Mother-of-three reveals she feeds family meals for 29p a head

Mother reveals how she feeds her family nutritious meals for as little as 29p a head by batch cooking, using a free food app and only using her oven ONCE a week amid cost of living crisis

  • Dom Richards, 36, from Nottinghamshire, feeds her family on £35 per week 
  • Called herself a ‘savvy spender’ as she claimed she makes meals for 29p a head 
  • Money-saving tricks include meal planning and using pump bottles for products  

A savvy mother-of-three has revealed how she feeds her family nutritious meals for as little as 29p a head, saving £3,000 on groceries in less than one year. 

Dom Richards, 36, who is an events business manager from Nottinghamshire, who calls herself a ‘savvy spender’, is able to feed her family of five for £35 a week.

She lives with boyfriend Dean, 30, and her children Cameron, 15, Oliver, 10 and Jackson, eight months, and creates nutritious meals including curries, lasagnes and pasta bakes costing on average between 29p and 60p per person. 

The mother-of-three explained how she is able to save money by using an app to find free or unused food in the area, only using the oven once-a-week to save on energy bill and carefully meal planning a week in advance.

She revealed:  ‘If you fail to plan, you plan to fail – planning is key to saving money.’

Dom Richards, 36, from Nottinghamshire, pictured with boyfriend Dean, 30, and children Cameron, 15, Oliver, 10, and Jackson, eight months, has claimed to spend 29p per head on healthy and nutritious meals for her family 

Dom made a cheese and tomato bacon pasta bake with garlic butter baguettes and salad for 29p per person by sourcing most of the ingredients free from Olio, the anti-food waste app 

The mother-of-three aims to make eight portions out of one meal using ingredients which she either buys or is given for free using an app 

The 36-year-old sits down with her family each week and creates a meal plan for the week ahead, ensuring that her shopping list is only for the essentials. 

She explained: ‘I ask my family what they’d like to eat for the week, as I want them to enjoy their food.

‘I see what’s in the fridge that needs using up and then research recipes which will work around these aspects.

‘I usually assign meals for each day of the week and ensure that they’re different every time, because I don’t want my family to be bored.

The 36-year-old, who lives with her boyfriend Dean and her three children, said that she spends £35 on food for her family for the week 

Dom only uses her oven once a week to make Sunday lunch, pictured, and pre-cooks other meals at the same time to save energy 

Dom’s top tips for saving money while cooking for a family  

  • Only use the oven once a week and pre-cook other meals at the same time to use less energy
  • Bulk out meals like lasagne with fresh vegetables and lentils to make the meal stretch further 
  • Sit down with family and creates a meal plan for the week ahead. Ensure shopping list is only for the essentials
  • Batch cook to create eight portions from one meal and freeze any leftovers 
  • Use apps, like Olio, to find free and unused food in the area 
  • Use pump bottles to make products like shampoos and washing up liquid last longer 
  • Use everything in your kitchen to pull a meal together as there’s no such thing as waste

‘Bulking out meals such as lasagne with fresh vegetables or lentils can help to make the meal stretch, all while changing up your taste buds.’

She continued: ‘I’m a firm believer of “cook once, eat twice” so we usually have a “Freezer Surprise” meal once a week – typically on a Thursday.

‘I don’t label the Tupperware, so it’s always a gamble on what you might get – but it’s a quick and easy meal which can be heated up in the microwave.

‘If I get eight portions out of one meal, or at least two extra portions, I know I’ve planned my week correctly.

‘Before you know it, there’s a store of meals built up in your freezer which helps to save time and money, as well as cutting back on waste.’

Meanwhile she said she also used an app  to find free and unused food in the area.

Dom was first hesitant to use the app, called Olio, because she feared she would be judged but after being on it for a year has said it is ‘life-changing.’ 

She said:  ‘We downloaded the app and saw that someone up the road was using it, who offered lots of free vegetables, patisserie items and breads.

‘It’s a stop food waste organisation where local volunteers sign up to collect food that’s nearly gone off and distribute this for free to locals.

