How to save money on groceries: 9 habits that work

2 min read · 9 steps · Updated 3 October 2026

Food is the part of a household budget that is easiest to change without a contract or a form. Most of the saving comes from a few habits around planning and waste, far more than from chasing coupons. None of them costs anything to try this week.

Step by step

1. Check what you have

   Look into the fridge, freezer and cupboards before you plan. Build the first meals of the week around what must be used up.

   Done

2. Plan the meals

   Decide roughly what you will cook on each day. Plan dishes that share ingredients, so half a bag of something does not go off.

   Done

3. Write a list and keep to it

   In a survey by the UK's MoneyHelper service, 60% of people who take a list said it saves them money. A list also prevents the extra trip for a forgotten item, which usually ends with more in the basket.

   Done

4. Compare the unit price

   The shelf label shows the price per kilo, litre or 100 g in small print. It is the only fair way to compare pack sizes and brands. Bigger packs are often cheaper, and sometimes not.

   Done

5. Be careful with offers

   Three for two only saves money if you would have bought three and will use them before they go off. In a MoneyHelper quiz, very few shoppers could pick out the best deals correctly, which is how offers are designed.

   Done

6. Try own brands and other shops

   Swap branded products for the shop's own brand one at a time and keep the ones you like. Compare the prices of your usual basket in a discount supermarket, and count the cost of getting there.

   Done

7. Shop with a clear head

   People spend more when hungry or tired, and with children asking for things. Eat first, go alone when possible, and set a time limit.

   Done

8. Look high and low on the shelf

   The most expensive products are usually placed at eye level. Cheaper ones are on the bottom and top shelves.

   Done

9. Use or freeze leftovers

   Wasted food is wasted money. Freeze bread, meat, cooked rice and leftovers in portions before they turn. Know the difference: best before is about quality, use by is about safety.

   Done

Good to know

Seasonal fruit and vegetables, frozen vegetables, dried beans, lentils and oats are among the cheapest healthy foods anywhere.

Paying in cash or setting a weekly amount on a separate card makes the limit real.

To see what you really spend, track one month. Our free 50/30/20 budget calculator shows how food fits into the rest.

Related: how to stop impulse buying, the 50/30/20 rule and how to build an emergency fund.

In short: Check the cupboards, plan meals, shop with a list, compare unit prices, take offers only on what you need, try own brands, shop fed and alone, freeze leftovers.