Managing your food budget

Check out our tips to help you to budget for your food shopping – ensuring you eat healthily will give your studies a boost.

For many students starting university, it will be the first time they’ve really had to budget and stretch the last of their bank accounts.

You’ll be surprised how quickly your student loan instalment can be used up with day-to-day costs – it is imperative you don’t sacrifice nutrition and your well-being for financial stability, and we urge you to remember that the university and SUBU are here to help. More information can be found on the SUBU Advice website and the BU financial support web pages, or you can contact the teams directly:

AskBU [email protected] | 01202 969696
SUBU [email protected] | 01202 965765

What you can do

Get prepared

While it is good to plan and be prepared before and during shopping, being smart with your food once you’re at home is equally as important:

Work out what you're going to spend on your weekly food shop - and stick to it! Check out our Budgeting page for tips on how to do this
Make a shopping list so that you know exactly what you need to buy for the week - this will save you doing extra trips to the supermarket. Make packed lunches or take leftovers with you to uni or work. Shop around for bargains or go in the evening when food is often discounted. You can read tips and advice shared by previous students related to budgeting on our BU blog and vlog website.
Remember that products displaying ‘best before’ dates are fine to use later (all that will happen is that some flavour will be lost), and ‘use by’ dates can be frozen on the last day but can´t be eaten after the date (Food Standards Agency)
A great way to socialise with your housemates and develop your friendship is to cook communally. If done well it can mean a cheaper food bill (due to bulk buying), and fewer days you have to cook in a week
However, whether because you are living alone, have no time, or don’t gel with your household, consider batch cooking once or twice a week – this is especially useful if you are very busy and know you will be too tired to eat properly. An added benefit of this is freezing leftovers will allow you to substitute any shop-bought ready meals with a healthier alternative you’ve pre-made
Freezing in general is an excellent resource and is recommended for most perishables like fruit and veg as it generally helps keep the nutrients better preserved.

And remember, shop smart!

We all know the significance food can have to our mental health and general wellbeing, but did you know that eating healthy is cheaper when done properly? Consider these tips when planning your food shop.

Take cash rather than a card. Not only is cash more tangible but it is a good way to visualise what you’re spending before you get to the tills. If you are using this approach, remember that taking a limited amount of cash can make you anxious, so check with yourself if it’s the best tactic for you as an individual.
Do one big shop a week – while you must be careful you don’t overbuy and end up wasting food, this is the quickest, easiest way to manage costs, and has the bonus that it will save you a lot of time in the long run.
For perishables, consider buying in your local farmers' market (for example, the farmers' market in Boscombe will sell produce bowls for £1 or two bowls for £2 closer to the end of the day). These tend to be cheaper and are great to chop up and freeze, or batch-cook with, but again, be careful not to overdo it, and make sure you store items properly so they stay fresh if possible.
Don’t go shopping on an empty stomach, and consider taking a list if you are easily distracted by the options you have available.
Similarly, online shopping is a great way to avoid overspending as you are conscious of the total before you go to your cart. However, do remember that delivery costs will vary, and consider only doing so if it still works out the same or cheaper.