<p>Many of us are watching our pockets more and are having to think extra carefully about getting the most out of our shopping budgets. At Good Food we’re always searching for smart ways to reduce weekly shopping costs, whether that’s utilising what’s already in our pantries or freezing leftovers and avoiding food waste.</p><p>It’s a constant juggle figuring out how to stretch the budget, so to help make your money go further we’ve collated 10 simple money-saving tips for your next supermarket visit.</p>
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<p><h6>Helen Salter</h6>
Helen Salter is Senior Content Producer for BBC Good Food and olive magazine. She has been with the brands since March 2021. Before joining the team, Helen was a freelance journalist for titles such as The Independent, Cosmopolitan and Delish, and worked on the editorial teams at delicious.com magazine, Co-op magazine and Leiths school of Food and Wine. Her interest in food was born during her years studying at University of Bristol, where she completed an English degree. After graduating, Helen moved to London, where she completed a Masters degree in Magazine Journalism from City University. You can get in touch with Helen on Instagram: @helensalter
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<img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/30/2026/01/1IMG4393-c73867b-e1768492666299.jpg" width="2253" height="1913" alt="Helen Salter" title="Helen Salter" />
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<p>There’s no need to break the bank with our nifty tips and tricks shared below, leaving you with low-waste, cost-saving dinners to enjoy throughout the week.</p><p>Try our <a href="/howto/guide/budget-family-meal-plan">family budget meal plan</a> for a week of low-cost meals, or explore our <a href="/howto/guide/quick-budget-family-meals">quick budget meals</a>, <a href="/howto/guide/budget-family-chicken-recipes">budget family chicken recipes</a> and <a href="/budget/budget-comfort-food">budget comfort food</a> for fuss-free, affordable cooking.</p>
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<p>This guide was brought to you by<strong> Cook Smart</strong>, a campaign designed by Good Food experts to help you save money and reduce food waste.
Dive into more Cook Smart content in our <a href="/feature/budget">budget hub.</a>
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<h2 id="money-saving-tips-for-your-weekly-shop-c0c91467">Money-saving tips for your weekly shop</h2><h3 id="1-plan-your-meals-24ca8c27">1. Plan your meals</h3>
<img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/30/2025/01/GettyImages-1299321163-84c66e5.jpg" width="724" height="482" alt="Shopping List On Kitchen Table" title="Shopping List On Kitchen Table" />
<p>It may seem simple, but planning your meals for the week ahead will help avoid impulse buys and food waste, which is your number-one enemy when you’re cooking on a budget. To help stick to your budget, write a shopping list of everything you need to buy and take it with you.</p><p>Planning ahead means you can look forward to the upcoming meals while taking away the stress of worrying what to cook after a busy day at work. You could leave one day off the schedule in case of any last-minute dinner plans or extra leftovers – that way you don’t buy more than you need and no food goes to waste.</p><h3 id="2-buy-own-brand-products-b51a8f3c">2. Buy own-brand products</h3>
<img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/30/2024/01/GettyImages-1469902779-ad740fe.jpg" width="8256" height="5504" alt="Cropped shot of young woman pushing a shopping cart, grocery shopping in supermarket. She is holding a tin can and reading the nutritional label" title="Own brand products" />
<p>Save cash by swapping big-brand products for supermarkets’ own-brand products. Not only are own-brand products cheaper, but all food manufacturers must follow the same food standards. Small savings from ‘downshifting’ (moving from branded to budget ranges) can quickly add up, especially on items you buy regularly. For example, the cost of a 400g tin of tomatoes in Sainsbury’s can vary from 39p for Stamford Street Co. (Sainsbury’s budget range) to £1.50 for Mutti.</p><p>Make sure you have a good look around when you do your next supermarket shop, too. Supermarkets tend to stock mid-price and premium brands directly in front of you at eye level in order to catch your attention, with budget and own-brand items hidden further down at the bottom of the shelves.</p><h3 id="3-avoid-chopped-grated-and-pre-washed-ingredients-b03bd53f">3. Avoid chopped, grated and pre-washed ingredients</h3>
