Basics

Eating Well on a Budget

• Buy in bulk if you can afford it, especially if there are a few of you to split a pack. It saves both money and packaging.
• Buy loose goods if you can – some health stores sell weigh-your-own herbs, spices, wholefoods, dried fruit and all sorts. Often cheaper, they also save on packaging.
• Plan your meals for the week – it saves money and time in the long run! Otherwise get used to cooking with all those tasty leftovers and whatever vegetables you have left.
• Soup is full of goodness and a great way of using up veg at the end of the week.  Experiment with different types of veg, add cooked pulses (beans or lentils) and use plenty of stock and herbs/spices.
• Eat fruit and veg in season wherever possible – cheaper, tastier and better for the environment.
• Supermarket ‘value’ goods are great – tinned tomatoes, different types of beans and so on – all fine if you don’t mind non-organic.

• Cook things like curries, pasta sauces and veggie burgers in bulk and freeze for another time – saves fuel and is useful for when you are really busy. Even if you just have a small freezer, cooking a double amount of pasta sauce won’t take up much room but will save time and cash.
• If you have access to decent bread from a ‘proper’ baker's, ask them to slice it for you. Split the loaf into two plastic bags – it will keep for ages in the freezer and you can just take a couple of slices out for toast when you need it. Complete loaves also freeze well. Just leave enough time to defrost or stick them on the lowest heat in a microwave.
• Ethnic shops and health stores are often cheaper to buy such dried goods as rice, beans and lentils, herbs and spices. Aldi, Lidl and other supermarket value lines also offer great bargains.
• If you have access to the Internet, there are countless sources of free advice on saving money – www.frugal.org.uk is very good and contains cheap and low-fat, animal-free recipes too, as well as links to other sites.
• If you have a slow cooker or pressure cooker, use it – or else look for a second-hand one. You can buy new pressure cooker parts (washers and suchlike) from hardware shops or big department stores. It’ll save fuel and money. Just contact the manufacturer for a guide to the model and they’ll usually send you one free.
• Pressure cookers are fantastic for cooking beans very quickly. Cook up a whole batch and freeze what you don’t need in small bags or containers. Good for soups and stews too.
• Slow cookers can be used to cook stew, soup or curries etc while you’re asleep or working!