In times when money is tight and luxuries are scarce, frugal is the word of the day. Here are a few tips on how to live out the credit crunch in relative ease. This week, we discover how to eat more for less.

Forage
Do as your ancestors did when packaged vegetables and supermarkets didn’t exist, and go back to the nature. Familiarise yourself with the fruits and the berries of the woodland near you (although this may be admittedly difficult for those of you living in urban jungles). Find out which ones are poisonous and which can be turned into a delicious pie. Improve your diet by eating wild vegetables, mushrooms and nuts.

Go coupon crazy
Scour every newspaper, magazine, advertisement and milk carton for coupons. They will dictate your diet and make you try things you’d rather not (baby food anyone?), but by employing the right coupon strategy, you could quite happily fill up your cupboards with free food.

Go on a freebie hunt
Roam the internet for freebies. You’ll find hundreds of free samples ranging from the newest diet cereal bar to strange smelling chocolate. These may be followed by mountains of junk mail that will block your doorway, but for a free feed it’s worth it.

Function hopping
Go to any festival, meeting, grand opening, reception and lecture you hear about and take advantage of the free buffet or at least the coffee and biscuits that will be offered. An introduction to Scientology? An evening of experimental music? Variety is the spice of life.

Lurk
Hang around cafes and food kiosks at closing time. Venues that serve fresh muffins and sandwiches cannot keep them overnight and so usually throw them away. Owners will be happy to offload them to starving hang abouts.

Make friends in the right places
Get friendly with local farmers and gardeners. At the end of the season, they are usually left with a surplus of produce. If you compliment their plump tomatoes and send strong hints about how you’d love to taste a couple, they will be happy to oblige.

Win, win, win
Enter every single competition imaginable. There are plenty on the internet if you’re willing to give up some personal details. Many restaurants have a weekly or monthly draw for a free lunch if you hand over your business card. If you keep at it, something will eventually come through. You’ve got to win sometime right?

Become a guinea pig
Offer yourself up to try out the latest foods and drinks on the market. You get to eat and you get paid. There may be some strange side effects, but whatever doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger (so they say).

Barter
Revamp that medieval practice and offer your services for food. A few clean dishes could earn you a lunch whilst a house clean could earn you a three course meal.

Grow your own
Those of you with a large enough window sill or better still, a little back yard, can start growing your very own vegetables. Nothing beats homegrown food-although you will have to be patient, as tomatoes and carrots don’t exactly grow overnight.

Image courtesy of Kevin