Anti-poverty campaigner Jack Monroe has shared some useful tips to help cash-strapped shoppers save some money on their weekly shopping bill.
The anti-poverty campaigner and author recently took to social media to share their top tips that will help shoppers pick up what they need while not going over budget.
It will come as welcome news for consumers across the country who will be looking to cut down their costs wherever they can amidst the cost of living crisis.
Just recently, drivers across the country were hit with the news that energy prices will rise in April.
So, the idea of saving a bit of money on another living essential such as groceries will certainly be something that could help families that are facing tough times ahead.
In a recent Twitter thread, Monroe shared how families can cut their weekly food bill to £20 a week by doing a "full stocktake" and organising around what is available in their house.
Here is how you can cut down your costs.
How can shoppers cut down their food bills?
The campaigner shared in a recent Twitter thread that one of their best tips begins with a full stocktake of what they have in their cupboards, fridge and freezer and detail them on a sheet of A4 paper.
Monroe tweeted: "I get an A4 sheet of lined paper and divide it into 4 vertical columns: PROTEINS, CARBOHYDRATES, FRUIT & VEG, and the end column is split into two, FLAVOURS and SNACKS."
If shoppers are feeling particularly 'meticulous' then they can weigh it all, but she does say that it is usually better to measure food in units and portions.
Jack then explains that the next step is to note down what foods are due to go off and then plan meals based around them by adding bits from the other columns.
She then explains that she builds meals based around protein first to help "visualise and create balanced meals."
Shoppers can save money by using the 'gap-filling' method, which means that you can fill in the gaps in the columns by adding what you need or are running low on.
For example, the anti-poverty campaigner says that they'll be using a lot of frozen fish, frozen chicken, dried beans pulses as they are currently available in their household.
Speaking of the genius tips, Monroe added: "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."
While admitting that the process was a "bit laborious" at the start, the former food bank user does say that having a physical list has helped reassure them on what food they have.
The savvy budgeting tips comes just after the campaigner criticised Asda for their lack of budget-priced ranges on supermarket shelves for low income families.
The supermarket responded by announcing that they would make their full Smart Price and Farm Store ranges available in every store across the country.
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