ASDA has made a big change to its Just Essentials range as the cost of groceries soar.
The supermarket giant has placed a limit on the number of items shoppers can buy from its budget brand, The Sun can reveal.
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It means customers can buy no more than three of the same item from the Just Essentials range, both online and in store.
But there is no limit on the overall number of items you can buy.
For example, if you buy three packets of bacon, and you can still buy three bags of tomatoes.
Asda said it has been forced to put the restrictions in place because the range has been so popular.
An Asda spokesperson said: “To make sure as many customers as possible can buy these products we are temporarily limiting purchases to a maximum of three of each product.
“This will be for a short period and we will let you know as soon these limits are removed.
“We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.”
Shoppers in the Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK Facebook group have had a mixed reaction to the news.
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One shopper said: “We do our shopping monthly and we often need more than two to three items and now we can’t get them.”
Another added: “What a shame Asda, I really feel sorry for big families.”
But some shoppers welcomed the change, saying it will make it easier for them to buy items from the range.
One shopper said: “Good, as to be honest, they were always out of stock.”
A second said: “This is good, because everyone is trying to save money and I’m glad it’s been put in place now.”
Shoppers have seen their food bill rise at the fastest rate since 2008, with the average bill rising by 11.6%.
This works out at an annual increase of £533 for the average household.
Asda introduced its Just Essentials range, which includes more than 200 products, earlier this year.
Prices start from as little as 16p for a tin of spaghetti loops, and go up to £11.23 for a beef roasting joint.
It came after the supermarket promised to axe its value range and replace it with the new line as the cost-of-living crisis continues.
The supermarket reported customers watching the pennies at the checkout as they try to avoid going over budget.
It said some customers have set themselves a cash limit at the till, and have asked cashiers to stop scanning once they reach their budget.
Mum-of-two Hollie Hutchinson recently tried Asda’s Just Essential’s range and created a meal plan on how to feed a family of four for £4.
How can I find the best deals in the supermarket?
Get a loyalty card
Signing up for a supermarket loyalty card can often help you to get cheaper prices on essentials.
If you have a loyalty card, you may find you can get extra points or discounts, particularly if you buy petrol from the same supermarket.
The Sun recently compared the best supermarket loyalty cards in this handy guide.
Asda is the latest supermarket to promise shoppers extra perks, bringing it in line with Lidl, M&S, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s and Tesco.
But it’s worth comparing loyalty schemes – and remember you don’t have to stay loyal, despite the name.
Known when to shop
Heading to the shops when products are marked down and bright yellow discount stickers are applied can save you serious dough.
If you shop in the evening, you are more likely to find goods that have been marked marked down.
But each branch of a supermarket will have their biggest discounts at slightly different times of day.
We put together a handy guide to what time supermarkets including Aldi, Asda, Tesco and Lidl reduce their prices.
Make a list
One of the most common mistakes shoppers make is going out underprepared.
Making a list will help to stay focused on getting the items that you really need, rather than being drawn into impulse purchases.
Another tip is to choose a smaller trolley – or a basket, if possible – to shop with.
A bigger trolley will look emptier even after you’ve finished trawling the aisles, and can encourage you to pick up more items.
Swap to own brand
Ditching items with labels like “finest” in favour of “own” or “value” can be worthwhile.
The Sun regularly tests supermarket own brand products to see if they can beat the big brands.
Lidl’s own brand Freeway Cola costing 47p beat other supermarket’s own brands to be crowned the best by The Sun.
While the budget supermarket’s own brand orange juice was also found to be the best alternative to Tropicana.
The brand’s Smooth Orange Juice costs £2.75 compared to Lidl’s Simply Orange Juice, which is just 55p.
You can also try checking frozen alternatives to fresh fruit and vegetables, and looking on the lower shelves where customers are known to find better deals.
Meanwhile, we found out from a supermarket expert how you can get your weekly shop cheaper in every aisle.
We also revealed the cheapest supermarket in the country – and it’s not what you expect.
