In our fast-paced lives, sticking to a food shop budget can feel like an impossible task. With prices going up and convenience foods looking tempting, those weekly supermarket trips can easily cost more than you planned.
But here’s the good news: eating well doesn’t have to cost a fortune!
In this post, I’ll share simple, 15 practical tips to help you shop smarter, save some cash, and still savour mouthwatering, wholesome meals. You’ll also get a weekly meal plan, shopping list templates, and a pantry essentials checklist—all available to download by clicking the button at the end of the post!
Whether you're stocking up for a bustling family kitchen or just shopping for one, these easy strategies will help you stretch your food shop budget without compromising on flavour or quality.
Ready to become a pro at budget-friendly food shopping? Let’s get started!
15 Food Budget-Friendly Tips
1. Batch cook budget-friendly recipes
If you can, cook in bulk – it’s one of the simplest and most efficient ways to save money in the kitchen. Whether you’re cooking for yourself or the whole family, preparing and freezing multiple meals in advance will help you cut down on food waste and save time in the long run.
2. Freeze more
When you want to save money and waste less, your freezer is your best friend. It can also help you save time, energy and stress if you learn how to make the most of it. Whether it’s storing delicious batch-cook meals, ready to use whenever you need them, fruit and veggies that are on the turn for future soups/smoothies, or those essential bags of frozen veg (no broccolis slowly going off in the fridge), ready to pop into whatever recipe needs a veggie boost, the freezer is there for you!
3. Love your leftovers
Getting into the habit of freezing the leftovers can be a lifesaver on busy weekdays for instant midweek meals.
You can learn how to store them properly and learn to reheat them so they taste great the next day.
4. Look at best-before and use-by dates
A use-by date on food is about safety. This is the most important date to remember. Never eat food after the use-by date, even if it looks and smells ok, as it could make you very ill.
The best before date, sometimes shown as BBE (best before end), is about quality and not safety. After the best-before date listed on a product, the food will be safe to eat but may not be at its best.
5. Cook with tinned food
Cooking with cans can seriously deliver on the flavour front, without breaking the bank.
Look at simple ways to make popular tinned foods such as beans, tuna and tomatoes go that extra mile.
6. Big up legumes
Legumes (beans and pulses) are not only affordable, but they’re also super-versatile and a source of protein and fibre. Lentils, black beans, kidney beans, butter beans, chickpeas and even peanuts are all classed as legumes and are available in jarred, tinned or dried form.
7. Use your store cupboard to maximise flavour
Give your meals a boost by investing in a couple of flavour bombs. From dried herbs and spices to jarred pastes and preserves, get the most out of your cooking with store-cupboard ingredients you’ll use again and again.
8. Grow your own
One of life’s simplest pleasures, growing your own fruit and veg is a great way to cut down on your food bill.
If you’ve got a garden, patio or sunny windowsill to work with, there’s plenty of potential for home-grown food. Learn how to grow your own chillies and herbs, lettuce, tomatoes and rhubarb, or how to make cute cress heads with kids.
9. Get organised
Always check the fridge and store cupboard before you go shopping – not only will it stop you from doubling up on things, but you can plan meals by buying the additional ingredients that will go with what you already have. Sounds simple, but it really does make a difference!
10. Make a weekly meal plan
First up, set yourself a realistic grocery shopping budget. Then plan your week’s meals and create a shopping list based on that – this way, you’ll only buy what you need. It also helps prevent those inevitable impulse buys that can add up.
You can also keep costs low by planning your meals around budget-friendly ingredients. If you need inspiration, there are plenty of budget-friendly recipes out there. Just search for "5-ingredient or less" recipes on the Internet. This means less spending, less planning and minimal food waste!
11. Shop smart
Another budget-friendly tip is buying a whole chicken and portioning it up. It is much cheaper than buying chicken breasts. A complete bird goes much further too; leftovers from a roast chicken can be used for a pasta bake, risotto or soup. Similarly, pick up a whole side of salmon when it goes on offer in the supermarket, then chop it up into fillets or chunks and freeze it. It’s much cheaper than buying individual packs of fillets.
12. Cheaper cuts of meat
Meat can be pricey, but you can choose cheaper cuts that will offer you better value for money while still packing in plenty of flavour. The next time you’re at the supermarket or the butcher, opt for budget cuts like chicken wings, lamb shank and neck; and pork chump and cheek.
13. Opt for different varieties of fish
Some types of fish are cheaper than others – so how about trying something new? Mussels and sardines are affordable and super-easy to cook with.
Have a go at making recipes like fish lasagna, creamy mussels spaghetti, or grilled sardines with potatoes.
14. Go big
If you regularly buy certain ingredients, buying in bulk is often better value and means you save money in the long run. For example, buying big bags of rice and pasta works cheaper per kilo. You could buy bigger packs of dried chickpeas and beans instead of tins, and if you cook with lots of spices, buy bigger packs instead of smaller jars.
15. Shop seasonally
Eating seasonally is a great way to keep your diet varied, and it can save you a bit of money too, as fruit and veg in season are often cheaper than those grown out of season. Check out online seasonal grown produce in your country to make the most of the beautiful fruit and veg available.
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