My food shop costs me just £30 a week thanks to Aldi and Lidl buys – ditch chicken breasts and pasta sauces to save cash
A MAN has revealed that his food shop costs him around just £30 a week thanks to Aldi and Lidl buys.
Cameron, a content creator who regularly shares tips on how to save cash online, recently swore by eight hacks that’ll help you pocket pounds on your food shop.
So if the cost-of-living crisis has made your purse feel tighter than ever before, then you’ll need to check this out.
The savvy saver explained that his food shop costs a total of £120 a month and to keep the costs so low, he shops at Aldi and Lidl.
He claimed that such supermarkets are “by far the cheapest” and save him hundreds of pounds over the course of a year.
Not only this, but he explained: “I map out a weekly food plan so I know exactly what I need to buy and how much I need to spend.
“I then keep track of what I spend as I go to make sure I don’t go over budget, or you could bring cash.”
When it comes to going grocery shopping, he advised people to avoid the shops on an empty stomach, to reduce temptations to overspend on unnecessary snacks and treats.
In addition to this, he shared why he never buys chicken breasts or pasta sauce, as he claimed: “I cook everything from scratch, which means I only buy raw ingredients, like tinned tomatoes, rice, pasta, raw meats and vegetables, as pre-prepared sauces and meals are way overpriced.
“I don’t buy chicken breasts – instead I go for cheaper meats like chicken thighs or drumsticks as well as mince with higher percentage fat.”
Not only is he “always on the hunt for reduced items” which he then freezes for another day, but he doesn’t buy branded items like Heinz ketchup either.
Instead, he goes for supermarket own-brand alternatives to save cash.
And that’s not all, as Cameron then explained: “I also avoid buying snacks and instead save my money for more substantial meal items.”
BIG DIVIDE
The TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @cazzatime, has clearly left many open-mouthed, as it has quickly racked up 84,000 views.
Great tips
TikTok user
But social media users were left divided by Cameron’s shopping habits – whilst some praised his helpful tips, others thought it was going “too far”.
One person said: “Great tips.”
How to save money on your food shop
Consumer reporter Sam Walker reveals how you can save hundreds of pounds a year:
Odd boxes – plenty of retailers offer slightly misshapen fruit and veg or surplus food at a discounted price.
Lidl sells five kilos of fruit and veg for just £1.50 through its Waste Not scheme while Aldi shoppers can get Too Good to Go bags which contain £10 worth of all kinds of products for £3.30.
Sainsbury’s also sells £2 “Taste Me, Don’t Waste Me” fruit and veg boxes to help shoppers reduced food waste and save cash.
Food waste apps – food waste apps work by helping shops, cafes, restaurants and other businesses shift stock that is due to go out of date and passing it on to members of the public.
Some of the most notable ones include Too Good to Go and Olio.
Too Good to Go’s app is free to sign up to and is used by millions of people across the UK, letting users buy food at a discount.
Olio works similarly, except users can collect both food and other household items for free from neighbours and businesses.
Yellow sticker bargains – yellow sticker bargains, sometimes orange and red in certain supermarkets, are a great way of getting food on the cheap.
But what time to head out to get the best deals varies depending on the retailer. You can see the best times for each supermarket here.
Super cheap bargains – sign up to bargain hunter Facebook groups like Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK where shoppers regularly post hauls they’ve found on the cheap, including food finds.
“Downshift” – you will almost always save money going for a supermarket’s own-brand economy lines rather than premium brands.
The move to lower-tier ranges, also known as “downshifting” and hailed by consumer expert Martin Lewis, could save you hundreds of pounds a year on your food shop.
Another added: “£120 per month is insanely cheap, Aldi and Lidl be winning.”
However, at the same time, someone else chimed in: “I couldn’t live like this, treat yourself.”
Whilst one user wrote: “Taking it too far bro, just find a way to make an extra few hundred a month instead.”
Meanwhile, another claimed: “Sounds awful.”