UK households spend an average of £70+ per week on food. With the right strategies, most families can reduce this by 25-40% without eating worse food.
Switch to Own-Brand and Aldi/Lidl
The single biggest lever in grocery budgeting is switching from branded products to own-brand equivalents. Which? blind taste tests consistently find supermarket own-brand products rated equal to or better than branded equivalents. Switching to Aldi or Lidl typically saves 30-40% on a like-for-like basket.
- Own-brand pasta, rice, tinned goods: typically 40-60% cheaper than branded
- Aldi/Lidl: ~30-40% cheaper than Tesco/Sainsbury's
- Products to try own-brand: pasta sauce, cereal, dairy, frozen veg
- Products worth branded: personal preference items like coffee
- Blind taste test your family — most can't tell the difference
Yellow Sticker Shopping
Supermarkets mark down food approaching its use-by date. Most mark down in the evening. Discounts range from 25% to 75%. Too Good To Go and Olio connect shoppers with surplus food at a fraction of original price.
- Tesco: typically marks down around 7pm and closing
- Sainsbury's: reductions often start midday and evening
- Waitrose: substantial markdowns, sometimes 50%+ on premium items
- Ask staff when markdowns happen at your local store
- Too Good To Go: mystery bags typically £3-4 for £10+ value
- Olio: free surplus food from neighbours and local businesses
Is yellow sticker food safe to eat?
Yes. Use-by dates are set conservatively. Food marked down is still within its use-by date — just use or freeze it promptly.
Loyalty Schemes and Apps
Every major UK supermarket has a loyalty app with personalised offers. Tesco Clubcard and Sainsbury's Nectar offer member-exclusive prices often 30-50% cheaper than standard shelf prices.
- Tesco Clubcard: essential for Clubcard Prices, often 50% off selected items
- Sainsbury's Nectar: Nectar prices match Clubcard in significance
- Lidl Plus app: weekly personalised offers, digital scratch cards
- Aldi: offers via app
- Morrisons More: weekly bonus points
- Never shop without activating your loyalty app at checkout
Meal Planning and Reducing Waste
The average UK household throws away £700 of food per year. Meal planning before shopping eliminates impulse buys and ensures everything you buy gets used.
- Plan meals for the week before writing your list
- Check fridge and cupboards first
- Shop with a specific list and stick to it
- Never shop hungry — increases impulse purchases by 20-30%
- Buy loose fruit and veg — pre-packaged often forces overshopping
- BOGOF deals only worth it if you'll use both items
- supermarket savings
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