With food and household budgets under pressure, finding ways to make your food shop stretch further can make a real difference.
Planning ahead, making the most of what you already have and reducing food waste are all simple ways to save money. You don’t need to change everything at once – try a few ideas that work for you and build them into your routine over time.
Plan before you shop
A little planning can help you make better use of your budget and avoid buying things you don’t need.
Try these simple steps:
- Plan your meals for the week before you go shopping.
- Set a food budget and try to stick to it.
- Check your fridge, freezer and cupboards before making your shopping list.
- Look at use-by and best-before dates and plan meals around foods that need using first.
- Make a shopping list and try to stick to it.
- Avoid shopping when you’re hungry, as it’s easier to be tempted by things you hadn’t planned to buy.
- Consider shopping online if this helps you keep track of your spending.
- Look for seasonal fruit and vegetables, which can often be a good-value option.
- Buy only what you need where possible – food that ends up being thrown away is money wasted too.
Make the most of what you have
Before buying more food, take a look at what you already have at home.
You might have ingredients that can be combined to make a meal, or food that can be frozen before it goes to waste.
Buying larger or less-prepared versions of foods can sometimes offer better value too. For example, buying whole vegetables rather than pre-prepared versions can reduce the cost, while choosing ingredients that can be used across several meals can help your shopping go further.
Batch cooking can save time and money
If you’re already cooking, consider making extra portions at the same time.
Cooking a larger amount of a meal such as a curry, soup, stew or pasta dish means you can portion it up and freeze some for another day. This can save time on busy evenings and reduce the temptation to buy an expensive takeaway when you don’t have time to cook.
Remember to cool cooked food safely before freezing, store it in suitable containers and label it with what it is and the date.
Get to know your freezer
Your freezer can be a great tool for reducing food waste and making your food budget stretch further.
Depending on the food, you can freeze things such as:
- Grated cheese
- Milk and some dairy-free alternatives
- Eggs, once removed from their shells and beaten
- Cooked vegetables
- Cooked rice
- Mashed potato
- Cooked pasta
- Bananas
- Bread
- Berries
- Chopped chillies and some herbs
- Tomatoes, which can be blended before freezing
Freezing food in portions can make it easier to take out exactly what you need, rather than defrosting more than necessary.
Always check that food is suitable for freezing and follow safe storage and reheating guidance.
Choose your cooking method carefully
The way you cook can also make a difference to how much energy you use.
For smaller portions, appliances such as microwaves and air fryers can be useful alternatives to heating a large oven. Slow cookers and electric pressure cookers can also be useful for meals such as soups, stews and curries.
If you are using the oven, try to make the most of it. You could cook several things at once, such as roasting vegetables alongside the main part of your meal, rather than turning the oven on several times.
The best cooking method will depend on what you’re making, how much you’re cooking and the equipment you already have. There’s no need to buy a new appliance simply to save money – making the most of what you already own is a good place to start.
Small changes can add up
Saving money on food doesn’t have to mean eating less or sacrificing the foods you enjoy. It can be about making your food work harder for you.
Planning meals, shopping with a list, using leftovers, freezing food and cooking in batches are all small changes that can help reduce waste and make your weekly food budget go further.
Looking for more food, cooking and budgeting inspiration? Explore the resources and recipes available through Good Food West Northants and discover practical ideas to help you make the most of the food you have.