Save Money Traveling: Groceries

Not to fulfill the Scottish stereotype, but to help you keep your vacation within budget I recommend a few tips. Here's a couple of ideas that may save you money, or allow you to put more money into other things such as purchasing souvenirs or something else.

Self-catering saves you money but it may limit your mobility. If you pick a central location and stay in one place, you can fill up your shelves and refrigerator with stuff. At the same time, you can experience living in Scotland like a local. The grocery store experience puts you in the same circles of the locals.

Instead of buying expensive soda buy this unique product. Fruit Squash.


It is concentrated fruit juice. Mix it with bottled water and you can make it last and spend pennies a day. You can carry it with you as you travel. If you plan to go hiking it is something to think about.

Breakfast is a must, as it fuels you up for a vigorous day of travel. You can buy breakfast foods at the grocery store, experience a good Scottish breakfast and save money as well. Most restaurants are not open for breakfast. I have found the breakfast restaurant is an American thing. The B&B provides a great breakfast, as well as hotels provide something to nibble on in the morning but you may have to wait until lunch to get any food on the road. So if you self-cater, you will need to load up on breakfast goods. You can get a pack (see picture) of good Scottish breakfast staples. I do not like black pudding and you may as well. It is basically pig or lamb blood. Yuck. But some love it.


You can get breakfast cereal easily and it is the same stuff as in the States. Sometimes they put it in different packaging, but you will figure it out.

If you don't want to spend much for dinner, I recommend the margherta pizzas. You can get a two for one pizza deal in any of the grocery stores pretty easily. They are pretty good for frozen pizzas. I would have one every Friday night.

The strongest suggestion to you is to enjoy one really good meal. The lunch menu is usually good until 5pm...so if you eat early you will also save money. But if you take care of getting a good breakfast in the morning, you can have a few extra pounds for a good dinner out. Maybe an extra pint or two.