the ten tips you need to save big on food

WATCH: How to save BIG on food

I recently discovered a remarkable difference in how my partner and I approach food shopping. My partner, on one hand, is a bargain hunter. He scouts the online shop for the best deal in the category and will choose a quality item that doesn't cost the world.

Meanwhile, over in my lane, while I'm conscious of price, I'm all about the brands I like and trust. It's not until recently with the rising food prices that I've made some switches to come in at a lower price point. I think his smart saver influence is rubbing off on me!

Regardless of whether you're a bargain hunter or a brand lover, we're all feeling the pinch right now. That's why I’ve put together 10 tips that I hope will save you a truckload of cash at each shop.

Go shopping in your own pantry
First things first, have a look at what you already have at home. We often have lots of pantry staples lying around that we forget we even have, like pasta, rice, tinned tuna and canned beans. It's always good to use these up first. If you don’t know what to make with an ingredient, head to my recipe page and type the ingredient into the search box.
Plan your meals in advance
Know exactly what you need to buy when you go to the supermarket and stick to it. It's often all the little impulse purchases that add up - a chocolate bar here and an ice cream there. We don't need these foods in our diet for good health and they take extra dollars from our hip pocket.
Never go to the supermarket hungry
Heading to the supermarket hungry is a recipe for disaster, as your brain is hanging out for some fuel and you’ll end up piling way more into your shopping trolley than if you go to the supermarket on a full stomach.
Pile up the plant proteins
Dried and canned chickpeas, beans and lentils are versatile, nutritious, easy to cook with and much cheaper than meat. Try my Lentil Dahl for a delicious meat-free comfort meal.
Stock up on frozen veggies
Frozen veggies are a terrific option to keep in your freezer for whenever you need some veggies at last minute. Most frozen veggies are simply fresh veggies that are snap frozen quickly after picking, so they are highly nutritious. I have a bag of mixed frozen veggies in my freezer for days when I’m a little short on fresh veg, and some frozen spinach portions which are fantastic to add to dishes when you want some green colour or even with eggs on toast for brekky.
Calculate your alcohol spend
Have a think about how much of your budget goes towards beer, wine, spirits and their mixers. It’s easy to complain about the rising prices of fruit & veg, but we often don’t blink an eye when it comes to purchasing alcohol. This is a real opportunity to save money - if you cut back on the volume you drink or even better switch to still, sparkling or flavoured water - you’ll save a lot of cash immediately.
Load up on dried herbs and spices
I often hear people saying that fresh herbs go off quickly and can be a waste of money if you don’t cook with them straight away. Enter dried! Dried herbs and spices will give you that flavour hit, are cheap, shelf stable and a little goes a long way. Dried chilli flakes are an essential in my pantry, too.
Eat out one day less a week
When we eat out, we’re paying for the chef to whip up our meal for us, the dishes to be washed and if we order via meal delivery we’re also paying for the transport to our home. You can save a lot of money just by buying the raw ingredients themselves.
Embrace oats for breakfast
If there’s one cheap, wholesome superfood that I can recommend, it’s rolled oats. Oats are a heart-healthy wholegrain and are so versatile - they're the basis for a healthy muesli or you can heat them up and make a warm bowl of porridge. You’ll save stacks of money each day if you eat brekky at home compared to grabbing something unhealthy like a muffin at the local café.
Freeze your bread
When you buy a loaf of bread, slice it up and pop it in the freezer so that you can use your bread as you need it. A quick minute in the toaster and it will be ready to go.

I hope these tips have given you some ideas for easy ways to cut back on your food costs. I’d love to hear YOUR tips, so jump over and join me on my socials and tell me your best tip to eat well on a budget.