We all have the occasional week where money is a little tight and could do with a cheaper grocery bill.
Planning a weeks worth of meals in advance will help save money on groceries as you can list exactly what ingredients you'll need and then only buy the essentials.
Including some of the following meals on the plan will ensure your grocery shop is affordable.
o Pasta - Pasta is always a good option for a cheap meal as it is filling.
Macaroni cheese (cover the pasta with homemade cheese sauce and put in the oven for half an hour) and pasta bake with tuna and sweetcorn are two of the cheapest options.
o Jacket potatoes - A cheap and versatile meal.
Jacket potatoes are a great way of using up leftovers such as curry or chilli con carne, if there isn't quite enough to make a complete meal.
o Shepherds pie - This meal also has the benefit that it can be frozen, so there is no waste.
o Egg, chips and beans - For healthier chips, slice your potatoes and brush them with egg white and spices.
Cook in the oven at 190C, tossing them after 15 minutes so they cook evenly.
o Stews and casseroles - This is a good way to use vegetables which are passed their best and leftovers of meat.
Cook in bulk and freeze the leftovers.
o Pizza - homemade dough is simple to make and costs pennies and a tasty topping can be made from a tin of chopped tomatoes, herbs, chopped onion and/or garlic and some grated cheese.
o Pancakes - Just flour, egg and milk.
Can be made sweet or savoury depending what you have left in the cupboards.
o Noodles - toss in whatever vegetables you have left and do a stir fry.
o Fajitas - Fill with beans such as chickpeas or kidney beans, spices, herbs and some rice.
These are just a few ideas to get you started.
Being a little creative with the ingredients you already have in the cupboard, and being more organized about planning meals ahead, will guarantee cheaper food bills.