<img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/30/2020/08/1._red_cabbage_being_chopped_on_board-04c31e2.jpg" width="700" height="350" alt="An African female chopping up a head of purple cabbage with a chef&apos;s knife on a wooden cutting board in the process of making a coleslaw." title="Chopping Purple Cabbage" />
<p>These convenient items are much more expensive than their whole counterparts, with the additional cost coming from the extra processing, packaging and labour involved. Bags of pre-grated cheese, chopped fruit or packs of ready-sliced veg often cost significantly more per gram than blocks of cheese, whole fruit or unprepared veg.</p><p>They often come in smaller quantities and have a shorter shelf life due to the increased surface area and handling, which can lead to more <a href="/news-trends/food-waste-gadgets">food waste</a> if not used quickly. Buying whole foods allows you to use only what you need, store the rest for longer and reduce unnecessary packaging. Taking a few minutes to chop, grate or wash your own ingredients not only saves money but gives you more control over portion sizes and freshness.</p><p>See which ingredients chefs believe are the <a href="/news-trends/biggest-waste-of-money-kitchen">biggest waste of money in your kitchen (and what to buy instead)</a>.</p><h3 id="4-shop-seasonal-40aa4e5d">4. Shop seasonal</h3>
<img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/30/2025/05/Braised-courgettes-and-butter-beans-with-pesto-3b54ab4.jpg" width="900" height="836" alt="A serving of braised courgettes & butter beans with pesto" title="Braised courgettes & butter beans with pesto" />
<p>In-season fruit and veg is often cheaper than imported groceries. This is because they haven’t been shipped thousands of miles, plus they taste fresher, as they’re grown in their natural season and in optimum conditions. Eating seasonally is also <a href="/information/planet-friendlier-changing-of-the-seasons">more sustainable</a>. Make a list of what season your favourite produce is at its best and then stock up.</p><h3 id="5-use-frozen-and-canned-foods-57cacb07">5. Use frozen and canned foods</h3>
<img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/30/2022/07/Frozen-veg-bc00581.jpg" width="8192" height="5462" alt="Freezer drawer stocked with frozen veg in separated bags" title="Frozen-veg" />
<p>A good alternative for saving cash, frozen and <a href="/howto/guide/our-10-favourite-canned-foods-and-how-use-them">canned foods,</a> such as frozen peas, <a href="/howto/guide/bang-in-some-beans">canned beans</a> and tinned tuna, are cheaper, though just as nutritious. <a href="/health/nutrition/are-frozen-fruit-vegetables-healthy-fresh">Frozen vegetables</a> are often frozen soon after picking, so the nutrients are preserved, too. Stock up your freezer staples such as berries, fish and shellfish, and bread. See our <a href="/recipes/collection/freezable-family-recipes">top freezable family meals</a> for cooking on a budget, plus read <a href="/howto/guide/make-your-freezer-work-for-you">how to make your freezer work for you</a>.</p><p>Discover how top chefs turn <a href="/howto/guide/elevate-beans">your tin of beans into an easy gourmet dinner</a>, then see which <a href="/health/tinned-foods">tinned foods nutritionists say deserve a comeback</a>.</p><h3 id="6-make-an-inventory-88eed744">6. Make an inventory</h3>
<img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/30/2020/08/1._plan_ahead-d9b971b.jpg" width="700" height="350" alt="Woman at home in kitchen, using device to order groceries online, e-commerce, inventory, shopping list" title="Mid adult woman checking food in fridge holding tablet" />
<p>Before you go shopping, check your kitchen and take note of what you’ve already got at home. There’s a high chance that your fridge and <a href="/howto/guide/20-budget-storecupboard-meals">cupboards</a> are well stocked with all the makings of a filling family dinner. Making an inventory will prevent you from buying too much, which often leads to food waste. It will also mean you buy enough for the week, so you won’t need to make a last-minute dash to a convenience store where prices are typically higher.</p><h3 id="7-look-in-the-reduced-section-b9e5fc76">7. Look in the reduced section</h3>
