So this one is all about saving money, which the LH thinks is hysterical.

Finances have never been my strong point.

Most of my student debt was due to inappropriate outfits, ‘real food’ and cocktails. The real food I can justify (brain food!) the outfits and cocktails not so much …. Once I’d cleaned up my act and grown up, my accounting was still dicey. Belco shut off our electricity twice before I finally learnt my lesson. It didn’t go down well the first time, let alone the second. Since then, I’ve handed over responsibility for the bill paying which is a mixed blessing.

At the Mailboxes Unlimited office there is a funny sign on the board: “Dear God, please don’t let my husband be home when all my online orders arrive….” I feel the same way about arriving back with the groceries.

The thing is, good-quality food is right at the top of my priority list. However it’s not easy to justify an organic yellow pepper if it costs $7. Things like that tend to happen when I shop in a rush — which is most of the time. So, for the sake of marital harmony, I’ve been slowing down and spending less. Here are five things that have worked for me so far. I’d love it if you joined me on Facebook — share your own tips in the comments!

Grocery shopping with limited funds: 1. Buy local and in season

Seasonal produce is usually cheaper. It’s more nutrient-dense too, especially when it’s local and makes its way from the earth to your table relatively quickly. In terms of nutrition, you get a better bang for your buck.

2. Go frozen

Frozen produce is often just as nutritious as fresh — although that does depend on how you prepare it.

Resist the urge to boil frozen vegetables as just five minutes can reduce the nutrient content by 75 per cent. Try steaming them instead, or adding them straight into pasta dishes, stews or stir fry.

However, presuming that you buy a combination of fresh and frozen, make sure you use the fresh stuff first. It often feels easier to grab a frozen box, but it’s really annoying when you discover shrivelled produce in the fridge.

3. Lower your expectations

If you’re a good cook it can be hard to simplify but there’s nothing wrong with an omelette and salad or beans on toast.

Simple recipes are often cheaper to shop for. Try baked potatoes too. One of our favourites is “pasta hummus”. Boil pasta, drain, stir in 1 TBS hummus per person and a serving of fresh tomato pasta sauce. Creamy and delicious — serve with lots of vegetables or salad!

4. Repeats Leftovers are the way to go. Completely strip a chicken after a roast for a healthy chicken fried rice (see Facebook for the recipe).

Use leftover mash for fishcakes. Transform extra pasta into a stir-fry. Revive day-old vegetables in a frittata. Stop throwing things away!

5. Waitrose chicken

I’m all for organic chicken but it’s hard to stomach the prices. I can’t tolerate the factory-farming system though either. Step in Waitrose (at Supermart), which follows British farming standards, has an additional “five pillars of animal welfare” policy and is cheaper than organic (they do have an organic line too though if you want to be super-virtuous). Heads up: the Waitrose delivery hits the shelves on Fridays and is usually gone by Monday.

The advice given in this article is not intended to replace medical advice, but to complement it. Always consult your GP if you have any health concerns. Catherine Burns BA Hons, Dip ION is the managing director of Natural Ltd and a fully qualified nutritional therapist trained by the Institute for Optimum Nutrition. Please note she is not a registered dietitian. For details, go to www.natural.bm or call 236-7511. Join Catherine on Facebook: www.facebook.com/nutri fitandnaturalnutritionbermuda