We have reached the last weekend before Christmas 2008 and for most of us it’ll be time to get the food shopping in for our festive feastings.

When you enter the supermarket you will be hit with an array of offers and tempting treats. The problem here is that it is very easy to overspend on your usual weekly shop, which will be especially bad if Christmas has already squeezed your wallet dry.

It is actually very easy to prevent the shock of a huge bill when you get to the checkout. All you will need is a bit of discipline and a shopping list.

By making a list of the food and other sundries you think you will actually use before you do your next shop you will save money and throw out less food. Try to think about each day that your shop will cover and what you will reasonably use during each of those days. You will need to use your discipline here too to walk away from lots of offers.

According to Credit Action, a third of all groceries purchased each day will end up in the dustbin. Now think about how much you will spend on your Christmas shop, divide it by three and think of throwing that third in the bin. It’s unlikely that this thought will be a pleasant one.

Another good tip, and it’s very simple in practice, is never go to the supermarket when you are hungry. You will likely buy more food as your stomach guides your hands to the food it wants now.