How to save money in the weekly food shop

Life before kids I used to spend £40 a week on food. If it was £50 it meant I had either Matt with me putting in random things, or it was big ticket item week.

Since having the girls, and fast forward to a cost of living crisis, the cost is more like £100 a week.

I feel like I’ve spent my life scrimping. And it’s not because I have to, well on occasion maybe, but I like to. I do think the days of living in High Wycombe when we had about £100 a month left to spend has taught me well.

Now, life isn’t so much like that. But, I enjoy finding deals. I like offers. I love hearing from my sister about her latest money saving tip.

So I carry on with my money saving mindset, and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that.

I know it’s a pretty tough time for lots of people. Food shopping is more expensive. Clothes are. EVERYTHING BLOODY IS. I can’t drive passed the petrol station without wincing at how it used to be 0.98p when I started driving. I sound like my mum.

So I’ve got some advice. Some tips on how to save money on the weekly shop. And they’re based on years of me sending voice notes to my sister about what deal I found that week, or how much cheaper my monthly shop was this month over another.

I’ll include a couple of eco tips too. Because the world needs less waste, less plastic.

Here’s how I save money in the weekly food shop

I plan my meals

Yep. Even if we don’t fancy pasta for dinner tonight. We’re having it. Because that’s what’s on the menu.

I plan meals when I do the shop, then I plan the days we have them based on when the food goes out of date.

Sounds like a lot of work. But when you get in a rythmn of eating similar things each week you’ll be like a well oiled machine.

Basically, I eat stuff from the fridge first. Then later in the week we move onto pasta and sauces. At the end of the week it will likely be eggs or beans on toast. Brinner.

We eat A LOT of pasta. All hail carbs in this house.

I am a loyal customer – to lots of shops

I have a Tesco Clubcard, Asda Rewards, Nectar card and a Waitrose card (I get 20% off with my life insurance). I’m signed up to all the shops mailing lists so if they send me a voucher, I’ll use it.

Asda points rack up surprisingly quickly. I get about £10-20 a month free money from them. I shop there the most, which is probably why.

I wouldn’t even set foot in Sainsbury’s or Tesco if I didn’t have my Clubcard or Nectar card. The other day my shopping came to £8, I put in my nectar card and it went down to £5. Get them all loaded on your Apple Wallet. You’ll thank yourself.

I buy big ticket items when they’re on offer

For example, the coffee I like is on offer at least once a month. It usually goes for £3.50 on offer. When it’s not it’s £6.50 or more. I just can’t bring myself to pay an extra £3. So when something like coffee I like is on offer, I buy it. Even if there’s one in the cupboard.

Now, if you live in a small house or have limited storage, I don’t advise hoarding too much. But an extra pot of coffee that will last isn’t going to hurt. I do the same with herbal teas. Read my tips for living in a small house with kids.

I don’t buy meat

Meat is a huge cost to a weekly shop. I’m a vegetarian and Matt doesn’t eat meat in the house really. This really brings the cost down. If I was to buy meat for a certain dish I’d prefer to buy it from the butchers if possible. If you’re looking to save money on your weekly shop, cutting down your meat consumption could see a huge change. Sometimes I swap chicken in things like curry for halloumi or paneer. It doesn’t only have to be veggies you’re eating when you have meat free days.

I make snacks for the kids

I used to fall into the trap of buying those little rip off packs of Maryland cookies. You get FIVE tiny cookies in there. Martha nails an entire pack in 1 minute. Maybe less. I’ve started making my own cakes, biscuits and flapjacks.

Homemaking means I know EXACTLY what’s in them. I know how much sugar, and that there’s nothing too weird. It’s also a fun activity to do with the kids. Flapjacks are a firm favourite at the moment. I swap out some of the butter for peanut butter.

I always have brown sugar, butter, vanilla extract, peanut butter, honey, oats and eggs in the cupboard. So there’s always chance to make something.

I make my own bread

I sound like a right homemaker here, but I do. And I love it. It’s so mindful and relaxing kneading bread. Particularly when the kids are in bed. Sometimes I’ll put in my AirPods and watch an episode of Grey’s Anatomy, other days I’ll just enjoy a think.

A pack of wholemeal or white bread flour is around £1-1.50. Big tub of yeast is about £1.50. I can make two loaves from a bag of flour, making it 75p – £1.00. Again, I know what’s in it. It tastes good. And it feels like a treat. Obviously with lashings of real butter. Because butter.

