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1. Weekly meal planning. Planning for the week has the advantage that you only buy what you need and you can save money by cooking in bulk. For example, you can buy a chicken and get a roast out of this, a curry, and have leftovers for soup and sandwiches. It helps you be economical and get the most out of your shopping.
2. Take advantage of bulk buying and special offers if you have the storage area. Meat packs, for example, can be better value when bought in bulk, and most can be frozen - check the labels. Also, look for special offers such as buy one get one free or round pound deals.
3. Use discount supermarkets such as Aldi and Lidl or stores such as BM Bargains and Poundland. Discount supermarkets and bargains shops may not have the choice and brands and the luxury of packers to help you but you can make big savings on your shopping.
4. Take the downshift challenge - premium, branded, own brand and value. When you go shopping downshift to one step lower and see if you like the food in that band. You will be surprised that you may not notice a difference in the downshift. If you can't tell the difference in taste then it could be a permanent change.
5. Use coupons for discounts on your shopping. There are hundreds of free coupons available online and in supermarkets own magazines. Check out the samples and discounts on sites such as WOW Freebies.
6. Save with supermarket stamps and loyalty cards. Many supermarkets allow you to save with stamps and cash in the card in December for a bonus amount. Loyalty cards have great offers and when you have enough points you can get vouchers back. Some of the best ones such as Tesco or Sainsburys will allow you to 'double up' on vouchers for money off attractions and restaurants for example.
7. Go shopping late in the day. Food is often reduced after 8pm.
8. It's an oldie but a goody - never go shopping when you are hungry. Supermarkets are very sophisticated these days with the smell of cakes and bread being piped around the store it is easy to add extra goodies to your shop when you are hungry.
9. Use supermarket 'Price Guarantee' or 'Price Match' schemes to save money.
10. Know your labels. 'Best Before' is about quality control and not food safety. If it passes the sniff test and taste test it should be fine to eat although if in doubt throw it. 'Use By' should always be used by the date, but you should be ok to freeze it on the 'Use By' date if stored correctly beforehand.
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11. Check out local markets. As well as supporting local traders you will be surprised at the quality and price of the produce from fruit and veg to meat and fish.
12. Consider online food shopping - this has the added advantage that you aren't shopping when hungry and you can take account of all the special offers. Balance the money saved with the cost of delivery or 'click and collect', for all your food shopping packed and ready for you. This has the added advantage of saving on delivery although you may have to pay for petrol.
13. Often we throw away leftovers, but why not use them up in another meal or freeze what you don't use? Old vegetables can be used in soup and sauces, bruised fruit in pies and crumbles, breadcrumbs in coatings and stuffings.
14. Use vegetables to bulk out meals saving you money on buying meat. For example, adding pulses and vegetables to a stew or casserole can make meat go further, helping you cut down on fat, providing fibre and nutrients and saving you money too.
15. Buy fruit and veg when they are in season. The food will taste nicer and they will be cheaper too.
16. Avoid prepared food where possible. If you have the time it is almost always cheaper to cook from scratch. As well as knowing exactly what is in your food it will taste great too.
17. Take your own carrier bags. In Wales, we have to pay for carrier bags, and most are 5 to 10 pence each. Even if you are not in Wales, some supermarkets will give you points back on their loyalty schemes if you take your own bags. Points mean money back on your shopping.
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18. Grow your own fruit and vegetables. Okay not everyone will have an apple tree but runner beans, carrots, and salad vegetables are easy to grow, and as well as the satisfaction you will be saving money too. Even if you have a flat you can grow herbs on a window sill.
19. Have a vegetarian day once a week. Meat is almost always the most expensive item on a shopping list so try out a day where you leave the meat and base your main meal around vegetables.
20. Buy a slow cooker or pressure cooker. Although you will have the investment of buying the appliance in the first place, cooking food in these ways means you can use cheaper cuts of meat as the cooking process will tenderise them.
If you want more ideas on saving money check out The Money Advice Service for free impartial advice and my top money saving tips for young adults.
If you want more ideas on saving money check out The Money Advice Service for free impartial advice and my top money saving tips for young adults.
im forever being a saver when it comes to food for the family but im also terrible at buying junk in too
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to resist temptation sometimes at the supermarket. The amount of times I have given in to donuts ;)
DeleteI didn't know food gets reduced after 8pm! I'm definitely going to head to the supermarket to do my weekly shop a little later!
ReplyDeletewww.beingashleigh.com
UKBLOGGERS
Good luck!
DeleteThese are great points, especially in relation to bulk buying and shopping around.
ReplyDelete#UKBloggers
Thank you, hope my tips are of help. Let me know if you have any too.
DeleteWe do need to eat more beans and pulses in our house. My children love them, but I always forget to add them. We do shop at Aldi and Lidl though - and Poundland for craft supplies!
ReplyDeletePoundland is great for food too :)
DeleteSome fantastic tips! we need to downshift to the brand below but i need to go shopping without hubs lol
ReplyDeleteDoes he put all the brands into your basket? My husband always used to eat Heinz beans but he will eat own brand baked beans now which are much cheaper.
DeleteI like the sound of the downshift challenge, will try that!
ReplyDeleteIt's easy to do, let me know how you get one Steph.
DeleteGreat tips and I nodded along to these as we have really perfected our budget food shop. We have an allotment and I'm a veggie so our food bill is tiny!
ReplyDeleteWell done on growing your own. I bet your food bill is small if you are a vegetarian too.
DeleteI am trying to get better at meal planning, it really is the best way to save money.
ReplyDeleteIt is a great way to save money I agree. I buy a chicken and we have roast chicken, then curry with the left overs, chicken for sandwiches and sometimes soup out of it too.
DeleteI really need to get better at planning meals, I reckon I'll definitely save money! xx
ReplyDeleteYou would I think Michelle.
DeleteGreat tips, especially never going shopping when you're hungry. If I do that I fill the trolley with pastries and all kind of rubbish!
ReplyDeleteExactly!
DeleteSome really great tips for reducing the cost of your shopping.
ReplyDeleteThank you Helen.
DeleteREally useful tips here. Must try and incorporate them in my shop.
ReplyDeleteThank you, I am glad they are of use.
DeleteVery useful tips. We try to do most of these and it does help. I definitely agree with the one about not going to the supermarket when you're hungry - that's been our downfall on a few occasions!
ReplyDeleteOh yes I have been there too Laura!
DeleteGreat tips! I definitely need to start cooking more vegetarian meals, I spend a fortune on meat.
ReplyDeleteHave you tried the checkoutsmart app? That is worth downloading, you can get freebies and money off with it.