Planning

Plan ahead
Planning ahead will save you time and money. Do you have anything that needs using up? What are you going to cook during the week? How will you use leftovers? What can you make a big batch of? Are you cooking for friends? What are you going to take for your lunch? It's an idea to make a list of mals and days and then make your shopping list at there same time.  If a meal calls for carrots, what else can you cook with carrots? How many will you need? Remember that you can always save money by having a store cupboard meal one day using things you already have. Always use a shopping list and eat before you go and you won't end up buying random things that you suddenly fancy!

Shop smart
Where you shop is also important. The supermarket is hailed as the super cheap option where you can find everything in one place.  You probably can find most things there but it isn't always the cheapest option. Own brands are often made in exactly the same place as named brands but simply have a different label and price tag.  Things like tea, coffee,pasta, tinned tomatoes, beans etc are often cheaper in the supermarket as long as you buy basics ranges. Fruit and veg will always be cheaper in your local street market, and if you go for the 'paaaaand a bowl!' offers, you can make a big batch of something and freeze it/adapt it through the week. Or even team up with someone and swap things! It's worth looking at prices in fishmongers and butchers for meat and fish as sometimes it works out cheaper and will always be cheaper than buying pre-cut, ore-packaged cuts. If you are looking for unusual things or something special to a specific cuisine, try local shops. In many areas, you will find an Asian or Middle Eastern shop that will have all sorts of spices, herbs etc for a really good price. And mergez sausages are about 2 for 12! They are delicious and you can't even buy them in most supermarkets. Go on adventures and see what's about.

Make it look pretty!
If your kitchen is somewhere you enjoy being, you are more likely to enjoy cooking and eating in it rather than going out for a takeaway. If you are one of those who would rather not have the glare of basics range packaging everywhere, find an old tin or jar and decant things into them. No one will ever know! Get a load of airtight jars from the pound shop and store pasta, rice etc in them so that you can keep them fresh and see exactly how much you have left. And it looks cool! You can reuse empty bottles and jars for things too- candle holders, plant pots, vases etc and keep an eye out in charity shops for old tins. A few years ago, I found a corner shop that was selling yoghurts in little terracotta pots. They were a bit more expensive than other yoghurts but they were a treat at the time and I have continued to use the pots for coffee, deserts, salad dressings, dips etc.