The five M&S foods to try and the ones to avoid, according to a shopping expert
The 29-year-old from Manchester has more than 130,000 followers on her popular TikTok and Instagram accounts, where she's known as Kat Saves.
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She does this full-time helping shoppers find the best deals in their favourite supermarkets - and she's exclusively told The Sun her recommendations for M&S shoppers.
The posh supermarket is known for its good quality food, and Kat says some of their items are identical to or even better than the branded versions.
One of her top picks is the tomato ketchup, which is only £1 for a 495g bottle.
'I honestly think it's better than Heinz, it's better than any other ketchup I've tried,' she raves.
For comparison, a 460g bottle of Heinz ketchup costs £2.50 on the Ocado website - so that's a saving of £1.50 and you're getting a slightly bigger bottle.
Another great dupe is the M&S Salt & Double Vinegar Extreme Ridge Cut Crisps, which Kat says is 'completely identical to the Salt and Vinegar McCoy's'.
You can get a six-pack of the McCoy's Salt and Malt Vinegar for £2.35, while a 150g packet of the M&S version costs £1.70.
If you have more of a sweet tooth, Kat recommends the Extra Cream Custard Creams.
She says the biscuits are 'so much nicer' than the custard creams you get in most supermarkets.
'I think normal custard creams don't seem to have much cream in the middle these days, but the ones from M&S have got loads more in there,' she says.
I got an exclusive look at M&S' new range - 7 items that are 'staples for spring' & will sell out fast from £25
Plus, they're only 50p for a 175g pack.
Another of her picks is the High Protein Vegan Chocolate Crunch cereal, which is perfect for those wanting to get more protein into their diet.
'It's one of those things I just buy every time I go to M&S - I just think it's really nice,' she says.
It costs £3 for a 500g pack.
Kat also recommends that shoppers look out for the supermarket's Pizza Night Dine In deal, which lets you get two pizzas and two sides for £12.
'All the pizzas in their pizza deal are also amazing and great value for money as well,' Kat says.
She likes the Mighty Meaty pizza in particular, which comes with marinated chilli chicken, pepperoni and dry-cured, oak and beechwood-smoked bacon.
The sides include onion rings, chips and mac and cheese bites.
M&S might have a reputation for being on the expensive side, but Kat says a lot of its fresh produce is good value.
'A lot of the salad vegetables, tomatoes, cucumber, lettuce, they're exactly the same price as any other supermarket,' she says.
'But I think the quality is just a lot better. They last longer in your fridge.
'I've seen a lot of people complain that if you get like a cucumber from Aldi then it will just go off the next day or something. But I think with M&S, things like that just typically last a lot longer.'
Kat's ultimate M&S pick
There's one thing that Kat says stands out as her favourite M&S product of all time.
She says the ready-to-bake cookies are a must-try and she'll go back for them 'over and over again'.
You'll find them in the freezer section in packs of six.
Kat says all you need to do is pop them on a tray in an oven and then bake, and you can eat them warm and fresh.
You can either get the 6 All Butter Triple Belgian Chocolate Cookies Frozen or there's the Ready to Bake Belgian Milk Chocolate Cookie Dough.
The Triple Belgian Chocolate ones cost £4.50 while the Belgian Milk Chocolate ones are slightly cheaper at £3.50.
They might be a little on the pricey side but Kat says they're 'so worth the money'.
What should you avoid in M&S?
While Kat is a huge M&S fan, she says there are some products that aren't worth the money.
For example, she isn't a lover of their pasta ready meals as she says you can get similar ones much cheaper at other supermarkets.
'I tried the carbonara ready meal and I thought it might just have been a little bit expensive for what it was. You can get better or the same and cheaper elsewhere,' she says.
Kat also recommends avoiding ready-to-go lunches section as she believes they are 'way overpriced for what you get'.
This is partly because M&S doesn't do lunchtime meal deal offers, apart from in its train station or petrol station outlets.
She says that if you're wanting to grab a quick ready made lunch, you're better off trying elsewhere for better value.
The blogger says she recently got a caesar salad for £4.25 and it 'had nothing special about it' despite the price.
'Something like that you could probably make yourself for a lot cheaper as well and probably make it nicer,' she says.
How to save money at M&S
Kat is also an expert at saving money on her supermarket shop.
As with all supermarkets, she says you should go in with a list so you don't get tempted by the expensive desserts and snacks.
