Food prices are rising, affecting citizens' pockets. According to the new model by the British Retail Consortium, food prices may increase by 4.2% in 2025. It came shortly after the Labour’s Autumn budget to ease the tax burden. Otherwise, it would result in high prices for consumers.

The Food Foundation reports that 4.8% of households don’t eat the entire day due to unaffordability. Thus, the situation is concerning. It is the reason individuals find ways to cut the cost of food and grocery shopping.  You don’t need to cut on food consumption. The blog lists the tricks to cut the food bill in half. It would help you save money for other lifestyle needs.

How to save money on food and grocery shopping?

You don’t have to depend on coupons and vouchers to save money on food. Instead, there are better ways to do that. For example, you can buy or stock up the ingredients for a long shelf life. It prevents you from spending on such items with every grocery shopping. Moreover, you may find these cheaper if buying in bulk. Here are other ways to be wise with food shopping:

1)     Use a high-yield savings account

It is one of the best ways to cut your grocery bill in half. Identify your monthly spending on groceries alone.  Set up a different savings account with a high yield. Identify the total interest that you may get on the account. Even if you don’t use that much, you get interest consistently. It automatically helps you build savings. What could be better than earning interest on the unused funds?

Alternatively, if you ever get cashless at the counter, check other options. No, not credit cards. Instead, get small loans. You may even get short-term loans from direct lenders for bad credit without collateral. Check the amount you need and get it immediately transferred to your account. It helps you close any minor cash glitches in no time. However, borrow only according to the bill.

2)     Plan your meals and create a list

Around 75% of individuals spend extra on groceries due to impulse shopping. You may not need some ingredients now, but you buy them anyway. It could be anything like a vanilla essence. You don’t use it every day. Therefore, it turns out to be an additional expense. Always plan your groceries before heading for shopping.

Check the availability of veggies, fruits, and important ingredients. Prepare a list of the scarce sources or supplies. It helps you spend only on items that you consume daily. It automatically cuts additional expenses and helps you save money.

3)     Switch to store brand products over name ones

You may be shocked to know that name-brand products cost 40% less than branded products. What are the odds? These are generally manufactured by the same brand that you prefer. Thus, what could be better than keeping more cash in your wallet?

If not all, you can switch to store-brand products for ingredients like- sugar, flour or canned goods.  It is all about understanding the best store brand first. You can read the recommendations or ask one from your neighbours. It will help you reach out to the specific and money-saving brand. Compare the nutrition count on the brand and the popular ones you follow. Go with it if there is not much difference.

4)     Don’t waste food, use leftovers

It is not uncommon for individuals to dispose of the leftovers from the previous evening. You may do that to avoid any health issues. However, certain dishes have some shelf life. You can create a new one by re-purposing the materials. For example, if you have the last night’s vegetable, you can use it to make a vegetable sandwich the next morning.

It retains its nutritious value if you refrigerate it well. Similarly, you can use rice the next day by pairing it up with soup. The food choices depend on personal preferences. However, always analyse the usage before disposing of it. It helps you save the environment and money.

5)     Reduce meat consumption

Apart from keeping you healthy, reducing meat consumption also slashes expenses. Going pure veg for a week or two may help you save at least £150/month. Meat is expensive, and including it in daily diets is challenging. It may also increase the cholesterol levels and affect the heart’s health. Therefore, switching to better versions like- green soups, veggies, and sprouts is a healthy option. It helps you keep your weight and health in check.

It does not add to cholesterol or triglycerides. Moreover, increased consumption leads to serious heart diseases. If you struggle to breathe enough and feel exhausted and in sharp pain, see the expert. He may conduct some tests to decide the right diet for you. However, treatment and tests may burden your pockets. Don’t worry.

Check financial options that might help you. Get a £10000 loan for bad credit with no guarantor requirements. It is ideal for individuals who want to manage their expenses all alone. You may use it to cover the test costs without worries. Do it early to get the right diet plan. Include more veggies in your diet to cut off cholesterol.

6)     Always use cash for groceries

You must be used to carrying credit cards during grocery shopping. It comes in handy and is easy to use, especially for online purchases. Yes, it could be easy, but it dents your finances significantly. You may not know this, but you pay high interest every month by shopping it all with a credit card. The rewards and credits you get may slow down the balance a little. However, you don’t get much relief from the interesting part.

It is unless you have an interest-free period credit card. It also has a specific timeline. Therefore, instead of depending solely on credit cards, check other options. You can use debit cards or better keep cash in hand. Prepare a list and calculate the approximate amount you may need. Carry only that much or a little more for emergencies. It prevents you from buying unnecessary things and spending hard-earned money.

Bottom line

These are some of the best tips to cut the grocery shopping expense in half. Identify healthy food choices and be smart when buying products. Compare the nutrient and content count of a generic and popular brand. Buy the former one if it hosts almost the same nutritional components and percentage. It brings down your grocery budget significantly. Later, always buy what you need, not what you want. Keeping a list will help.