I've had my YouTube channel for over a year now and what a journey it has been! I've learned so many money saving tips...but have also made many, many mistakes. The biggest thing I have learned is that cooking on a budget doesn’t mean sacrificing flavour or nutrition.
Here is the low down on my top tips of staying on budget with your cooking/eating:
1. Plan Your Meals
Create a weekly meal plan and shopping list to avoid impulse buys. We know that the impulse buys are the worst! We often over buy when we are hungry or without our usual meals (I've often left my packed lunch on the side and then had to buy a meal deal from the shop). Don't forget I have a range of free printables that you can download, one of which is a meal planning template!
Base your meals around affordable staples like rice, beans, pasta, and seasonal vegetables. Buying out of season fruit and veg is spenny...and they have often travelled thousands of miles from all corners of the world to make it into your shopping trolley. Shop seasonally, shop local (if you can) and bulk up on goodies like kidney beans or homemade pasta (yum!).
2. Buy in Bulk
Stock up on pantry essentials like grains, flour, lentils, and canned goods from bulk shops like Lidl or Aldi. We have recently discovered a fruit and veg wholesaler on a local industrial estate and they have the best bargains! Sometimes bags of veg - such as kalettes or avocados - for 50p. It's definitely worth exploring your local areas to see where you can buy in bulk for cheap. Allotments are also a great shout - loiter around one and see if any growers are selling any excess produce, especially around harvest time.
Consider bulk-buying meat and freezing portions. I used to do this all the time when I was single. I'd buy a huggge pack of chicken breasts from Lidl (I think there were 12 fillets in there) for £10 but found the best way to store them was to seperate them out of the massive plastic tub they were packaged in and freeze them as individual fillets. Now that I live with my boyfriend, we tend to buy less meat but organic...but we still buy in bulk (usually online).
3. Use Cheaper Cuts of Meat
Opt for chicken thighs instead of breasts, and use cuts like pork shoulder or beef steak for slow-cooked meals. I don't mind a chicken thigh or two, and we often have beef stews, casseroles, mince and sausages.
Explore meat alternatives like beans, lentils, and eggs. I personally LOVE dried red lentils - these are great in stews, soups and curries and are totally yum! They are also full of nutrients, including iron for combating fatigue, a good source of folate crucial for cell division, and containing soluble fibre, which can help lower cholesterol and manage blood sugar levels. Lentils are also high in protein.
4. Cook in Batches
Make large portions and freeze leftovers for easy, cheap future meals. I do this all the time! Again, when I was single, I didn't make HUGE portions of the same thing as my freezer would end up full of the same meals...but I'd still make food for a couple of days and freeze that. I still love my freezer!
When my partner makes a big meal for us, if there is anything left over I portion it up into glass containers and get it in the deep freeze. Soups, stews, and casseroles are great for batch cooking. But I'll freeze anything, even single portions of white rice.
5. Embrace Meatless Meals
Go vegetarian a few times a week to save on meat costs. Is this something you could realistically do? I was vegan for a while and also vegetarian so I get on fine with this strategy. Some of my favourite meat-free meals are lentil bolognese and tofu and mushroom miso soup. I use beans, lentils, tofu, or eggs as protein sources. I absolutely love vegetables though...especially cabbage, as you know!
6. Use Up Leftovers
Transform leftovers into new meals—roast chicken can become sandwiches, soups, or stir-fries. I often buy a chicken - use the breasts for a roast, then use the legs for fahitas, then the bones and skin for bone broth or a stock. So good!
Keep vegetable scraps for making homemade stock...freeze them if you need to.
7. Shop Smart
Buy supermarket own-brand products instead of name brands. Look for discounts, reduced-to-clear items, and use cashback or discount apps. I love a yellow ticket! Do you like to rummage through the offers?
8. Season and Spice
Elevate simple meals with herbs and spices instead of relying on expensive ingredients.
Learn basic seasoning techniques to make budget meals taste gourmet.
9. DIY Instead of Pre-Made
Make homemade sauces, dressings, and spice blends instead of buying expensive pre-made versions.
Bake your own bread or snacks if you have time.
10. Reduce Waste
Store food properly to extend its shelf life.
Use up wilting vegetables in soups or stir-fries, and freeze overripe fruit for smoothies.
With these tips, you can cook delicious meals without breaking the bank! Which one do you think will help you the most? 😊
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