Gemma Kennedy, from Belfast, realized she and her husband were spending £500($650) a month on food so they decided to cut this down to just £200($260).
“We were spending money on nothing,” Gemma, who runs the Instagram account TheUndomesticatedWife, said.
“We used to eat out because it gave us something to do, but as soon as you sit at a table that’s around £60($78) gone straight away.”
The couple decided to make a change and Gemma stocked up on basics like chopped tomatoes, rice and kidney beans and started meal planning. She also purchased meat in bulk from online retailer musclefood.com to slash bills even further.
Leftovers which used to go in bin now use into dishes like soup and fried rice and vegetables feature more prominently in meals. “I found the money-saving community on Instagram, which was such a big help to me as it makes me accountable,” Gemma said.
“I share my recipes too. Cooking has become a hobby and it’s great to be able to share something you’re proud of.”
“The chicken breasts from muscle food are perfect because they’re so big, so they go so much further the ones you’d usually buy at the supermarket. One breast can sometimes make up two portions, which makes such a difference, especially when it comes to meal prepping.”
“The chicken is all perfectly prepared as well, I can use it straight away without having to cut any of the horrible bits off. It’s definitely our go to meat as it’s so versatile and can be cooked up into any number of dishes, from tacos to pies, and they’re all so tasty!”
After this money-saving idea, the couple managed to pay for a two-week cruise around the Mediterranean in one lump sum, as well as holidays to Cartegena, Barcelona and Ibiza.
“The whole process of being frugal and saving cash would be a lot more difficult if I completely denied myself and stopped spending anything,” she explained.
“So, I give myself a £100($130) budget for treats. I can spend this on getting my nails done, buying some new clothes or treating us to a meal out – but once it’s gone, it’s gone.”
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