A money-saving mum has revealed how she spends under £20 a week on her food shop, with the help of a few handy tips.
Nicola Metcalfe, 35, shops in her local Aldi store and buys produce from the ‘essentials range’ to keep in budget, as well as having a handy document of meals for under a fiver to refer back to.
The mum, from Bradford, West Yorkshire shares her budget meal plans, prep, and shopping trips on her TikTok account (@dylandfyn) and has amassed over 83,000 followers and over 690,000 likes.
In her latest shopping video, the mum-of-two shared the results of her trip to Aldi, where she bought a week’s worth of meals for dinner – with the food shop costing just £19.
The popular post racked up over 92,000 likes and 1.5 million views, and Nicola has shared how she keeps her budget so low.
“Once a month I sort out my cupboards, fridge, and freezer and write down items that I have and that can be used for the next week, I call it a no food shop week,” Nicola, who works as an administrator, told NeedToKnow.co.uk.
“I also try to buy meals with some similar ingredients so I can incorporate them into multiple meals and again help with food waste.
“It can cut my shop down by £100 every month.”
She and her husband Chris, 38, are parents to sons Dylan, 16, and seven-year-old Fynley.
To help with family meal inspiration and convenience, Nicola has created a large document full of budget meal ideas, which she says helps her find her weekly meals for all the family to enjoy.
She said: “I have created a whole document of approximately 50 £5 meal ideas.
“I have it printed in a folder and then the night before my shop we go through it, pick six to seven meals, and shop for them.”
To help other parents in light of the cost of living crisis, she has made the lost available free of charge on her website, to help families have tasty meals without a large price tag attached.
Nicola mainly shops at Aldi, which she finds is the best value for money and cheaper than other UK supermarkets, as well as being her local.
She said: “I don’t really shop around anymore, only because I know that Aldi Is usually the cheapest.”
To keep in budget and help with food waste the mum-of-two clears out her cupboard monthly.
She says it helps with food waste and cuts her shopping costs down dramatically.
Talking about her overwhelming response on social media, Nicola said: “I receive some really overwhelming messages saying how much it has helped them through tough weeks and months and I am really grateful.”
COST BREAKDOWN
Wonky potatoes 2.5kg – £1.15
Frozen mixed veg – 85p
Sausages – £1.50
Essentials carrots 33p
Penne Pasta 41p
Shortcrust pastry £1.19
400g medium cheddar £2.55
Chorizo – 99p
Mixed leaf salad x2 – £1.14
Plain naan x2 – £1.38
Pasta bake sauce – 75p
Meatball sauce – 85p
Baked beans essential x2 – 56p
Essentials garlic baguette – 37p
Essentials Tuna x2 – £1.10
Sweetcorn – 72p
Beef meatballs – £2.19
Casserole mix – 36p
Large baking potato x3 – 46p
Essentials spaghetti – 28p
TOTAL – £19.95
