Mrs Moneypenny
Twenty-year-old Charlotte and 18-year-old Ryan have been frittering away their hard-earned cash on magazines, DVDs, entertainment and clothes.
But the good times needed to end as they were expecting twins in just three weeks.
Mrs M wanted them to stop spending and start saving so they can move out of Charlotte's dad's house and start renting a home of their own.
Mrs M also thought that the couple could be entitled to a few benefits. If you want to find out your benefit entitlement, there are a number of ways you can find out more.
General benefit and tax credit advice
For more information about benefit and tax credits, visit the Citizen's Advice Bureau or contact your local Citizen's advice Bureau.
Or, to visit the Department of Work and Pensions and find out more about the benefits you may be entitled to, visit Directgov.
You can find a benefit calculator to work out what you may be entitled to here.
Housing benefit and council tax benefit
Speak to your local council to find out if you are eligible for housing benefit, council tax benefit or social housing.
Making money from unwanted items
There are specialist websites such as musicMagpie.co.uk if you want to make money by selling your DVDs, CDs and games.
Merryn Somerset-Webb
Merryn was in Manchester spreading the news that a packed lunch is a sure-fire way to save money. We based our 31p sandwich on the following calculations:
Pickle - 5p (15 grams)
Cheese - 17p (1 slice cheddar)
Bread - 7p (2 slices wholemeal)
Spread - 2p
Total - 31p
This week's SuperScrimpers
New boy to the bunch is DIY Dave, who's bristling with tips on saving money. This keen DIY-er rescues old paint brushes by warming vinegar for 10 seconds in the microwave and straightens the bristles by brushing them with a fork.
Jean Genie Gem showed us how to get the designer denim look and nail art on the cheap, and tried out a mayonnaise face mask.
NB: Avoid using on sensitive or damaged skin. If any signs of irritation develop, stop using it.
Cut-price polisher Lynette shared her tip for shiny shoes: use the outside of banana skins, but avoid the pith.
Bathing babe Ilona showed us how we can reuse bath water to clean toilets, wash cars and water the plants.
Lady Lesley made her country cottage cheese. Cheese-making is one of those things that holds a lot of mystery but really is very simple thing to do on a daily or weekly basis.
Ingredients:
4 pints of milk
Salt and any flavourings, such as chopped herbs (chives are good, for example)
Vinegar or lemon/lime juice
Butter (if you want spreadable cream cheese)
Method:
-Warm milk to hand hot before removing from heat
-Add vinegar or lemon/lime juice and stir gently. The curds should form as the whey separates from the cheese.
-Drain off whey and save.
-For cream cheese mix in a little butter plus salt and any herbs. Whisk until creamy. This creamy cheese can be added to sauces or used for sandwiches.
-For Cottage cheese drain fully in a sieve and add salt before adding herbs if wanted
