Wondering where to buy cheapest foods UK to save money on groceries?

You can slash your grocery bill by searching out and shopping for the cheapest foods available.

With a little bit of planning, you can easily stock up on pantry staples like oats, rice, and pasta, as well as frozen vegetables and meat. That way you’ll always have something healthy and affordable to eat.

Follow my tips for saving money on groceries and start cooking more meals at home!

Where to buy cheapest foods UK?  

When it comes to food shopping certain supermarkets are cheaper than others. The chart below shows what is the cheapest food shop UK by comparing the top UK supermarkets for the same 22 food items, which included daily essentials like bread, milk, and eggs.

The top 3 stores to buy cheapest foods UK are:

• Aldi
• Lidl
• Asda

If you just want to know where the cheapest supermarket for food is, you should check out Aldi and Lidl who consistently top the charts when it comes to cheap groceries. These stores offer great deals on both fresh, frozen, and pantry items, and you can usually find everything you need there.

There are also discount stores like Food Warehouse and Iceland that are great for pantry and frozen foods, often stocking the main brands.

If you are still missing some items or need must-have branded items, check out Asda or Tesco. These stores usually offer a wider range of products but can be more expensive than the discount stores.

Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, and Morrisons are the big four in the UK and all offer a range of branded and unbranded products. If you’re looking for a specific item, it’s best to check the websites of each store to see who has the best deal.

For luxury items like cheese and meat, head to Waitrose or Marks and Spencer. Even though these stores come at the bottom of the list in terms of a 22 item basket. They often have better deals on these items than the supermarkets mentioned earlier. Be sure to check on comparison websites or store apps before you make a trip.

Is cheap food healthy?

You may wonder…Is cheap food healthy?

It’s essential to have a well-balanced diet but it doesn’t have to break the bank. In fact, you can save money on groceries by buying cheap foods that are also healthy!

So should I avoid processed food or is that a myth?

Processed food is not bad in itself, but the most unhealthy products are often processed.

Do cheaper foods taste worse?

If you choose the type of cheaper foods that are closer to their natural state and seasonal (more on this later), they can be prepared deliciously.

When shopping, try to stick with items that are in season. Not only foods are in season are the most flavourful, but they are also often the cheapest.

Aldi often has a seasonal section at the start of the fruit and vegetable aisle, where they sell discounted produce that’s in season and therefore easy for them to bring into the store.

In terms of meat, minced/ground beef is often cheaper than steaks and roasts. If you prefer a leaner option, it’s quite common to find minced/ground beef and pork with 3-5% saturated fat. Chicken and turkey are even lower fat.

It’s also important to get high-quality meat at an affordable price. Aldi is known for sourcing from local farms. They sell a wide range of meat, from sausages and chicken to beef and pork, as well as whole chickens and turkeys.

When shopping for dairy, always buy the store brand or generic brands rather than name brands. Even though there may not be a big difference in taste, these items are usually sold at a lower price.

Cheap foods can actually be healthier and tastier! Once you learn how to shop for the cheapest groceries, you won’t have a problem stocking your fridge and pantry with affordable, high-quality foods. 

What are the cheapest foods to buy

Fruits

When it comes to fruits, anything that’s in season will be the cheapest. For example, in the winter, apples and pears are at their lowest prices of the year while strawberries and Grapes are quite expensive.

When fruits are in season, they are also the most flavorful and nutritious.

Vegetables

Vegetables are another category of foods that as long as you buy what’s in season, your wallet will thank you for it too. For example, broccoli is cheapest in the winter, while cucumbers are cheapest in the summer.

When you buy vegetables that are in season, you can also save money by cooking them yourself. This is a healthier and cheaper alternative to eating out or ordering takeout.

Finally, when you buy vegetables that are in season, you support local farmers and help reduce food waste.

Not sure what’s in season and when? Here are some popular seasonal fruits and vegetables:

Meat (less)

Mince & ground beef is the cheapest meats to buy over steak and pork lion. But if you’re cooking for your family, buying a whole chicken can be much cheaper than buying individual breast fillets. A large fee range chicken from Aldi provides at least 2 meals for our family of four.

If you still need a chunk of meat for roasting, Aldi sells great smoked and unsmoked gammon joints as well as pork joints which are often cheaper than beef or lamb. The shoulder cut will be the cheapest (great for pulled pork), followed by leg (best for crackling), then loin (the leanest).

As meat is often an expensive item, eating less meat is a way you can reduce your grocery bills. Try substituting meat with either pulses or mushrooms.

Pulses

Pulses like beans and lentils are also packed with vitamins, minerals and are a great source of protein and they’re extremely cheap!

They also make an excellent substitute for meat, and they can be used in a variety of dishes, from soups to stews to casseroles.

