How to save money on food shopping UK: 20 tips that actually work

Food is one of the few big costs you can change every single week, and you do not need coupons or hours of effort. These are the tips that make the most difference.

Plan before you shop

1. Plan your meals for the week. Check what you already have first.
2. Write a list and stick to it. Unplanned extras are where budgets go wrong.
3. Plan to use leftovers. Roast chicken on Sunday becomes a curry or sandwiches on Monday.
4. Set a weekly budget and track it for a month. You will see where the money goes.
5. Shop less often. Every extra trip to the shop is a chance to spend more than you meant to.

Pay less for the same food

6. Use loyalty prices. Clubcard, Nectar and other schemes now offer member-only prices on many items. They are free to join.
7. Drop down a brand. Try the supermarket's own brand, or its value range, for staples. Many people cannot tell the difference.
8. Compare price per kilo, not the shelf price. Bigger packs are not always cheaper.
9. Try a discount supermarket for your main shop, even if you top up elsewhere.
10. Look high and low. The priciest products are usually at eye level.
11. Buy frozen fruit, veg and fish. Often cheaper, and nothing goes off.
12. Look for yellow stickers late in the day, and freeze what you will not eat straight away.

Waste less

13. Store food properly. Keep bread in the freezer, and herbs in water.
14. Know the dates. "Use by" is about safety. "Best before" is about quality, and food is often fine after it.
15. Batch cook and freeze portions for busy nights instead of buying takeaways.
16. Use apps like Too Good To Go for cut-price surplus food from shops and cafes, and Olio to share or pick up food for free.

Cut the extras

17. Take lunch to work. Bought lunches easily cost several pounds a day, which adds up to a lot each year.
18. Cut back on drinks and snacks, which often make up a surprising share of a shop.
19. Reduce meat a few days a week. Beans, lentils and eggs are cheap sources of protein.
20. Earn cashback on online grocery shopping through cashback sites and apps. See the best cashback sites.

Put the savings somewhere

The trick is to make the money you save actually go somewhere. Work out roughly what you used to spend each week and move the difference into savings or towards a debt. A budget like 50/30/20 helps you see the bigger picture.

Free toolSavings goal calculatorHow much to save each month to hit a goal by a date, or how long it will take at your pace.→

Common questions

How much should a family spend on food a week in the UK?

It varies a lot with family size, diet and where you live. Track your own spending for a month to find your starting point, then aim to cut it step by step.

Is online grocery shopping cheaper?

It can be, because you stick to a list and avoid impulse buys. Delivery charges eat into savings unless you use a delivery pass or a free click and collect slot.

Is it safe to eat food after the best before date?

Usually yes, if it looks and smells fine, because best before is about quality. Never eat food after its use by date, which is about safety.