When it comes to your grocery shop, there are a few ways you can make the most of your money while not sacrificing any of your favourite items.
Here, a food expert shares their top food swaps to save some cash on your next grocery shop.
How to save money with easy food swaps
Food reatil expert Ashleigh Tosh said: ‘It’s worrying how much food prices have been soaring over the last year with items like cucumbers, chicken, beef and pasta continuing to get more expensive.
‘We wanted to provide advice for shoppers to lower their food costs by swapping out certain foods for cheaper options that make tasty meals and are easy on the budget.’
Ashleigh, from MuscleFood.com, added: ‘Even simple changes such as buying loose veggies rather than pre-packaged ones can save half the costs.’
Buy loose veggies over prepacked
Pre-packaged veggies can be double the price of loose veggies.
Buying them loose means you’re buying the exact amount you need and is based on weight rather than branding or packaging.
Swap premade jars for homemade pasta sauces
Lots of premade jars contain high amounts of sugar and if you’re making a dish such as a lasagna it can cost around £4 for the sauces alone.
Have a look at creating your own with tomato paste, double cream, and other ingredients which can be made for meals throughout the week.
Opt for cheaper meats
Pork is one of the meats which haven’t shot up in price compared to the others, so try using it in dishes like meatballs or in the Sunday roast for a cheaper meal.
Alternatively, you could try meat-free days throughout the week to drive costs down even more.
Make your own crisps
A 2.5kg bag of potatoes costs around £1.25 while a typical multipack of crisps can cost shoppers upwards of £1.50.
Chop the potatoes and sprinkle them with salt and other seasonings before popping them in the oven or air fry them for cheaper and tasty results.
Stick with off-brand products
As tempting as it is to buy branded versions of products, essential brands taste just as good, as many of the lines have had a revamp since the cost-of-living crisis started.
If you look at the ingredients they usually contain the same contents, but if you feel it doesn’t taste the same, sprinkle some salt and pepper in to add flavour.
Big bags of rice
Buy heavy bags rather than individual packets to pop in the microwave which can cost a pound at a time.
If you go for the big bags, you can meal prep throughout the week easier for lunches and dinners to save money.
Try frozen fruits
Packed frozen fruits contain plenty of nutrients and are cheaper than buying the pre-packaged versions especially if it’s been pre-sliced.
Frozen packs of raspberries and strawberries also taste delicious when put in the blender to make a refreshing smoothie.
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