It’s amazing how much money you can save on food with some careful planning. To avoid your costs creeping up, check out our tips on spending less and getting the most from your food budget.

Before you head to the supermarket, take stock of ingredients you already have and plan your meals around those. Dig out that frozen minced meat (ground meat) in the freezer and take note of those carrots at the bottom of your fridge. This way nothing goes to waste and you save money by only buying what you actually need.

Planning meals in advance is an effective way to save money, avoid impulse purchases and stop food going to waste. Work out innovative ways to use the food already in your cupboards, what additional ingredients you need and how to use the same ingredients in a number of different meals. Check out our recipe page for inspiration for quick weeknight dinners.

Cook meals where you can buy ingredients once but use them two or three times throughout the week. For example, a roast chicken at the weekend can stretch throughout the week. Use leftover shredded meat into chow mein or gyros, then use the carcass to make stock for a comforting pot pie. Here are some more tasty recipe ideas to make ingredients go further.

Fewer of us are doing a big weekly shop as the trend moves towards shopping as you go, buying online and seeking out local bargains. Picking up just a few items as and when you need them could cut down on your spend as you’ll buy less overall and reduce waste. Just beware that prices may be higher in smaller stores.

All supermarkets reduce the price of some items when they need to shift them quickly, usually towards the end of the day. Do your shopping in the evening and you could pick up some real bargains.

One of the easiest ways to buy products you don't need is to shop hungry, when you're more likely to go for sweet or filling foods that will give you an instant fix. Eat before you shop and you might find it easier to linger in the vegetable aisle.

The price of an item in one supermarket is often vastly different to the next. Even supermarkets in the same chain can vary from store to store. Little savings make a difference to your overall spend so shop around between specialist shops, discounts stores and online, and see if you can get a better deal elsewhere.

Once you’ve decided what you need, write up a list and don’t deviate from it. Supermarkets use tricks to encourage spending and impulsive buys, but stay focused and you'll likely just get what you need.

Meal kits, with pre-portioned ingredients and recipes, may be convenient but you’ll pay a lot more than shopping for the ingredients independently and end up with a huge amount of unnecessary packaging. If you like the dinner inspiration, most of the big meal kit brands publish the recipes on their websites so you can still cook the dishes and buy the groceries yourself.

Forget the food snobbery and check out supermarkets' own brand products. Ditching the labels could save you a small fortune and doesn’t always mean losing out on quality.

It’s shocking how many fruits and vegetables go to waste because supermarkets deem them too ugly to sell. Thankfully, you can now tuck into knotted carrots and wonky cucumbers, which taste exactly the same but can be around 20–50% cheaper. Check out local supermarkets or order your ugly vegetables in monthly boxes online.

Stock up on foods that will leave you feeling fuller for longer. Oatmeal, potatoes, beans, bananas and eggs are all cheap to buy and will stop you reaching for extra snacks between meals.

Expand your recipe repertoire by stocking up on extra ingredients that will help liven up basic meals. A dollop of yogurt or a handful of coriander (cilantro) are great additions to a curry, for example. Feta, seeds, sun-dried tomatoes, herbs and spices are all great ingredients to have on standby. Check out our top 11 secret ingredients that'll take your dish from hero to zero.

Fancy packaging costs money to make, and while beautifully packaged foods may look the most appealing, they may not taste the best. Opt for unwrapped fruit and veg and don't be swayed by big-name brands.

If you buy pre-chopped fruit and vegetables, you're paying someone to do the work for you. While prepared ingredients can be great for convenience and the less-abled, is it really worth the extra money if you can slice an apple or chop onions yourself?

Out of season produce may be flown in from abroad and prices can be much higher. Stick to seasonal items and you're likely to get a better deal and support local farmers.

When buying fresh produce, such as milk, eggs and bread, always buy items from the back of the shelf or those stored underneath as these will tend to last longer. Supermarkets display the items going off first at the front, as they need to sell them sooner.

All supermarkets will try and tempt you with a whole range of offers but do your best to avoid them if you want to stick to your budget. As the saying goes, it’s only a bargain if you need it.

It’s easy to assume larger packets and bottles offer the best value for money, but this isn’t always the case. Most supermarkets list the price for packaged goods by weight, so always double check to make sure you’re getting the most for your money.

When it comes reducing food waste, the freezer is your best friend. Buying items you need in bulk at a cheaper price and storing in the freezer is an easy way to save money.

Batch cooking meals and freezing for later is a great way to ensure you don’t waste any food – and a cost-efficient way to take advantage of 'buy one get one free' offers.

Learn some fail-safe budget recipes to fall back on when money is tight. Pasta and rice dishes, as well as soups, lentils and vegetable stir-fries are all cheap to make. Try satisfying tofu shashlik (pictured) or a brilliant one-pot cauliflower dhansak.

Meat is often the most expensive item in a shopping basket. You could save money by preparing more vegetarian meals and reducing chicken, pork and beef to just a few nights a week, plus it’s good for the environment and your health. Check out our recipe for sweet potato rösti with poached eggs (pictured), paneer korma and pumpkin cannelloni.

When you do buy meat, save money by opting for cheaper cuts such as beef brisket, skirt or flank, pork shoulder or belly, and lamb shoulder. Cook in a slow cooker with vegetables, stock and seasoning to transform inexpensive meat into delicious braised stews, curries or casseroles. Give this short rib noodle soup or pulled pork shoulder a go. 

Some ready-made foods can be quite a bit cheaper to make from scratch, including granola, pesto, jams, chutneys, pickles and nut butters. Not only will you save money but homemade versions are often much nicer than shop-bought. We've got plenty of recipes like zingy pea and apple chutney, apricot and lavender jam or fruity granola bars.

The quickest way to save big bucks on your food bill is to make lunch at home and stop buying shop-bought salads or fast food takeaways. The cost of the ingredients used to make a week’s worth of meals, however decadent you make them, will be a fraction of the price of buying on the go – not to mention tastier.

If it looks like you’re running out of time to finish off fresh produce, chop it up and put it in the freezer. Sliced onions, peppers, carrots and other vegetables can all be used later in stir-fries or stews. Frozen fruit such as bananas, strawberries and grapes are perfect for smoothies. You can even save herbs by mixing with oil and freezing in ice cube trays. Discover more ice cube tray hacks here.

Whether you've eaten at a restaurant or cooked at home, make sure your leftovers don't go to waste. For example, Sunday evening's pork roast can become Monday lunch time's bánh mì baguette. These are a few great leftover recipes to try. 

Read more: 30 batch cook recipes to save you time and money

For daily inspiration, look up money-saving groups on Facebook and search for budget food bloggers. A couple of great sites to check out are Cooking on a Bootstrap, MOB Kitchen and $5 Dinners.

Read more: 26 hacks for packing the perfect lunchbox for kids

There are loads of apps available to download that help save money on grocery shopping. In America, USDA FoodKeeper tells you how to store food and drink safely, and its calendar function reminds you to defrost food before it goes off. OLIO, a hyperlocal food sharing app, allows you to connect with local shops and households giving away free food that would otherwise go to waste. Respond to a neighbour’s advert, arrange a time to pick it up and voilà, free supper.

Read more: 21 tips for hosting a dinner party on a budget