A TikToker determined to hack his way through the cost of living crisis has been roasted online for his budget date night dishes – but says it’s “all a bit of banter”.
Elliot William first started sharing his tips online after the UK’s energy bills price hike, having gone viral for his incredible tips including making roast dinners for six with all the trimmings for £25.
The 36-year-old, who is happily married to wife Rebecca, 32, has now gone viral again sharing some of his favourite dishes that cost less than £1 to make – including romantic meals for couples.
But not all users have taken to the dishes so well.
“I believe that any meal can be used as a date meal and you shouldn’t have to pair expensive meals with romance,” Elliot,, from Preston, Lancashire, told Need to Know.
“It’s not about the food, it’s about the person and their character.
“With a little imagination, you can make a decent meal for a small amount of money.
“Rebecca and I want to help people by demonstrating what you could buy and make if you had little money – but I’d happily eat these meals myself too.
“I try to make videos that are light-hearted and it’s all a bit of banter to make people laugh as well as get tips.
“But as for cooking for dates; if the person really likes you, they’d laugh about the food and if they don’t, then it says a lot about them.
“I don’t mind people saying negative things or making jokes, it’s a bit of fun at the end of the day!”
In some of his date-inspired videos, which have over two million views combined, Elliot shares meals such as a lunch date meal for £1.20 that involves wholemeal bread and fish fingers and a second date meal for just 60p for a panini with cheese.
Another date night meal for two, which costs just 53p includes a spaghetti pasta with baked beans.
While some social media users applaud Elliot’s ingenuity, others have been let a bit stunned.
“I’ll end up as the topic for ‘worse tinder dats’ for someones tiktok content,” joked one woman. [sic]
‘Expect to never see her again lol,” added Shannah. [sic]
“You shouldn’t even. be thinking of dating if you can only afford £1 dinner,” wrote another user.
“I feel like puking,” added someone else, to which Elliot replied: “Then you need to match better dates.”
“Just because you can, does not mean you should,” wrote another user.
“Cheers the wifes asking for a divorce,” joked someone else. [sic]
Others were more keen on the content.
One fan wrote: “Really love this channel! Giving people ways to feed themselves when they’re struggling! Well done you!”
Speaking with Jam Press, Elliot has also shared two exclusive recipes for other budget meals under £1 to share with a date, friends, family or just enjoy solo.
‘MORRISONS TOMATO & KIDNEY BEAN PASTA’
In another video, Elliot reveals how to make a veggie tomato pasta for 50p per dish, captioning the clip: “Morrisons saver £1 meal”.
In the clip, he picks up a bag of spaghetti for 29p, a tin of red kidney beans for 33p, and a tin of tomatoes for 38p.
Once home, the TikToker fries up the tomatoes, boils the kidney beans and adds the ingredients to the pasta before stirring.
He’s left with two hearty servings at 50p per plate.
The clip has over 22,300 views, as well as over 450 likes and plenty of comments.
Wendy said: “Few herbs, chilli salt n pepper and a pinch of sugar to cut the acidity of the tomatoes and it would be alright I reckon.” [sic]
Debz added: “If you make a curry sauce then add a jar of cheap pasta sauce it’s banging with kidney beans.”
Someone else wrote: “Bloody cheap prices, I live in Spain and everything is at least twice or trice more expensive.”
“I’d put the beans and tomato in the pan and the some rice and make the rice Cook with the ingredients, adding a bit of water if It needs it,” added Iru.
‘FISH PASTA À LA ALDI’
Lastly, Elliot makes a fish pasta dish using Aldi products, for only 64p per serving.
In the clip, he grabs a bag of penne for 41p, a tin of tomatoes for 28p, some sardines in oil for 46p and a can of peas in water for 24p.
The video has over 80,100 likes, over 1,500 likes and tones of comments from TikTok users.
Liege said: “I love how most of these meals are just bosh it all in. Cheap and simple.”
Someone else added: “Sardines so nice and cheap good for gym gains.”
“Got to say it ain’t too bad, but I will trying some of these meals and this page could help lots of families, well done,” wrote Jay. [sic]
“That looks so good omg,” said someone else. [sic]
“That’s a pretty healthy meal, good job,” commented another user.
