Martin Lewis says to go down a quality stage in your shopping... I urge you, do NOT try out the value range of.........

[Flamesparrow]

tea bags!

It is NOT a good saving. Tastes like hell in a bag.

Those Sainsers Basics mozzarella balls are actually really nice and not a bad price at all, though. So maybe not essential but a nice thing to have for a treat at a pretty good price.

Really, Horton? They are in the 'fridge and DH is away.

Really. What I like to do is cook some couscous or rice and stir the mozz balls in while it's still hot so they go a bit melty with salt, pepper, lemon juice, butter and loads of chopped cucumber, celery, tomato and peppers. I kid myself it's healthy because of all the veg. Actually, it's not unhealthy, really. Better than chocolate or crisps which are my other guilty pleasures when DD is asleep! Quarter the balls first for maximum meltiness. And you could go for olive oil instead of melty butter if you were feeling guilty.

Sorry, how sad is that? I think I just outed myself as eating what is basically rice salad as a treat!

Always be wary when cheap penne (or fusilli) takes only 5 mins to cook - this means it's so thin that it collapses on itself and has the most horrendous texture known to man.

(Long, flat pastas are OK to cook quickly though and obviously I mean dried pasta - not fresh)

I think cheapest way for pizza is 2 sachets of 'pizza base mix' in the co-op for 38p each or similar, then a bag of grated mozzarella (cheaper than solid in co-op for ome reason) for £1.25ish and a tin of chopped tomatoes or carton of passata (70p or less)
Hey presto - 2 x 11" pizzas for £2.80. (or less)
And totally fresh too!