How to get more cluck for your buck

“What’s for tea mam?,” I used to shout through t’ kitchen every afternoon as I sat watching telly. Not sure why I bothered, as the response was always: “meat and veg, love”. Nowt wrong with that.

My diet’s certainly got more varied since then, and I don’t rely on my partner to cook my grub - but I’m still partial to a bit of meat and veg (potatoes count as veg, right?). This leads me to this handy tip to make your meat stretch that bit further, without having to pump it full of water like some cheeky companies do.

The next time you’re in the shop and you pick up a pack of chicken breasts, which will set you back anywhere from £3 upwards (if you’re lucky), stick it back in the fridge. Instead, get yourself a whole chicken, which will probably be about the same price. Rather than just one meal, it’ll keep you in scran for a few days, depending on how peckish you are (geddit?!).

If you want to keep it really cheep (sorry), whack it in the slow cooker for a few hours to keep the energy cost as low as possible. And, if you’re a sucker for crispy skin, finish it off under the grill. Delicious, moist, and plenty enough for the next day or two.

That’s one way to get more cluck for your buck - but don’t stop there. Buying pre-diced meat is rarely good value for money, be it chicken, pork or anything else. You pay a premium for a machine doing a job you could do yourself in a minute or two.

Next time you’re tempted to buy diced, don’t, and instead put the money to one side to save up for a decent chopping knife. If you’re really confident with a butcher’s knife, buy whole cuts of any meat and do the dirty work yourself. Pre-packaged meat tends to set you back in comparison.

Cheaper cuts are always worth considering too. Don’t let the childhood memories of tough, chewy meat put you off. They didn’t have the old interweb back then! These days a quick search will tell you exactly how to cut that tricky cut of meat.

Last but not least, you could always eat less meat! Meat ain’t cheap and it’s probably going to get more and more expensive, so it could be the perfect time to get some decent veggie recipes under your belt. Grab a courgette and start exploring!

• Money saving