Public guide library
Food cost and dinner-planning guides
Practical DinnerByDesign guides to managing grocery costs, planning portions, using ingredients well and cooking varied dinners on a budget.
Browse all guides
Food cost guide
Why is it so difficult to budget accurately for food?
Food cost guide
12 practical ways to reduce and manage your grocery costs
Food cost guide
Batch cooking on a budget: when it saves money and when it doesn't
Food cost guide
Fresh or frozen: which is better for the way you cook?
Food cost guide
Summer stews: making vegetables go further
Food cost guide
Mediterranean-inspired ways to make affordable ingredients taste good
Food cost guide
How portion planning can help reduce food costs and waste
Food cost guide
Cooking with offal on a budget: what to buy and how to use it
Food cost guide
Cooking for one without overspending or wasting ingredients
Food cost guide
Three low-cost cooking techniques for making ingredients go further
Food cost guide
How to compare meat cuts when cooking for four
Food cost guide
Why UK food costs are rising in 2026 — and what it means for your shopping
Dinner plan
5 affordable dinners for two under £40
Plan dinners around your household
Use DinnerByDesign to turn practical guidance into a coordinated week and a shopping list built from the dinners you schedule.