The cost of living crisis has seen many people try and save money wherever possible such as cutting back on their weekly shopping.
In addition to this, people have been trying not to turn on the heating amid rising energy bills with people instead opting to layer.
It comes as inflation in the UK has risen above 10 per cent for the second time this year as households come under pressure from the sharpest annual rise in food prices for more than 40 years according to The Office for National Statistics (ONS). The figure was last higher in 1982.
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Furthermore, 69 per cent of Brits have had to reduce their food expenses and 90% say they have experienced higher food prices according to a new YouGov survey commissioned by PriceRunner.
Comments consumer expert Evelina Galli from PriceRunner UK said: "With the increased cost of living, rising energy prices and transport logistics issues, budgeting and spending smart is more important than ever and we've been seeing a sharp increase in food prices since the beginning of the year.
"It’s important to be smart when it comes to spending money and consumers more than ever need to make sure they shop around to find the best price."
With this in mind, PriceRunner UK have put together seven tips that will help consumers better track, cook and cut down on their monthly food budget. Here's what they've suggsted.
1. Save money and energy when batch cooking with your slow cooker
A slow cooker is a hero in the kitchen, not only does it make cooking easier it actually saves energy and is cheaper to run than an oven. In addition, you can more or less throw in anything you've got in your fridge and easily create a nice stew or warming soup.
With a slow cooker you can create a wide range of delicious meals everything from stews and casseroles to chillis and curries. Our test winning slow cooker is an excellent choice, and not only does it cook your food it also allows you to braise your meat before cooking and has a non-stick surface so nothing's sure to stick.
2. Shop smarter and save
By changing the way you do your food shop you can save extra money. As a rule it is better to buy loose products as opposed to pre-packaged food, but always make sure to compare the cost per weight for a more accurate understanding of the price of a product. Don't buy shredded cheese, salad or anything pre-chopped, instead do the work yourself.
Do your research and buy food that is in season, this is not only cheaper but also more environmentally friendly. Swap meats for vegan or vegetarian substitutes, you will get the same nutrition but at a lower cost, substituting even a few meals will make a difference. Opt for frozen veggies, fruit and protein over fresh, most veggies and fruit are flash frozen upon harvest so do actually maintain their nutrition.
3. Keep it organised
By organising and keeping track of the things in your fridge, freezer and cupboards, you will reduce the risk of things going bad or expiring. Stackable food boxes, vacuum containers and various containers will help keep food fresh as well as give you a better overview of what you have.
A good tip is to wash and clean fruit and veg and then put them in storage jars or containers so they don't spoil each other, did you know that some produce can be stored in water to keep them from going off? A great tip for keeping track of the expiry date of eggs if you keep them in egg holders in your fridge is to write the expiry date on one of the eggs, so you always remember the best before date.
If you are a sauce or jam fanatic then a spinning tray is a great way to keep track of all those small jars that usually end up being pushed to the back of the fridge. Air tight containers are also great for flours, sugar, rice etc. and helps keep potential pests out of your food.
4. Make it last with vacuum containers
Investing in a set of vacuum containers is great to make your vegetables and other fresh product last up to 5 times longer than it would in its original packaging, it also helps preserve flavour and nutrition. With this set for instance, you get everything you need, you will also be able to connect every container to an app via a QR-code, this way you're sure to never loose track of what's in your fridge or freezers. The app will also send you a reminder when the food is about to expire! You can also use a vacuum packer to help increase the shelf life of meats.
5. Save money and the environment with less single use products
Replace cling film with washable ziplock bags, or better yet beewax food wraps they are eco friendly and long lasting. You can also swap out your baking sheets for reusable silicone mats.
6. Box your lunch and save more
One of the top saving tips is to plan the food you will eat during the week and buy it all in one shop, this way you will avoid sporadic shopping that can become costly. By planning and buying everything you need in advance and batch cooking you will be able to make lunch boxes, this will help save time and money and avoid opting for a take away after a long days work - instead you'll have a home cooked meal ready to be heated up. Make sure to plan some diversity in your meals as well as some snacks, so you don't get bored after two days.
7. Become your own barista
There's nothing quite like a good coffee however this is one of many products which has seen the most when it comes to a price increased. These days there are some excellent coffee machines that will help you create coffee shop standard coffee for a fraction of cost. And it may also be worth picking up a good thermal mug that will keep your coffee warm even through a long commute, skipping on expensive take outs will definitely help bring down your expenses.
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