How To Save Money On Your Food Bill

The cost of a weekly shop seems to go up every single week and we’re getting less and less for our money. Some staples and products have more than doubled in the last year. As we’re all trying to save money I’ve pulled together some tips on how to save money on your food bill.

With a bit of planning you can drop your food shopping costs. But if you’re really in need look for a local food bank, there’s no shame in needing extra support.

Meal plan for your week

One if the most cost effective ways to save money is to plan your meals for the week ahead and create a shopping list. Knowing exactly what you’re going to need will help you avoid impulse purchases, or buying items you don’t need.

Ever since we’ve meal planned we waste far less food as I’m only buying what I know we need. And it means I can plan meals around items I know I have sitting around in the fridge, freezer, cupboard etc.

Save money on your food bill by batch cooking

Batch cooking and freezing meals in advance can help you save both time and money. Not only does it save money by buying ingredients in bulk (which are often cheaper), but it will reduce food waste ensuring nothing goes unused.

As I’m usually out once or twice a week Luke did a big batch cook and froze a load of meals so he can microwave one if I’m out. It saves him cooking for just himself, but also removes the temptation to order a takeaway.

Limit pre-packaged and convenience food

Generally pre-packages foods come with a higher price tag than making the items yourself. This includes things like pre-cut fruits and vegetables and individually packaged snacks as people pay for convenience.

Ready meals may be convenient but the individual prices can be quite expensive. You might find a ready meal costs £4 but if you batch cooked it one portion would only be £2.

Save money on your food bill by buying in bulk

Buying in bulk isn’t always cheaper, but loads of items can work out more cost-effective this way. Look at the price per gram/kilogram when you’re buying as bigger items generally work out cheaper. And non-perishable items like pasta, rice and canned goods can generally last quite a long time.

We go to Costco roughly once a quarter and stock up on meat as it works out much cheaper this way. Then when we get home we portion it all out and freeze it to use over the coming months.

Use apps like to get free or cheap food

There are a few food apps such as Shopmium and CheckoutSmrt that will pay you to buy particular products. You may get £2 back when you purchase an item, or 50% of the value. And sometimes you can get items for free.

All you have to do is buy the product as normal as the relevant shop. Then when you’re home scan the receipt and the item into the app. Once verified you’ll be refunded with the listed amount. I’ve had money back through Shopmium on cheese, pizza, chocolate, cat treats and so much more. If you sign up for Shopmium with my link you’ll be able to claim a freebie.

Free items to avoid waste

There are also apps like Olio where you can grab free food. People list items to give away (generally fresh products) and you can message and pick up the items. I’ve used the app before to give away some cat food that our cats just didn’t end up liking. The items were picked up so they didn’t go to waste, and they got a nice freebie.

Save money on your food bill by signing up to all the loyalty schemes

Most supermarkets now have special loyalty prices such as Tesco clubcard prices, or Nectar card prices. So make sure you sign up to all the loyalty schemes (as they’re free) so you never pay full price on loyalty items. I always keep my eyes open for loyalty prices in both Tesco and Sainsburys when I shop there. Even small discounts can add up and save a lot of money over time.

I also have the Lidl app as we sometimes shop there. Pretty much every supermarket will have their own app.

Take advantage of sign up deals

Certain services like Ocado offer sign up deals on your first shop. At the moment you can get around £25 off your first shop which is a massive saving.

We get an Ocado delivery every other week for our main shop which may sound expensive but I always opt for deals. You can book your deliveries up to four weeks in advance and you get the price at the time you add it to your basket. So if I spot something we use a lot on discount I add it into every order we have to make the most of the saving.

Grow your own produce

If you have the space consider growing some of your own fruits, vegetables and herbs. Not only will it feel rewarding eating something you grew yourself, but it can save you money on groceries.

I keep meaning to start growing herbs so we can have a supply of freshly grown herbs. It’s definitely a 2024 goal. And it will save us so much money as we almost always end up having to throw away some fresh herbs as we don’t use it all in time.

Save money on your food bill by using leftovers

Unless it’s actually gone bad don’t throw away your leftovers. Repurpose them into a new dish to save money and time. Leftovers can be used for lunch the next day, or it can be incorporated into another dish like a soup or casserole.

Saving money on your food bill isn’t always easy but by pre-planning and spending a bit of time you can save a few pounds.