Amid news that inflation increased in February 2023, many households will still be looking for ways to save money amid the cost of living crisis.
In its latest release, the Office for National Statistics identified restaurants and hotels, food and non-alcoholic beverages, and clothing and footwear as significant drivers of inflation.
Salad and vegetables are just one of the areas that have seen big price increases recently due to shortages and are thought to have been partly responsible for the rise in food inflation.
So, if you’re still looking to get your five a day on a budget, how can you save money on fresh fruit and veg?
Here are some top tips.
Buy ‘wonky veg’
Many supermarkets, like Morrison’s, offer ‘wonky’ veg boxes of imperfect vegetables at a discounted price.
The simple fact is that these vegetables are still delicious to eat or cook and are substantially discounted.
Not only are you helping combat food waste, but you’re also saving a pretty penny in the process.
Look for the yellow sticker discounts
An evergreen piece of cost-of-living advice is to look for yellow sticker discounts on products nearing their expiry dates when shopping in supermarkets, and the same advice stands for fresh fruit and veg.
According to experts, these are the times when some popular supermarkets generally choose to apply discounts:
- Aldi – 8am (or when the stores open)
- Asda – 7pm and onwards
- Lidl – 8am (or when the stores open)
- M&S– 30 minutes before stores close
Grow your own
You don’t have to have your own vast garden or allotment to produce fruit and vegetables.
Even those of us residing in flats and apartments can utilise vertical space, such as on balconies, to grow our herbs and veggies.
By recycling old palates into planters or using old-fashioned balcony plant box hangers, you can maximise the amount of space that you have and grow your own food.
Freeze what you don’t use
You might be surprised by what foods you are able to freeze, including chopped chilli and herbs.
If you’ve found yourself with more leftovers than usual after veg-based meal prep, freeze any leftover ingredients to be defrosted and reused in the future.
Cut down on waste
Sometimes, we’ve had eyes bigger than our stomach and accidentally made larger portions than we can finish.
By saving any leftovers rather than binning them, you can actively cut down on your food bill – especially for buying new ingredients like fresh vegetables.
MORE : What is the Help to Save scheme and who is eligible for £600 savings boost?
MORE : 11 ways to save money at Tesco – including Clubcard deals and price-match products
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