How to reduce food waste at home and save money

How much money do you reckon you waste throwing out food? £10? £20? The answer could be much more than you think. In fact, each month, the average family throws away almost £60 of good food that was bought but not eaten, according to Love Food Hate Waste.

It's an amount not to be sniffed at. But making a few simple changes to the way you deal with the food already in your cupboards could put the money back in your pocket and help you come up with some great recipe ideas to kick 2016 off with.

How to avoid wasting food

Our infographic, made with Love Food Hate Waste, can help you make the first steps to cutting down on your food waste. Why don't you print it out and put it on your fridge to help you with your food waste resolution?

Click here for a printable version.

Want more help to #survivejanuary? Get your free survival kit

Top tips for cutting down on food waste

Meal planning is also key to avoiding waste. Before you nip to the supermarket, check you don't already have the items you need hidden in your cupboards. Take a rummage in your fridge and freezer – is there anything you could make in there?

Getting savvy with your leftovers is also helpful. Could your wrinkly veg have a new life in a soup or stir fry instead of ending up in the bin? Could any fruit that's past its best be whipped up in the blender for a smoothie instead?

Find out more, including recipe tips, from Love Food Hate Waste

How much are you spending on food at the moment? Using a tool such as our Budget Planner can help you pinpoint all your costs. Sometimes seeing your spending in black and white is the motivation you need to cut back!

This article is provided by the Money Advice Service.