‘You make a request and then pick up your crate if the items you’d like are available.

‘[At first] I was shocked, as I couldn’t believe how much we’d gotten for free.

‘Tangerines, onions, peppers, bread, as well as rolls filled the crate and I quickly realised that we would be alright on essentials for at least two weeks.’

Dom also saves money by buying reduced yellow sticker produce, including bread which can be frozen and fresh vegetables 

Dom added that planning is key and that she can get most of her ingredients, pictured, free while making sure her family gets their five a day 

The savvy mother said that after the first month she saved around £80 because she did not need to buy food staples for the fridge and cupboard.  

Dom now uses the app regularly and even plans her meals around what is available on the app.

She added: ‘I see what’s listed, then do a menu plan for the week around those items – but there’s many things such as bread and vegetables which I freeze to last.

‘I never have to buy the essentials anymore and I only ever buy exactly what I need.

‘I made a cheese and tomato bacon pasta bake with garlic butter baguettes and salad one night, which cost less than 30p a head.

‘As most of the ingredients were free from Olio, I was able to do this for cheap while ensuring that we all got in our five-a-day.

‘I don’t like wasting anything and I don’t believe there is such a thing as ‘waste’ as everything can be used if you get creative.’

Dom does not like waste and explained that everything can be used in meals and in the week if people get creative (pictured are ingredients for one of her recipes in a slow cooker)

Another trick that Dom uses is pump bottles, in a bid to make products last longer and reduce plastic waste. 

She said: ‘I use this method with washing up liquid, shampoos, conditioners – if it’s liquid, it goes in a pump bottle.

‘Every two months, I top up the bottle as opposed to getting through the whole thing in less than a month.

‘One washing up liquid bottle has lasted me around four months so far.

‘My sons used to put so much squash in one glass and then throw it away as it was so strong.

‘Now, I make a batch up every morning [using one pump of squash] and pop this into two jugs, in the fridge, where they can help themselves.


The 36-year-old also uses pump bottles for products such as shampoo, pictured, to make the products last longer. She also makes up two batches of squash, pictured right, and puts them in the fridge for her children to help themselves as another money saving hack

‘Instead of making one bottle last five days, this now lasts up to two weeks.’

The savvy spender, dubbed ‘Mrs Penny Pinch’ by teammates on the energy support and advice group she volunteers for, uses her time continuing to spot ways to save cash.  

The 36-year-old also only uses her oven once a week to make Sunday lunch and precooks other meals at the same time to use less energy.  

She became concerned that people ‘don’t know’ how to cook from scratch after the price hike was announced and said she feared many would find themselves ‘going without’ as a result.

The part-time community group volunteer has encouraged people to be creative with their kitchen essentials instead of ‘throwing money down the drain.’  

Dom, pictured, says that her money saving techniques have helped to save nearly £3,000 in less than a year 

Dom’s techniques have enabled her to save nearly £3,000 in less than a year.

Her savvy spending has left her in the best financial position of her life, allowing her to possibly even go abroad twice this year as she can afford to save for quality time with her family. 

She said:  ‘I’m used to not having much money due to debt in a previous relationship, as I wasn’t in a position to save.

‘I’ve now got ‘sinking funds’ to help save for all the big holidays and for any issues such as new tyres or a boiler.

Due to her money saving ways, Amanda said she can put more money aside every month and is hoping to go on holiday twice next year (pictured, a selection of the items she got for free) 

‘I’ve never been in this position before and I use my tips to help others who are struggling.

‘I’ve always had a caring nature and I like to treat everyone as family, regardless of their situation when they can’t find a way out.

‘Since sharing my tips on the energy support and advice group, I’ve helped people to decrease their costs to less than before the price hike.

‘Many have told me that I’ve ‘saved their life’ or that I’m the ‘source of good fortune’ – but it’s all about putting others needs before your own.

‘We want to help as many people as possible get through these tough times, as not only food, but the energy prices are going to affect so many.

‘Most importantly, use everything in your kitchen to pull a meal together as there’s no such thing as waste.’

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