Food and everyday essentials
Save money on food with meal planning, batch cooking and shopping tips, plus check eligibility for free school meals and local food support.
Planning each meal, batch cooking and shopping with a list can help to save money. Some helpful sites with easy recipes, shopping lists and even social media videos to help you cook include:
- www.tamingtwins.com/category/collections/meal-plans/
- www.bbc.co.uk/food/articles/budget_family_meal_plan_for_four
Lower‑cost food pantries and community food support may also be available in your area.
Free school meals
Free school meals can save on average £400 per year per child, check if you are eligible and apply for free school meals.If you live in Sunderland or County Durham, children should be automatically enrolled, but checks are usually only done once a year. If your circumstances change, it’s a good idea to check again.