How to save money on groceries and waste less

Depending on your financial situation, you could use the money you save to pay off debts, build your emergency fund, or put it towards another savings goal.

Food production and food waste combined are among the largest emitters of greenhouse gases, contributing to global warming and climate change.

Vast amounts of resources – including energy, water, and fuel – go into the process of producing, storing, transporting and disposing of food.

So wasting less could save you money and have a positive impact on the environment.

Here are some tips on how to do it.

First, it helps to be mindful of how we end up wasting food. Here are some common reasons:

And here are some ways to avoid wasting food.

Creating a budget is a great way to make the most of your money. Start by estimating how much you've spent on food over the last 3 months. Checking your transactions and statements should help. 

Are you comfortable with that amount, or do you want to spend less? If so, by how much? It can be helpful to set yourself a goal.

Then, each time you make a budget – for example, once a month when you get paid – set aside a certain amount for food. Make sure it's realistic – it's fine to include luxury items as long as you're spending within your means.

Make a list of your main meals for the coming week, including the ingredients you'll need. Check which ingredients you already have in and add the rest to your shopping list. 

If you've already got food in, try to account for it in your plan – especially fresh food that may otherwise go to waste. Are there items you could add, or substitute, in to the next week's recipes to save you buying more? 

Think about the types of ingredients on your list and try to include some cheaper meals. Is there anything you could batch cook to cover 2 dinners?

The main thing is to know why you're buying each item and to have a plan for how and when you'll use it – even if that's just 'afternoon snack'. This will prevent you buying more than you need.

Shopping less often can help you think more carefully about what you buy and save you money. You may find it easier to stick to your budget if you shop once a week – whether that's at one supermarket, or at several smaller shops.

And try to find the right shops for you – ones that have the types of food you want at prices that fit with your budget.

Check the best way to store different foods so they don't go off before you get to use them. Check use-by dates too. If you don't have a plan to use something before its use-by date, can you freeze it?

Batch cooking and freezing portions will also help you save money and preserve food. And then when you don't have time to cook, you've got a ready-made home-cooked meal. Just don't forget to defrost it.

Shopping online is a good way to manage your budget, as you can monitor how much you're spending with every item you add to your basket. Some shops offer a similar in-store experience, where you can add up as you go along.

Even if you're not placing an order, you can check prices online to have a better idea of whether your shopping list fits your budget.