Need to cut down weekly food cost, where to save?

[Foreverstressed28]

I need to cut down on our ridiculous food shop cost. Problem is I can't go places like aldi or Lidl as I must have online food shopping as don't have the time for store shopping. I usually use Ocado or Tesco.

I want to know where I can save? Are supermarket own brand stuff ok? Things like laundry and cleaning products, tinned or canned products, etc?

I buy loads of own brand things apart from beans and salad cream
All really good. Bit of trial and error, but mainly couldn't tell the difference!

Interesting. Why not beans?

I've found that asda is much cheaper than Tesco.

I order meat from a butcher every 3-6 months. There are great bulk chicken options, and bulk beef boxes etc. You also get 10% off on the first order and there's sometimes extra wee money offs emailed through. If you've got freezer space, it's great and often works out cheaper. Also, it's really good quality. It's Tom Hixon and I've never had a problem with the deliveries or anything.

Also, I use Tescos own brand fabric condition, stain removers, washing powders and I've never had something come out still with a stain or anything.

Own brand and cheaper branded products are often just fine. The only thing I will never buy again is coconut milk by something like carribean sun (or a similar name). It was like milky water.

My family can spot a non Heinz bean from a mile off. Literally the only thing the fuss about. I couldn't care less, but they can tejj if I scrimp on the beans!

Bulk buy meat from places like muscle food.com. Then freeze into separate sandwich bags. Much cheaper that way

I shop online with Asda and buy a lot of own brand items. Teens, youngsters here, all happy

Bulk buy onions, peppers, mushrooms, betroot, garlic. Chop up and freeze. Great for sauces and stir frys and much cheaper when bought in bulk (order online at costco).

I also bulk buy potatos and make 2kg of roasties and 2kg of success potatoes then freeze them.

Tesco own brand white rice is about 45p a kilo, pastas are all really cheap. If you do cereal, their own brand is usually 3 for £3. Jam is 89p I think. 15 eggs for £1.25 (but from caged hens so I can't bring myself to buy those). There are a lot of ways to cut down.

*duchess potatoes.

@Avasarala duchess potatoes sound good! Would you mind sharing how you prepare them for freezing?

Try swapping brands. Most supermarkets do 3 levels - 'named' brands, own brand, then 'basics' / 'savers'. Most things are just as nice. It is down to personal taste. I suspect most people will have one product or another they want the named brand for, but, for the majority of things, it makes no difference, or, where there is a slight difference no detriment.

That's the recipe I use (from an ancient cookbook). I do up to and including number 10. Although, I use less butter.

I cover trays/chopping board with greaaeproof paper, then pipe the potato onto the paper. I also pipe them a little bigger, so they sorr of sit in the palm of your hand. Then lay the trays in the freezer. Once they're frozen solid, I pop them into sealed bags.

When you want to use, just pop onto a baking tray and bake for about 25 mins at 180. Nice and soft in the middle, and browned around the swirls on the outside.

And thats what they look like frozen.

If you don't want to swirl, just ice cream scoop them.

Thank you! My piping skills leave a lot to be desired so I might just roll and fork the tops for crispyness? I'm so good at batch cooking, but was looking at how I could batch cook potato products!

ASDA is cheaper, but if you have time can compare trolleys and decide. It is cheaper with delivery pass or random £2 delivery slots.

Every “Chosen by you” brand by ASDA have been lovely. Try swapping things and see. The only branded things I get are washing up liquid and some cleaning products. Give everything else go.

@Kirta

That'll work. As long as they've got some creases in them, the edges will brown.

Depending on what I'm making for dinner and how ditlstraved I am, I will sometimes take them out after 20 mins or so, then egg wash and pop them back in. But most of the time I don't, and there's really not much difference.

You can freeze plain old mashed potatoes too if you want, in little portion sizes and microwave them.

Potato dauphinoise freezes well. Just leave off the cheese top, cook almost all the way and freeze in the dish. Then wrap up in cling film.
Bake for around 20/30 mins, then add the cheese and bake for another 15 mins.

You could also try Iceland - they do free delivery on orders over £35 I believe (caveat - I've never used the home delivery and I don't buy enough in there to get free delivery, but that's what their website says)

You could also try switching a couple of meals a week to be £1 a head (something like tinned soup, followed by jacket potato with beans and cheese, followed by rice pudding, or whatever).

If you usually buy chilled food, try switching to frozen.

Own brand biscuits are made in the same factory to the same recipe

I won't buy none branded Rice Krispies!

Kids prefer own brand rice pudding

Eggs bread cheese etc all the same

Kids prefer real coke

No issues with any washing powder toilet roll cleaning stuff etc - dishwasher tablets are £1 compared to some at £7 branded no difference in performance!

Try it, one week and see if they notice or even care

"I want to save money but i choose to shop at two of the most expensive supermsrkets'

Makes sense that. And since when does it take more than 30 minutes to run round ALDI anyway? Id be there and back in less than an hour which i believe is the time slot your given for food deliverys! i smell cant be arsed syndrome

Waitress essential beans are nicer than Heinz.

Waitress essential beans are nicer than Heinz.

Personal taste I guess! I just know that beans are a non negotiable in our house! Same with salad cream. I have tried to swap surreptitiously, but caught out every time!

Look for Asian brands of tins, spices, rice etc, in the World food section, they are cheaper and nicer. Asda online do them, tesco do them in store not sure about online.

Strongly recommend going weekday veggie - we have and our grocery bills have plunged.