I’m a single mum on Universal Credit – I never go shopping without doing these five vital checks first

, says she goes without to make sure her son Daniel, 7, doesn't have to but she also makes sure nothing is wasted, helping her keep the family fed.

Speaking on Channel 5 documentary Bargain Brits on Benefits, she advised people to "go shopping at home before you head to the shops" so that everything in the house is used up before more need to be bought.

She said: "You find food at the back of the cupboard that you'd forgotten you had. I found tinned fruit the other day in my cupboard that had gone past its best before date, and I'm normally pretty good at keeping track of what we've got."

Other advice to try before heading to out to buy things included decluttering the house to make sure you only have what you need and to make filling meals like stews, which can be bulked out with veg or beans.

Another tip is to make a bit of extra cash by selling clothes you don't need to either save or spend on something more useful.

Buying basics in bulk can also help keep costs down, say Vicky.

Even with a money-saving plan, though, she admits the cost of living can still squeeze most families.

She added: "I can feel it already, my electric and my gas bills have gone up. But you just have to get on with it, I can't ask anyone for help, I just have to do what I need to do.

"I go without to try to make sure my son never goes without. I saved to buy him good school shoes to hopefully last the year. I really need new shoes as I have arched feet but I just can't afford them."

Young Daniel does his bit too, spending just 50p of his £1.50 pocket money, while saving 50p and still having the heart to give the last 50p to charity or the homeless.

The family also feel that saving money and being kind to the planet go together.

Vicky says: "I try to be as environmentally-friendly as I can. We wash out old jars and take them to the Zero Waste supermarket.

"It's good because you can buy just a little bit of stuff there if you want without having to spend a lot of money."