I save nearly £1,000 a YEAR on groceries by being part of a food club – here’s how you can too

FILLING up your fridge has never been more expensive, but shopper Elaine Wishart saves £960 a year on her grub by being part of a food club.

Elaine, 54, from South Field, Bristol, is currently unemployed and living off her savings just to get by.

She’s concerned about how she will afford her weekly shop as food prices rocket, so joined a local food club to more than half her bill.

“ I went to Tesco yesterday and saw the juice I get went up by 30p,” she said.

“You can see at supermarkets that prices are going up by nearly 50%.

“I’m living on savings at the minute, and I will be struggling in a few months if I don’t get work.”

Food clubs are usually run by charities, who sell food at big discounts at public places like community or church halls to hard-up households.

The clubs work by linking up with local supermarkets, who donate food nearing their sell-by date that would have been thrown away anyway.

They differ from food banks because you don't have to be referred in order to use one.

Elaine’s food club is run by local charity BS3 Community, and it runs once a week in Bedminster’s church hall.

You need to pay £1 for an annual membership, and then £3.50 on the door every week.

Shoppers have an hour and a half window to visit the club.

You go around different stations set up in the hall, which are: a tins section, vegetables, fridge items and fruit.

Volunteers dish out the food to you to make sure there is enough for everyone.