Not every ‘money saving’ hack is worth your time

“Yes, you could cook up the entire chicken carcass to make stock, but it takes hours and once you’ve added all your vegetables and had the hob running for hours, it’s no longer a money saver. Homemade stock is great, but there’s a reason 50p stock cubes exist.

“Pesto is another example. I’m not going to say pesto you buy in a jar is better but you’re not going to make pesto for less than £10 realistically, so just buy it.”

You don’t need a big garden or green thumbs to grow your own

“Fresh herbs have become expensive and they don’t last long, so grow them on your window-sill. Basics like parsley, thyme, and chives last all year and they’re much fresher.

“I also recommend growing chilli. We planted from seed and it was incredibly easy to grow, and we had dozens of chillis growing from it. Plus it’s a nice plant to look at so it’s a good one to have in your kitchen anyway.”

Invest in time-saving ingredients

“Sometimes you have to take the quick wins when you’re busy and at times like that, I think cutting corners is the best thing to do.

“For example, orzo is brilliant because it cooks so much more quickly than any other kind of pasta. Don’t cook rice – just use the microwaveable packets, the supermarket brands do them incredibly cheap, just as good as Uncle Ben’s, and they’re great for sticking in soups, or soaking up leftover portions of chilli.

“The potato waffle-topped cottage pie I do has been controversial but I can’t believe how many people have made it. That’s a great time-saver. Instead of making mash, just put potato waffles on top of the mince and sprinkle cheese over it.

“If you must have mash, I just discovered you can buy it frozen. Stick it in the microwave, add milk, salt and pepper and you’re done. Frozen vegetables are brilliant in general, frozen sweet potato is perfect for a cottage pie too. It’s loads cheaper than fresh and lasts much longer.”