A Practical Guide to Cutting Costs Without Cutting Quality
Feeding yourself and your family is essential but overspending at the supermarket doesn’t have to be.
With food prices rising and household budgets under pressure, learning how to shop smarter can make a meaningful difference to your weekly spending.
The good news?
You don’t have to compromise on quality or switch to a diet of beans on toast.
A handful of simple habits, small swaps, and smarter shopping strategies can shave £10–£40 off your bill every week, depending on family size and how you currently shop.
Here’s a complete guide to helping you spend less, waste less, and get more value from every food shop.
1. Start With the Basics: Make a Shopping List (And Stick to It)
It might sound old-fashioned, but a shopping list is still one of the most powerful money-saving tools available.
Why it works:
It stops you wandering the aisles looking for ideas
It reduces impulse buys
It keeps you focused on what you need, not what looks tempting
It helps avoid food waste
Supermarkets are designed to encourage spontaneous purchases: eye-catching displays, special promotions, and strategic product placement all nudge you into spending more. A list gives you discipline and purpose.
Tip: Keep a running list on your phone throughout the week so you don’t forget the essentials.
2. Check Your Cupboards, Fridge & Freezer Before You Shop
Before you write your list, spend a couple of minutes checking what you already have.
You might be surprised how often we buy repeats simply because we’ve forgotten what’s lurking at the back of a shelf.
This quick step helps you:
Avoid buying duplicates
Use up forgotten ingredients
Reduce food waste
Plan meals around what you already own
For example, if you already have pasta and tinned tomatoes, buying mince turns what you have into a meal no need to start from scratch.
3. Be Open to Non-Branded Alternatives
Switching from branded goods to supermarket own-label products is one of the fastest ways to cut your food bill.
Most supermarkets now offer three tiers:
Premium (finest, extra special)
Standard own brand
Budget/value range
Many non-branded products are made in the same factories as the big names the difference is the packaging and marketing.
Try swapping just a few staples:
Cereal
Pasta and rice
Tinned goods
Cleaning products
Bread
Dairy items
If you don’t like a particular swap, switch back but you’ll likely find several alternatives you can adopt permanently and painlessly.
4. Compare Prices Properly: Look at Price Per 100g / Per Litre
Supermarkets often use different pack sizes to make deals look better than they are.
The easiest way to see which product is genuinely cheaper is to look at the price per unit usually shown on the shelf label.
For example:
A large bag of rice might look pricier
But the cost per 100g could be significantly lower
Small differences add up quickly.
5. Don’t Shop at Eye Level: That’s Where the Expensive Products Live
Eye-level shelves are “prime real estate” for supermarkets and brands.
These products tend to have the highest margins and generate the most profit.
Look:
Higher on the shelves for larger value packs
Lower for the budget range
Around the edges (not the centre) for cheaper alternatives
Fun fact: Sweets and snacks are often placed at children’s eye level, not adults’ encouraging pester power.
6. Look for Yellow Stickers & Reduced-To-Clear Items
Most supermarkets offer heavy discounts on food approaching its use-by date, especially later in the day.
These bargains are ideal for:
Meat you can freeze
Bread you’ll use tomorrow
Ready meals for quick dinners
Veg that’s still perfectly good for soups or casseroles
With a freezer and some planning, yellow-sticker items can save you a small fortune over a year.
7. Use Loyalty Cards, But Don’t Become Loyal
Loyalty cards like Tesco Clubcard, Nectar, Lidl Plus, and Asda Rewards can save you money, but they also influence your behaviour.
Smart tips:
Use loyalty points and discounts, they help
But don’t assume the price with a loyalty card is always the cheapest
Compare prices with other supermarkets
Remember that Clubcard and Nectar pricing sometimes increases the price for non-members
If another supermarket has a better deal, don’t let loyalty stop you from switching.
8. Try Online Shopping or Click & Collect
Online grocery shopping can actually save you money because:
You see the total cost before paying
You avoid impulse purchases
You can easily compare prices
You can sort items by price per unit
You can remove items at checkout to stay within budget
Many people find online shopping helps improve discipline and reduces in-store temptations.
Click & collect is often cheaper than delivery, and you can still avoid browsing the aisles.
9. Bulk Buy, Batch Cook & Build a Small Pantry
Buying certain items in larger quantities can be cheaper as long as you have the space and will use them before they spoil.
Good items to bulk buy:
Rice and pasta
Tinned foods
Frozen veg
Toilet roll
Laundry products
Herbs and spices
Batch cooking saves both money and time:
Make double portions
Freeze leftovers
Save on energy usage
Avoid last-minute takeaways
Even if you batch cook once or twice a week, it can dramatically reduce overspending.
10. And Finally… Never Shop When You’re Hungry
This might be the simplest tip of all but one of the most effective.
Shopping while hungry:
Increases impulse buying
Makes snacks and treats more tempting
Leads to bigger bills
Can even change your perception of value
Have a snack before you shop and you’ll make better decisions.
Saving money on the weekly shop isn’t about strict budgeting or sacrificing the things you enjoy.
It’s about becoming a more intentional shopper, understanding supermarket psychology, and building small habits that consistently reduce waste and overspending.
Even applying just a few of these tips can help you cut your food bill without cutting the quality of your meals and over the course of a year, the savings really add up.
Disclaimer
The tips on this page are for general information and educational purposes only. We are not affiliated with any supermarkets, brands, or discount platforms. Prices, offers, and availability change regularly, and savings will vary depending on your location, chosen store, and personal shopping habits. Always check the latest information directly with retailers before making a purchase.
