The short answer
Plan the week's meals from what you already have, write the list from the plan, and do not deviate in the shop. Waste, not price, is where most of the money goes.
- Look in the fridge, freezer and cupboard first and build two or three meals around what needs using.
- Plan the rest of the week, including the evenings you know you will not cook.
- Write the list by aisle so you are not wandering.
- Do not shop hungry, which is a cliché because it is true and measurable.
- Check unit prices, the small per-100g or per-litre figure, rather than pack price.
What will ruin it
Multibuy offers on perishables are only a saving if you eat all of it. Three for two on something that goes off in four days is usually a price rise.
Why it works
The cheapest food is the food you actually eat. A weekly plan converts a shop from a series of guesses into a list, and a list is what stops the basket filling with things that never get cooked.
Tipking is general household information, not professional advice. Test anything on a hidden patch first. Full disclaimer.
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