Feeding those that struggle to get by has of course been headline news recently. And rightly so, as many are really suffering during austere times and a global pandemic. But there are other ways to get more bang for your buck. And to essentially get provisions without paying. Getting free food – this is how.
Use Supermarket Offers
Here are some easy steps you could take to save £200 at least just for starters. At least if you have not used online supermarkets before – and millions have not. All supermarkets offer a nice freebie to get your custom for the first time. Usually it will be money off a shop, so essentially some of your food will be free. By using every supermarket once, you could save a small fortune.
But there are plenty of offers for existing customers too. Keep a look out. For example, this week, Iceland are offering £5 off shops of over £50. and any shops over £35 come with free delivery too. As part of their 50th birthday celebrations, they also offer a wide range of goods that come with 50% free. Waitrose are more expensive, but they often send me money off vouchers, which can be for up to £20, and with free delivery too.
Free Food – Food Banks
It is considered embarrassing by many to use such an option, but we must be honest about our situation. If you are struggling, reach out for help. These banks are here for a reason, and sadly they are a vital lifeline for many hundreds of thousands of people now in the UK. It is vital you get to eat and get nutrients, as must your family. So if you cannot put food on the table, seek help.
Begin by searching online to see if there are any independent local food banks that you can go to without a referral. If there aren’t any, as many require a referral, you’ll need to be sent by someone else. For example by a charity or someone like a GP or social worker. A good starting point may be your local citizens advice bureau.
Marcus Rashford Initiatives
You should know all about this already! But as a consequence of the government not extending free meals for schoolchildren, many businesses around the UK sprung into action despite their own financial difficulties. They offered free meals for children that needed it. It was amazing to see. you can see the full list on Rashford’s twitter feed. There is bound to be someone near you if you are struggling to afford food right now or in the near future.
Discount Aisles
Ok, this is not strictly free. But if you are struggling to put food on the table, this is somewhere you need to be familiar with. Every day, supermarkets will have an aisle or a small section where they place heavily discounted items. Normally this is because the items are close to their eat by date, so may have to be thrown away soon. There is nothing wrong with the food, so there are bargains to be had. See what is available next time you go into a supermarket. A good time to shop is late-ish in the day, when stock is put into these discounted aisles. You are less likely to see bargains early in the day.
Free Food – Online Offers
Many companies that provide cooking kits or meals direct to your door will offer a free trial prior to you subscribing. It could be worth your while to really utilise all the offers and get a bunch of food for nothing. Just don’t be tied into the subscription after that, as the general pricing is not that good value from my experiences. After all, you are paying for convenience.
Free Food – Use Those Loyalty Cards
I normally forget to take my loyalty cards out when i go shopping. Last year on a whim i checked my Nectar points total. I had £50 in there! So i bought a nice weekly shop for nothing. I was made up! So keep using those loyalty cards. Over time the points will build up, and then you will be able to use for free food, or convert to get items for your home.
Sign Up For Offers
None of us wish to be swamped with emails every day, especially when it is harder than ever to go out and eat out. And it may be about to get a lot tougher too. But by signing up to restaurants and food sites, you will be sent all the best offers in your area. This means money off for a wealth of restaurants and takeaways. Uber Eats often offers me 20-25% off an order, meaning some of my food is essentially free. Manchester has at any one time hundreds of restaurants offering money off their menus. And think of a 2-for-1 deal – essentially one of your meals is 100% free!
