How to Save £200+ Per Year on Meal Kits: The Ultimate Switching Strategy for 2026

The Secret Meal Kit Companies Don’t Want You to Know

Here’s a truth that could save you over £200 this year: meal kit companies offer massive new customer discounts, but they don’t want you to actually leave after the discount ends.

Most people sign up with one service, enjoy 50-60% off for the first few weeks, then keep paying full price month after month. That’s exactly what these companies are counting on.

But what if you never paid full price? What if you could access new customer deals all year long?

That’s what this guide is about.

The Traditional Approach (And Why It’s Costing You Money)

Let’s say you sign up for Gousto as a new customer:

• Weeks 1-8: You get a fantastic deal - 50% off your first box, 40% off the second, and 20% off boxes 3-8
• Weeks 9-52: The discount ends. You’re now paying full price - roughly £35-45 per box
• Annual cost: Around £1,800-2,000 for the year

Most customers accept this. They’re creatures of habit, the service is convenient, and the thought of switching seems like a hassle.

But here’s what you’re actually losing: £200-300 in potential savings.

The Switching Strategy: How to Never Pay Full Price

The strategy is surprisingly simple:

1. Sign up as a new customer with Gousto and enjoy their new customer discount (8 weeks)
2. When the discount ends, cancel and switch to HelloFresh as a new customer (4-8 weeks)
3. When that discount ends, switch to Mindful Chef (4-8 weeks)
4. When that ends, try Green Chef (4-8 weeks)
5. After a few months away, you can return to Gousto as a “new” customer again

Result: You pay 50-60% less all year round.

Real Numbers: What You’ll Actually Save

Let me show you the math with a typical 3 meals for 2 people subscription:

Without Switching (Traditional Approach)

• Full price per box: ~£38 (Gousto average)
• 48 weeks per year: £1,824
• Annual cost: £1,824

With Switching Strategy

Using current 2026 deals:

Gousto (Weeks 1-8)

• Week 1: £19 (50% off)
• Week 2: £23 (40% off)
• Weeks 3-8: £30 (20% off each)
• Total: £223 for 8 boxes

HelloFresh (Weeks 9-12)

• Week 9: £19 (50% off)
• Weeks 10-12: £38 each
• Total: £133 for 4 boxes

Mindful Chef (Weeks 13-20)

• Weeks 13-16: £25-30 (various discounts)
• Weeks 17-20: £35-38
• Total: ~£240 for 8 boxes

Back to Full Price or Rotate Again (Weeks 21-48)

• Remaining boxes: ~£950

Total Annual Cost with Switching: ~£1,546

Annual Savings: £278

And that’s being conservative! If you’re more aggressive with switching and use multiple email addresses, you could save even more.

How to Execute the Strategy (Step by Step)

Step 1: Sign Up for Your First Service

Start with whichever service has the best new customer deal right now. As of January 2026:

• HelloFresh: 60% off your first box
• Gousto: 50% off 1st box, 40% off 2nd, 20% off boxes 3-8
• Mindful Chef: Varies, typically 25% off first 4 boxes
• Green Chef: Similar to HelloFresh

Check current deals here

Step 2: Enjoy Your Discounted Boxes

Use the service normally. Most new customer discounts last 4-8 weeks, which gives you plenty of time to:

• Try different recipes
• Figure out your favorite meal combinations
• See if the service fits your lifestyle

Step 3: Set a Calendar Reminder

This is crucial: Set a reminder for 1-2 weeks before your discount ends.

Better yet, use our free deal reminder service - we’ll email you automatically when it’s time to switch, plus show you which service has the best deal next.

Step 4: Cancel Before Full Price Kicks In

Here’s how to cancel each service:

Gousto: Account → Subscription → Pause or Cancel HelloFresh: My Menu → Subscription → Cancel Subscription Mindful Chef: Account Settings → Manage Subscription → Cancel Green Chef: Similar to HelloFresh

Pro tip: They’ll usually offer you a retention deal. Feel free to take it if it’s good, but don’t feel pressured!

