Could all those people telling us how to produce a meal for next to nothing think it out properly? At my age I have a kitchen with all the equipment I need, I have a larder with all the basics for a recipe , herbs, spices, flour , cooking oils etc.

I don’t have to worry about the amount of gas or electricity used. With only 2 of us I can cook at least double the amount and freeze the rest for another day.

I have the time to go to the market and get my fruit and veg at £1 a bowl - (the stall holders pack up early afternoon). I have my garden so if I need a sprig of rosemary or some parsley I can just go out and pick it.

I am of an age where we did domestic science at school and so was taught how to make a sauce, pastry etc - not everyone was lucky enough to come from a home where these things were picked up. A lot of the SureStart centres where parents were taught to cook were closed.

I have a lot of cookery knowledge so I can manage without a recipe and just invent something from what I happen to have. My mother was very good at it- if asked what we were going to have for a meal she was quite likely to say she hadn’t decided yet.

Even simple equipment makes a difference e.g. cheese will go much further if you have a grater. If you can’t afford the food you are not suddenly going to buy a cheese grater.

We have soup most days in the winter. It is easy enough but I doubt I would do it so often if I didn’t have a soup maker where I just bung in anything that needs using up, add a few lentils if I think it might be too thin, switch on, pour out 30 mins later & freeze half.

I think those who make out it is so easy should start by wondering how easy it is from a completely different starting point.