How to cut your food bill

Rising grocery costs are forcing many households to make tough choices to make ends meet.

According to research by tuck, households are spending an average of £94 on the weekly shop.

That’s about £24 a week more than last year.

So many are taking drastic steps to cut costs.

For example, nearly two-thirds (61%) are buying fewer treats and snacks.

Meanwhile, almost one in five (19%) are either skipping meals or eating less, and over a quarter (28%) are eating less meat or becoming vegetarian.

What can I do to save money on groceries?

Almost two-thirds of those polled (61%) said lower grocery costs would have the greatest positive impact on their finances.

But while prices in the shops are beyond our control, there are a few steps you can take to bring your supermarket bill down.

Shop around to save money

Seeing your grocery bill shoot up week after week can be really frustrating.

But shopping around and researching which supermarkets are offering the best deals give you a sense of control back.

Consumer group Which? recently named Aldi as the cheapest supermarket overall, followed by Lidl and Asda.

So it could be worth spending a little time researching the market, so you don’t end up paying over the odds.

Budget for your food shop

Make sure you know your income and outgoings, so you work out exactly what you can afford to spend in the supermarket each week.

Check our guide to how to create a budget to get started.

Embrace batch cooking

Make large quantities when you’re cooking and set some aside in single portions.

You can then put it in the freezer and defrost when you need it, instead of spending money on an extra meal.

Meals like chilli and bolognese sauce freeze really well, and cooking up a bigger portion takes no extra effort.

Write a list and stick to it

Plan the meals you want to eat over the next week and write down what you need to make them.

And then once you’re in the supermarket, make a point of sticking to it, so you don’t pick up things you don’t need or probably won’t use.

Check our regular money saving tips

Keep checking these pages regularly for our round-ups of standout deals that can save you money in the supermarket.

We’re also sharing great low-cost recipes every week that you can help you feed the family for less.

For more money-saving tips, check out our other ideas on keep the cost of your food shop down.