Also, pizza dough is SO easy to make. Fun for the kids. I do this once a week. It costs 90p for a pack of flour that will do 2-3 rounds of dough to make three pizzas. Then it’s £2 for a pack of mozzarella. So you’re looking at £2.50 ish for three cheese pizzas that taste so good.

I freeze stuff

Did you know you can freeze peppers and tomatoes before they turn? Bananas for smoothies? Half used tins of coconut milk and tomatoes? Cooked pasta?

I freeze it all. This saves too much perfectly good food going in the food waste. I can’t stand seeing that waste bin full. I also hate, hate, hate emptying it.

I buy the cheap tins

Tinned tomatoes, tinned chickpeas, tinned pulses and lentils. These are great to have in the cupboard. Even when you’re at the end of the week you’ll still be able to whip up a hummus or pasta sauce.

I never buy the expensive ones. I’m sure there is merit in spending £2 on a tin of toms, but I prefer to stick with the 35p ones. They’ve not let me down yet.

I don’t get too caught up in offers

Yep, sounds great getting two packs of grapes for £4. But, will you eat them? Is it worth spending an extra £1.50 for a pack of grapes you might not get to eat?

I usually do this when it comes to oats or things that last, but fruit I might not eat? Not worth stuffing myself silly with grapes just so I don’t have to empty the food bin.

Asda is very good at reminding me what offers I missed, but I always try to think, will it keep? Could I freeze it? Will I eat it this week? If not, I don’t spend the extra on something that might end up in the bin.

I rarely buy brands

Aside from Lime Pickle that HAS to be Patak’s, I don’t really buy brands. There’s nothing I feel so particular about that it will make me spend the extra for fancy packaging and a brand name. Butter has to be real butter, but I don’t mind the brand. Just wouldn’t catch me buying “I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter” because you absolutely can.

I NEVER take the kids. Or my husband

Both end up putting random items in the trolly. So I shop online. I have a list and I stick to it. Online delivery is £1-5 depending on your slot. Don’t put yourself through shopping with kids if you don’t have to. Yep you might get a beetroot instead of an avocado, but it’s worth it over buying a pack of brightly coloured snacks or million dollar smoothies.

We eat simple sometimes

If it’s the end of the month, or if we’re trying to have a cheap week, we eat a lot of pasta, eggs, beans on toast. They’re all people pleasers and they don’t cost too much. Pesto pasta with frozen peas, sweetcorn or spinach is always a hit.

Save money in the weekly food shop with my go-to recipe for a cheap meal

PASTA AND TOMATO SAUCE. Yep, it’s basic.

• 1 x tin of tinned tomatoes (35p)
• 250g pasta (50p)
• Dash of Worcester sauce (lasts about 5 months, costs £1)
• Garlic (50p for an entire bulb)
• Squirt of tomato puree (70p for a tube.)
• Pinch of salt and sprinkle of black pepper

Fry off the garlic for a few minutes, then add everything else in and leave it to simmer for about 20 minutes.

It’s so easy, and tasty.

Here’s what my meals are looking like this week.

I get stuck in such a rut with food. Once I ate omelettes most nights for about 6 months. Then I moved onto wrap pizzas. We never have those anymore. I think Matt would cry if I suggested it.

I’ve always thought it would be interesting to swap shopping lists with someone. Try out their dinners for a week. If you’re feeling like you need some Inso here’s my go-to menu at the moment. I don’t eat meat, and Matt rarely has it at home except ham and the occasional sausage, so this is a full veggie menu.

• Creamy mushroom pasta ft creme fraiche (Hello Fresh recipe, highly recommend)
• Avocado bake with the rest of the creme fraiche and some homemade bread (Jamie Oliver)
• Homemade pizzas
• Cauliflower hot wings (Franks Buffalo sauce is so good!)
• Pesto pasta (A bunch of basil, a glug of olive oil, garlic, salt and you’ve got yourself a delicious pesto)
• Bean chilli (Another Hello Fresh recipe.)
• Tomato pasta
• Jacket potato with cheese and beans

Hopefully I’ve given you a little inspo on how to save money on the weekly food shop. Share your ideas with me. I’m on Instagram @reviewsfromthemotherside.