Top Tips For Shopping And Eating On A Budget
The rising cost of living has forced many of us to have a hard look at our spending in ways that we have never had to before. There’s no denying that the cost of food and drink has risen, but being more frugal and sticking to a budget doesn’t have to be any less tasty. Check out our top tips for cooking from scratch on a budget.
Check what’s in your cupboards
This might seem like an obvious one but before you even think about writing a shopping list, a meal plan or setting foot in a supermarket. Have a look at what you’ve already got in your cupboards, fridge and freezer.
That bag of quinoa you’d forgetten about could be the inspiration for trying a new recipe this week.
Make a list of what food you already have and use that as a starting point to inspire your meal plan.
Always remember to check your use by dates though.
Plan your meals before shopping
Whether it’s old favourites or trying something new, planning what you are going to eat each day for the coming week makes it much easier to stick to a budget and also helps cut down on food waste.
We’ve put together a weekly meal planner with some of our favourite meals to feed a family of 4. Each different recipe is packed full of fresh vegetables, Great for helping you get those 5 a day whilst also being budget friendly with with an average cost of just £1.17 per portion*.
All the recipes use either littleseed Extra Virgin rapeseed oil or one of the littleseed quick flavour oils (Spicy Stir Fry, Pizza Drizzle Oil or Garlic & Herb Oil) You can pick up a bottle of littleseed rapeseed oil on littleseed.co.uk.
* Calculations based on ingedients bought at Asda. Prices correct week commencing 17/4/23
Check out all the recipes in our weekly meal plan below:
It’s a great way to try some new recipes and add some new favourites to your regular rota of recipes.
Tuesday Spicy Prawn Pasta
Wednesday Nasi Goreng
Thursday Summer Vegetable Soup
Friday Chicken Banh Mi Sandwich
Saturday Black bean tacos with mango salsa
Write a shopping list
It’s simple. Work out exactly what you need, write your shopping list and stick to it.
If you find it hard to stick to buying just what’s on the list, it might be worth considering the way that you do your shopping. If you are easily distracted by special offers then perhaps doing your food shopping online is better for you. This way you can stick to your list and see how much you are spending as you shop.
However, if you prefer going into store why not try out the “scan as you shop” scanners that some supermarkets have to keep an eye on your spend as you fill your trolley. Another idea is to challenge yourself to get the shopping done within a time limit.
Make sure your pantry is full of “hard workers”
Having an arsenal of “hard working” store cupboard essentials can really help with creating delicious meals on a budget. Our Extra Virgin rapeseed oil is really versatile and can be used for so much more than just frying and roasting. It’s great used cold in dressings and vinaigrettes and can also be used as a replacement for butter in baking cakes, biscuits and desserts.
Littleseed quick flavour oils are exactly that. A quick way to add flavour to your dish. Already blended with herbs and spices they not only help cut down on meal prep time but can save you money by not needing to buy fresh ingredients like garlic, ginger, fresh chillies and herbs.
