{"id":5543,"date":"2022-11-10T13:44:47","date_gmt":"2022-11-10T13:44:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/slimmingworld.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/?p=5543"},"modified":"2024-01-08T10:29:56","modified_gmt":"2024-01-08T10:29:56","slug":"slimming-world-moneysaving-ideas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/slimming-world-moneysaving-ideas\/","title":{"rendered":"Slimming World members share their best money-saving ideas"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

At Slimming World, we\u2019re determined that your budget shouldn\u2019t be a barrier to eating healthily and getting the weight loss you want. There’s a real focus on low-cost living in our groups, with members sharing delicious recipes, cost-cutting cooking hacks and their best bargain buys.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n

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8 tips to help shrink your food bill<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

1. Go \u2018batch\u2019 to basics<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Making batches of soups, curries, sauces and even ready-made roasted vegetables is a great way to repurpose leftovers or any other odds and ends of food which need using up. And if you choose freezer-friendly recipes, you can stash easy meals away for another day.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Michele Bradbury, a Slimming World Online member from Queensland, Australia, says: \u201cI find soups a lifesaver \u2013 I tend to fill them with whatever veg I have left in the fridge, so I don\u2019t have to throw anything away, and then freeze them. They\u2019re great to take to work or on a picnic in a flask. And whenever I make a sauce for lasagne or pasta, I chuck in any veg that\u2019s looking a bit past its prime and freeze meal-size portions for the next time I need a quick dinner.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

More for members: Jump on the batch-cooking bandwagon with this long list of freezable recipes<\/strong> <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Love your list<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Hitting the supermarket armed with a shopping list (and sticking to it!) is a favourite strategy among our members. They also suggest limiting store visits to once a week, shopping online and only taking cash, so you can\u2019t go over your allocated budget.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Member Lynnette Maling, from Herne Bay, Kent, says: \u201cI look out for the fruit and veg that\u2019s on offer in the supermarket, then I search for recipes that use those ingredients on the Slimming World app and include them in my weekly menu. As well as being budget-friendly, it means I get to enjoy a nice variety of dishes over the month, and I often end up trying meals I would never have thought of.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are 2,000 mouth-watering recipes on our exclusive member website, so you\u2019ll never be stuck for what to cook!<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

More for members: <\/strong>Discover the magic of meal planning,<\/strong><\/a> with tips and tools to make it easy<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Use your freezer<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You might be surprised at some of the foods that can be frozen. Many of our members keep their milk, bread and eggs (yes, really!) on ice until needed \u2013 an easy, freezy way to avoid waste. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Andria Walker, a Slimming World Online member from Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, says: \u201cI buy a huge box of chicken breasts from my local butcher, then I separate the fillets out, dice them up and portion the chunks into ziplock bags. That way I can just take exactly what I need out of the freezer. It\u2019s cheaper to buy in bulk and I never waste anything. Big bags of frozen fruit and veg are a real bargain, too.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n

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\"creamy<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Serve this creamy garlic chicken with your favourite frozen veg – it’s Free, easy and ready in 35 minutes!<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

More for members: <\/strong>Here\u2019s how to Food Optimise your freezer<\/strong><\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Buy own-brand<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Swapping to supermarket own-brand products and \u2018essentials\u2019 ranges is a simple win when it comes to reducing food bills. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mary Cameron, from Sidlesham, West Sussex, says: \u201cI tend to buy the supermarket\u2019s brands for canned foods, like mackerel in tomato sauce, chopped tomatoes, kidney beans and chickpeas. They\u2019re much cheaper and taste just as good.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Pan<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

This cheesy minestrone soup uses lots of store-cupboard staples.<\/a><\/strong>

More for members: Make the most of canned goods with our <\/strong>seven-day store-cupboard menu<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Budget-friendly Food Optimising <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our flexible plan works brilliantly for money-savvy slimmers. It\u2019s built on a foundation of unlimited Free Food <\/strong>\u2013 foods which help fill you up and leave you feeling satisfied for longer. These include lots of low-cost staples <\/strong>\u2013 such as pasta, potatoes, rice and fresh vegetables <\/strong>\u2013 so you can enjoy a delicious money-saving menu <\/strong>and<\/em><\/strong> get a great result on the scales.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Give our five favourite Free Food recipes a go<\/strong> <\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

5. Save energy<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

With gas and electricity costs rising, our members are getting canny about their cooking choices, from selecting the most economical settings to ensuring the oven\u2019s full when it\u2019s on. Energy-saving appliances like microwaves, slow cookers and air fryers are proving popular, too, with some tasty recipes being shared in group. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kimberley Robinson, who attends a group in Witham, Essex, says: \u201cI started researching energy-saving ideas and found that an air fryer uses a third of the energy of your oven, and it\u2019s healthier as well. I use it for all sorts now.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

More for members: Meet our melt-in-the-mouth <\/strong>slow-cooker recipes<\/strong><\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

 6. Bulk out meals<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Many of our members are making their meals stretch further for less by adding cheaper ingredients. Lentils, rice, beans and veg are fantastically filling Free Foods. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Geraldine Roche, from Banbridge, Co. Down, says: \u201cI make mince go further by adding red lentils and diced root veg to my bolognese sauce. You can also add mashed butternut squash or sweet potato to beef mince when you\u2019re making home-made burgers \u2013 it\u2019s cheaper and it tastes great!\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Lentilognese-Slimming<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

This vegan bolognese is an easy storecupboard win \u2013 it uses dried lentils instead of meat, plus canned tomatoes, dried pasta and stock.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

More for members: We\u2019ve replaced pricy lamb for low-cost lentils in this <\/strong>comforting shepherd\u2019s pie<\/strong><\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. Shop smarter<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Choosing canned and frozen veg, selecting in-season fresh produce and looking out for wonky veg can help you spend less. Buying from local markets can also be more cost-effective, and apps like Too Good to Go<\/a> sell supermarket and restaurant food that would otherwise end up in the bin at super-low prices.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Slimming World Consultant Julie Muirhead, from Andover, Hampshire, says: \u201cI always use our local fruit and veg stall because they have a fantastic selection \u2013 much better than most supermarkets \u2013 that\u2019s excellent value for money and it lasts longer, too.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

8. Bag the best offers<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Lots of our members shop in the evenings, when some items are reduced. Signing up to loyalty card discounts and cashback voucher schemes can also save extra \u00a3\u00a3\u00a3s at the supermarket.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dean Simpson-Humphreys, from Liverpool, has lost 4st with Slimming World. He says: \u201cI gave up my job as an NHS manager to care for my husband, and money was tight. I started shopping for marked-down stuff. You never knew what you\u2019d be able to get, so you had to be creative \u2013 and I loved the challenge of coming up with new Food Optimising recipes! My top tip is to find out what time of day your local supermarkets put the \u2018yellow sticker\u2019 products on display, as you\u2019ll get the best selection then.\u201d   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read Dean’s story here <\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Save and slim with Slimming World<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019re here to help you shop, cook and eat in a way that suits your lifestyle, and that includes working within your weekly budget. For more money-saving tips and our best low-cost recipes, head to your local Slimming World group or join our Community at Slimming World Online. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Discover our latest special offers here\u00a0<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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