A shrewd couple reckon they’ve managed to shave £600 off their holiday expenses with a clever £12 lunch strategy. Fifty year old mum-of-two Nicola Lewis, who takes pride in maximising her holiday value, has shared her thrifty travel tips that won’t break the bank. She recommends opting for half-board accommodation and then preparing a lunch from the breakfast offerings to bring along for the day. Read more: Stressed drug dealer caused carnage Nicola, a pro at organising from Epping, Essex, alongside her hubby Graham Lewis, also 50, a freelance creative producer, routinely assembles a sandwich and tucks away a piece of fruit from the breakfast spread to munch on later. Nicola reveals that a set of £12 foldable food containers bought from Amazon are the secret to packing up their meals without any mess, easily stashing them in her bag for the day. The woman behind ‘This Girl Can Organise’ claims that this hack spared her and Graham a whopping £600 during their recent week in Cyprus, as it meant they could skip splashing out on lunch outings which would usually cost about £85 daily. She commented: “I do check with the hotel that it’s allowed beforehand – and I’ve never been told no.” Justifying their approach, she said: “Looking at the reduction of waste, those buffets are always overstocked – and you’ve paid for it if it was available at breakfast.” Nicola points out that while some guests might pile up plates at the buffet, she and her husband can’t manage such hefty portions in one sitting. She added, reflecting on the soaring costs of vacations: “Holidays are so expensive now already, and spending extra on a lunchtime meal is a big expense.” Her frugal habits trace back to childhood, as Nicola reminisced about her parents always prepping a picnic from the hotel breakfasts. Now a mother to two children of her own – aged 21 and 17 – she continues the tradition. Given that they aren’t big breakfast eaters, they pack a light lunch. Their usual choice is a bread roll stuffed with meats or cheeses and some salad, along with a piece of fruit, which fits perfectly into their foldable containers. They either take these boxes on their day outings, or stash them in their hotel fridge for a midday meal in their room. She revealed: “When Graham and I went away this year, we saved £600 on a one-week holiday. “If we had gone out for a meal at lunch, I reckon we would have spent £85 per meal – for 7 days – it really adds up.” Nicola explained that they strive to afford a holiday, so they’re mindful of their budget and prefer to save money for other things – like cocktails, or day trips. Thanks to her astute online shopping before their holidays, she manages to do just that. She shared: “I bought a pack of collapsible food containers from Amazon for £12 and I slip them into my bag as I go down for breakfast. “The same with taking a reusable water bottle down to fill up too, since you often have to pay for water abroad. “You can wash them in your hotel room sink so they’re ready for the next day – it’s a clever idea to save money.”