Bills are rising across the board as well as everyday costs – meaning many of us will be revising our budgets in any way we can.
The weekly shop can be a big source of stress when it comes to money as we try to balance rising costs with what we can afford.
However, there are a number of ways you can cut costs when you head to your local supermarket – even nabbing yourself some free food.
Here are six easy ways to feed your family for free when you next go shopping.
Healthy Start vouchers
The Healthy Start scheme helps families that qualify get free food via vouchers.
What you get depends on how many children you have and how old they are.
The amount you get depends on your circumstances but is normally:
- £4.25 each week of your pregnancy from the 10th week
- £8.50 each week for children from birth to one year old
- £4.25 each week for children between one and four years old
Money will be added to your Healthy Start card every four weeks.
The vouchers can be used in supermarkets to buy milk, formula, fruit, and vegetables.
However, they can also be used in drug stores and convenience stores.
To be eligible, you must get Universal Credit and be at least 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under the age of 4, and your family’s monthly take-home pay within a payment period is £408 or less from employment.
You are also eligible if you receive Child Tax Credit and have at least one child under four, you don’t get Working Tax Credit, and your family’s annual income is £16,190 or less.
Household Support Fund
Another scheme in place to help those in need is the Household Support Fund.
Eligible households can get money from their local council, with the fund extended until March 2023.
The amount you get depends on your individual circumstances and the funding your local council receives.
Alternatively, your council may provide supermarket vouchers.
To apply, you need to head to your council’s website.
Use food waste apps
We’ve all been there trying to desperately use food before it reaches its use-by date.
Supermarkets are the same, but thankfully, food waste apps exist for us to buy at a discount or even free food before it goes to waste.
Apps like Olio and Too Good To Go point you in the direction of food deals for a bargain.
From raw ingredients to fully cooked meals, you’re unlikely to find something for free but it will save you money.
Vegetable boxes
Various supermarkets offer value vegetable boxes at low prices.
Each box is packed full of fresh produce for you to make a healthy homecooked meal without worrying about the price.
The contents of boxes will differ depending on what is available each day, and which store you go to.
Supermarket loyalty schemes
Most supermarkets offer their own loyalty scheme that allows shoppers to save big.
Similarly, Sainsbury’s has its Nectar scheme to offer personalised discounts and Nectar points earned through shopping.
Asda also has Asda pounds that are earned every time a shopper buys a Star Product or completes ‘missions’ in-store.
Morrisons has the My Morrisons loyalty scheme that gives shoppers digital coupons to be used.
Lidl has its own loyalty app that offers discounts that can be used at checkout in store.
Use cashback apps
While they don’t always guarantee free food, cashback apps are a great way to save money on your shop.
All you need to do is download your chosen app and view the offers.
Check the eligibility, such as which supermarkets are taking part and when the offer is valid and shop as normal.
Once you’ve brought the product, you can scan the receipt or barcode and you get your cashback.
When shopping online, sometimes you can click on the offer you want to use and it will redirect you to the shopping website.
Then, you shop as normal and the offer is automatically applied.
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