There is no doubt that food prices in the last 12 months have risen dramatically. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) food and non-alcoholic beverage prices increased faster in the last year (up to Nov 2022) than they have done since 1977. The exact same shop in November 2022 would have cost you 16.5% more than it did in November 2021. Recent inflation news (Feb 2023) shows that inflation is at 10.4%, mainly driven by salad and vegetable shortages which have pushed up food prices even further.

Through the delivery of our Family Fuel and Water Poverty Project we know firsthand just how many people are finding it a struggle to get through the current cost of living crisis. We are on hand to help families on low incomes in Berkshire reduce their energy & water bills and find out what further support is available to them. Get in touch with our Project Coordinator Helen.Dean@ccberks.org.uk for more information.

According to Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) each year UK households throw away 4.5 million tonnes of food that could be eaten.

One top tip is to keep track of what you already have in your cupboards and the expiration dates. Making a list can be helpful and that way you’re not going to buy products you don’t need and can use up anything which is nearing its expiration date.

Other tips on how to save money and waste less include avoiding serving bigger portions than necessary as food left on the plate is much more likely to be thrown away, instead, we could serve less (getting seconds if still hungry) and then use the leftovers for lunch the next day or freezing for future quick dinners.

Try to plan your meals for the week. Make a list of your main meals and include the ingredients you’ll need – tick off what you already have and add the rest to your shopping list. Think about the types of ingredients on your list and try to use them in other cheaper recipes or consider batch cooking to cover two dinners.

Think about where you shop, some people find it easier to stick to their budget if they shop once a week – whether that’s one supermarket or several local shops. Do also check out the reduced section too – you may find some items on your list there for a fraction of the price. Other tips include heading to the frozen section first as usually meat, fish and veg are cheaper than fresh so you could make significant savings just by changing the order of the aisles you visit.

Don’t forget to use your freezer (if you have one) particularly useful if items are getting close to their use-by date or you’ve picked up something in the reduced aisle which is close to the sell-by date. Many items like cheese, milk, fruit, and veg can be frozen. A useful guide on what to freeze, fridge or leave can be found here from Which?

The Money Saving Expert is also a great resource for comparing costs, not being loyal to branded products (you’re paying more for their marketing), and understanding packaging further. Check it out here and sign up for their weekly tips straight into your inbox.

You could also consider growing your own when it comes to veg or fruit. Some of us might only have space for a window box others might be able to put in a raised bed in their garden or even consider putting their name down for a local allotment. The Eco Experts say “Growing your own fruits, vegetables, and herbs can save you a significant amount of money every year. For the cost of a few seeds, or just by using food scraps, you can grow produce which costs dozens of pounds at your local supermarket – and the sky’s the limit.” The video below may inspire some to get growing! This useful article might help you decide what to grow too: https://www.theguardian.com/money/2022/may/07/how-to-grow-your-own-fruit-veg-cut-food-bills