Cutting down the food shopping bill

[StickyShoess]

I know it’s been done a million times before but - Can you all hit me with your best ideas to cut down the food shopping bill?

This week I’m attempting to use a ‘chilli’ (I say chilli but with 4DC theres no actual heat in there) I would normally use for just one meal, pack it out with veg and use it for two and it got me thinking there’s probably lots of things like that that I can do easily to shave 10 or 15 quid off each week

TIA

Bump

Making your own potato wedges instead of buying them or using chips.
Using lentil to bulk mince out or replace it.If you use kidney beans or other tinned beans buy dried instead.
You may already be doing these but try Aldi,menu planning.Look in the reduced veg section in the supermarket,some of it still has plenty of shelf life.
If you can face it porridge for breakfast on some days as cereal cost a lot,especially for 4.

I use textured vegetable protein from Holland and Barrett. If you mix a cup with a cup of boiling water with lots of beef stock it makes a generous amount. Add it to your chilli at just after you've browned the meat and it will reduce the overall price by 1/3 to 1/2 as the pack of mince will feed you all twice.

I've been doing this to reduce food bills for the last three months and non of the children have guessed yet!

I use it for bolognaise and cottage pie too, no complaints and no lack of flavour.

You are doing your bit to reduce your carbon footprint too.

Serve bread with every main meal.

At least once a week have home made soup and an egg based dish for dinner.

Add dumplings to all stew/casserole type meals.

Don't be loyal to brands. Yes, I have a few I am loyal to but I've tried the alternatives and decided I like those best. However, with lots of things, I've tried the alternatives and they are perfectly fine. I buy whatever is on offer that week.

I know its not good related but stiff like washing powder/dishwasher tablets etc you can save a fotune on if you're prepared to go own brand or change brands depending on the offers.

Try coming down a level in the branded foods you buy, if you buy premium brands then change to own brands, if you buy own brands then change to economy brands.

Some changes no one will notice, others won't work so well, but you won't know till you've tried them.

Try shopping when your supermarket puts out its yellow sticker items. You can pick up good bargains, but it will only work with a family who will take pot luck meals rather that staying with well known meals.

Learn to cook meals that use little or no meat, such as pasta primavera, spaghetti carbonara, mushroom risotto.

As above, don't be a brand snob! Own brands are usually fine and a big saving.

Don't buy jar or packet sauces, make your own. You can make a big pan of a tomato based sauce and freeze what you don't need so it is as convenient as a jar next time you want some.

Be aware that cheap washing powder/washing up liquid/loo roll isn't always the most economical buy as you use much more.

Beans, lentils and lots of veg are your friends.

Meat free days make a big difference. Quiche, omelettes, frittata are good meals. Cauliflower cheese, macaroni cheese also good. Remember you can serve them with salad or veg.

If you have to make sandwiches, don't buy packet ham. Buy a small gammon joint, boil it and slice for sandwiches. Cheaper and nicer. Again, freeze some in useful portion sizes.

If you buy a chicken, then buy a big one and make it stretch. There are lots of threads on here about rubber chickens!

Look at your portion sizes. Most of us(me) use far too much protein in a meal which is better replaced with more veg.

If you have a family that likes to snack then make your own. Cake, biscuits, flapjacks, brownies plus savouries such as cheese twists with puff pastry.

Look at the FB page 'Feed yourself for £1 a Day' .. you won't want to go to those extremes but there are some great money-saving ideas on there.

As all above , but shop only with a menu specific shopping list for the week. No just in case or oh that sounds a bargain should enter your trolley. :) good luck.

Stock take
Meal plan
Cook from scratch
No ready meals, snacks or pop / squash

I'm sure there'll be plenty of suggestions with meals etc. but I've just switched from Tesco to Aldi and almost halved my bill, not just because like for like stuff is so much cheaper, but because I don't buy all the extra crap as they don't sell it!

Go veggie as much as possible!

Lentils....
Brown lentils have good texture and hold their shape, I make a brown lentil cottage pie that is my carnivorous DHs favourite meal and it's actually vegan.

Red lentils give a bit of body and will go mushy

Green lentils are good too!

