A thrifty mum-of-two manages to save hundreds every month on the cost of food using a number of lesser known tricks.
Emma Stretton, from Manchester, estimates that she saves up to €237 a month by following some clever tricks to feed her family.
With inflation increasing the cost of food, CashLady.com has partnered with ‘Instagram Mum’ Emma, @emma.wears.it.all, who has shared the savvy ways that she saves on food essentials.
She shared her top tips with RSVP Live which include using meal prep suppliers and plating up some good old-fashioned dinners.
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Order your food shop online: Save €17
“As I work full-time, I don’t find it very easy to get to the budget supermarkets like Aldi or Lidl. As such, I do all my food shopping online. I plan out what we will eat for the whole week, including weekends, then write a list. The bonus of online shopping is that I find it easier to stick to the list. I’m not tempted by treats or offers on things I don’t need. I also have a Clubcard to make the most of Clubcard points; you’re pretty much throwing money away if you don’t.
“I have zero brand loyalty and buy whatever is the cheapest. The kids like to moan about me buying unbranded items but when I explain that spending less in that way means more money to spend on treats or exciting things, they understand. Explaining why this is important is great for teaching kids about budgeting and making them appreciate what they have.
“When doing your online food shop, always stick to the list and get the cheapest option, even if the kids love brands.”
Purchase a Delivery Saver pass: save €52
“With the online shopping, I have a Delivery Saver pass that I paid for with Clubcard points. This gives me free delivery any day of the week after 3pm. We usually get the shopping delivered on Thursdays, ready for the weekend. The Saver pass would normally have cost €34 for six months, but I traded in all my Clubcard points and got it for free.”
Keep switching meal prep suppliers: save €96.64
“We use meal prep boxes as neither myself or my husband are any good at cooking. We swap and change between them, making the most of the discount deals for the first few weeks. Then, when the discounts run out, we move to another one. They always send offers to entice you back, so we just keep using these. It’s a bit more of an effort but worth it for the savings.”
Plate up old-fashioned dinners: save €31
“There’s nothing wrong with a tin of spaghetti hoops and sausages on toast, or a good old jacket potato and beans. I try to get the kids eating lots of variety but some nights an old-fashioned classic saves money and a lot of time. Even fish fingers are super-expensive now. My kids love a tin of ravioli and frozen garlic bread. It might not be glamorous, but it fills them up and it always gets eaten a lot quicker than the wholesome, nutritious meals that cost more.
“Other inexpensive meals are pasta and pesto with some ham thrown in or bagel pizzas - both of these guarantee clear plates. We also buy a whole chicken on a Sunday, roast it and leave it in the fridge to quickly add into meals or sandwiches during the week. If you put half a lemon in, it helps keep it fresh and lasts a few days.”
Create your own sweet bowls: save €9
“My kids, like everyone else’s, love sweets. To make things stretch further, I buy the store-brand packs of sweets that are 4 for €1 and then mix them all up in a big bowl with some own-brand chocolate buttons. We call it a sweet bowl and they insist on one every time we watch a film or have a lazy afternoon. It’s cheaper than buying the individual packets of expensive sweets and a lot more fun too.”
Provide snack boxes: save €11
“In the school holidays, the kids get a snack box each. Each morning, the box is filled with the right amount of snacks for the day. They can choose when to eat the items inside but if they’re all gone by 11am, they won’t get any more. It also means that when the fruit is inevitably the last thing in the box, they have no choice but to eat it if they’re hungry.
“My youngest also gets free fruit snacks at school so we don’t buy him snacks to take with him. I know some parents still send in their own snacks, but I don’t see the point when they can get something at school for free. It also encourages kids to try new things.”
Switch cereal for crumpets or fruit: save €13
“Since prices have gone up, I’ve found it a lot cheaper to buy things like crumpets, brioche rolls or potato cakes for breakfast. It means we aren’t buying cereal or anywhere near as much milk. When we do have cereal, there is a choice of porridge or Weetabix, then a ‘special’ cereal like own-brand Coco Pops for the weekend. You really don’t need 15 different varieties and six pints of milk for breakfast. A couple of crumpets and some inexpensive fruit, like a banana or an apple, is plenty.”
Introduce the 'Restaurant Rule': save €6.02
“If we take the kids out to a restaurant or pub for a meal then we invoke the Restaurant Rule. This means they get one drink of their choice, usually a Diet Coke, and if they drink it all and want another one, they have water. They don’t love it, but they’re used to it now and it stops them necking their drink and then immediately wanting another one. It’s not a huge saving but again, it just teaches them the value of money and means they can have a pudding instead.”
TOTAL ESTIMATED SAVINGS: €237
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