How to be a thrifty foodie!

From splashing out at the supermarket to over-ordering in restaurants, here’s how to stop accidental overspends on food

We all love good food, but it can be a huge money drain. In fact, most households spend around £100 a week on food, drink, restaurants and hotels – that’s a fifth of average UK weekly earnings! We asked Topcashback’s Natasha Rachel Smith, Vouchercodespro’s George Charles and tastecard’s Matt Turner how to avoid the most common foodie pitfalls.

go Coupon Crazy

Grabbing a banana, a coffee and a croissant can cost more than a fiver in a coffee shop, but less than £2 in a supermarket. “Supermarkets also let you use voucher codes,” says Natasha. If you can’t ditch your daily habit, loyalty pays. “Brands like Costa and Subway send newsletters to customers who have loyalty cards, offering extra points on certain days or on specific products,” adds George. “Only treat yourself when you can save money or claim bonuses!”

don’t fall for bogofs

Multipack deals like “3 for 2” can often cost more and encourage you to waste food because you buy more than you’ll eat. “Look at the shelf label and work out the cost per item or per gram to see if you’ll really save,” says Natasha. “Also, examine the deal. If you could buy one tin of tomatoes for 70p but a four pack for £3, you’d pay 20p extra for the multipack. That can add up.”

dodge deliveries

Sometimes we don’t fancy cooking, so use apps like Deliveroo or UBEREATS to order a takeaway, but most ask you to spend a certain amount for free delivery. That leads us to add sides, desserts or drinks we don’t need. “If your order doesn’t qualify for free delivery, collect it,” says George. “You’ll spend less and get it quicker.”

plan ahead

“Don’t arrive at a restaurant feeling ravenous,” advises Matt. “Browse the menu online beforehand and decide on your dish to avoid ordering more than you need.” Matt also recommends scheduling meals out, saying: “Plan the days you’d like to dine out at the beginning of the month so you can budget and avoid a midmonth money panic.”

investigate extras

Sometimes you’ll be asked if you’d like your chicken extra spicy or cheese with your burger. You think the waiter is just very attentive – then you get charged extra! “Upgrades like sauce or cheese are rarely free, so check,” Natasha advises. “And watch out for ‘upselling.’ If your waiter offers you bread or olives, it’s likely they’re trying to get you to spend more!”

search out savings

If you can’t resist eating out, invest in a discount card. “Consider buying a dining card like tastecard”, says Matt. “The average member saves around £16 per use, and makes the cost of the card back in just two visits. New restaurants often offer discounts, so keep an eye out for openings in your area.”