You may be concerned about the price of food. But there are lots of ways to save money on your weekly shop while still eating healthily.

Planning your shop

Thinking about your shop before heading out will save you money.

  • Plan what you’re going to eat for the week and make a list of the ingredients you’ll need. This way you’ll avoid buying food you end up wasting
  • Look for budget-friendly, healthy recipes – there are lots online, or you can check your local library for cook books
  • Think about batch cooking – it will be cheaper – and freeze leftovers
  • Check what’s already in your fridge, freezer and cupboards before heading out
  • Research where has the best deals. Trolley.co.uk has a price comparison app you can use to compare different supermarkets. You could save money by shopping at more than one supermarket, but factor in any travel costs
  • Think about when you do your shop. If you’re hungry you’re more likely to buy more, or treat yourself to unhealthy snacks. Aim to eat before you head out.
I live alone. I do small sessions of batch cooking and freeze one or two portions for when I have a busy day or just can't be bothered to cook.

What to buy

To keep your food costs down, think about the items that go into your trolley. Here are some money-saving tips:

  • Buy ingredients to cook from scratch rather than buying ready meals, if you’re able to. This is often a healthier option as well as being less expensive
  • Use frozen and tinned fruits and vegetables to get your five a day. These provide the same amount of nutrients at a fraction of the cost, and last longer too
  • Eat more vegetarian meals. Meat and fish can be the most expensive ingredients. Plant proteins like beans, lentils and tofu are cheaper. If you are going to buy meat, buy cheaper cuts or think about bulking out your meal with beans or lentils to make a little meat go further
  • Value brands are often just as tasty for a lower price
  • Loose produce is usually cheaper than packaged, and you’re less likely to buy more than you need.
Eating more vegetables is essential and local greengrocers are often cheaper than supermarkets, though not always.

Special offers and loyalty cards

You can often save money by taking advantage of special offers, and there are lots of different types. But be careful offers don’t tempt you to spend more than you need to.

Supermarkets will often reduce the price of items close to their sell-by date, marking them with a ‘yellow sticker.’ Items are usually reduced toward the end of the day. You can ask a member of staff what time reductions are made and plan to shop then.

All major supermarkets offer loyalty cards. Each will work a little differently, but in general they’ll give you offers exclusive to card holders, and let you save up points which can be redeemed and spent in store once you have a certain amount. Despite the name, there’s nothing to stop you getting loyalty cards for lots of different shops. Research shows that shoppers can save between 50p and £10 for every £100 they spend with a loyalty card, but you’ll have to share some of your personal information to get one. 

You can also save with coupons. You might find these in magazines, newspapers or online. You can find coupons for different supermarkets on the MoneySavingExpert website.

While offers can save you money, be careful they don’t end up costing you more.

  • Offers might tempt you into buying something you don’t really need, or buying more than you need
  • An expensive brand on offer may still cost more than a cheaper brand. Check the price per 100g to make sure you’re getting a good deal
  • It’s a good idea to stock up on items with a long shelf life – like pasta or tinned tomatoes – if they’re on offer. But if you’re tempted by yellow sticker reductions on fresh fruit or veg, stop and think whether you’ll get through it before it goes bad.
We buy reduced items on a weekly basis. Sometimes we use them on the day, but mostly freeze them.

Saving with apps

Technology can help you save money on food.

Too Good to Go is a mobile app that lets you buy unsold food from restaurants and shops at discounted prices. You can get a ‘surprise bag’ of food which you’ll need to collect at a specific time.

Olio is another app where people (and sometimes shops) can advertise food they don’t need for free or for a low price.

You can download these apps from their websites, from the Apple app store or Google play store.

Food banks

If you’re having trouble affording food, you could contact your local food bank. They can provide an emergency food parcel with at least three days of food. To get a food parcel you’ll usually first need to get a voucher from someone like a doctor, a social worker or your local Citizens Advice.

The Trussell Trust have more information on where you can find a food bank. You can also find your nearest food bank using the Independent Food Aid Network’s online map.

Social supermarkets

Social supermarkets sell extra food from mainstream supermarkets at cheap prices. Many run on a membership basis and will charge you a small weekly subscription or ask you to volunteer for a few hours a month. You might need to show you’re on a low income, or receive means-tested benefits, to use a social supermarket.

Social supermarkets aren’t in all areas. Search online for your nearest one or check with your local council.

Getting food delivered

If you struggle to get out, it might be easier to get your groceries delivered. Supermarkets will charge for deliveries, and you may have to spend over a certain amount. If you get food delivered regularly you may be able to save money with a delivery plan.

Some charities offer help with food deliveries:

Your local council might also be able to provide food deliveries, or Meals on Wheels. You might have to meet certain criterial to qualify. Check your council’s website to see what they offer, or give them a call.

Saving energy

To keep costs down, it’s also worth thinking about how much you’re paying for the energy it takes to cook your food. This chart shows the relative energy use of different cooking appliances:

Appliance using the most energy
  • Oven
  • Kettle
  • Electric hob
Appliances using a moderate amount of energy
  • Microwave
  • Toaster
Appliances using the least energy
  • Slow cooker
  • Air fryer

The oven and electric hob use the most energy, so you might want to be careful about how you use them. A slow cooker uses the least energy to cook a warm meal.

Things are actually a little more complicated, as which appliance is the cheapest will depend on what you’re using it for. Energy Saving Trust have a webpage that explains more.

Planning ahead and batch cooking can help to cut costs.

Also of interest

Also in this section

Next steps

For more tips and budget meal ideas, read the British Dietetic Association’s Eat well, spend less factsheet.

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