FOR BETTER, FOR WORSE.

Byline: MIEKA SMILES

"Is that it?" I asked, astonished. "What do you mean?" Chris replied confused. With Operation Save now in full swing Chris and I have turned to packed lunches in a bid to stash more cash. After a bit of a sleep-in I asked Chris if he could sort my packed lunch for the day.

With much nagging he finally lugged himself out of bed. After running around the house like a headless chicken, I finally reached the kitchen to stuff Chris's production into my handbag. I deflated when I saw him with a thin, square package of tinfoil that clearly included two slices of bread stuffed with something dubious.

"Do you really think that is going to sustain me?" I asked, fuming.

I huffed and puffed and told him not to bother helping me out again as I rushed around the kitchen slinging in crisps, tea cakes, chocolate biscuits and a couple of leftover chicken legs before snatching the 'sandwich' and stomping out of the door.

I was on the train before I got his text: IF SOMEONE SEARCHED YOUR BAG THIS MORNING THEY'D THINK YOU HAD SOME KIND OF EATING DISORDER. I suppose he had a point. But then again my behaviour shouldn't have come as a shock - he's always known that I'm the big eater in this partnership. Just the other night my inability to think clearly when presented with food left him upset. Chris was late home from work and had asked me to plate up his dinner - a pre-packed Marksies Puglian pasta and meatballs. I stuffed my share down my gob as fast as I feasibly could without choking. After finishing up I still wasn't quite satisfied. I looked at Chris's half, eyeing up his eight meatballs.

He wouldn't miss two would he? Five minutes later and I'd nicked another two. And by the time he got home there was just a sad trio of meatballs, arranged in a little triangle, on the top of a mound of bland pasta and tomato sauce.

As Chris lifted the lid on what was left his face fell and he looked at me with the face of an abused puppy. My only answer was to shrug, eyes apologetic for actions out of my control.

It may seem like it's not worth the hassle - and that a saving of pounds 6 a day is neither here nor there when it comes to raising some serious cash.

But for us turning to the tinfoil has worked wonders on our finances. Unfortunately, with a hefty deposit to raise for our next house, there are quite a few more lunches to pack yet.