There is no way around it. Everything is getting more expensive; food, clothes, energy, house prices - the only thing that isn't going up these days are wages! With everyone trying to keep a watchful eye on their expenditure the supermarkets are trying everything in their power to get you to buy that extra, unwanted item. It all adds profit to the men at the top.

So how can you make sure that you don't give the fat cats their extra bonus this year?

Learn the supermarket tricks that encourage you to spend more than you wanted. Here are a few tips to beat them at their own game:

• Use the internet. If you shop online and have it delivered without setting foot in a store you wont be tempted by the 'special offers'.
• If you can't avoid going into the store try to leave the kids at home. Supermarkets know the value of 'pester power'; flustered parents will give in to demands when nagged enough.
• If you can't leave them at home try to make sure your partner takes them back to the car before you get to the checkout. This is where the store will place sweets, comics and anything else that might catch a child's interest, normally at eye level. Pester power again.
• Make a list and stick to it.
• Work out the total savings you will make on the buy on get one free offers or 2 for 1. Sometimes you are only saving a few pence, and normally on items you wouldn't usually buy.
• If you're just popping in for bread and milk don't be tempted by the offers placed strategically in your eye line. Bread and milk are normally placed at the far end of the store so you have to trek through it to get them and hopefully you will buy something on the way.
• That wonderful fresh bread smell is designed to make you feel hungry, and comfortable. Don't be taken in by it. Most breads are part baked and only reheated in the store. Some stores even pipe the smell through the store artificially.
• Bright items are normally placed by the entrance, giving you a feeling of wellbeing. If you are relaxed you are more likely to buy more.

The big supermarkets are never going to give you anything without getting something for it. If you find that they stock the cheapest new release DVD or book it is normally because they know that even if they make a loss per individual item, they can guarantee that you will buy it from them, and hopefully spend money on something else in the process.

Learn the tricks, be wise and save money.