Rachel Wait

With nights out and trips to favourite restaurants currently off the menu, many people are turning to companies that deliver food boxes and meal kits straight to their door. Food boxes can be convenient at a time when many of us are juggling childcare, home schooling and work. With social distancing in place at supermarkets and online delivery slots almost impossible to find, having fresh ingredients and step-by-step recipes dropped off on your doorstep is one less thing to worry about. Plus, it can feel a little more special than simply cooking the usual meals at home. But do food boxes and meal kits offer value-for-money? With the average weekly family food shop costing £60.

If you need to self-isolate in the coming days or weeks due to the coronavirus outbreak, you may find yourself running out of ways to keep yourself occupied. In which case, it could be a good opportunity to go through your finances and potentially put some money back in your pocket. Here are some ways to do just that. Go through your bank statements It might not sound particularly thrilling, but you’ll be surprised by what you find if you take the time to read through your bank statements. For instance, do you know exactly how much you spend on food bills, socialising or subscriptions each month? Are you aware of all the direct debits on your account?