Supermarket Sleuths: 'I saved approximately $40 by taking these products off my supermarket shopping list'

January is challenging for Australian families who are still carrying financial hangovers from the festive season, only to find themselves figuring out how to afford their children's back-to-school requirements.

There has been no relief at the supermarket checkout. Grocery prices are still high, there are hot cross buns and Easter chocolates and other enticing sales displays.

And still, we have groceries to buy and meals to plan and food to make and snacks to organise.

We can only stretch each dollar so far, right?

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Like many Aussie families, I have reduced my grocery spend by purchasing less expensive cuts of meat and trying to make sure nothing I buy goes to waste, especially fruits and vegetables.

My grocery shop this week was even more challenging. We'd run out of shampoo, conditioner and body wash as well as dishwashing tablets and other cleaning products, all at the same time.

These can be expensive, especially at supermarkets.

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I decided to try and find these items at lower prices outside of supermarkets, mainly at The Reject Shop and Chemist Warehouse.

I shop at The Reject Shop and Chemist Warehouse, but mostly for other items. At the Reject Shop I usually buy affordable wrapping paper and gift cards, cat litter and photo frames. I also bought some great little colourful Japanese food bowls there.

Chemist Warehouse is perfect for when I need vitamins, cosmetics (mostly nail stuff), my son's Listerine, shampoo, conditioner and body wash.

But have you ever noticed both The Reject Shop and Chemist Warehouse sell cleaning products? And really cheaply too.

They aren't always the cheapest with everything. Coles, Woolworths and IGA discount some of their cleaning products each week and Aldi has some in stock as part of their regular range.

But The Reject Shop and Chemist Warehouse have amazing bargains, especially this week.

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At The Reject Shop I found Finish Classic dishwashing tablets. They are selling 110 tab packs, 2 for $36 which is absolutely extraordinary.

Every now and then they will have an amazing sale like this.

Right underneath are Handee Ultra paper towels, a six-pack for $8.50.

And The Reject Shop also had popular brands of laundry liquid selling at two for $29.

Next I went to Chemist Warehouse and they too were selling Finish dishwashing products for a fraction of what they usually sell for, as well as White King bathroom cleaning products, Power Gel for $3.99 and Bleach Spray for $4.49.

Earth dishwashing liquid is also on sale at Chemist Warehouse. I was also able to stock up on tissues and toilet paper.

Saving money on these products left with more money to spend on food. I guess I saved at least $40 buy purchasing these products outside of supermarkets.

A great idea is to take a look at what you are buying at your local supermarket and seeing if any of the non-food items you buy frequently can be purchased somewhere else each month for lower prices at The Reject Shop, Chemist Warehouse and other discount outlets.