We're all worried about money during the current crisis. Here are some schemes and ways to help you save money on food.

family food schemes

These schemes will help if you're struggling to pay for food for your family.
Healthy Start Vouchers
With free Healthy Start Vouchers you can buy milk, plain fresh and frozen fruit and vegetables, and infant formula milk. You can also get free vitamins. You may qualify for Healthy Start Vouchers, if you are:
  • receiving benefits and pregnant
  • receiving benefits and have
  • children aged under four
  • pregnant and aged under 18
Visit the Healthy Start website or call them for an application form. Or speak to your doctor, midwife or
health visitor.
T 0345 607 6823
W healthystart.nhs.uk
Rose Vouchers
Rose Vouchers help families on low incomes buy fresh fruit and vegetables at local street markets and stores. During the Covid-19 crisis, Alexandra Rose Charity is issuing extra vouchers to Children's Centres.
Are you a pregnant woman or family receiving benefits? Are you eligible for Healthy Start Vouchers? If so, you
may qualify. Ask staff at your Children’s Centre if they are part of the scheme.
W alexandrarose.org.uk

COVID-19 + SHOPPING: 3 TOP TIPS

  1. Try and donate an item or two to local food banks when you go shopping.
  2. Don't panic buy. If you do, other people may go without.
  3. Are you well and aged under 70? Why not shop in store rather than online to free up delivery slots for people in need?

easy ways to save money on food

  1. Buy frozen, dried and tinned ingredients. They last longer, so you can save on waste.
  2. Plan your meals, so you have a rough idea of what you are going to cook each week.
  3. Buy ingredients you can use in more than one meal.
  4. Make a list and check your cupboards before you go food shopping. (You’re more likely to buy what you need.)
  5. Use leftovers for meals the next day.

more MONEY SAVING TIPS

1.

Contactless Payments
Many shops are asking customers to pay by card to avoid spreading the Covid-19 virus. Be careful when making contactless payments, as money can take longer to leave your account than using 'Chip & PIN'.

2.

Check Your Bank Balance
It can be scary to check your bank balance, especially during the current crisis. Check it regularly and make sure to cancel any unnecessary direct debit or standing order payments.

3.

Mobile Phone
When your mobile phone contract comes to an end, think about how you use it before signing a new contract. A SIM-only or 30 day rolling contract could be much cheaper.

Online money saving + Food:

These websites can help you save money on food:
Feed Yourself for £1 a Day
Facebook group and blog, lots of ideas for meals and supportive online community.
W feedyourselfforapoundaday

ShelfScraper
ShelfScraper is a new supermarket comparison site. It gives you the price of the item you’re after, across all main supermarkets. Plus, it shows the price per unit, so you know if you're saving money.
W shelfscraper.co.uk

Pat's Food
Pat's Food is brilliant website with low-cost recipes, food plans and lots more. Pat set up the popular Facebook Group Feed Yourself for £1 a Day, she knows her stuff:
W patsfood.org
Reduce Your Supermarket Spend
Supportive Facebook group with plenty of ideas on how to spend less on shopping.
W ReduceYourSupermarketSpend
Skint Dad
This website has lots of info on how to save money. It has a recipe page too.
W skintdad.co.uk
Love Food Hate Waste
The national campaign for reducing food waste: 
W lovefoodhatewaste.com
Cooking on a Bootstrap
Jack Monroe’s money saving food blog.
W cookingonabootstrap.com
Olio
This is a platform for sharing food. People and businesses share food to stop it being thrown away.
W olioex.com

Food Labels: What do they mean?

USE BY: Food must be sold and used by the final date. It may be dangerous for your health when the date has expired, even if it looks and smells fine.

BEST BEFORE: Foods with a 'best before' date should be safe to eat after the 'best before' date, but they may no longer be at their best quality.

SELL BY/DISPLAY UNTIL: ‘Sell by’ and ‘display until’ dates are used for controlling stock in stores. They are instructions for staff, not shoppers.