A cost-conscious mum has revealed how she saves over £500 per month – thanks to a variety of money-saving hacks.
Ellie Thomas, 28, from Shrewsbury, says she knows every trick in the book when it comes to saving money on food shops – and can earn up to £250 per month simply by completing online surveys.
Instead of getting an online weekly delivery, the business owner shops daily for reduced items in supermarkets and says she also claims over 100 freebies per month through cashback apps.
She says she’s experienced negative reactions from some people for her thrifty ways but admits she doesn’t care what others think, saying: ‘I can use ten different ways to get the bill as cheap as possible.’
Look after the pennies: Ellie Thomas, 28, (pictured), from Shrewsbury, knows every trick in the book when it comes to saving money on food shops
Sharing her best bargains on social media, Ellie showed off savings on food and toiletry items thanks to yellow stickers
She also posts about the bargain family meals she creates using cut-price ingredients, including this sausage and mushroom pasta
Ellie’s monthly shopping bill is supposed to be around £560 but her money-saving hacks save her hundreds every month.
She said: ‘If someone saw me in the supermarket with a trolley full of branded items – they would never know I am going to pay next to nothing for them. Sometimes nothing at all!’
‘There’s even been occasions where I’ve been paid to shop, eat and drink as a mystery shopper. But most of the time, I complete online surveys which pay £1-2 for a couple of minutes.
She says while her peers might use spare time to browse social media, she invests her time in making money back for her family.
‘Instead of browsing social media or watching TV, I complete a survey and earn money which covers my food shopping bill.
‘This month, I made £220 which covered the remaining monthly £195 cost of food which is supposed be over £500.’
Ellie admits being ‘judged’ for her ‘extreme’ ways’.
Ellie’s monthly shopping bill is supposed to be £558 but her money-saving hacks have made the remaining £195 bill – free. Ellie and her son, Vinnie, five.
Ellie shops daily at 3pm or 6pm to get reduced, yellow-stickered food bargains -which really helps bring their food bill down, she says
However, some people judge Ellie because of how extreme they think she is, the mother-of-three says (Pictured: Some of Ellie’s savings that she has shared with her followers)
Ellie often doesn’t pay for alcohol or snacks – thanks to cashback apps that mean she can get everything she wants for free
Ellie has already got her kids their wardrobe for summer 2022 which was just £50. Pictured: Partner Richard, 34, Ellie, 28, Poppy, eight and Vinnie, five
She said: ‘People judge me because of how extreme I am, I can use ten different ways to get the bill as cheap as possible.’
‘I don’t think there should be any shame or embarrassment around bargain hunting.’
‘I shop daily at 3pm or 6pm to get reduced food which really helps bring our food bill down. Kids are expensive so it is important to cut the costs when we can.’
Ellie says she wonders why we work hard for our money to spend it on food when there are ways to get things cheaper, or even free. Pictured: Some reduced items Ellie has purchased
At the end of every season or event like Halloween, Ellie buys clothes for the following year to save money
‘I am a normal person but often think, why should we work hard for a lot of our money to get spent on food when there are so many ways out there to get things cheaper, or even free!’
‘It just takes a bit of time, research and planning.’
Ellie has received £280 worth of freebies this month. She said: ‘I save every month as I buy reduced items and haven’t paid for alcohol or snacks for a very long time.’
Pictured: £70 worth of alcohol and snacks bought for £12 through the Green Jinn cashback app
Ellie has been leading a frugal lifestyle since June 2018 as she wanted to wipe her £3,000 debt. Pictured: Some of Ellie’s savings that she has shared with her followers
‘I also get some food, perfume and beauty samples for free. I have had 102 freebies worth £280 this month alone.’
Ellie has been leading a frugal lifestyle since June 2018 because she wanted to wipe her £3000 debt. Now, she lives debt-free and has spare cash to treat the children to days out.
She said: ‘I buy all year round for birthdays, Christmas and other holidays.
‘At the end of every season or event like Halloween, I buy clothes for the following year to save money.’
‘I have already got my kids Liam, 12, Poppy, eight, Vinnie, five, their wardrobe for summer 2022 which was £50.’