How to save money on food shopping

Food, glorious food...if you’re anything like myself, food is one of those things in my everyday life that can bring a small spark of joy to the darkest days. Yet the rise of food delivery companies has made it easier than ever to eat whatever you fancy on a daily basis - at a financial cost, of course. So if you feel like your bank balance is being eaten up (literally), here are a few ways to streamline your food spending.

Plan your meals ahead

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: meal planning is the number one way to stay on track financially when it comes to food. It only takes a short amount of time at the start of your week to think ahead about how many meals you need and what you’d like to eat, but the impact on your bank balance can be significant. Shopping for food on a daily basis makes it far more likely that you pick up extra items you don’t need, and if you’re relying on ‘local’ supermarkets, you’ll notice the prices spiral quickly. Trust me on this one!

Lists, lists, lists

It sounds simple, but it really is effective. It might seem like product placement is random across stores, but supermarkets are cleverly designed to make products look delicious and enticing, so relying on willpower to walk straight past the promotional items and zone in on items you need, rather than want, is a real long shot. Write a list before you head to do your weekly shop and you’ll find it far easier to stay focused, as well as getting the satisfaction of ticking off items as you go. 

Look for easy swaps

There are certain items where branded products are worth the extra cost. For me, you’ll struggle to convince me that mayonnaise doesn’t need to be Hellmann’s and that Ketchup can be anything but Heinz. Yet personally, I have no affinity to specific brand washing and cleaning products so I always look for the best offer, or buy the supermarket own brand range. The price difference? Over a year, these swaps can save hundreds of pounds, so look for easy swaps you can make in your day to day life.

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