• We know that this can take time, but it really is worth it and once you start, it will get easier

    Planning your food shop can stop you from overbuying, saving you money. It can also help you reduce the amount of food you waste, reducing your carbon footprint

    It is a great way of sticking to your financial budget, but remember to try and only buy what you had planned to buy

  • Got a big enough freezer? Batch cooking and filling your freezer is a great way to save you time and money.

    It may seem like an investment to spend an afternoon in the kitchen, but with your favourite music playing you could make it into an enjoyable experience.

    You could use a slow cooker, soup maker, or simply some large pans. Make sure you have a sharp knife to prepare ingredients, storage containers, and labels.

    Decide what you would like to cook for the week ahead, check your cupboards, and make a shopping list and allow time to gather your ingredients before you start cooking. You might also like to make space in your freezer.

    Once you have everything together it will be a lot easier to first weigh, measure, and chop your ingredients. Clear your workspace and allow yourself plenty of time to get organised before you turn on the hob.

    Once the food is cooked write the date it was frozen and number of portions onto a label then stick it on the container.

    The labels will help you keep track of what needs using up next – most will need to be eaten within three months. To avoid meals getting forgotten at the back of the freezer, it can be useful to put your newest portions at the back and in turn bring your older items to the front.

    Remember to make sure the food is cool before you freeze it.

  • When you next go shopping, why not slowly begin to replace all your kitchen disposables with reusables.

    Reusables reduce your waste, save you money in the long run, and are usually made of much safer materials than plastic.

    To replace your disposable kitchen roll, you could try a reusable alternative made from cotton, bamboo, or cellulose.

    For an even greener and cheaper approach, you can also cut up old clothes or towels that are way past their best. If you've got a sewing machine you might want to stitch the edges with a simple and quick running stitch to prevent fraying.

    To replace your plastic cling wrap, you could try a reusable alternative such as flannel covers, silicone lids, or beeswax wraps.

    For a cheaper approach, if you have the time and resources, you can make your own beeswax wraps with cotton material, pine resin, and beeswax.

    All these items are hand wash, dishwasher or washing machine safe and can be washed and reused repeatedly.

    Remember, it’s okay to keep some disposable items in times of need, but it’s good to be conscious of the alternatives which can save you money and are better for the environment.

    Socially Growing in Thurso High St. offer an excellent selection of alternative and reusable kitchen items. Ask their friendly staff for more information and advice

  • If you have the cupboard space, bulk-buying can be cost-effective, whilst also reducing plastic waste

    It is cheaper because you are not paying for large amounts of packaging and is a fantastic strategy for foods you buy and eat often, particularly dry goods, such as pasta, nuts, seeds, beans, rice, spices, etc.

    It’s also great for household essentials such as washing up liquid/powder, and pet food.

    If you check the label of the product you are buying, it will tell you the price per kilogram – and the big bags almost always work out much cheaper.

    Always plan how you’ll use something you buy in bulk to avoid buying more than you need.

    Socially Growing in Thurso High Street offer a large selection of bulk food staples. Ask their friendly staff in store for more information.

  • Pre-sliced or chopped ingredients do come in handy when you're in a rush but they're not value for money.

    Whether that be ready-chopped vegetables, ready-sliced fruit, boil-in-the-bag rice, or pre-cooked chicken, they often come at a premium as you are paying for someone to prepare them.

    Also, the packaging usually means you'll get much less than if you bought it whole.

    If you need to buy pre-prepared, aim for frozen; these prices tend to be more competitive and the product itself will last longer.

    It may be a little more effort but preparing vegetables yourself will really help to save money on food.

  • Meatless days can make a big difference to your wallet, health, and the health of our planet.

    Meat can be expensive, and our consumption is contributing heavily to greenhouse gas emissions – so there are multiple benefits to be reaped from cutting back.

    You can make perfectly filling and nutritious vegetarian meals to feed the family for a fraction of the cost of a meat dish.

    Here are some yummy recipes for you to try