The 29-year-old also says to look out for M&S's dine-in deals which pop up from time to time.
There's the pizza one we mentioned earlier but there's also similar deals for pasta, Indian food and date nights.
Plus M&S often has multi-buy offers like three for £12 or three for £8 on things like picnic food.
M&S does have a loyalty card but it works a little differently to the other supermarkets so you should familiarise yourself with how to use it.
Rather than letting you collect points, Kat says the Sparks card can help you get discounts off certain items or even free things.
She says the Sparks card works best if you shop at M&S regularly as it will give you more tailored offers - but that shouldn't mean you spend there unnecessarily.
She will usually check for what offers are available on her loyalty card before she goes into the store.
Another of Kat's tips is to stick to the M&S value range, which is known as Remarksable Value.
She says a lot of the prices in this range are similar to budget supermarkets like Aldi and Lidl.
But don't forget to do a price comparison before you go to the shops.
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This one's simple shape will work with shorts and a T-shirt; but the gold buttons and glimmer of Lurex elevate it so it works over a party dress too. The mini-purse £7 at Three Potato Four I recently stumbled across these retro rubber coin purses online and bought not one but three for different family members. They are seriously practical and double up as cute bag charms. Pop some change in for emergency ice-creams. A sturdy kaftan £125 at Toast Every beach wardrobe needs a kaftan, and if poppy colours aren't your thing, have a look at this Toast version in 'washed lime'. Just add tan sandals, a basket bag and an aperitivo. The splashproof bag £40 at Yeti Make any tote beach friendly with this one-litre waterproof pouch. It has enough space to keep all your essentials dry, and comes in lots of fun, sweetie-coloured shades. An in-between hat £45 at Glassworks London I'm a fan of a baseball cap, and I'm looking to add a raffia version to my wardrobe. It's more casual and sportier than a traditional straw hat, and a lot easier to pack, plus the peak will do an excellent job of keeping off the sun. The cocktail tee £24 at Next Slogan tees are everywhere at the moment, and this pastel-green style is punchy but subtle at the same time. Wear it with some white denim cutoffs. One guess what I'm ordering at the bar. Vintage-style shorts £22 at Next Towelling shorts remind me of the best kind of California beach photos, 1970s Slim Aarons and Hugh Holland, all sunkissed tans and hazy colours. This pair from Next ticks all the right retro boxes – just add a white vest. The sea-to-be-seen swimsuit/top £26.80 at Arket£67 at Asos Buy a one-piece that will double up as a top half to a daytime look – a two‑in-one buy. This rust-coloured swimsuit from Arket will look chic with white linen trousers or a maxi skirt, and the ruching is a considered design detail. For more inspiration, read our guide to the best women's bikinis and swimsuits for summer A beach-friendly hair tie £20 at Hunza G Salty water, sand and a sea breeze don't so much give my hair a beach wave as give it a seriously bedraggled look. So I always pack one of my favourite scrunchies from Hunza G. They've got great hold, come in a multitude of colours, and look just as good around your wrist as they do in your hair. The no-towel towel £14.99 at H&M Packing for a beach day? You'll need a towel. And a thin hammam style is my go-to. It will squash into any bag and dry super quickly. I like to get double the use out of it and wear it as a sarong as well. It's thin enough, and most styles are lovely pastel colours with cotton tassels that work perfectly with beach outfits. And even if it's a bit damp on your way to the beach cafe, chances are in 10 minutes it will be dry. Budget sunnies £12.99 at H&M I like to invest in a pair of beach sunglasses. They're a cheaper alternative to the ones I wear for sightseeing (and they're usually a bit more fun than said 'proper sunglasses'). That way, it's OK if I drop them in the sand or sea. I really like this pair with coloured lenses. Ideal for wave jumping. The cover-up you probably already own The enduring popularity of an oversized linen shirt means you probably have one in your wardrobe already, and it's the chicest of beach cover-ups. Wear it open over your bikini, then tie it at the waist with a pair of cutoff shorts for a day trip. A straw-free summer bag €180 (about £156) at Call It By Your Name I've been hankering after a bag from French brand Call It By Your Name for a couple of years now. Its picnic bag style is just as good for the beach as it is for the park, with lots of easy-access pockets for all your bits and bobs. I adore the colours and, although not cheap, the bag will definitely be the main character of your beach wardrobe. Investment flip-flops £95 at Ancient Greek Sandals£125 at Net-a-Porter I'll be giving my beach