getwokingham - Reading Evening Post

This week, the credit crunch seems to be sliding into full-on recession and it’s going to last until 2010.

Money people in the know are getting ever more alarmed, and one of these is Martin Lewis.

Every week he shows up on the GMTV sofa in a sliding scale of worry.

Hallowe'en, eh? Hijack of an American tradition and an excuse for vandalism and threatening behaviour, or an opportunity for some harmless festive fun?

Either way, it’s a right rip-off.

 According to new research, this Christmas people are going to spend £2.7 billion less than usual on Christmas.

While not exactly at the Bob Cratchit extra-shovel-of-coal-for-Christmas stage, it is definitely a bit concerning.

This kind of research is usually an excuse to flog something or other, but the thought of having to cut back on food, drink and merry-making is a bit depressing, particularly for me because I was a Christmas baby and I get a bit tetchy if I think my birthday is being overlooked. But overshadowed by a damp squib of Christmas? Rubbish.

Having studied supermarkets in great detail, I now feel like something of an expert.

I've braved the locust-like swarms of people towards the reduced items shelves, I've had rock-bottom (and rock-hard) bread and I've even - sob - curbed my trashy magazines habit in the name of money saving.

So what have I discovered?

With most universities beginning this week, 18 and 19 year olds across the country will be packing up their bedrooms, stealing the family toastie maker and brushing up their banter in time for fresher’s week.

It’s a pretty scary time.

In fact, I still remember sitting in the back of the car, wobbly of lip and damp of eye, as my Dad delivered a supposedly rousing speech (“Try and make at least one friend” was my favourite line).

I learned these tips as a student, but really they're relevant to everyone.

 Last week’s money-saving mission was so successful I have decided to extend it.

I haven't followed it to the letter though, because I threw three bottles of wine (on special offer!), some steaks and dark chocolate into the trolley last night to make a special dinner for my brother, who heads 11,500 miles tomorrow to follow his heart to New Zealand. So I have already cheated, but for a good cause.

A last supper of beans on toast is a bit miserable.

Sunday is a day for worship, and my personal Jesus is Nigella Lawson.

Now, lovely as she is, her recipes aren’t exactly for the money conscious.

They’re littered with scallops, truffle oil and obscure ingredients.

However, I chose Coq au Riesling, and trundled to the supermarket to get

my ingredients.

As followers of my newly formed blog will know, I went blackberrying a couple of weeks ago.

I decided to use my freebie fruit to make an apple and blackberry crumble and, having used a crumble topping recipe given to me by Bracknell Standard editor Alison, I took to the kitchen like a slightly clueless duck to water.

I love cooking, but am absolutely bobbins at baking. 

I’ve been discussing this money-saving lark and am planning to go foraging to see what it's all about.

However, reading an article about a mushroom-picking disaster has worried me somewhat.

Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, eh? What’s he all about?

That thought popped into my head as I walked home past a bramble bush.

‘Hmm…’ I thought, and scuttled home to get a container.

Saving money.

Are there any two words more likely to conjure up images of frugal joylessness?

However, the credit crunch means that everybody has to tighten their financial belts at the moment.