WHEN it comes to the weekly shop, families are looking for ways to save at the checkout as prices continue to soar.

Keeping the food bill to a minimum is a priority for millions as the cost of living continues to bite.

Big-brand goodies can be an expensive, but supermarket own-brands can often look and taste just like the same thing – and for a fraction of the cost.

The Sun found some supermarket own brand items that shoppers say are just as good as the real thing.

Tomato ketchup

One shopper shared her swap of Heinz Tomato ketchup to Asda's Classic Tomato Ketchup on the Reduce Your Supermarket Spend Facebook page.

She said her "grandkids hadn't complained once" since she made the change.

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A 460g bottle of Heinz Tomato Ketchup can set you back £2.29.

This is compared to just 64p for a 550g of Asda's own – a saving of £1.56.

If you buy one bottle every two weeks for a year, swapping to Asda's ketchup could save you a whopping £42.90 on your food bill.

Milky Way

A six pack of Milky Way bars can set you back £1.50, compared with Morrison's own brand Nougat Whips, which cost just 60p.

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This is a saving of 90p.

Posting in the Reduce Your Supermarket Spend Facebook group, one shopper said: "My husband said they taste nicer too."

This swap could save you £23.40 over the course of one year.

Tomato soup

Aldi has a great range of cupboard staples that come at just a fraction of the cost of some big brands.

A can of Heinz Tomato Soup at Tesco is £1.40, where as a tin of Aldi's own Bramwells tomato soup is 95p cheaper.

One savvy saver posting in the Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK Facebook group said: "For any Heinz tomato soup lovers, I would highly recommend the Bramwells one from Aldi.

"Give it a try, you won't be disappointed."

Buying Aldi's soup alternative could save you £24.70, if you bought one can every two weeks.

Butter

One staple of every household is butter, but its price is rocketing.

The average price of a 500g tub of Lurpak is rising by 33 per cent in the past year.

In some supermarkets, a kilo of spreadable Lurpak will set you back more than £9.

One Facebook user said she had convinced her children into thinking Aldi's own brand Norpak is the same as Lurpak.

A 500g tub of Nordpak at Aldi costs just £2.15, where as a 500g of Lurpak at Tesco comes in at £4.49.

This is a saving of £2.34.

By making the swap, you could save a massive £60.84.

Penguin chocolate bars

Who doesn't love chocolate?

Chocolatey treats are staple of each household, especially if you've got kids with lunchboxes to fill.

Aldi's Seal Bars are priced at 79p for a packet of eight.

This compares with £1.25 for a packet of Penguin bars in Tesco.

The potential savings you could make over the course of a year is £11.96.

Cereal

If you're swapping from a branded product to a supermarket own-brand version, you may worry if you are still getting the same quality.

The Sun taste-tested bowls of own-brand versions of Weetabix from each supermarket and compared it with the genuine brand.

Each bowl was given a score out of ten.

Tesco's own brand Wheat Biscuits came out on top at a price if £1.06 for a pack of 24.

This compares with £2.80 for a packet of 24 Weetabix – a saving of £1.74.

You could save £45.24 a year by making this swap.

Fizzy drinks

Some social media users say Aldi's Professor Peppy "tastes better and for a fraction of the price" of genuine Dr Pepper.

A two litre bottle of Professor Peppy costs 49p at Aldi, whereas a bottle of Dr Pepper is priced at £1.80 at Tesco.

If you bought one bottle of Aldi's alternative, rather than the big brand, you could save £34.06 over a year.

Fruit Yoyos

A multipack of Bear Fruit Yoyos costs £2.60 at Sainsbury's.

But a bargain hunter in the Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK Facebook Group found a cheaper alternative in Farm Foods.

The shopper found a packet of six fruit wheels priced at £1.

They wrote:"In Farm Foods these are 29p each or six for £1.

"Considering it is over £2 for the Bear branded ones, this is a huge saving."

Buying Farm Foods alternative could save you £41.60, if you bought packet every two weeks.

Orange Juice

You could make a saving by by changing what orange juice goes in your shopping trolley.

Many of us will reach for our favourite brands without thinking, but Tropicana's Smooth Orange Juice costs £2.75 compared to Lidl's Simply Orange Juice, which is just 55p.

Writer Lynsey Hope, 40 compared supermarket label juice to market leader Tropicana. 

She found Lidl's own brand alternative to be more refreshing than Tropicana.

And it could save you as much as £57.20.

If you swapped all of the big brand items mentioned above for the own brand alternatives, you could save £341.90 a year.

Where can I get help with my food bill?

If you are struggling with your food bill then there are a number of charities and organisations which may be able to help, on top of the providers that offer their own grants.

Hard-up households can grab free cash towards essential living costs, including a £36 voucher for food items.

The extra support comes as part of the government's Household Support Fund (HSF) initiative.

The current batch of funding will be available until September 30 – but households are being urged to apply for help as soon as possible.

Money is dished out to local councils, which will decide what sort of help to offer in their area and who is eligible.

To find out what support is on offer in your area, speak directly to your local council, or visit its website for more details.

Even if you're not eligible for help under the Household Support Fund you may be eligible for cash elsewhere to help with the cost of living.

A number of councils have opened up their applications for a discretionary fund to help those on Universal Credit, Council Tax Support and other means-tested benefits. You could get up to £300.

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Millions of pensioners are also set to get an extra £300 later on this year. Those on Universal Credit and benefits will also get a one-off payment of £650 to help with the cost of living.

If you are worried about the cost of living or debt, then a number of charities may also be able to offer free advice or help:

• National Debtline – 0808 808 4000
• Step Change – 0800 138 1111
• Citizens Advice – 0808 800 9060

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