Good Food experts share 31 easy ways for you to save money this month
Looking to make your money go further this month? We've asked the team for practical, achievable tips for sticking to a budget – which ones will you follow?
Are you hoping to save money on your food bills this month? We're strong believers that with a little planning and a few clever swaps, you can eat well and save money all month long. That's why we've shared 31 practical, achievable ideas to help you cut costs, reduce food waste and still eat brilliantly.
Dive into more Cook Smart content in our budget hub.
1. Plan your meals
Start the month by planning your meals for the weeks ahead. It may sound obvious, but a clear meal plan will help you avoid impulse buys, make the most of what you already have and reduce unnecessary food waste. We like to leave a day or two free for leftovers or last-minute changes.
2. Make a shopping list (and stick to it)
Write a shopping list based on your meal plan and what’s already in your kitchen cupboards. Take it with you to the shop and make sure to stick to it. This simple step will help you avoid unnecessary impulse purchases and keeps your weekly food bill in check.
3. Audit your cupboards, fridge and freezer
Before you head to the shops, take stock of what you already have in your cupboards, fridge and freezer. You might find tins, grains or frozen veg that can be turned into a filling meal. This prevents you from buying duplicates and ensures nothing goes to waste.
4. Buy own-brand products
One of the easiest adjustments you can make is swapping branded products for supermarket own-brand ranges. They're often just as good as branded products but cost much less. Look beyond eye-level shelves to find these bargains and make the switch for staple items like tinned tomatoes, pasta and rice.
5. Bulk buy storecupboard staples
If you have the space in your cupboards, stock up and buy kitchen staples including rice, pasta, and tinned goods in bulk. Larger packs usually work out cheaper per portion and it also means fewer trips to the supermarket overall.
6. Shop seasonal
Choose fruit and veg in the season that it's grown and harvested. If it's grown close to home, with no transport or freight costs, the produce on offer should be competitively priced. Seasonal produce will also be fresher and taste better. Discover how to eat seasonally and locally all year long with our at-a-glance calendar: courgettes, aubergine and strawberries are currently in season.
7. Batch cook and freeze
Try cooking double or triple portions of your favourite recipes and freeze the extras in portions (make sure to label to avoid confusion). This will ultimately save you time and reduce energy costs, plus it ensures you have a lovely home-cooked meal ready to eat on busy days.
8. Embrace leftovers
Left with surplus food but unsure how to use it? Make an effort to use up your leftovers for lunches or in new dishes. Any leftover roast veg can be whizzed into a soup, chicken can be added to a crunchy salad or sandwich, and rice can be turned into a quick fried rice dish.
9. Use frozen fruit and veg
It may feel unnatural to buy frozen over fresh, however frozen produce is often cheaper and just as nutritious as the fresh variety; frozen veg are often frozen soon after picking, so the nutrients are preserved. Keep a varied selection of fruit and veg in your freezer for smart, quick additions to soups, stews, smoothies or stir-fries.
10. Make your own lunches
Are your lunchtime bills racking up? Ditch the daily supermarket meal deal and pack your own lunch using last night's leftovers or simple, cheap ingredients. It’s healthier, more satisfying and can save you hundreds of pounds over the year.
11. Buy cheaper cuts of meat
Replace expensive cuts of meat for cheaper alternatives such as chicken thighs, pork shoulder or beef brisket. They’re often more flavourful and perfect for slow-cooked dishes. Get to know your local butcher, as they'll know the worth of these less popular cuts.
12. Go veggie more often
One of the easiest ways to save money is by swapping to a few meat-free days each week. Pulses, beans and lentils are filling, nutritious and cost a fraction of meat. See our collections of vegetarian dinner recipes and our budget vegetarian meal plan to get started.
13. Shop in the world food aisle
Next time you're in the supermarket, explore the world food section for household staples such as rice, spices and noodles – they’re often much cheaper than the mainstream brands but can be hidden away out of sight.
14. Look in the reduced section
Pay a visit to the reduced section for bargains on items close to their sell-by date (with reductions increasing as the day goes on). Many can be frozen or used up quickly in meals. However you should only buy what you know you'll eat, otherwise it'll end up being wasted.
15. Avoid pre-chopped and pre-washed produce
Convenience comes at a price. Pre-chopped, pre-washed items are much more expensive than their whole counterparts, with the additional cost coming from the extra processing, packaging and labour involved. Buy whole fruit and veg and prep them yourself – it’s cheaper and they last longer.