Step 5: Switch to the Next Service

As soon as you cancel, sign up for your next service. Don’t wait - new customer deals can change.

Important: Use a different email address or sign up in your partner’s name. Most services track by email.

Step 6: Repeat the Cycle

Keep rotating. After 3-6 months away from a service, you can often return as a “new” customer again (using a different email).

Common Questions & Concerns

”Isn’t This Against the Terms of Service?”

No. Each service’s terms allow you to cancel at any time. You’re simply:

• Canceling one service
• Starting a new service with a different company
• Using legitimate new customer offers

There’s nothing dishonest about it. You’re a new customer to each service when you sign up.

”What About Using Multiple Email Addresses?”

This is where it gets grey. Some people use:

• Partner’s email
• Work email
• Gmail aliases (yourname+gousto@gmail.com)

Technically, services could ban you for this. In practice, it rarely happens because:

1. Different email = different customer in their system
2. They want your business, even if discounted
3. Many households genuinely have multiple people

Use your judgment. At minimum, you can rotate between 4 services once per year legitimately.

”Is All This Hassle Really Worth £200?”

That’s for you to decide, but consider:

• Time investment: ~30 minutes every 2 months to cancel and sign up
• That’s £200 for about 3 hours of work = £67/hour
• You’re getting meal kits anyway - might as well save

Plus, you get to try different services and find your favorites!

”What If I Actually Like One Service?”

Then stick with it! But at least try the rotation once to:

1. See what else is out there
2. Save money while comparing
3. Have a baseline for what’s actually the best

You can always go back to your favorite - hopefully with a win-back discount!

Pro Tips for Maximizing Savings

1. Stack Discounts When Possible

Some services offer:

• Referral bonuses (£20-30 off)
• Bank or credit card offers (Amex, Monzo sometimes have deals)
• Cashback sites (TopCashback, Quidco)

Check these before signing up!

2. Choose the Right Box Size

Per-meal cost decreases with more meals. If you can use 4-5 meals instead of 2-3:

• You save £1-2 per meal
• That’s an extra £50-100 per year
• Plus you’ll cook at home more (saving on takeaways)

3. Pause Instead of Cancel (Sometimes)

If a service offers you a good retention discount when you try to cancel, consider “pausing” for a week instead.

You can still try other services, but you keep the retention deal for when you return.

4. Use Our Free Tools

We’ve built tools to make this easier:

• Savings Calculator: See exactly how much you’ll save
• Deal Comparison: Compare all current offers side-by-side
• Free Reminders: Get email alerts when your discounts end

5. Be Strategic About Timing

• Sign up Sunday/Monday for Thursday/Friday delivery
• Avoid busy periods (Christmas, summer) when deals might be worse
• Check for special promotions (January, September often have big deals)

What You Need to Track

To execute this strategy successfully, track:

1. Which service you’re currently using
2. When your discount ends
3. Which services you’ve already used (and when)
4. Your approximate monthly spending

Use a simple spreadsheet or our reminder service to stay organized.

The Bottom Line: Is It Worth It?

Yes, if:

• You’re already using meal kits regularly
• You don’t mind spending 30 minutes every few months to switch
• Saving £200-300/year matters to you
• You enjoy trying different services

Maybe not if:

• You rarely use meal kits
• You’re extremely busy and value convenience over savings
• You’re deeply loyal to one specific service

For most people, the switching strategy is a no-brainer. It’s like getting a free holiday every year, funded by your meal kit savings!

Ready to Start Saving?

Here’s your action plan for today:

1. Compare current deals and pick the best one
2. Sign up as a new customer (takes 5 minutes)
3. Set up free deal reminders so you never miss a switch
4. Use our savings calculator to see your potential savings

Start with Gousto right now - they currently have the best new customer deal: Get 50% off your first box →

Happy saving!

Quick Reference: Current Best Deals (January 2026)

See full comparison with all box sizes →

Have questions about the switching strategy? Feel free to reach out or check out our complete FAQ section.