Looking to save money on your food bill?

Whether you have a growing family like us and are looking to cut back on food expenditure – baby number three now eats almost as much as baby number one! – or if you’re just looking for a way to be more frugal when shopping you can start saving money just by following a few simple steps.

easy ways to save money on your food bill

10 easy ways to save money on your food bill

1. Use cashback apps. Cashback apps like CheckoutSmart and Shopmium are regularly updated with freebies and offers that can help you save lots of money on a variety of different drinks and food. You’ll find offers for all the supermarkets including Asda, Waitrose, Tesco and Sainsbury’s.

easy ways to save money on your food bill

If you haven’t used a cashback app before they’re easier than you think: simply download the app, for example Shopmium (sign up now and you get a free jar of Nutella!), check out the offers (some will offer savings while others offer freebies), go to the participating shop and find the product, scan the barcode on the product and take a picture of the receipt and your money will be refunded. Easy peasy!

2. Claim free food through online shopping. If you are more into online shopping than sweeping through a supermarket (with three kids I much prefer hiding behind my computer with a mouse at home than actually going to the supermarket!) shops like Sainsbury’s and Tesco often run offers where shoppers use promotional codes to try out new products for free.

easy ways to save money on your food bill

Add a product you like to your basket and continue shopping, then when checking out enter the provided promo code. The cost of the promo product will be deducted from the overall cost, making it a freebie! Foods that have recently been offered as freebies include Yeo Valley yogurt, Nestle ice cream, Flora spread and Walkers Sunbites.

3. Keep your eyes peeled for ‘try me free’ stickers. Some brands run cashback offers for some of their products, so the next time you are out food shopping look out for products with a ‘try me free’ sticker. Foods with these stickers basically provide you with a way to claim a cashback, allowing you to try out the product free of charge. Most companies do this to give customers an incentive to try out the product in the hope that you’ll like it and buy it again. With this option, you get the chance to try out different foods for free.

4. Sign up for free food giveaways. Another way brands like to spread the word about a new product line is by offering free giveaways. Companies like Special K, Green & Black’s and Cadbury have all run such offers in the past. However, most of them normally expire pretty quickly, so if you come across a free giveaway option apply for it as soon as possible.

5. Use vouchers to save and get free food. Vouchers are a great way to reduce food bills at home while still enjoying the meals you love. Most vouchers can be found online (simply find one and download it) and can also be offered by the brand itself. Recent vouchers available include: John West Tuna Toppers (50p off), Robinsons Fruit Squash (£1 off), Flora ProActive Spread (£1 off) and Oppo Ice Cream (£2 off voucher).

6. Look out for reduced items and offers. Every so often, you will find some amazing reductions, be it for things you can use on a daily basis or things that you can freeze and use later. If you are a meat-eater this is a great option as you can freeze the meat then defrost it when you want. Meat is generally expensive, so this is one of the best ways to lower your food bill.

7. Reduce leftovers. One of the best ways to reduce your food bill is to reduce the amount of food you buy. If you notice that you and your family tend to leave food on your plates after a meal, then it’s worth assessing the amount of food that you buy. One way to start the process is by serving smaller portions and checking to see if anyone goes for a second round. You will be left with fresh food, which you can freeze and microwave later.

easy ways to save money on your food bill

8. Use restaurant vouchers when eating out. It’s nice to treat yourself to a meal out every once in a while, but there is no need to break the bank in order to do this. Restaurants like Zizzi, Chimichanga, Prezzo, Pizza Express, ASK Italian and more often run offers to help customers save some money while still enjoying a delicious meal. You can score yourself lots of fantastic deals at different restaurants nationwide. Be it a 2 for 1 on courses, freebie drinks or money-off your bill, it is advisable that you always check to see what these options have to offer.

9. Replace branded food products with supermarket own label. This tip isn’t that new to supermarket savvies; nevertheless, it is still worth trying if you have never done this before. Supermarket-owned brand products are, most of the time, just as good as exclusive branded products. What people do not know is that they are simply paying for a brand’s name, so unless you cannot have anything else apart from Yorkshire Tea, then why not try out a much cheaper option? By swapping a couple of products for the much cheaper own brand, you can save more than you think.

easy ways to save money on your food bill

10. Make the most of birthday freebies. There are tons of free offers available to birthday boys and girls, and while they may not help lower your everyday food expenditure, they still are a nice treat. You could get a get a free Krispy Kreme doughnut, a free birthday main at Frankie & Benny’s, a free Subway cookie and a free burrito at Barburrito.

easy ways to save money on your food bill

But beware!

Remember only to use these ‘offers’ if they suit your needs. We have all been at a point where we were tempted by offers like ‘buy one get one free’ but a lot of the time people give in to this enticement and end up buying products they do not use or even like. Any offer is only good if it’s of use to you!

Do you have any hints or tips for saving money on your food bill? I’d love to know what they are!

This is a collaborative post.

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