It can be hard to keep your food bills low when you have to keep a few mouths fed.
Prices of groceries are rising, and it's not always easy to make sure the cupboards are fully stocked.
But one savvy shopper thinks there are ways to keep the cost down.
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Eilish Stout-Cairns, a 27-year-old actor from Newcastle, spends as little as £14.51 on groceries each week.
She does it all by shopping at Asda, and is able to stay full with meals such as pesto pasta, porridge with jam and a jacket potato with baked beans.
Who knew cooking could be so cheap?
The savvy shopper told money-saving community LatestDeals.co.uk: "When it’s close to the end of the month, or I need to cut back due to unexpected costs cropping up, I use this shopping list to keep my grocery spend in check.
"It’s great because I can stock up on essential items and still snack between meals if I get peckish – but I’m spending less than £15 per week!"
Eilish’s money-saving shopping list
- Just Essentials by Asda Porridge Oats 1kg
- Just Essentials by Asda Strawberry Jam 454g
- Just Essentials By Asda White Bread
- Just Essentials By Asda 15 Eggs
- Just Essentials by Asda Vegetable Soup 400g (3 tins)
- The Bakery at Asda 6 Wholemeal Pittas
- Asda British Fluffy Golden Large Baking Potato (1 pack of 4)
- Just Essentials by Asda Baked Beans (2 tins)
- Asda Green Pesto
- Asda Fusilli
- Just Essentials by Asda Grated Mild Cheddar Cheese
- Asda Red Pepper (2 peppers)
- Just Essentials by Asda 6 Pack Ready Salted Crisps
- Asda Ginger Nuts
"My nearest shop is Asda, and I’ve learned which of their Just Essentials range work best for me," she added.
"For example, their porridge oats are just 90p for 1kg and one pack can easily last me just over two weeks! That’s 0.06p per serving!
"Getting protein in isn’t difficult, as it only costs £1.99 for a pack of 15 eggs, and I can use them in different meals – such as egg on toast or a vegetable omelette.
"I tend to choose between soup with pitta bread or a jacket potato for lunch, and both of these options fill me up until dinner time.
"If I get peckish though, the budget still allows me to pick up some ready salted crisps and ginger nut biscuits which only cost 55p.
"By weaving in super cheap items into your shopping list you can afford to budget for more expensive items so you’re eating decent, filling meals."
She said baked beans are just 28p a tin with the Just Essentials range, and a pack of four baking potatoes are just 65p.
The clever cook only uses half a tin on her jacket potato, so it works out at just over 30p per serving.
Cheaper meals like this means she can afford to pick up pesto to make an indulgent dinner with pasta, and for a healthier option she can combine red pepper and cheddar with eggs to make a filling vegetable omelette.
She said the shopping list works "really well" for her, as it helps to keep her monthly bill down.
Eilish’s meal plan
- Breakfast – porridge and jam or egg on toast
- Lunch – soup and pitta or jacket potato and baked beans
- Dinner – vegetable omelette or pesto pasta
- Snacks – ready salted crisps, ginger nut biscuits
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