Mum reveals how she paid off £40,000 in debt with a simple supermarket savings tip

A super saver mum has described how she paid off thousands of pounds of credit card debt by checking out discounted groceries while shopping at her local supermarket

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Mom only buys yellow sticker groceries to save money for debt

A super savvy mum has paid off £40,000 in credit card debt by shopping for yellow sticker discounts in supermarkets.

Maddy Alexander-Grout, from Southampton, fell into debt after taking out dozens of credit cards and loans while attending college in the early 2000s.

At some point the point was reached where the shame and fear were far too great, “something cunning” and she had to take drastic measures.

The mother-of-two, Harriet, three, and Ben, six, ended up shopping in supermarkets up to six times a week to stock up on yellow-sticker products to keep costs down – and she’s now debt-free.

Maddy said: “I go into the shops about five or six times a week and look around in the discounted section or subsist on canned tomatoes on toast.

“I also used to buy a lot of meat that I could freeze and use whenever I wanted. I remember once getting a huge pack of sausages for 16p.

“I would also make sure to buy a lot of fish. Prawns are usually featured in these sections, but sometimes there are really good quality cod fillets too.

“Even though I’ve paid off my debts, I still buy yellow stickers now.

“It’s really important when you’re yellow sticker shopping to think about how and what to do with these dishes. Sometimes there are salads in the reduced section that go great with meals. Sometimes there is also fruit that I used for smoothies.

“It’s important to also think about your closet staples like rice, pasta and condiments. When you shop this way, you need to make sure you have the right stuff.

“Sometimes you have to bite the bullet and buy staples in bulk. I bought a spice set which cost me £4 and I’ve been using it for almost a year now.

“I honestly saved thousands of purchases this way. Saving this way paid off my debt!”

The mother has used her wealth of experience with money by launching a parenting rebate program called My VIP Rewards.

This site offers discounts on supermarkets and high streets, UK theme parks, hot spots, beauty salons, coffee shops, soft play areas, day trips, bank holidays, pet grooming, weddings, nail salons and also home kits.

My VIP Rewards was launched in 2017 after Maddy was debt free and started investing the money she would use to pay off debt in local businesses. The app also offers employee benefits.

Maddy said: “During lockdown the app has been difficult because most of the things we offer discounts on have been closed. However, I’m so glad we did now. Families need discounts like this now more than ever.”

Check out Maddy’s yellow stickers, tips and tricks for saving on her TikTok page @maddyaboutmoney.