shoes an upgrade this summer and investing in these fun, neon flip-flops. They work for the sand, just as well as they do with my favourite seersucker shirt and shorts co-ord, plus they're hotly tipped as the shoe of the summer, so be quick. They're not cheap, I admit, but the rubber is very sturdy, so they should see you through a few seasons. A surprisingly wearable choker £135 at Missoma The red-coloured thread strung through these clear beads really elevates this choker necklace, and the shorter length makes it perfect for wearing with T-shirts and higher necklines. Some seasonal jewellery £59 at Ottoman Hands My summer jewellery is the complete opposite of the accessories I usually wear. When the sun is shining, I want coloured stones, turquoise necklaces and jewelled bracelets. If there is a shell involved somewhere, all the better. I adore these earrings. A city-friendly basket bag £49.50 at M&S Sometimes a raffia woven beach bag doesn't quite work for me. It can feel a bit much at the lido, and it can be a bit too beachy if I'm lucky enough to be on a city break, especially when you're surrounded by high-rises. That's why I love this style from M&S. The leather-look braided handles stop it from being too laid-back and toughen it up a bit. The showcase hairstyle Wear your hair up. Sounds simple. But there's no better way to showcase your summer jewellery than to frame it with an up-do. Go for a low, sleek pony or a ballerina bun. A grownup bag charm £20 at Free People Update your bag in seconds by adding a charm. From Labubus to Jellycats, the options are endless (special shout out to Anya Hindmarch's Pez charm), but if you don't want to break the bank, this beaded fish from Free People is cute and fun. A wide-brimmed cap £45 at Sézane Once the sun starts shining, I'm never far away from a hat, but I gravitate towards block colours and neutrals. For a change, I'm going to mix things up with this softer-looking pale-blue gingham style and wear it with a floaty white dress and brown sandals. Sign up to The Filter Get the best shopping advice from the Filter team straight to your inbox. The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. after newsletter promotion Non-black sunglasses £49 at Le Specs If, like me, you're hovering between your usual oversized rectangular sunglasses (a style I've been wearing for about three years) and the current trend for a smaller Y2K Matrix version, then these are the shades for you. Subtly cherry red, not too big, and not too small – they're just right. Climbing sandals £35.99 at Zara Technical footwear has been having a moment for a while now; my Tevas are certainly still going strong. But I'm on the lookout for something on the more delicate side, and these sporty rope sandals will look just as good with jean shorts as they will with a floaty black dress. The out-of-office hold Carry your bag in your hand, not on your shoulder. Sounds weird, but it makes it feel less worky. Even if your bag has a long shoulder strap, loop it around in your hand and hold it like a shopping bag – instant update. The multi-use holiday belt £51 at Sessùn£51 at Place Des Tendances A woven belt is one of those accessories that is invaluable when you're packing for a four-day holiday and trying to squeeze everything into an overhead locker-sized suitcase. It's the perfect addition to a midi dress when you're dressing up for the evening, and will equally give your cotton shorts a little something extra when you're tucking in your linen shirt. I adore French brand Sessùn, and this belt would be a shrewd investment. The bag within a bag When you are using a roomy tote or beach bag, pop essentials such as bank cards and house keys into a makeup pouch. That way, they won't end up at the bottom of your bag, and you'll avoid having a panic attack thinking you have lost them. Beach-to-night rope sandals £75 at Oliver Bonas Fisher sandals are a summer classic and perfect for wearing with linen trousers, as well as holiday dresses. I love that this Oliver Bonas pair is made from woven raffia and leather rather than all leather; it makes them less clumpy and a more versatile footwear option for the evenings. A proper summer bag £169 at Massimo Dutti Chocolate brown is as popular as it was last season, and if you're looking for a hard-working bag, I'd go for a supersoft suede style as it's a great complement to white and oaty linens. This Massimo Dutti style will serve you throughout summer and into autumn. Sunglasses that aren't Ray-Bans £160 at Akila Sunglasses are the accessory you will use most day to day, so it makes sense to choose a pair that will go with everything. Ray-Bans suit everyone, and aviators tend to flatter most face shapes, but it's nice to go for something different – and these thick rectangular frames will work just as well. The olive shade is a nice alternative to classic blacks and browns too. Staple socks $25 (about £19) at Socksss Gen Z came for millennial trainer socks and they, err, won. Unless you want to look dated, you