Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis addressed the “snobbery” around some purchases by revealing the wild ways he and his fans save money on The Martin Lewis Podcast.
Martin Lewis has taken a swipe at the “snobbery” surrounding certain purchases, revealing some of the unusual ways he and his followers save money. On The Martin Lewis Podcast, the Money Saving Expert encouraged his fans to share their favourite budget-friendly guilty pleasures, while sharing some of his own.
He discussed the concept of “retail snobbery”, especially when it comes to groceries, suggesting that consumers often believe “paying more will get you better”. However, he pointed out: “We don’t actually have universal taste buds that work in exactly the same way. Some people will go ‘I don’t like the look, the sound, it looks a bit cheap and dirty,’ maybe you should try. You might actually prefer cheap and dirty on occasion.”
In a quirky segment, Lewis admitted that he would “actually pay more to get the cheaper option” when it comes to mint sauce and salt and vinegar crisps. He ranted: “Do not give me posh mint sauce and do not give me mint jelly. It’s just weak and vapid.”
When it comes to crisps, the financial guru humorously stated: “Vinegary stuff, I want it to smack me in the face, I want my tongue to need surgery because it’s ripped raw. You don’t get that with the posh ones, you get ‘gentle tones of vinegar’,” he mimicked in a mocking tone, adding: “If it doesn’t hurt it doesn’t taste right!”
The episode’s co-host, Chris Warburton, confessed his disdain for “ridiculous” gourmet sausage rolls. He insisted: “I want it basic, cheap, in a paper bag, hot, I want it greasy.”
Listeners have been flooding in with their thrifty tips, ranging from budget loo roll to opting for “cheap cheese slices” instead of posh burger toppings. Many swear by supermarket own brands for essentials like dishwasher tablets, and some even confessed they’d pick these over big names like Heinz for ketchup and beans.
Yvette shared her unique cost-cutting concert trick, preferring “watching blooming good tribute bands” rather than the real deal, boasting about the savings: “Usually a 10th of the price of the real thing and getting the same musical hit.” Caroline from Cheshire admitted she’d happily fork out more cash for Sainsbury’s own-brand tortilla chips, claiming they “taste more authentic” compared to pricier, overly-seasoned alternatives.
Meanwhile, Alan got money-saving guru Martin all worked up with his praise for tap water over the bottled variety. Martin couldn’t hide his delight when dining out and answering the “still or sparkling” question with a proud “Tap please! ” humorously quipping, “You can take the boy out of the north.”
