1.Sign up for the NHS Healthy Start Scheme and get up to £1,232.50
The NHS Healthy Start Scheme helps eligible parents buy essentials like milk, infant formula, fruit, and vegetables.
How much can you get?
- £4.25 per week from the 10th week of pregnancy.
- £8.50 per week for children under 1.
- £4.25 per week for children aged 1 to 4.
- This is a total of £1,232.50
Who can apply?
You may qualify if you receive Universal Credit (with a monthly take-home pay of £408 or less) or Child Tax Credit (with an annual income of £16,190 or less and no Working Tax Credit). See the full eligibility criteria here.
Where can you use it?
The funds are loaded onto a Healthy Start card, which can be used at supermarkets, grocery stores, pharmacies, markets, butchers, and even some petrol stations—anywhere displaying the Mastercard® symbol.
2.Buy frozen fruit and vegetables
Switching to frozen fruits and vegetables is a great way to save money and reduce waste compared to buying fresh. Nuby’s research found that fresh strawberries cost an average of £0.84 per 100g, while frozen strawberries cost only £0.66 per 100g. Similarly, fresh green beans cost £0.48 per 100g, while frozen green beans are just £0.13 per 100g**. The cost savings and longer shelf life make frozen produce a budget friendly choice that helps cut down on food waste.
3.Make one meal for the whole family
Cooking separate meals for your young child and the rest of the family can quickly become expensive and time consuming. In fact, 57% of parents surveyed said it’s very important to prepare meals that the whole family can share, with an additional 38% agreeing it’s somewhat important. The main reasons for this are to ensure everyone eats healthy, balanced meals and to save money on groceries.
4.Check price comparison sites before shopping
If your child has favourite snacks or baby foods you buy regularly, check price comparison sites before heading to the shops. You might find better deals at another supermarket, helping you save without compromising on your baby’s favourites.
5.Bulk make your own baby purees
When your baby starts weaning, they’ll eat a lot of purees. While shop bought options are convenient, making your own in bulk is cheaper. Buy fruits and vegetables in larger quantities, puree them and freeze in portion sized ice cube trays. This way, you can easily defrost just what you need for each meal.
6.Batch cook and freeze leftovers
Batch cooking isn’t just for purees, it works for family meals too. Cooking larger portions allows you to save money by buying ingredients in bulk, save energy by using the oven less often and have leftovers ready to reheat for future meals.
7.Join baby clubs for discounts
Many supermarkets have baby clubs that offer exclusive discounts and perks for members. Signing up is a simple way to save money when shopping for your baby’s essentials.
8.Switch to supermarket own brands
Swap expensive branded baby foods and purees for the supermarket’s own versions. They often offer the same flavours but come at a fraction of the price.
9.Use free online weaning recipes
Skip the cookbooks and find free online weaning recipes instead. For example, Nuby has teamed up with food influencers My.Little.Food.Critic and At Dad’s Table to create over 20 free weaning recipes. From hidden veg sausage rolls to chicken balti curry, you’ll find plenty of delicious options on our website.
10.Make a meal plan and stick to it
Before shopping, create a meal plan for the week and stick to it. It’s easy to get tempted by buy one get one free offers but only buy them if it’s already on your list to make the saving. A clear plan will keep your spending under control and help reduce food waste.
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