What can I do if I’m worried about rising food prices?

Worries about rising food prices have led to lots of people making tough choices, like cutting back and skipping meals, so what can you do if you’re struggling?

According to Which?, 85% of Brits are worried about food prices.

That’s up from 83% in February.

And as a result, many are making big changes either in the shop or at home to try to save money.

For example:

• 43% are buying cheaper products
• 37% are buying more supermarket budget own-range items
• 31% are buying extra items if there’s a promotion

But worryingly, 15% are going without some foods, and 10% are skipping meals completely.

How to cut the cost of your food shop

While food price rises are beyond our control, there are a few ways to make your money go further.

Shop around

If you’re in the habit of going to the same shop each week, look around and see if you could get a better deal elsewhere.

Create a household budget

Keep an eye on how much money you’ve got coming in and going out, so you can prioritise your spending and know how much you can afford to spend in the shops.

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

Write a list and stick to it

Before you go shopping, plan your meals in advance and write down a list of what ingredients you need.

And then once you’re in the supermarket, only buy what you’ve got written down.

Shop smart

If money is tight, it’s a good idea to stock up on low-cost, versatile ingredients that can be used in different ways.

Rice and frozen veg, for example, can be used in all sorts of different ways, and will form the basis of several days’ worth of meals.

Check out our list of 12 ingredients you need in your kitchen.

Understand food labels

Make sure you understand what use-by, best before and sell-by dates really mean.

Otherwise, you might find yourself throwing out perfectly good food and wasting money.

Make smart swaps

If one vital ingredient has gone up in price, look at what cheaper alternatives might do the job instead.

For example, you can make a bolognese with some tinned tomatoes if your favourite jar of pasta sauce seems too pricy.

Check our regular money saving tips

Check back here regularly for our round-ups of standout deals and low-cost recipes that can save you money in the supermarket.

We’ve also got more tips on how you can keep the cost of your food shop down.