Fresh fruit and vegetables can be pricey. It can also be tricky to keep them fresh in the summer when the weather is warmer. A mum-of-two has shared how she has massively reduced the cost of fruit and veg and it's all down to serving the right amount for her kids and coming up with clever ways to store the leftovers.
Gemma Bird stores her fruit and veg in jars of water on the fridge door. She buys single bananas from the supermarket and lines them up in colour order for the days of the week to ensure the ripe ones get eaten first!
She said: "We find we buy a bunch of bananas and there's always one that gets wasted! I then say I'll make banana bread but I don’t, I’m lying to myself. As a mum with too many other things to do, I haven’t got time to bake.
"This should stop as much waste and save you money and food! I hate waste. Also, if you've only used half a banana, put the cut end into a cup of water. It's like it's still living and it soaks it up so it stays fresher for longer."
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Halved apples keep well in the fridge too so long as they are in sealed tubs. It's all about making your fresh grocery shopping last for longer, according to Gemma, who shares hacks for parents as MoneyMumOfficial on Instagram.
She added: "If you've got strawberries that are starting to turn brown and you think you need to get rid of them, take them out, chuck out any mouldy ones - you can't make mould good, I must stress this! - but any that just look a bit limp and brown, slice them and put
Listen to Gemma's amazing tips on the Brummie Mummies podcast
She has a great trick for keeping salad and veggies 'alive': "If you put things like celery and broccoli in a jar of water in your fridge, it lasts for longer," said Gemma.
"I put mine in jars on the door. I think the worst ones are salad leaves, especially if you buy them in the bags. Take them out of the bag and lay them on dried paper in a pot and then seal it. Do it straight away. It soaks up the excess water and keeps them fresher for longer. It's the same for spinach."
Gemma managed to pay off her mortgage by the age of 40. Listen to how to live life for less, our guide to store cupboard essentials and how to get the kids to help save money on the Brummie Mummies Podcast.
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