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My mother-in-law buys us a 'Dairy Diary' every year. I was at a loss how to use it as it was a present I could not just 'dispense' of it. Then about 3 years ago I had a 'eureka' moment. I have always bee very good at writing shopping lists but realised that if I used the diary for my menu planning I could then use this for my shopping list thereby reducing waste! It has been wonderful. If I see a recipe I will put it in my folder and write it down on a day not too far away to try. Also when using new recipes from book I also write the book name and page number of the recipe into my diary on the relevant page. This means I can look back through the diary and if I decide to 'redo' a meal I know exactly where to find the recipe. This simple routine has saved me loads of money as well as meaning we throw hardly anything away - only that which cannot be frozen, composted or feed to the dogs (they love the words 'scraps').

Sue Imms, Leicester