START BY EATING UP YOUR STORE CUPBOARD

TRY a ‘use-it-up’ month where you finish all the food you have in tins, packets and bottles in your store cupboard — and only buy perishables to go with these.

It’s a great way of cutting food bills for a few weeks and will mean you finally get to try that Thai green curry mix you bought all those months ago! Only buy fruit and vegetables in season as these are usually cheaper. And shop in the afternoon to make the most of discounted yellow-sticker items, which the supermarkets need to get shot of by the end of the day.

It’s surprising how much you can save doing this.