by Jemma Fletcher (follow)

Organising Tips (21)      Useful Lists (19)      Eating Tips (18)     

Keep your budget on track, and your shop healthy at the same time.

The weekly food shop – a task that can put fear into any parent. For me at least, what I hate even more is not doing it, and then having to pop into the supermarket every day.

It's a sure way for my budget to go completely out the window, and instead, I focus on just having something on the table that night.


When I plan out my meals and can take into account different evening activities etc, the whole week goes a whole lot smoother.

Here are my top 10 tips to keep your budget on track, and your shop healthy at the same time:

1. Have a food plan written up before you go shopping. List every dinner decision for the week, along with any essentials you're running low on. If you can follow a list and cross off as you go along, you're far less likely to impulse buy those unnecessary extras. This includes treats too so that you're not nipping back to the store later on in the week, where you'll end up buying more.

2. Try to go shopping alone (nice idea) or do your order online, so the kids aren't chucking extra items in. It'll also be much quicker, and you won't dread doing it every week.

3. Think of which ingredients you can use multiple times. For example, if you're buying potatoes for one meal, plan to use the remainder in a different way for another meal.

4. Avoid pre-packaged snacks and instead make them at home. Read Our Snack Ideas For Kids.

5. Make more than you need for dinner, and use the extra portions as lunch for the next day, or freeze it to eat another week.

6. Buy meat, fruit and vegetables from independent stores. This is a tricky one as it doesn't always work out cheaper, but it's well worth a look at your local butchers/greengrocers. They tend to have more deals and you can buy more for less in bulk.

7. Meat tends to be the focus of most dinners, but I suggest planning a couple of meals per week that are strictly vegetarian. Think pasta, soup, homemade pizza with veggies, or a hearty salad.

8. Check out the specials at different supermarkets. One may have 2-for-1 yoghurts, whereas another might have half-price condiments.

9. Fortunately, most stores now have their own home brand products, which are cheaper. They look and taste the same so give them a go.

10. At the end of the week, use up all those leftover veggies in a big stew, soup, or casserole. Freeze it for future lunches and dinners.

Do you have any other tips? Let us know!

Read How To Pack School Lunches Kids Want To Eat
Read Tips To Get Organised At Dinnertime
Read Snack Ideas For Kids
Read Tips For Happy Family Mealtimes
Read Helpful Tips To Tackle Fussy Eating
Read The Benefits Of Cooking With Kids

#Eating Tips
#Organising Tips
#Useful Lists

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