Give basic ingredients a budget-friendly glow-up

WE ALL know the feeling.

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One minute, you are living your best life in December, generously sponsoring the family braai and and soaking up every festive moment.Then, January hits, and suddenly, that early December payday feels like a distant memory from a previous lifetime.

Between the “Back-to-School” stationery lists that require a small loan and the fact that January officially has 742 days, the financial pinch is real.

However, just because you are counting your remaining cents doesn't mean your dinner has to taste as sad as your balance looks.

Now’s the best time to stop viewing your pantry staples as “emergency rations” and start seeing them as the versatile heroes they can be.

The 2-minute noodle upgrade

While kids love them plain, you can easily turn the boring noodles into a treat for the whole family.

With a few small additions, you can transform a packet of noodles.