Check out places like B&M
They often have tins of chickpeas etc for around 25/27p - much cheaper than super markets. They also usually have lots of food much cheaper. than supermarkets. I pick up all sorts there for not much at all. :)

Don't make the meat the "main" ingredient in things like casseroles. Make it the same/less than the other veggies. A bit of bacon can go along way in terms of flavour. so user one slice of bacon per 2/3/4 people chopped up and stirred through pasta (or whatever) rather than making bacon be the 'biggest' thing in the pasta dish. iyswim?

if you can (money/space etc), look at buying in bulk. For example if you go through tons of rice, consider buying a big sack of it.(look down the world food aisles)

MEAL PLAN -plan your meals and and only buy what is needed.

cut out prepacked/prepared foods - for example, buy 2 carrots and grate them, instead of buying grated carrots. Don't buy salad bags. Don't buy little wee packs of grapes/sliced pineapple/whatever. Get the whole fruit.

Yes to meal planning and making a list before you go so you only buy what you need. Don't get distracted! Or better still online shopping. I save loads this way as I can quickly check what we have in the cupboard instead of buying loads of crisps for example when we already have a cupboard full. You don't get distracted by aisle end items and you can keep track of what you've spent do if you get a bit carried away you can remove some unnecessary stuff if you need to. I find this saves me far more than shopping at Aldi.

Finally don't be loyal to a supermarket. I have loyalty cards with loads so I flit to wherever gives me vouchers that week. Asda is my usual but I'm happy to try elsewhere if they are paying me for the privilege!

No supermarket loyalty.
Less/no meat. DH was stunned how much we saved when he stopped eating meat at home - still had it in restaurants etc. I was already veggie.
Look for budget recipes. Google jack Monroe/ cooking on a bootstrap.
Bake instead of buying snacks.
Batch cook - saves time and money.

If you’re cutting down on meat, add a little bacon to otherwise vegetarian meals. Not for actual vegetarians obviously but it can be a great way to get fussy men people eating less meat overall.

Plan for leftovers- or at least consider ways of using them up if you have extra good. Soup, omelettes and curries all lend themselves well to leftovers.

If you cook double take the portion you want to save out of the pot and put it aside. Otherwise I’ve found people’s appetites grow!

You can batch cook ingredients- mince is a good one - and freeze it so you can cook chili, bolognese, tacos, etc quickly. When you can cook something tasty faster than the takeaway can deliver it cuts down on impulse splurges!

Grated cheese is much more expensive than a block and it only takes 2 mins to grate. I toss a big bag in the freezer and grab a handful as needed so it lasts for ages.

If you make stews or casseroles you can thicken the liquid with cornflour (mix a spoon with cold water and add to bubbling hot pot, stirring well) which gives a more luxurious texture to a thinner stew. A small potato or sweet potato thickens soup nicely too.

If you have a slow cooker, you can get great results from cheaper cuts of meat that need slow cooking to tenderize fully but end up melting in your mouth.

Meat free meals at least once a week.

If the DC have a cooked lunch, sometimes they will be happy with sandwiches and veggie sticks for dinner, during summer.

Online food shopping - I book in advance and then amend the day before if necessary. I stick to £40 unless there is a special occasion such as birthdays.

Stock take - make sure you have a good inventory of ingredients for baking and cooking from scratch.

Don't over buy cleaning detergents, toiletries, etc.

Cook from scratch wherever possible, if you have the time and energy.

Packed lunches for work and school.

Meal plan. Have a day or two a week when you freezer or cupboard lucky dip, use up what’s in your cupboard.

If you’ve got. Portion left over then freeze it if you aren’t goin* to eat it.

Have a jacket potato night or beans on toast.

Make sure you have a treat night too.

I'm moving back to the UK in October so am in the process of running down my freezers and cupboards. I try to do a couple of weeks living on what is in the freezer and just buying bread, milk and veg, and then see where I am. It's fun trying to pull together meals from what you have.

Plan for leftovers. I mean really plan another meal with them, don't just use them for salads or sandwiches.

For example: I made pulled pork the other day and we had it with coleslaw, fries and salad, I made a pulled pork & bean chilli thing, had it with spring greens in a kind of potato cake and there are a few bits & bobs left so I'm going to chuck it in a kind of spanish omelette later.