Master Your Supermarket Shopping
Your biggest food savings will happen before you even get to the checkout. The key lies in strategic supermarket choices and smart shopping habits.
The Battle of the Budget Supermarkets
Recent analysis consistently shows that budget supermarkets offer the lowest prices on everyday essentials. By doing your main weekly shop at one of these retailers, you can significantly lower your costs. While Aldi has been crowned the cheapest for several years, Lidl is a close second.
| Feature | Aldi | Lidl | Asda | Tesco | Waitrose |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheapest for small basket | Yes, consistently | Often second cheapest | Less expensive than big four | Cheaper with Clubcard | Most expensive |
| Range of products | Limited, many own-brand | Limited, many own-brand | Wider than discounters | Very wide, many brands | Wide, premium focus |
| Branded products | Fewer options | Fewer options | Extensive range | Extensive range | Extensive, often premium |
| In-store experience | No-frills | No-frills | Standard | Standard | Premium |
For a full weekly shop with a longer list, which might include branded goods, Asda is often found to be the cheapest of the larger supermarkets. However, loyalty card holders at Tesco and Sainsbury's can sometimes find comparable prices on certain products.
Hunt Down Yellow Sticker Discounts
One of the most effective ways to save money is by buying reduced-to-clear items, often marked with a yellow sticker. These items are perfectly good but nearing their 'best-before' or 'use-by' date. A savvy shopper knows that the best reductions happen later in the day, when stores are clearing stock for the next day. You can find anything from bakery items to fresh meat and ready meals at a fraction of the original cost. To make the most of this strategy, be flexible with your meal plans and be prepared to freeze items like meat, bread, and some vegetables for later use.
Maximise Loyalty Schemes and Cashback
Don't overlook the power of supermarket loyalty cards, which are free to sign up for. Schemes like Tesco's Clubcard and Sainsbury's Nectar Card offer exclusive prices and accumulate points that can be converted into rewards or money off your shopping. Additionally, mobile apps like JamDoughnut offer instant cashback by purchasing discounted digital gift cards for major supermarkets. Websites and apps like Shopmium and GreenJinn also provide cashback on specific items. Always check these offers before you shop.
Reduce Food Waste with Smart Tech
In an effort to fight food waste and save money, new technologies have emerged that help you get cheap food and prevent perfectly good surplus from being thrown away.
Food Waste Apps
- Too Good To Go: This popular app lets you rescue 'Surprise Bags' of unsold food from local restaurants, cafes, and supermarkets at a significantly discounted price, often 50% or more. The contents are a lucky dip, which can be an adventure and a way to try new things. Some of the most popular bags come from chains like Greggs, Costa, and even M&S.
- Olio: With a community-based approach, Olio connects neighbours with each other and local businesses to share surplus food for free. This is perfect for when you have extra ingredients that you can't use up before they go off. Volunteer 'Food Waste Heroes' also collect food from businesses and redistribute it via the app.
Price Comparison Tools
Before you shop, use websites like Trolley.co.uk to compare prices across different supermarkets for your specific items. The site can even factor in loyalty card prices, ensuring you always get the best deal. For dedicated bargain hunters, this is an essential tool.
Cook Smarter, Not Harder
While savvy shopping is crucial, what you do with the food once you've bought it is equally important. Simple kitchen habits can make a huge difference to your budget.
Meal Plan Like a Pro
Planning your meals for the week is one of the most effective ways to reduce your food bill. By creating a shopping list based on your plan, you prevent impulse purchases and only buy what you need. This also helps you use up ingredients and minimises waste. Use up the contents of your fridge at the end of the week to create new and interesting meals like soup or a pasta sauce.
Batch Cooking and Freezer Management
Batch cooking involves preparing large quantities of a meal to be eaten over several days or frozen for later. This saves time and energy costs. Filling, low-cost meals ideal for batch cooking include:
- Lentil soup or dal
- Chilli con carne or a veggie alternative
- Spaghetti bolognese
- Pasta bakes
- Pearl barley risotto
Keep a list of what's in your freezer to avoid forgotten food and to make future meal planning easier. Bulk buying basics like pasta, rice, and lentils is also a cost-effective strategy.
Eat Your Veggies
Reducing your meat consumption can lead to significant savings, as meat is often the most expensive part of a meal. Using meat as a flavouring rather than the main event, or switching to meat-free meals based on pulses, is an excellent way to keep costs down. When you do buy meat, opt for cheaper cuts or freeze reduced-price items. Incorporating more seasonal vegetables, like those in Lidl's 'Too Good To Waste' boxes, is both healthy and economical.
Enjoying Affordable Treats and Dining Out
Eating cheaply doesn't mean you can never eat out. You just need to be strategic.
- Cheap Pub Grub: Chains like JD Wetherspoons and Hungry Horse offer affordable meals and often run deals during the week.
- Use Discount Schemes: Apps like Meerkat Meals can provide substantial discounts (often 25% off) at participating restaurants across the country.
- Loyalty App Discounts: Chains like Harvester and Toby Carvery offer app-based discounts and sometimes birthday freebies.
- Student Discounts: If you're a student, use your UNiDAYS or Student Beans card at places like Nando's and Subway for discounts.
- Lunchtime Deals: Many restaurants offer cheaper set menus during lunch hours or early evenings (pre-theatre).
- Street Food: Seek out local street food markets for cheap and flavourful options.
Conclusion
By combining savvy supermarket strategies with smart cooking habits and leveraging technology, you can master how to eat cheaply in the UK. Start with a meal plan, embrace discount apps, and don't be afraid to hunt for those yellow stickers. Eating well on a budget is not only possible but can also be a creative and rewarding experience. For more in-depth money-saving strategies, visit the definitive guide from MoneySavingExpert.
