A food expert has revealed how Brits can save a hefty sum from their weekly food shop.
Former food bank user and anti-poverty campaigner Jack Monroe took to social media to explain how Brits could save each week on their food shops by doing a quick stocktake.
Saving extra cash is crucial for Brits at the moment as the country faces a cost of living crisis caused in part by a rise in inflation.
Energy bills are rising by a whopping 54%, and so far government plans to account for this hike do not cover the costs for millions of Brits.
A few extra pennies will therefore be vital in the coming months, and slashing a family's grocery shop to £20 a week could make a big difference as some people face tough choices on their food and bills.
So how can people save money on their food shop?
How can I save money on my food shop?
The method described for people doing their weekly food shop is to take a "full stocktake" of what products are already in their home, noting down what they've got in the cupboards on a piece of paper.
Monroe explained on Twitter: "I get an A4 sheet of lined paper and divide it into 4 vertical columns: proteins, carbohydrates, fruit and beg, and the end column is split into two, flavours and snacks."
The expert also recommended that when people are feeling "extra meticulous" they can weigh what they have in stock, but it is usually better to measure the food in portions.
After noting down what is in their cupboards, freezer and fridge, people should look at which foods are about to go off and plan those meals first, by using items from other columns.
Building meals around protein can help ensure your nutritional needs are met, then you can pick one item from each column to make a balanced dish.
Money can be saved using this method by 'gap-filling' the columns where items are needed to complete a meal.
"It’s genuinely revolutionised the way I cook and shop and reduces a lot of my anxiety around food, impulse purchasing things I don’t need, reduces food waste, and keeps the food bill low. It also helps me plan balanced meals, and sparks off all kinds of avenues of creativity," Jack added.
Why do I need to save on the money I spend on food?
Inflation and the cost of living crisis is making things difficult for Brits at the moment.
Despite the useful tips, many Brits simply struggle with the day-to-day worries over where their next meal will come from and may not have the capacity to save from stock in the cupboards if there is nothing there in the first place.
The chancellor's plans to cover the energy bill rise with a £200 loan and council tax rebate does not cover the average £693 rise in yearly bills.
A recent report by Research for the Food Foundation found numbers of Brits living in food insecurity rose by a fifth in six months, while a million adults have gone a full day without eating in the past month.
Around 8.8% of UK households - 4.7 million adults - were reported to be struggling with buying food.
Monroe conceded that her trick for saving on food would not solve the crisis and wrote in response to one comment: "I'm not suggesting it will work for everyone, I’m just sharing what works for me now. I recognise it takes a level of organisation and mental capacity that I didn’t have in my worst times."
She also wrote: "No, a sheet of A4 paper isn’t going to solve food poverty. But it might help a few people save a few quid and feel a bit less s**t, and that’s got to mean something."