need to wear socks that are visible. Both in length – go for a pair that hits above the ankle bone, not under – and in colour, the more attention-grabbing the better. Socksss has several options, but I like its original Paradise and Applebottom styles that come in various punchy shades and, as a bonus, are medical-grade compression, so your legs feel less heavy on hot days. The no-wallet silhouette Do you really need your entire wallet if you have a bank card on your phone? Overstuffed pockets add unnecessary bulk. Try streamlining. A not-so-obvious holiday shirt £150 at NN 07£150 at Liberty Blame Baz Luhrmann, but a tropical printed shirt on holiday means you risk looking like a Montague extra who has wandered off-set. The Copenhagen-based brand NN 07 has some more subtle options, such as the above and this, that still evoke a holiday mood. The alt cap £65 at Satisfy There are only so many local coffee shop or 'ironic' caps we can take. So where to next? May I suggest a running cap. It still protects your scalp from the sun, but it's lighter than a lot of others and offers a better fit. Try this one with a short brim from Satisfy, a cult Paris-based running brand. The perfect semi-short shorts £69 at End£70 at Asos I think I've landed on the perfect pair of shorts for a man. Butter yellow seems to be the colour of this summer, but if you're worried it won't suit you, wearing it on your bottom half is a good compromise. The 9in inside leg means these are just about long enough so your legs aren't going to touch the seats on public transport, but also sturdy enough (they're cotton twill) for cycling. Plus, a built-in belt is the cleverest thing. The beach-to-bar T-shirt £49 at Cos I love anything colourful in summer, but this pale apricot T-shirt, which comes in various other modern colours, is just so fancy! It's the dropped shoulders and almost elbow-length sleeves that elevate it from being something ordinary. You could wear it on a beach. You could wear it in a bar on the beach. Plus, it's lightweight jersey (most jerseys seem to be mid-weight, which can be too much in the summer), meaning it has more give. And it's not just us who love it, because it's sold out in some sizes (extra small, small and medium were still available at the time of writing). A grownup beach bag £30 at M&S Sometimes adulting means carting your stuff around in a structured tote rather than that flimsy one you bagged from an arthouse cinema circa 2012. This one from M&S has handles that are long enough to comfortably fit over your shoulders, meaning you can lug a towel, book and beers to and from the beach without complaining. The DIY pedicure Before you wear sandals, show your feet some care. Soak them in warm water and epsom salts, then use a pumice stone to scrub off dead skin. A shirt that gets better with wear £75 at Gant Breathable and lightweight, what's not to like about a linen shirt? The summer essential looks even better with age, so it's worth scouting out secondhand stores. If you are buying new, choose something with a lived-in feel. Gant dyes its take on the classic after it's been constructed, giving it more of a vintage feel. The box pleat at the back adds structure, while the lack of an obvious logo is nice in an obvious-logo world. Trend updated trousers £93.75 at Wax One of the key takeaways from the recent men's fashion month is that trousers are getting baggier, again. You don't have to go full pavement scraper, but try easing yourself into the trend with a looser silhouette. This pair with a barrel-shaped leg and single-pleated front are a good start. Wear them now with a white T-shirt and Birkenstocks, then in winter with a cosy jumper and thick-soled Derby shoes. An alternative to a hoodie £130 at Rapha On paper, a fleece for summer sounds a bit mad. But hello, this is the UK and the evenings are cold. This half-zip fleece is thin enough to be tied around your waist without feeling annoying, or bunged in a backpack until you need it. If you're going to a festival, take it instead of a hoodie. You can thank me when you're wandering around at 5am trying to remember where your tent is. The sundowner hack Attach a carabiner to a tote bag so you don't have to dig around to find keys at the end of a long day at the beach. Layer for the heat Light layering that stops the sun from directly hitting your skin can sometimes make you feel less sweaty. Natural fabrics are key. Try a linen shirt worn unbuttoned over a simple cotton tank top. A swim robe that does the job From £65 at FrugiFrom £65 at Next Unless you're on holiday in the Med, your child will be cold when they get out of the water, so there's no point messing about in something thin. This is called the Atlantic robe with good reason. It has a fleece lining, a hood, and is long, so they can get dressed and stay inside it until you go home. A not-too-smart smart shirt £14 at M&S Sometimes I find it a bit creepy seeing kids in adult clothing, but I recently got my son to try this on – Cuban collar and all – and I'm