The rising cost of food means that an average family of four now shells out £628 a month on groceries, equating to £157 per week. With stubborn food inflation and looming mortgage hikes, many shoppers are seeking ways to make their money go further.
Richard Price, professional shopper at Britsuperstore, suggests that Brits could save over £1,500 annually (or £120 monthly). All they need to do, he says, is make a few straightforward swaps in their grocery shopping.
You won’t have to sacrifice flavour, he says. But some changes, like opting for a block of cheese instead of pre-grated, require a tad more effort.
Others might seem like you’re getting a healthier or superior product, but the price difference may not justify it – for instance, some protein yoghurts offer marginally more protein than Greek yoghurt but come with a heftier price tag. Richard has analysed a typical family’s shopping list and identified key substitutions that could lead to significant savings, reports Lancs Live.
Here are his recommendations.
Swap chicken breasts for chicken thighs or drumsticks (save £431 – £575/year).
“One of the easiest ways to cut costs without compromising on quality is swapping chicken breasts for thighs or drumsticks. For example, Tesco British Chicken Breast Fillets cost £6.84 per kilo, but chicken thighs are just £2.85 per kilo, and drumsticks are even cheaper at £2.35 per kilo. Thighs and drumsticks are not only more affordable, but they also have a richer flavour, offer more iron and zinc, and stay juicer when cooked.”
Swap fresh fruit for frozen fruit (save £262/year)
Sainsbury’s fresh raspberries will set you back a hefty £13.33 per kilo, while the frozen variety comes in at a more wallet-friendly £7.86 per kilo. You’re still getting all the same nutrients, and they’ll keep for longer, helping to cut down on waste. Richard says another savvy move is to opt for the ‘wonky’ fruit ranges available at supermarkets like Lidl and Aldi. “There’s absolutely nothing wrong with them, they just don’t look as picture-perfect and they’re a lot cheaper!”, he says.
Swap beef mince for turkey or pork mince (save £115 – £134/year)
“Ground beef tends to be one of the pricier meats, so I’d recommend switching to turkey or pork. While Aldi’s 10% fat British Beef Mince is priced at £6.58 per kilo, their British Turkey Mince has 7% fat and costs just £5.38 per kilo, and their British Lean Pork Mince is a mere £5.18 per kilo with only 5% fat. Not only are turkey and pork lower in saturated fat, making them a healthier choice for your heart, but they’re also a good source of protein and B vitamins. To make your mince go even further, try replacing some of it with beans or lentils. For instance, use just 500g of mince and add a 400g tin of mixed beans for 69p; this not only saves you money, but also boosts fibre content and reduces fat.”
Swap block butter for spreadable butter (save £43/year).
The BBC revealed recently that butter has been hit with the second-highest inflation rate of all groceries over the past year, skyrocketing by an eye-watering 18%. However, Richard said shoppers can pinch some pennies easily.
For example, Tesco British Salted Block Butter is currently priced at £7.96 per kilo, whereas the more wallet-friendly Tesco Butterpak Salted Spreadable is a mere £4.38 per kilo. “The only real difference is a little added oil to make it easier to spread, but the taste and quality remain the same,” he said.
Swap ‘protein’ yoghurts for Greek yoghurt (save £163/year)
“It’s easy to be sucked in by big ‘high protein’ labels on items, but they can be misleading. Take Aldi’s 0% Fat Authentic Greek Yogurt, for example, priced at £0.38 per 100g, it has a solid 10g of protein per 100g. In contrast, the Brooklea Protein Raspberry Yogurt Pouch costs £0.45 per 100g but only provides an extra 2.5g of protein per 100g.”
Swap jar seasonings for packet seasonings in the world food aisle (save £60 a year)
While spices housed in fancy jars come with a steep price tag, their counterparts tucked away in the world food aisle offer the same flavours for less, Richard says. Tesco Ground Cumin can cost 19p per 10g, while East End Ground Cumin Powder is only 12p per 10g. The same logic applies to garlic powder, turmeric, and other kitchen staples.
Plus, versatile seasoning mixes house several spices together and can be snapped up for as little as 11p per 10g.
Swap out pre-grated cheese and pre-cut veg (save £152 a year)
“Pre-cut and grated items are a hidden expense, where you pay a huge amount more, just for the convenience. For example, Tesco’s British Mature Grated Cheddar Cheese costs £11 per kilo, but buying a block of Tesco British Mature Cheddar Cheese is only £8 per kilo. Similarly, Tesco Carrot Batons are £3.12 per kilo, but loose carrots cost just 69p per kilo!”
Swap out pre-made burgers (save £33 a year).
“A four-pack of Sainsbury’s Quarter Pounder British Beef Burgers costs £7.16 per kilo, while a 500g pack of Sainsbury’s British 20% Fat Beef Mince costs just £5.80 per kilo. Making your own burgers takes minutes; simply shape the mince into patties, season, and cook for 5 minutes on each side. You’ll get better quality and save money.”
Swap out hummus and make it yourself (save £54 a year).
“Homemade hummus is a simple and cheaper alternative to store-bought. A 200g tub of hummus costs £1.40 at Sainsbury’s, increasing to £2.50 for the popular Sabra dip. But, a 400g tin of chickpeas is just 49p. Blend it with garlic, cumin, olive oil, and lemon juice (ingredients you likely already have at home) and you’ll make double the amount for half the price.”
Swap out oven pizza for a homemade pizza (save £57 a year).
“Instead of buying a frozen pizza, try making your own using a pack of four Village Bakery Greek Style Flame Baked Flatbreads (£1.49) or Village Bakery Soft White Pittas (8p each! ), Cucina Tomato Purée (£0.59), and Everyday Essentials Grated Cheddar Cheese (£2.99 for 500g). You’ll have enough ingredients to make at least four pizzas, and you’ll avoid the preservatives.”