Eat well. Spend less.
From supermarket swaps to restaurant discount apps, here's how to keep your food bills under control without giving up the good stuff.
The weekly shop is one of the biggest household expenses — and one of the easiest to cut.
Switch to own-brand products
Supermarket own-brand products are often made by the same manufacturers as premium brands. Switching just 10 items per shop can save £20–30/month.
Shop at ALDI or Lidl
The average UK family saves £1,500/year by switching their main shop to a discount supermarket. You don't have to shop there exclusively — even a partial switch helps.
Use a loyalty card
Tesco Clubcard, Sainsbury's Nectar, and Boots Advantage Card all offer genuine savings. Clubcard prices alone can save 20–40% on selected items.
Check the reduced section
Most supermarkets mark down fresh produce in the evening. Freeze anything you won't use immediately — bread, meat, and ready meals all freeze well.
Write a meal plan and stick to it
Impulse buying is the enemy of a tight food budget. Plan your meals for the week, write a list, and don't shop hungry.
£1,500
UK families who switch their main shop to ALDI or Lidl save an average of £1,500/year compared to the big four supermarkets.
Useful brands & tools
ALDI
Consistently ranked cheapest for a full weekly shop. Their Specially Selected range rivals premium brands.
Lidl
Lidl Plus app offers personalised coupons and cashback on your shop.
Too Good To Go
Buy surplus food from supermarkets, bakeries, and restaurants for £2–4 per bag — worth 2–3x the price.
Eating out doesn't have to mean spending a fortune — if you know where to look.
Use Tastecard or Gourmet Society
Both offer 2-for-1 meals or 50% off at thousands of UK restaurants. A membership pays for itself in one or two visits.
Check for early bird menus
Many restaurants offer set menus before 6:30pm at significantly reduced prices. The food is identical — you just eat slightly earlier.
Use the Wetherspoons app
Order food and drinks to your table via the app and avoid the bar queue. Prices are already low — and they run regular app-only promotions.
Look for student and NHS discounts
Many chains offer 10–20% off for students and NHS workers. Always ask — it's rarely advertised prominently.
Use Vouchercodes or Groupon
Before booking any restaurant, check for voucher codes. A quick search often reveals 20–30% off or a free starter.
£600
Using a Tastecard for just two restaurant visits per month saves the average UK couple over £600/year on dining out.
Useful brands & tools
Tastecard
2-for-1 meals at thousands of UK restaurants. Try free for 60 days before committing.
Vouchercodes
Free restaurant voucher codes updated daily — always check before booking.
Groupon
Restaurant deals, afternoon teas, and experience packages at up to 70% off.
Meal planning is the single most effective way to cut your food bill — and reduce waste.
Plan 5 dinners, not 7
Build in two flexible nights — a fridge-raid meal and a takeaway or eating out. This prevents over-buying and reduces waste.
Batch cook on Sundays
Cooking large portions of bolognese, curry, or soup and freezing portions saves time and money throughout the week.
Use a meal planning app
Apps like Mealime and Plan to Eat generate shopping lists from your meal plan — so you only buy what you need.
Embrace cheap protein sources
Eggs, tinned fish, lentils, and beans are all cheaper than meat and just as nutritious. Swap meat for pulses two nights a week to cut costs significantly.
£700
UK households throw away £700 worth of food per year on average. Meal planning can eliminate most of this waste.
Useful brands & tools
Mealime
Free meal planning app that generates a shopping list from your chosen recipes.
BBC Good Food
Thousands of budget recipes with cost-per-serving estimates. Filter by price.
Takeaways are a treat — but there are ways to make them less of a financial hit.
Use Uber Eats or Deliveroo promo codes
Both platforms regularly offer first-order discounts and promo codes. Check Vouchercodes or Honey before ordering.
Order directly from the restaurant
Delivery platforms charge restaurants 25–35% commission, which is passed on to you. Ordering direct is often cheaper — and the restaurant keeps more.
Use the Just Eat Rewards scheme
Just Eat's stamp card gives you a free item after a set number of orders. It adds up if you order regularly.
Collect instead of delivery
Collection orders are almost always cheaper than delivery — and you avoid the delivery fee and service charge.
£30
The average UK takeaway order costs £30 with delivery fees and service charges. Ordering direct and collecting can cut this to £18–20.
Useful brands & tools
Vouchercodes
Always check for Deliveroo, Uber Eats, and Just Eat promo codes before ordering.
Honey
Browser extension that automatically applies the best available promo code at checkout.