<img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/30/2023/12/GettyImages-1371981345-85d910c.jpg" width="2121" height="1414" alt="Close up of shopping basket with multiple products with yellow reduced stickers on them in the North East of England." title="Products Price Marked Down" />
<p>The reduced aisle in supermarkets is a great way to save money on your groceries, with reductions increasing as the day goes on. However, if you don’t plan on eating what you’ve bought that evening, it can be an extra spend you don’t need to make and may result in food waste. Be savvy with your choices, and make the most of reduced-price foods with your <a href="/howto/guide/make-your-freezer-work-for-you">freezer</a>.</p><h3 id="8-buy-spices-in-bulk-04c43ce7">8. Buy spices in bulk</h3>
<img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/30/2024/11/GettyImages-1173483061-171da74.jpg" width="2120" height="1415" alt="Shot of a young woman shopping for spices at a local market stall" title="Buying spices in bulk" />
<p>When you purchase spices in larger quantities, particularly from world food stores or zero-waste shops, the cost per gram is significantly lower compared to the small jars or tubs found on supermarket shelves. It will also reduce the need for frequent top-ups, which can help you avoid impulse purchases during extra trips to the supermarket. Plus it means less packaging.</p><p>By keeping your spice cupboard well stocked you are more likely to have what you need to hand. You could even try buying spices in bulk and dividing up between friends into jam jars. Learn more about <a href="/howto/guide/how-use-storecupboard-spices">how to use storecupboard spices</a>.</p><h3 id="9-buy-less-meat-166f1aa7">9. Buy less meat</h3>
<img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/30/2025/01/Vegan-chickpea-curry-jacket-potatoes-ad842df.jpg" width="2462" height="1642" alt="Vegan chickpea curry jacket potatoes on a plate with lemon wedges and coriander" title="Vegan chickpea curry jacket potatoes" />
<p>Meat has become more expensive, so cooking more <a href="/vegetarian-recipes-2">vegetarian</a> and <a href="/vegan-recipes-2">vegan</a> dishes will make you better at sticking to your food budget. Buy less meat, but buy the best you can afford, and use affordable <a href="/health/special-diets/vegan-protein-swaps">plant-based protein sources</a> to bulk out your meals: try swapping meat for cannellini beans and lentils, for example. When you do buy meat, look out for deals at your local butchers, and opt for the more affordable cuts such as <a href="/recipes/collection/chicken-thigh-recipes">chicken thighs</a> and <a href="/recipes/collection/chicken-drumstick-recipes">drumsticks</a>.</p><h3 id="10-become-a-member-of-supermarket-loyalty-schemes-d9c12421">10. Become a member of supermarket loyalty schemes</h3>
<img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/30/2025/01/GettyImages-1141999792-14db789.jpg" width="2121" height="1414" alt="A Colourful Supermarket Aisle" title="A Colourful Supermarket Aisle" />
<p>Don’t pay higher prices for everyday items just because you’re not a member of a supermarket loyalty scheme. All of the major supermarkets have loyalty schemes that claim to offer lower prices simply by joining (although these are sometimes contested!), from Sainsbury’s Nectar to Tesco Clubcard. Make the most of these and supermarket apps that can save money and give you rewards, too – from free fruit at Lidl to money added to a cashpot on the Asda app.</p><h2 id="discover-more-money-saving-inspiration-90926913">Discover more money-saving inspiration:</h2><ul><li style="list-style-type: none"><ul><li><a href="/recipes/collection/budget-recipes">Budget recipes</a></li><li><a href="/howto/guide/one-week-budget-dinners">One week of budget-friendly dinners</a></li><li><a href="/health/healthy-food-guides/top-10-healthy-budget-dinners">Top 10 healthy meals on a budget</a></li><li><a href="/howto/guide/im-a-single-mum-of-three-heres-how-i-shop-cheaply-at-a-luxury-supermarket">I’m a single mum of three – here’s how I shop cheaply at a luxury supermarket</a></li><li><a href="/howto/guide/budget-family-meal-plan">Budget family meal plan</a></li><li><a href="/howto/guide/budget-friendly-desserts">Budget-friendly desserts</a></li><li><a href="/howto/guide/air-fryer-recipes-for-beginners">20 easy air fryer recipes for beginners</a></li><li><a href="/howto/guide/budget-meals-one">15 budget meals for one</a></li></ul></li></ul>
