As the nation tightens its bag in response to the crisis of vital value, people are looking for different ways to save money. Food is one of the main areas in which you can save money.
However, budgeting can be challenging for many reasons. First of all, if you haven’t had a budget before, where do you start?
Second, if you have a large family, it may seem impossible to reduce your food budget because different people have different tastes. The key is to carry that precious pound even further.
Here are 10 ways to save on food and drink.
Think ahead and plan a meal
Going to the supermarket without a meal plan is like throwing away your precious cash. Your meal plan doesn’t have to be complicated.
Draw what you eat seven days a week. After thinking about the dishes, review the recipes, open the ingredients and list them.
Try not to skip this list and don’t worry about offers like buy two get one free. If you buy what you don’t need, it will still cost you money.
Join online groups for tips on saving money on Facebook and Twitter
There are hundreds of groups online that share food and cooking tips. Food Finds UK and Slow Cooking UK are only on Facebook.
The online community can be very diverse. Here you can get great tips, not only about the food offerings that someone might notice at your local supermarket, but also about recipes that use less energy.
Recent recipes shared in the Slow Cooking UK range include steak, mushroom pie, sirloin and chicken tikka.
Get cheap food with Too Good To Go
Too Good To Go is an app that aims to reduce food waste and save money for consumers. It works by getting unsold food from supermarkets and restaurants, in magic bags for shoppers.
Register in the app, select your location and get notified when trades appear. Current Derby trades include the Muffin Break Magic Bag, which costs 99 3.99 instead of 99 12.99.
Another cracker in the bargain is the tailoring from a local bar, which costs 99 3.99 instead of 99 7.99.
Planning and preparing in advance
When you have a meal plan, try to double your serving. For example, if you make hot peppers for two, boil four servings, serve them for two days, and freeze the rest or put them in the fridge.
Your nutrition plan is your best friend and will definitely help you train like a pro. Once you have the meal plan prepared, you will have a rough idea of the preparation steps for each dish.
If you have two dishes in your weekly meal plan that contain stewed onions, boil two portions of onions in one sitting and refrigerate them. This way, you don’t need to use the stove twice to cook the onions.
Slow cookers will help you save energy and space
If you have a small kitchen and don’t have the space, consider buying a slow cooker. These great tools can not only be easily found in the corner of the workplace, but also save you money on energy bills.
Buy cheaper cuts of meat, such as beef skewers, and cook them in the slow cooker to create delicious, healthy dishes that the whole family can enjoy.
Follow the Food and Poverty campaign with nutrition tips and recipes from Bootstrap Cook
Jack Munro wrote recipes that are easy to make and follow. It is designed with the idea of saving money and is popular for its low cost.
One of the best recipes on his site is the pesto salad, which serves six dishes and costs just 9p per serving.
Minimize the use of the oven and use the microwave
There are more energy efficient ways than coating potatoes in the oven. Microwave food usually takes less time.
This is because only food water is heated in the microwave, unlike the entire space of a conventional oven. Alternatively, heat the potatoes with tin foil and let the microwave lift all the weight.
Make a monthly supply of food
One way to save is to become familiar with the contents of your closet. Make a monthly supply, so you don’t buy extra items from the product you already have three packs of.
Avoid home brands and try your own in supermarkets
Chris Paffin and Greg Wallace’s presentation of Eat Well For Less is a master class on the topic, highlighting the negative impact of branded products on your weekly shopping budget. If you’ve never tried unbranded products before, take it as a challenge.
Browse your shopping list and try to buy items that are within your budget or from your supermarket brand such as Asda’s Smart Price or Morrisons’ Saver collection.
Yellow poster food is supermarket food with strong discount
Supermarkets offer deep discounts on foods with brightly colored labels. This is a great way to get food that you can eat all day or freeze for later. Meat freezes well, be sure to mark the product when it freezes to know when to use it. Meat is usually stored for three to six months.
For more tips on saving money, visit the Money Saving Expert website.
Source: Belfastlive

I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.