Weekly Meal Planning on a Tight Budget
By C.G. Handley
Food is often the biggest flexible cost in a household budget, which makes it the place where careful planning can make the most difference, especially in the final days before payday. The ideas below do not need special equipment or cooking skills.
Start with what you already have
Before writing a list, look through your fridge, freezer and cupboards. Plan the first few meals around anything that needs using up, such as vegetables near their date, tins, rice, pasta or frozen items. This simple step often saves several pounds.
Plan the week in five minutes
Write down the evening meals for the week, leaving a night or two flexible for leftovers. Choose recipes that share ingredients. For example, a bag of onions, a tray of chicken thighs or a bag of lentils can feature in three different dishes. Check your diary, so you do not plan an elaborate meal on a night when you are working late.
Make a list and stick to it
Write your shopping list in the order of the shop layout, and take only what it says. Shopping when full, rather than hungry, helps avoid impulse buys. Compare unit prices rather than pack prices, because the cheapest label is not always the best value, and check supermarket own-brand ranges.
Cook once, eat twice
Batch cooking saves both time and money. A large pan of chilli, soup, curry or bolognese can provide dinner tonight and lunches or freezer portions for later. Label containers with the date and what is inside, and cool food quickly before freezing.
Use the freezer
Freezing is one of the easiest ways to cut waste. Bread, fruit, grated cheese, cooked rice and leftovers all freeze well. Frozen fruit and vegetables are usually cheap and keep for months. Many supermarkets also reduce items near their date, and these can go straight into the freezer.
Cheap, filling staples
- Oats, rice, pasta and potatoes
- Tinned beans, chickpeas, lentils and tomatoes
- Eggs and frozen vegetables
- Seasonal fruit and vegetables
- Basic spices and stock cubes to add flavour
Cut food waste
Check dates, store food properly, and plan a “use it up” meal at the end of the week, such as a stir-fry, soup or omelette. Check whether your local area has community fridges, food banks or discount schemes, which can help in a hard week.
Linking food to your daily budget
Once you know your weekly food budget, you can compare it with your daily spending figure from our budgeting guide. If you are short before payday, a well-planned week of simple meals can bridge the gap.
This article is for general information only and is not financial or legal advice. For personal guidance, speak to a qualified adviser or an organisation such as MoneyHelper, Citizens Advice or ACAS.