of date, you are entitled to your money back.
But Coupon Mama also says that Asda will give you £10 store credit per item.
Selling food by its use by date is a criminal offence and Asda were fined £75,000 back in 2016 for doing it, so definitely ring and ask to speak to a manager or head office if it happens to you.
While it's legal to sell things after their "best before" dates, it's still worth ringing up and complaining if you hadn't realised when you bought it and it wasn't
This should work with other supermarkets too. Make sure you keep the receipt so you can prove the goods were out of date when you bought them.
Check for overcharging
Asda's policy is that if they overcharge you for something you'll get a refund AND a £2 voucher, so it's worth checking.
All you need to do is pop into the store and head to the customer service desk with your receipt.
If any store overcharges you, they should offer to pay you the difference.
But at Tesco they run a "double the difference" policy, which means you'll get even more back.
Head to any Tesco store (not Express) with your receipt. If the staff member queries it – you can show them Tesco's policy here.
Product refunds
You can return most items bought from Asda as long as they are unused and in a saleable condition up to 30 days from the date of purchase.
But if you try an Asda own-brand food product and don't like it you'll get a refund AND a replacement.
This is because Asda has a "try me, love me" policy for its own food.
Return the packaging to a customer service desk on your next visit and the team will use your feedback to help shape future product ranges.
Smiley vouchers
We bet you didn't know that all Asda staff carry a book of Asda smiley vouchers.
If you see a great deal, but there's no stock left, or if you've had to buy a more expensive item because something is out of stock – tell a staff member.
They may well give you some of their Smile Vouchers.
Each voucher has a face value of 50p and can be used to get money off your shop.
Sometimes they're handed out for other issues too, such as a particularly long queue at the till.
They're handed out at the staff's discretion, so you won't automatically get one.
It's worth (politely) flagging any issues on the off chance though.
Pick up a Christmas Savings Card
Asda's Christmas Savings Card is a great way to spread the cost of Christmas throughout the year.
The idea is that you pop a few quid on the card every time you shop and then when Christmas comes you've got the money squirrelled away.
Even better, Asda rewards you with a bonus, meaning your savings grow as long as you put away more than £30.
There are different reward levels for different amounts of saving.
- Save £280+ and receive a £15 bonus
- Save £230-£279 and receive a £12 bonus
- Save £180-£229 and receive a £9 bonus
- Save £130-179 and receive a £6 bonus
- Save £80-£129 and receive a £3 bonus
- Save £30-£79 and receive a £1 bonus
Do be careful though. The Christmas savings card is not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
That means you can’t take complaints to the Financial Ombudsman Service, nor can you get money from the Financial Services Compensation Scheme if your Christmas savings provider goes bust.
Make sure you register your card if you get one.
If you don't Asda won't replace the card if you lose it and the money will be gone.
How to get a discount on your food shopping
PREPARE Research the items you want to buy and find out the cheapest price. Websites like PriceSpy, PriceHistory and CamelCamelCamel will give you historical data on prices so you can see how much you should pay.
GET FOLLOWING Follow your favourite shops on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and sign up to its deals newsletter to get the latest on any offers. We post the best deals in our Sun Money FB group too.
LOOK Search for discount codes on websites like MyVoucherCodes.co.uk and VoucherCodes.co.uk to see if you can get money off at the till.
EARN CASHBACK Check websites like Quidco and TopCashback BEFORE you place your order. Cashback websites PAY you to shop. All you have to do is click through their links and the money is added to your online account, usually within 14 days.
BE DISLOYAL Swapping supermarkets can save you 30 per cent off your grocery bills, so make sure you shop around.
DROP A LEVEL Try switching all of your branded or premium goods for lower level ones and see if you notice the difference.
If you do, switch back, but if you can't stick with the cheaper option.
Don't forget your coupons
Asda say on their website that they will accept coupons from any manufacturer as long as the terms and conditions are met.
Make sure you're keeping an eye out for all your favourite brands in case there are any money off deal.
Some shoppers have complained that managers have refused to accept some coupons, so it's worth printing out the official policy and taking it with you.
Coupon Mama writes: "If you get some moody manager who still refuses your coupons even after showing the printed policy, then the next step is to go home and phone Asda head office.
"When you speak to them on the phone, make sure you express ( politely) how upset and disappointed you are with the customer service that was shown towards you, and the embarrassment you felt.
"I have had this happen to me a few times in my local Asda and they have always offered me a £10 gift card as a gesture of goodwill."
Enjoy wonky veg
Asda's wonky veg boxes contain 5kg of fresh produce.
It's all in date, but less uniformly shaped than other vegetables.
Asda says the boxes are around 30 per cent cheaper than other vegetable lines.
So if you don't need your carrots to be straight or you're planning on chopping up your veg it's a great way to save money.
Depending on the season, you'll find a variety of wonky veggies – carrots, potatoes, peppers, cucumber, cabbage, leeks, parsnips, sweet potatoes, garlic and onion.
Consider an Asda credit card
If you always shop at Asda it might be worth getting an Asda credit card.
There are two cards with two levels of cashback.
One pays one per cent cashback on all Asda purchases and 0.2 per cent on all other purchases.
It has an APR of 19.9 per cent.
The second one pays 2 per cent cashback on Asda purchases and pays 0.2 per cent on everything else.
It has an APR of 26.2 per cent and you have to pay £3 a month.
The cashback can really start to add up over the year, but make sure you pay off the balance in full each month, or you'll pay more in interest than you earn back!
Asda has an eligibility checker so you can see if you're likely to be accepted before you apply.
Sign up for the Baby and Toddler club
If you're a parent (or about to be) it's well worth signing up for Asda's toddler and baby club.
It's free to join and you get tips, advice, savings and chances to wig big brand prizes.
Look out for baby and toddler events too when toiletries, wipes and other baby stuff gets huge discounts.
Shop at the right times
Don't forget the famous Asda "reduced" stickers.
Chilled things start getting reduced from the morning with final reductions on items such as bread and cakes starting around 6:30pm.
Get friendly with the staff too as you might get double discounts.
Coupon Mama explains: "I usually find it’s the same people marking down the prices at the end of the day and we always have a giggle about my frugalness and my eagle eye for a bargain.
"Quite a few times these members of staff have reduced an item for me then given me a smiley voucher so I could get the item for free!"
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