With the cost of living rising and more and more people being forced to think about how and what they spend their money on, one Swindon mother is doing what she can to help those struggling. 

Mum-of-two Ruth Marr has started the Instagram page 'cheap_family_meal_inspo' and is posting affordable family recipes as well as step-by-step instructions on how to prepare them. 

Ruth, 31, a business analyst for Nationwide, is currently on maternity leave and says that her own worries about money during this time and how she would be able to afford a second child with the cost of living crisis spurred her on to do something to help others.

"It has been worrying. Obviously when you're on maternity leave your pay drops down a bit and then there are a lot of extra costs that come with having a baby - things like nappies, formula milk and everything else.

"My weekly shop has probably gone up at least £20 a week, just for baby stuff.

"This is on top of the increase in petrol, electricity and everything else so I started to look at where I could cut some costs."

Some of the recipes the North Swindon mother has posted on the Instagram page include a chicken and leek pie, a vegetable tikka masala, slow cooker spaghetti and meatballs and her personal favourite an aubergine and tomato curry.

"I was shocked because I didn’t usually like aubergine, but it was really nice. Plus there's no meat which makes meals cheaper."

Ruth would go on to further explain why she'd chosen to specifically help battle the cost of living crisis with home cooked meals.

"I've always been a bit of a meal planner so with prices just going up I thought 'surely it’s not just me stressing about what meals to do without spending an absolute fortune.'

"I've found meal planning to be the easiest way to save money. It's hard when you’re sat trying to think of your food shop.

"I looked through some budget cookbooks and things to get ideas and thought I'd give it a try. I've also got some time on my hands so if someone else can benefit it would be amazing."

You can visit Ruth's cheap_family_meal_inspo Instagram page here.