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Sticking to a budget doesn’t have to be a dreary task. See it as a creative challenge. If you’re thrifty you can afford a few luxuries.

Here are a few ideas to inspire you, and hopefully to help you save a few pennies.

1. Stock your freezer – batch cook and snap up offers.  We’ve got money off lots of stuff this week, just to prove that point.

2. Shop online. Having the time to think about your shop stops you filling your trolley with junk you don’t need.

3. Plan a few meals so you can be strategic. If you want to make a soup that calls for a dash of cream, make sure you have other recipes planned that also call for cream.

4. Eat a pasta or rice-based meal once or twice a week. Carbohydrates are filling, healthy and a great way to use up leftovers and vegetable odds and ends.

5. Make a weekly roast – it doesn’t have to be on a Sunday. Spending £10-15 on a joint or whole chicken may seem pricey but you can get several meals out of, making it cheaper than buying a single cut in the end. (Put ‘chicken’ in our recipe library for lots of frugal tips.)

6. Ensure you clear your fridge out before you do your next shop.

7. Buy a loaf of bread and freeze half of it (slice it first). You can whip up a cheap but luxurious meal in seconds. Make cheese on toast using a good cheese, a few slices of pear, a handful of walnuts, a sliver of ham or roast beef… Use the frozen end for toast later in the week – or grate the frozen bread to make breadcrumbs for homemade fish cakes.

8. Always have tinned food in the cupboard – tomatoes, beans, pulses, fish. They’re great for quick and cheap meals (stews, soups, salads) to match your veg box.

9. Use your spuds. They’re loaded with potassium and are filling. You can use them as a side or feature them as the main event – colcannon flecked with ham or smoked roast salmon. See loads of recipes here.

10. Buy a treat – it might seem frivolous to suggest, but it’s a bit like dieting; allow yourself a treat and you’re less likely to have an impulsive splurge. A treat could be anything from some moulés frites, an artisan cheese or a gorgeous cake.

Do share your tips below, if you fancy it.