16. Store food properly
Keep your food fresher for longer by storing it correctly. Potatoes in a cool, dark place, sliced bread in the freezer, and make sure to always check the label for storage instructions – if it says ‘refrigerate after opening’, follow that advice.
17. Use up stale bread
Bread is one of the most commonly wasted foods, but the good news is stale bread doesn't have to mean a waste of money – use it as a chance to get creative by turning it into breadcrumbs, croutons, bread and butter pudding or panzanella salad.
18. Make your own snacks
Often find yourself spending money on pricey sweet snacks to satisfy afternoon sugar cravings? Try baking flapjacks, oat bars or muffins at home rather than buying shop-bought snacks. Homemade treats will work out to be cheaper, healthier, and can be made in batches and frozen.
19. Freeze leftover dairy
Milk, cheese and yogurt can be frozen if you’re not going to use them in time. Milk cartons can be frozen unopened if there is a gap between the milk and the lid. Grate cheese and loosely pack into the holes of a muffin tin before freezing. Freeze your yogurt in portions in a clean muffin tin, then slide the frozen portions out and put them in a container to use from frozen, or defrost first.
20. Use every bit
Get creative while reducing waste by using up every part of your food. Instead of chucking in the food waste bin, eat your broccoli stalks, cauliflower leaves and herb stems – they’re all edible and packed with flavour. Vegetable peelings can easily be used to make soups or be made into vegetable crisps.
21. Buy spices in bulk
If you have room in your cupboards, stock up on spices from world food stores or purchase larger bags to refill your jars. It’s much cheaper than buying those tiny spice pots in the supermarket. If you don't have enough storage, share with your friends by divvying up into jam jars.
22. Join supermarket loyalty schemes
Sign up for supermarket loyalty cards and apps to access exclusive deals, lower prices and rewards. Points add up quickly and can be put towards future shops. Make the most of these and supermarket apps that can save money and give you rewards, too – from free fruit at Lidl to money added to a cashpot on the Asda app.
23. Compare prices by weight
It's easy to forget, but it's wise to check the price per 100ml or 100g rather than just the headline price – price labels usually have this information and this can show you what's truly the best value. Bigger packs or own-brands are often better value.
24. Shop at markets and greengrocers
Local markets and greengrocers can offer great deals on fresh produce, especially towards the end of the day when stallholders are keen to sell off stock. Some greengrocers have bargain bins of produce or offer bulk-buying on certain items, such as overly ripe bananas or blueberries.
25. Buy dried pulses and beans
Dried beans and pulses are cheaper than tinned ones, but you have to soak then cook them. Make use of a spare oven shelf by cooking a pan of beans along with your main meal. Bring the soaked beans or pulses up to the boil in a large pan, then transfer to a baking dish with a tight-fitting lid and bake in the oven until tender.
26. Use your freezer wisely
Your freezer is your best friend when it comes to reducing waste. You can freeze leftover portions, bread, herbs and even milk. Use a white board pen to label and date everything so you know what you’ve got – keep a tally on your freezer or fridge door of what you have in stock, so you don’t have to rummage.
27. Make stock from scraps
Save your leftover bones, veg peelings and herb stems from cooking to make your own stock. It’s a great way to add nourishing flavour to soups, casseroles and risottos, and it's all free. Alternatively, save your chicken bones (roasted or raw) in the freezer, along with coriander stalks and veg peel, and then make a deep-flavoured bone broth.
28. Be flexible with your meal plan
If you spot a bargain or an unexpected offer in the supermarket, feel free to add it into your plan and leave something else out. Keeping flexible with meal planning will mean you make the most of the day's deals and avoid food waste.
29. Avoid shopping when hungry
A simple tip, but one that can really save you money. Eat before you shop to help you stick to your list – shopping on an empty stomach leads to impulse buys not accounted for in your meal plan.
30. Review and adjust your budget
Instead of throwing away your shopping list and meal plan and starting afresh, at the end of the month review what worked and what didn’t. Adjust your approach for the next month to help you keep building on your savings.
31. Try set-price menus when eating out
If you’re treating yourself and going out to eat, look out for set-price menus or early bird deals at restaurants. They’re often much better value than ordering from the à la carte menu.
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