SKIEN, Norway – As food prices continue to climb globally, one Norwegian woman is gaining attention for her resourceful approach to home economics and waste reduction. Linda Wedding reitan, from the Trøndelag region, is sharing practical tips on social media for creating nutritious meals on a tight budget, inspiring a growing online community with her enduring strategies. Through videos on TikTok and Instagram, Reitan demonstrates how to maximize pantry staples and minimize food waste-skills she credits to lessons learned from her parents’ own thrifty habits during her childhood.
SKIEN, Norway – “Hi, my name is Linda, welcome in!”
A vibrant woman from the Trøndelag region greeted Dagbladet’s reporter and photographer with energy at her apartment on Thursday.
Linda Wedding Reitan led the way into her living room, and it quickly became clear she has a lot on her mind.
“I’m really passionate about this. This is something I truly believe in, when it comes to sustainability and everything. So many people are struggling financially,” Linda said. For her, food is a priority once all the bills are paid.
On TikTok and Instagram, she posts videos to inspire others with practical tips on how to save money on groceries while still creating good, nutritious meals.
SAVING TIPS: Linda Wedding Reitan shares videos on TikTok and Instagram about how to maximize savings at the grocery store. Video: Agusta Magnusdottir. Photo: Lars Eivind Bones / Dagbladet
A System for the Pantry
Table of Contents
While insisting there would be waffles and coffee before the interview concluded, she also expressed her “hatred” of wasting food and her “love” of fighting food waste.
In the kitchen, dry goods are sorted by category and stored in clear containers. The freezer, meanwhile, is packed with protein sources, vegetables, berries, and homemade tomato sauce in single-serving portions.
– The freezer is my piggy bank,” Linda said with a smile.
Tips and tricks flowed freely as she worked with a waffle iron, whisk, and mixing bowl.
She was also filming a new TikTok video, introducing Dagbladet to homemade blueberry jam and a box of waffle mix with a best-before date of 2024.
Soon, the aroma of freshly made waffles began to fill the air.
Rooted in Childhood
Growing up in Trondheim in the 1970s, with parents who worked at the post office and in a bank, and siblings, Linda’s strong commitment to food began in her childhood.
– My dad came from a rural area in Trøndelag and worked at the post office. He was home at half past two every day. Mom came home later. Then Dad always made dinner, and he was very good at cooking. Everything was made from scratch, and nothing was wasted,” Linda recalled.
– For Christmas, Dad would make pickled herring and tomato herring. And once, he tried to make something with liver, and the kitchen looked like a butcher shop. But it worked out, Mom took care of the washing up. What I’ve learned is that making good food isn’t difficult, and it isn’t expensive. It’s buying ready-made food that’s expensive,” Linda emphasized.
Another memory Linda shared was watching her father, still in his post office uniform, frying pancakes for her and her friends who lived in the surrounding apartment buildings.
– He was standing there, cooking and tossing the pancakes in the air, but then he missed. The pancake landed on the range hood,” Linda laughed.
Getting Started
Those early experiences and a deep care for not wasting food are what led her to become a content creator on social media, sharing videos from her kitchen and grocery shopping trips.
After many years in the workforce, with a background as a hairdresser, Linda became disabled. Sharing content about things she’s passionate about has become a welcome and energizing activity.
She openly shares how she thinks and what she does to manage financially. For example, she funds her car by earning money as a freelance contact in the Skien municipality.
A video explaining how Linda would manage to live on 500 kroner (approximately $45 USD) for food in January 2022 is what caused a stir on social media.
– That’s when things really took off,” Linda said.
She says she always tries to show something concrete instead of just talking about saving money, which is something her followers appreciate.
Making Ends Meet
She has also received comments expressing that the discount section is associated with “shame” and referred to as the “poor people’s section.”
– Today, it’s something completely different. More and more young people are stopping me—students and others—who say they’ve been able to save money precisely because they’ve followed my advice on spending less on food,” Linda said.
The videos she shares on social media are largely based on how to prepare food based on what you already have in your kitchen.
– It’s become a hobby to make a lot with less money. But now I’m doing it to make ends meet,” Linda explained.
Statistics Norway (SSB) data shows that food prices rose 5.7 percent last year. In comparison, food prices rose 5.2 percent in 2024.
Very high prices for coffee and cocoa, for example, caused a price shock for chocolate and coffee products last year, with a price increase of 15.2 percent.
This was followed by an increase in sugar-containing goods, including candy, chocolate, and jam, of 9.9 percent. In 2024, the growth was 6.3 percent, according to SSB.
Bread and cereal products and meat increased by 3.5 and 4.1 percent, respectively. Fruit and vegetables increased by 4.2 and 4.4 percent.
The January Project
Linda embarked on the new year with a goal of spending 13 kroner (approximately $1.15 USD) a day on food until mid-January. One reason was that she was broke after the holidays. “It’s been Christmas, and it’s tough,” she said.
She admits she’s had to adjust her plans a bit.
– It’s used up. But, of course, I’m not going hungry. I’m trying to make do with what I have. And if things get really bad, I always have some empty bottles. Now I’ve calculated that it will be ten meals for 100 kroner,” Linda said.
She manages this by basing her meals on what she has in her kitchen and freezer. Linda swears by a package of lapskaus mix, which can be used for almost anything. In addition, you can freeze vegetables yourself—the trick is to chop them into pieces first.
Check Your Pantry First
The recurring trick with Linda is to always know what’s in the pantry at home before going to the store.
– Many people overcomplicate things. What you need to do is tidy up the cupboard at home first, then you can go shopping. It’s about planning, making a list, what you like to eat, what raw materials/basic goods you have available.
– When it comes to protein-rich foods, I always buy large quantities that I can divide and vacuum-pack,” Linda said.