now biting my tongue. The whole knitted shirt thing is very Bode, but it's also very beach, without being your typical T-shirt-with-a-dolphin on. It doubles up nicely as a jacket too, so they can wear a T-shirt underneath. The sandy toes minimised If you're going to the beach, especially a sandy one, I'd advise bringing an extra hand towel – purely for kids to stand on when trying to get their shoes on without getting sandy toes. The gender-neutral swimsuit £25 at John Lewis£25 at Boden It's still hard to find girls' clothes that aren't bright pink or boring and beige, but Mini Boden has a handle on gender-neutral colours. This zip-up, long-sleeved swimsuit is great because the zip is at the front, not the back, it covers the bits that tend to get burned, and has that built-in UPF50+ fabric, which isn't 100% foolproof but will buy you some time. And it looks very cute without being too gender-coded. Goggles that fit £20 at Speedo£16.99 at Amazon I bought these for my eldest at a swimming pool. He took some persuading – how much do children actually need goggles? – but it has transformed his swimming experience in chlorine and the sea. They're great because the seal doesn't hurt when they're on, and the size is really easy to adjust, so he can probably wear them for a few more years. Not too expensive either. They replaced a pair I bought at a seaside shop, which broke the same day, so you live and learn. The perfect rocky beach shoe £55 at KeenFrom £30.61 at Amazon Obviously my children have grown up in Crocs, but I'm not convinced they're ideal for the rocky crags of north Devon, which is why I bought them Keen sandals. They've got terrific grip, a special bumper that means no toes are stubbed, and a bungee cinch, which even my 18-month-old can virtually do up himself. A reversible jacket £38 at Little Green Radicals As anyone who has given their child an ice-cream knows, all childrenswear should be reversible, and this jacket has two pretty sides instead of only one. Best of all, it has poppers, not buttons. Also, £38 isn't too bad for organic cotton clothing that is also Fairtrade. The meltdown-averting wetsuit hack My son wears a wetsuit on the beach all year round. Invariably, he gets cold after being half-submerged for six hours, and it also keeps the sun off his back. The proper ones tend to have the zip at the back though, so tie a piece of ribbon to it so they can take it off themselves without a tantrum. Cute seasonal trousers From £16 at Next These barrel trousers are incredibly cute and come in four different ginghams, but more than that – they work on boys and girls. That shouldn't seem radical, but it is. The purple and pink print is the nicest. Toddler-friendly cycling shorts £24 at Childrensalon I've found cycling shorts ideal for when kids are crawling or toddling, as they don't flap about like baggy clothes that can catch on corners or handles. And they barely notice they're wearing them. I pop these on my youngest under a large T-shirt, and find it much easier changing him when poppers aren't involved. A hat they'll actually wear From £9 at John Lewis Obviously getting a hat for a child is working on the assumption that your child will actually wear a hat. But I've found a bucket hat tends to work quite well. Better at least than caps, which need to be more fitted. This one is twill, so there's a bit of warmth in it, and it has a clever elastic toggle, which means you can tighten it as they grow (or at least grow their hair). I've got the three- to five-year-old version, and my son has just turned six, so there you go. The accident-proof nappy short £24 at Polarn O Pyret If money were no object, I'd buy everything for my kids from Polarn O Pyret (its hats are the best and longest lasting out there). But as it very much is, it's only worth getting things they'll wear on repeat. These nappy shorts are generously sized, almost look like seersucker, and are quite baggy in the right places so they can 'contain' a lot while also making sure nothing, um, slips out. I also like the elastic waist instead of a drawstring. I don't mind having my youngest in just his nappy, but this is undoubtedly preferable. The no-knee-scrape shorts £25 at Arket If your son is anything like my eldest, he's terrified of scraping his knees. This makes shorts season tricky, as it's really hard to find anything that goes to knee-length or below. I actually go one size up and use the drawstring waist to make sure they fit. On that: so many kids' clothes have buttons, which simply don't work with a last-minute loo run. I also think this bottle green is terribly grownup. A summer-proof fleece for life £48 at Patagonia£80 at Early Rider You need only one fleece for the kids on holiday, and if you have a raincoat you can layer it up. Patagonia is the best for outerwear, and this fleece is so incredibly light you can roll it up too. I love the hand-warmer pockets and that it dries really quickly. It isn't cheap, but it has a hand-it-down ID label sewn in so you can pass it along.
