With the cost of living crisis on everyone’s minds, we single parents are always looking for ways to save on food shopping and meal planning.

Here at Frolo we know how tough the last few years have been for single parents. So, to make our money go a little further, we thought we’d share some money saving tips to maximise your weekly shop.

How Can You Save Money On Your Food Shopping?

From meal prepping to opting for frozen foods that last longer, these five tips will help you get more for your money.

Get more money saving advice on the Frolo Finances Group Chat

Switch to frozen

While frozen food may have had a bit of a bad reputation in the past, there are actually loads of benefits to switching to frozen, not least that it’s often cheaper.

Fish and vegetables are fantastic, because they’re often frozen within hours of picking or catching, so can actually be a lot fresher than 'fresh'! When you switch to things like frozen berries, you save an awful lot of waste and money as a single parent, because you can just use small quantities at a time and not have to throw anything away, or eat them all in one or two sittings.

Get yourself a shopping buddy

Do you have a friend or family member locally who you could team up with to go shopping? When you shop with a friend you can take advantage of buy one get one free offers without having to buy more of something than you need, effectively meaning you both get things for half price. You might also be able to hold each other accountable for money saving during your shop, and keep each other from buying things you don't need.

Sign up for supermarket loyalty schemes

Joining things like the Sainsbury’s Nectar card and Tesco Clubcard allows you to earn points back on your shopping, which can be redeemed for some really good offers.

Tesco Clubcard holders currently also get special prices on a lot of products, and the Tesco Clubcard Plus scheme might be worth joining if you tend to do big shops in store – for £7.99 a month you save 10% off two big shops every month, meaning you only have to spend over £80 altogether to make it worthwhile.

Meal plan

We know, you’ve heard this one before, but seriously, it’s one of the best ways to save waste and therefore save money on food shopping. If you’re not sure where to start, get yourself one of these free printable meal planner templates and check out the supermarket websites or the BBC Good Food cheap family meals section for inspiration.

Don’t shop when you’re hungry

Research from the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management shows that hunger can have a massive impact on our propensity to spend, even on non-food items! In one study they compared receipts from shoppers in a department store and asked shoppers questions about how hungry they were. The hungrier shoppers spent on average 64% more than those who weren’t hungry.

Just imagine how this translates in Asda when you get to the crisps aisle.

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Feeling like every parenting decision rests on your shoulders? Join the Happy Single Parent Course for expert advice and tools to help you feel confident, calm and supported.

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