Could you do it?

Simone shares her favourite money-saving tips:

✣ Stock up on store-cupboard staples such as wholemeal rice.

✣ Make your own bread – naan breads are easy and you can find simple recipes online.

✣ Adapt recipes to include items you already have.

✣ Batch-prepare and freeze lentils and beans, ready to go into dishes as needed.

✣ Buy cheap misshapen fruit and veg at the farmer’s market – it’s not as expensive as you might think.

✣ Don’t give in to pester power – distract your kids by giving them supermarket ‘challenges’ such as asking them to fetch bags of rice.

✣ Don’t use a trolley – only get what you can carry in a basket!

✣ Send your partner to buy the midweek top-up shop – he’ll stick to the list and won’t be tempted to spend unnecessarily.