GEORGE Osborne has produced his own glossy booklet of money-saving tips for benefits claimants.
Written in a breezy style, Careful Georges Handy Hints to Save £10 Billion contains advice on how to shop wisely, reduce waste and make cheap-but-nutritious recipes such as Simply Super Seagull Soup.
The booklet begins: Living well on a budget is often just a matter of being sensible. Ask yourself if you really need those expensive trainers when wearing two empty tissue boxes are more fun!
Supermarket own-brands are often just as good as more expensive ones. A tin of Tesco dog food doesnt taste any different to an expensive tin of Pedigree Chum once youve made it into a casserole!
Instead of throwing away dishcloths and dusters, wash them out and use them again by sewing them together to make clothes (if people mock you in the street, just pretend to be a professional clown!).
The booklet goes on to describe more than 200 money-saving measures, including reducing heating bills by sharing a bed with your elderly parents, and going on holiday by clinging to the underside of a lorry.
However the booklet has not been without its critics, such as unemployed marketing consultant Tom Logan, who claims he has failed several job interviews due to wearing a suit made out of some mouldy carpet he found by the road.
Logan said: Im all in favour of thrifty things like saving slivers of soap. But Im not sure its safe to make them into a pie.
Jobseeker Nikki Hollis said: Im a feckless scrounger, so anything that frees up cash for White Lightning and Superkings is fine by me. Who fancies a cardboard sandwich?
