Shopping · 3 min read
How to spend less on your weekly food shop (UK)
Simon Coker, founder of Foray
Updated
Quick answer
Plan your meals before you shop, write one list and stick to it, use what you already have first, compare prices between supermarkets and buy pack sizes you will actually finish. Most of the saving comes from wasting less: WRAP estimates the average UK household of four throws away about £1,000 of edible food a year.
Start with waste, not vouchers
The cheapest food is the food you don't throw away. In 2021 UK households binned 6.4 million tonnes of food and drink, 4.7 million tonnes of it edible, worth around £1,000 a year for a family of four (WRAP). Buying more than you need and not using it in time are big reasons why, and both are fixed before you reach the shop.
1. Plan meals before you shop
Decide on four or five dinners for the week and shop for those, not for a vague idea of eating well. Our 20-minute meal planning method walks through it.
2. Shop your kitchen first
Before you write the list, check the fridge, freezer and cupboards. Build at least one meal around something that needs using up, and cross off anything you already have.
3. One list, sorted by aisle
A list in aisle order gets you round the shop in one lap. Fewer detours mean fewer special offers in your trolley that were never part of the plan.
4. Compare supermarkets
The same basket can cost noticeably different amounts at different supermarkets, and the gap moves from week to week. Loyalty prices such as Tesco Clubcard Prices and Sainsbury's Nectar Prices only apply with the card or app, so include them if you have one.
5. Think in pack sizes
Recipes ask for 150g; shops sell 250g. Plan meals that share ingredients so the rest of the pack has a job: a bunch of coriander can cover tacos on Tuesday and a green curry on Thursday.
6. Swap to own-brand basics
Tinned tomatoes, pasta, rice, flour, frozen peas and spices are where own-brand swaps are least noticeable. Keep branded products for the few things you can genuinely taste the difference in.
7. Use your freezer
- Freeze half a loaf as soon as you get home and toast slices from frozen.
- Cook a double batch of something like jollof rice or a bean chilli and freeze portions for busy nights.
- Frozen vegetables and fruit are picked and frozen quickly, waste nothing and are often cheaper than fresh.
8. Don't shop hungry, and watch the total
It is old advice because it works. Shopping online helps too: you see the running total as you go and are never walking past the bakery.
Frequently asked questions
Which UK supermarket is cheapest?
Consumer group Which? compares supermarket prices every month, and the discounters Aldi and Lidl usually come out cheapest. Among the larger supermarkets the order changes, so comparing the price of your own basket is the most reliable test.
Does meal planning really save money?
It usually helps, because you buy food for specific meals and waste less of it. How much you save depends on how you shop now: people who do several top-up shops a week tend to notice the biggest difference.
How can I reduce food waste at home?
Plan meals before shopping, check what you already have, store food properly, use the freezer for bread and leftovers, and cook the most perishable ingredients early in the week.
Sources
Plan your week with Foray
Choose meals, get one aisle-sorted list priced at real supermarkets, and cook step by step. Free to start on iPhone.
Download app
