Replacing just one or two takeaways each week with home-cooked meals could save hundreds, or even thousands, of pounds a year. Most takeaways cost far more than the menu price once delivery, service and extras are added — while the same meal cooked at home is often a fraction of the cost. You don’t need to stop ordering altogether or become a chef; small, sustainable changes are what add up.
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Could your weekly takeaway habit be costing more than you think?
Ordering a takeaway is convenient. After a long day at work or a busy weekend, it’s easy to convince yourself that one more delivery won’t make much difference. But small habits add up. Replacing just one or two takeaways each week with home-cooked meals could save hundreds, or even thousands, of pounds over the course of a year.
The best part? You don’t have to become a professional chef or spend hours in the kitchen. Even learning a handful of simple recipes can have a noticeable impact on your finances.
What does a typical takeaway really cost?
Most people think about the menu price, but that’s rarely the full cost. A typical order often includes the main meal, a side dish, drinks, a delivery fee, a service charge and an optional tip.
- For a single person: often around £18–£25.
- For a couple: commonly £35–£50.
- For a family: one takeaway can easily cost £50–£80 or more.
Compare that with cooking the same meal at home, where ingredients are often significantly cheaper and can frequently be used across multiple meals.
How much could you save?
- Replace one takeaway a week: approximately £500–£700 a year.
- Replace two takeaways a week: approximately £1,000–£1,400 a year.
- A family replacing one weekly takeaway: £1,500–£3,000+ a year.
Savings depend on household size, takeaway costs and the meals you choose to cook. Our takeaway savings calculator works out your own figure in under a minute.
What could that money pay for?
Saving money feels more meaningful when you think about what it could become. It could help pay for a weekend away, Christmas presents, a new phone or laptop, family days out, school uniforms, home improvements, emergency savings, paying off debt, or investing for the future.
Home cooking doesn’t mean spending hours in the kitchen
Many delicious meals can be prepared in under 30 minutes, and the more you cook, the faster and more confident you become. You also avoid waiting for deliveries, extra fees and missing items.
The hidden savings most people forget
Cooking at home often leads to additional savings because you can batch cook, freeze leftovers, use ingredients across multiple meals, reduce impulse spending and waste less food. For more on this, see our guides to batch cooking on a budget and reducing food waste at home.
You don’t need to cook every night
Start with one simple change:
- Replace one takeaway each week.
- Cook one extra family meal each weekend.
- Make lunch at home twice a week.
- Learn five recipes you genuinely enjoy.
Confidence is often the biggest barrier
Many people don’t avoid cooking because they dislike it — they avoid it because they worry about getting it wrong. Confidence grows quickly with clear, step-by-step guidance and practice. If that sounds familiar, our guide to cooking with confidence is a good place to start.
Track your savings
Keep a note of the money you save each time you cook instead of ordering. Seeing your savings grow is a powerful motivator. Pair this article with the tāstium takeaway savings calculator to estimate your own annual savings.
Start small, save big
You don’t have to stop ordering takeaways altogether. Cooking just a little more often can make a meaningful difference to your finances while helping you build a valuable life skill.
Small changes really add up. Even one home-cooked meal a week is money back in your pocket — and a skill for life.
Frequently asked questions
It depends on your household and habits, but replacing one takeaway a week typically saves £500–£700 a year, and two a week can save £1,000 or more. Families often save considerably more. The savings calculator gives you a personalised estimate.
Almost always. A takeaway’s true cost includes delivery, service charges and extras on top of the menu price, while a home-cooked version of the same meal usually costs a fraction as much — and the ingredients often stretch across more than one meal.
Not at all. The biggest savings come from small, sustainable changes — replacing just one or two takeaways a week with home-cooked meals. You can still enjoy a takeaway when you want one.
How much could you save?
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