Mushrooms

Mushrooms are often found on vegetarian menus as a substitute for meat in terms of texture but they are also loaded with vitamin D.

We often have a veggie night where we have Mexican burritos but switch the meat filling for mushrooms.

Pantry (including your fridge and freezer)

In addition to the main categories of fruits, vegetables, and meats you will need to stock your kitchen with other ingredients.

• Coffee & teas – don’t be drawn into the huge choice of high-end coffees available. Aldi offers a great selection of ground coffee and beans. We love the Italian-style coffee beans which are half the price of mainstream brands like Taylors of Harrogate.
• Breakfast cereals – often popular with the kids, but try and stay away from the sugar-loaded versions. Wheat bisks (Weetabix), bran flakes, malted Wheaties, and multi-grain hoops are healthy options that might keep tummies full till lunchtime. Add a banana if you need a little sweetness in the morning.
• Porridge Oats – this is the breakfast of choice in our house with our kids asking for it most mornings. For less than £1 you can get 1Kg of porridge which provides and filling high-fiber healthy breakfast that slowly releases energy during the day.
• Healthy snacks – here is where your cheap veggies can come in. Keep chopped carrots, celery, peppers in a box in the fridge. These can be used as snacks, added to pack lunches, or be used in meals.
• Spices – it’s so easy to end up with a cupboard full of spices, but in all honesty, you probably only use a select few. Here are my suggestions: Salt, Pepper, Cummin, Cinnamon, Garlic Granules, Stock cubes, Oregano, Chilli, Paprika.
• Frozen fruits – perfect for smoothies, way cheaper than using fresh, and can be kept much longer.
• Frozen vegetables – we always make sure our plates of foods are balanced with protein, carbs, and veggies. Having frozen vegies makes this super simple, cost-effective and you are less likely to waste any. Our go-to frozen veggies are peas, spinach, butternut squash, edamame, and bags of mixed veg.
• Frozen seafood (like shrimp, mixed seafood, prawns etc.) – frozen seafood is cheaper than fresh and also won’t go off quickly, giving you the flexibility to use it when you need it. It’s also great to have in the freezer as it can be thrown together with pasta to make a quick and easy dinner.
• Canned fish (Tuna, Salmon, Mackerel etc.) – a pantry staple, great for salads, tuna mayo, pizza topping, fish burgers, pasta dishes the list is endless.
• Canned beans (of all kinds) – I mentioned pulses earlier, Aldi stocks a great range of beans such as black, kidney, cannellini, chick peas etc. These are so versatile and great when you are considering Mexican food.
• Canned tomatoes – a must in the pantry, ready for spaghetti bolognese, chili, simple pasta sauces, pizza topping.

Top Tips for buying cheapest foods UK

In addition to knowing where to buy cheap foods (UK), what to buy, here are my top 6 tips to help you save even more:

1. Don’t shop hungry
2. Plan your weekly meals
3. Avoid special offers on unhealthy foods
4. Switch from branded to store-branded goods
5. Bulk buying
6. Eat less meat

Don’t shop hungry

Do you ever get this urge to buy everything in sight when you walk into the supermarket hungry? Don’t do this! You will end up buying more unhealthy food that can leave your bank account empty.

Plan your weekly meals

I like to plan out my meals for the week, and then shop based on what foods I have on my meal plan. Remember Aldi and Lidl both have a great range of seasonal offers that can help you save money.

Sign up to get your FREE weekly meal plan printable here ?

Avoid special offers on unhealthy food

It may look like a great offer to buy 2 for 1 or buy one get one free, but avoid these types of offers. Doubling up on your chocolate and ice cream purchases won’t help you stick to your healthy eating goals!

Switch from branded to store-brand goods

Don’t be afraid to switch from brand-name goods to the own-brand version. Often these are more affordable and also offer a great value.

Bulk buying can save you money

Buying in bulk can help you save money. But be sure to check the price per kg and not just look at how many items you are buying. Places like Cosco have some amazing deals and they also reward you for stocking up with points.

Eat less meat

Meat can be one of the most expensive things we eat. Try reducing the amount of meat you eat and filling your plates with lots of other proteins like eggs, nuts, pulses etc.

Final thoughts on Where to Buy Cheapest Foods UK…

There are many ways to save money on groceries, and by following the tips in this article you can start to make big savings.

Shopping for the cheapest foods available is one way to keep your grocery bill under control, as is planning your meals ahead of time and avoiding special offers on unhealthy food. You can also save money by switching from branded to own-brand goods, buying in bulk, and eating less meat.

My favourite store to buy cheap food is Aldi. It saved us thousands over the years. Here are some of the best things to buy from Aldi.

I hope you have found this article useful.

What are your shopping secrets?

Please let me know if you have any questions by commenting below.?

Where to Buy Cheapest Foods UK [Pin it for later…]