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How to Save Money on Food

Find out how to save money on food with our top tips. From planning to shopping smart - these are some of the best ways to save.

The price of food seems to keep increasing year after year. In fact, a 2024 survey found that 40% of adults noticed an increase in their grocery bills. However, there are a few tips and tricks that can help you shop smart and save money at the supermarket, whilst still enabling you to eat healthy on a budget.

Learning how to save money on food is not only practical, but can be quite rewarding. So, are you intrigued to see how much you could save? Let’s dive into some easy, practical tips that’ll keep your wallet happy and your plate full!
 

Some of the Best Ways to Save Money on Food Shopping

From planning your meals like a pro to getting creative with leftovers, there are plenty of simple tricks that could help you spend less at the supermarket.

 

Plan Ahead to Save on Food Costs

Planning your meals out each week is a simple, yet powerful way to save some cash. Once you know what you’re having, list all of the ingredients you need for each dish, taking into account any you’ve already got in.

Think about the ingredients you’re willing to spend a little bit more money on (such as meat, fish or your favourite treats) and any that you could save on (buying whole fruit rather than pre-chopped, for example) to help you come up with a budget.

Your shopping list will help you to avoid any impulse buys once you’re at the supermarket - if you’re able to resist temptation! But that’s not all, you're also less likely to splurge on last-minute takeaways or expensive ready meals, to make budgeting a little easier.

 

Shop Smart at the Supermarket

Simply creating a shopping list isn’t enough to help you save money on groceries - you have to make sure you’re able to stick to it once you venture into the supermarket.

 

Time it Just Right

Whilst it’s not a fool-proof method, timing your trip right and shopping after ‘yellow sticker’ reductions have been released could help you to save a little bit of money on your groceries. The key here is to only purchase items that are already on your list and will fit into your meal plan or can be frozen before they expire.

Late afternoon or just before closing time are thought to be the best times to shop for yellow sticker deals.

 

Avoid Impulse Buys

Aside from avoiding yellow sticker impulse buys, you need to be mindful of temptations down every aisle. From new items that pique your interest to seemingly ‘unmissable’ deals that are cleverly nestled at the end of aisles or at the checkouts.

One way to help you avoid buying anything you don’t really need (we’ve all been there) is to make sure you don’t go shopping on an empty stomach! In fact, studies have found that people are generally willing to pay more when they’re hungry, so plan your supermarket trip accordingly!

 

Choose Collection or Delivery

If you’re prone to impulse buys, then using a click-and-collect or delivery service might be the best option. Not only can you add your favourites to your basket, making the whole process quick and easy, but having your groceries delivered directly to your doorstep can help take one thing off your plate.

Naturally, most of these services will cost you a couple of pounds, so it’s important to factor this into your overall budget. However, many supermarkets or delivery services offer free or discounted rates at certain times or memberships to reduce or eliminate the cost of delivery.

 

Take Advantage of Coupons & Loyalty Schemes

As well as delivery subscriptions, many supermarkets offer loyalty programs, which could help you to save a little bit of money on the things you buy the most. In fact, research conducted by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has concluded that consumers can save an average of 17-25% with loyalty prices.

So, if you’re looking for ways to save money on your food shop, it might be worth seeing if your favourite supermarket offers a loyalty program.

 

Bulk-Buy & Batch-Cook

Bulk-buying your staples is another great way to save on groceries.. When purchasing larger quantities, you can often pay a lower price per item or take advantage of multi-item deals. But to make sure you save money, you need to keep these things in mind:

  • Only Buy Items You Use Regularly: Buying new items or ones you don’t use frequently won’t help you save money in the long-run.
  • Focus on Non-Perishable Items: From cupboard staples like oats, rice and pasta to foods that can be frozen - you want to make sure your bulk purchases won’t go off before you use them.
  • Consider Your Storage Options: Make sure you’ve got enough space - and the right conditions - to store the products you’re buying.

In addition to bulk-buying, batch-cooking can also save you both time and money. From helping you to minimise food waste by using up everything in your fridge to reducing energy use from your hob or oven - the savings can really add up over time.

 

Shop Seasonally

You’ve probably heard before, but shopping seasonally really does offer a number of benefits. Shopping seasonally can help you to save money as the foods are in better supply and don’t need to be transported from other companies - which can hike up the price.

Additionally, as the food hasn’t had to be transported, it’s often fresher and lasts longer, helping you to minimise food waste and make the most of your weekly shop.

Whether you take advantage of a supermarket loyalty program or opt to get your food delivered to your doorstep, saving money on your food shop doesn’t have to result in any drastic lifestyle changes.

Why not start today? Explore our range of offers to help you save on your next Milk & More delivery and make your budget stretch that little bit further.