The weekly food shop is one of those outgoings that can quietly spiral if you’re not paying attention. A few small changes to how you plan, shop and cook can make a real difference to what you spend, without anyone in the family noticing a drop in quality.
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Money Saving Tips: How to Feed Your Family for Less
With a few careful tweaks to your shopping and cooking habits, you can cut the cost of feeding the family. From planning ahead to shopping solo, here are 10 tips worth trying.
#1. Plan Your Meals
Plan out your meals before you write your shopping list, and think beyond single meals. If a bag of potatoes is going on the list for Sunday’s mash, could a few of those same potatoes go into a curry or a soup later in the week?
Check what’s already in your cupboards and keep them organised so it’s easy to see what you’ve got. Try not to waste anything — every item that ends up in the bin is money that went with it.
You may find this Stocktaking Sheet handy for keeping track of what you already have before you shop. You can also download a free Meal Planning Sheet here.
#2. Make a List — and Stick to It
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Once you’ve mapped out your meals for the week, write a proper list and stick to it in the shop.
If you want to be a real super-saver, leave the luxuries off the list. Set a target spend, buy what’s on the list, and if you come in under budget, allow yourself a small treat.
Shopping without a list makes it far easier to spend more than you meant to. Once you switch to shopping with one, the savings add up fast.
#3. Watch Out for “Too Good to Be True” Offers
Don’t get pulled in by offers just because they look like a bargain — it’s only worth it if you genuinely need the item and will use it.
That said, if something you buy every week happens to go on offer, it’s often worth stocking up for future weeks. Use store loyalty points and coupons where they genuinely save you money.
#4. Compare Prices Properly
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The best way to check you’re getting a good deal is to look at the unit price on the shelf label rather than the headline price — what looks like a bargain can sometimes be the more expensive option once you work it out per gram or per litre.
Compare prices across brands too, since one may be on offer this week and worth switching to. Before you head out, it can also be worth checking which supermarket tends to offer the best prices on the items you buy most often.
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#5. Try Dropping Down a Brand
Consider trying a cheaper brand than the one you usually buy, or switch to a store’s own-brand version.
If you genuinely can’t tell the difference in taste or quality, stick with the cheaper option and enjoy the ongoing savings — they add up week after week.
#6. Batch Cook When You Can
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Cooking meals in advance and storing them up saves both time and money. Make enough for several meals in one go, so you’re getting more value out of the ingredients you’ve already bought.
Dishes like bolognese, stews, casseroles and soups all double or triple up easily, and freeze well for busy nights later on.
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#7. Embrace Vegetables and Cheaper Cuts of Meat
Meat for a family can get expensive fast. Try swapping it out for vegetables at least once a week — here are some meat-free recipes worth trying.
A slow cooker is also a good investment: as well as saving you time on busy days, it lets you use cheaper cuts of meat that turn tender and tasty with slow cooking. Try these Slow Cooker Recipes the family will love.
#8. Cut Back on Takeaways and Eating Out
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Save eating out and ordering in for special occasions — a restaurant meal usually costs a lot more than the same meal made at home.
Try a few new recipes so you have go-to options for a treat night at home without missing out on the experience. Getting the kids involved in cooking dinner for the family can make it feel like an occasion too.
#9. Shop Solo When You Can
Shopping alone helps you stay focused. It’s nice to have company, but the more family members along for the ride, the more likely someone strays from the list and adds to the bill.
Most kids aren’t keen on being dragged around the supermarket anyway. It also helps to shop after you’ve eaten — a rumbling stomach tends to encourage extra spending.
#10. Make the Most of Your Freezer
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Your freezer is one of your best money-saving tools. Use it to store batch-cooked meals and to stretch ingredients further.
It’s also a great way to cut food waste — pop leftovers in rather than the bin, ready for a quick meal another day. Label everything clearly and rotate what’s in there regularly so nothing gets forgotten at the back.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the single easiest way to start saving on the food shop?
Start with a list. Planning your meals for the week and writing a proper shopping list — then sticking to it in-store — tends to give the quickest, most noticeable saving with the least effort.
Does batch cooking really save money, or just time?
Both. Cooking a bigger batch of something like a stew or bolognese uses your ingredients more efficiently, so you get more meals out of the same shop, as well as saving you cooking time later in the week.
Is it worth switching to own-brand or budget products?
Often, yes. Many budget and own-brand products are very close in quality to bigger brands. Try switching one or two items at a time and see if your family notices the difference before switching everything at once.
How can I stop food waste from eating into my budget?
Keep track of what’s in your cupboards and fridge before you shop, use your freezer for leftovers and batch-cooked meals, and try to plan meals around what you already have rather than buying everything fresh each week.
Related Articles
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- Freezer Food Treasure: How to Make the Most of the Food in Your Freezer
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