Food Shopping on a Budget

I’m a queen when it comes to doing the weekly food shop! If you’re looking for ways to save money, you’re in the right place. Being prepared is the best way to budget food shopping. Here’s how you can save money, make exciting meals and do your food shopping on a budget.

Weekly Food Shop on a Budget

I do my food shop weekly. Some prefer to do it every two weeks or monthly with top-ups or buy a little bit in between. It’s entirely up to you. However, doing it more often means having fresh products, not worrying about the shelf life, and keeping on top of my budget. Here’s how to budget shop.

Setting your Food Budget

What is your weekly shop on a budget? Knowing how much you have to spend and what it includes is a great start.

For me, it’s shopping for two people, including household things like toilet rolls, laundry detergent, washing up liquid, bleach and other cleaning products. We try to stick to £50 a week food budget, as we’re saving for house renovations.

Meal Plan

You may think, “I don’t have time for that”. But you do. Putting aside 30 minutes weekly to write a meal plan, including all your breakfasts, lunches, dinner and snacks, will help you save money. Remember your drinks too.

I sit down and write what we’re going to have each day. I cook from scratch, with no jars of sauce or ready meals. So, my list is typically meat, fish, cheese, vegetables, pasta, rice, noodles and store cupboard staples. Such as herbs, spices, olive oil and chopped tomatoes. I look for family meals to batch cook and recipes that will be quick to make – ideally under 30 minutes – full of flavour and with ingredients, I can use again.

I also take into consideration what I’m up to that week. Do I have any meals out? Will I be working late, or will friends be visiting? It is a massive help with the planning process.

You’ll find that your food waste is almost non-existent, and there’s no faffing in deciding what to make for dinner each day. It also helped me curb my takeaway spending.

Top tip – make sure the meals are something you are excited about eating. There’s no point putting pasta bake on the list, for example, if you don’t like them.

Bulk Out Your Meals

Adding more vegetables, lentils, pulses, or chickpeas can bulk your meals, making them go further.

Reducing your meat consumption can also be beneficial to your wallet. Could you try one meat-free day a week? This isn’t to say that meat-free is always the cheapest, as some meat substitutes can be expensive or difficult to find. However, shopping smart can be an interesting addition to your weekly meal plan.

Budget Food Shopping List

As I do my meal plan, I write my budget shopping list. Add to your list what cheap groceries you need to purchase and what you need to stock up on. Consider what you already have in the cupboards.

Check your fridge. What is being used each week, and what gets binned? If you always throw half a bottle of milk out, it may be better to get a smaller one, even if a larger one is more cost-effective.

How to Shop on a Budget

Doing my weekly shopping online significantly contributes to saving money. Not only am I saving time wandering up and down the aisle and being tempted by the special offers. I’m not too fond of supermarket shopping, putting petrol in my car, and washing my hair. I love that I can do the weekly shop in my PJs.

Know Your Dates

There’s a difference between use-by and best-before on food packaging. Use-by means it may be harmful to eat after the date, whereas, for best-before meals, the quality may not be as good. People often make this mistake and throw food away. When you shop in-store, you can pick the longest date. Online, they mention the shelf life will be noted, which can help with your meal planning.

Clever Comparisons

I sort my products by low to high. If we look at dried spaghetti, it can range from 29p to £2 for a 500g pack. It will taste exactly the same. So, buy the own brand cheaper version. This is the same for most things: rice, noodles, squash, pop, bread and tinned food. Don’t get sucked in by flashy packaging or big brands.

Own Brands Vs Super Brands

However, if you prefer some branded products, consider this. We always have Heinz Ketchup and Hellmann’s Mayonnaise. I make savings by buying a bigger bottle. It lasts us longer, and you get a better price per kilogram. Although £3.99 a bottle, it’s only 44p per 100g, the cheapest bottle, £3.40, is 74p per 100g. Plus, the more expensive bottle is nearly double the size.

Avoid Special Offers

We’ve all been tempted by them. But is it helping us save money? You’ll be amazed by how much less your shopping bill comes to when you stop adding these to your trolley or basket.

Fresh or Frozen?

Lastly, consider frozen over fresh, especially when it comes to meat. I make quite a bit in my slow cooker and buy frozen chicken thighs (boneless) for the recipes. It is cheaper than buying fresh or breast, which is a more expensive cut.

This only sometimes translates to vegetables. Generally, fresh is cheaper. However, you will have a shorter shelf life. Look for what is in season to get the best offers. Onions, carrots and potatoes are cheaper fresh, whereas brussel sprouts, spinach and peas are cheaper frozen.

You can do it!

Sticking to a weekly budget can be challenging, but it is possible. Give yourself a few weeks to get into the swing of things, and don’t be too hard on yourself if you go over – even if it’s just a little bit.

Remember, meal planning and being organised is key. Keep your eyes peeled for reduced stock, even if you’ve done your list and shop for the week. Could it be frozen? And, look out for seasonal fruit and veg. Lastly, if you go to the supermarket, make sure you eat before you go so you aren’t tempted to load up on snacks.

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