Weezl's phase 1- recipe testing and frugalisation- come one, come all!

queen_of_string wrote: »

I know you wanted to bring this in on £100, it's a nice looking number, but I would like to echo what taka says, maybe it's just not possible to feed 4 people who like to eat meat for £100 anymore? Even with the heavily subsidised food in the Uk, prices have jumped up in the last 12 months or so. The previous plans had little bits of tasty meat, enough for most families to not notice or feel to much difference I thought. The current plan has only bacon and pilchards, I think even I would struggle with that.

I love the project, I love the idea of the cheapest possible grocery bill for those that need it, but I am wondering now if the cheapest possible for the meat eaters is over £100 and only the veggie families can make it under £100. It's all more choices for families that are chain smoking on the stress. We can continue to eat meat or we can go veggie and pay another £10 a month off our debts.

Sorry to rain on various parades.

Well....howzabout a slightly different way of framing this - still with a nice "number". Howzabout changing it from "£100 for a family of 4 for a month" to "£30 per person per month"?

As £30 is pretty much what the average person expects to spend on food per WEEK - then to be told of a plan where they could spend £30 per person per MONTH would still sound absolutely incredibly helpful to them.
This would bring us to £130-£135 range for the family of 4 per month and we could go a long ways with that extra £30-£35 to play with.

Been thinking whilst concocting a leftovers dish for dinner tonight..fingers crossed for my Indian-style concoction of grated carrots/chickpeas/onion/tomatoes/garam masala and I chucked some breadcrumbs and sunflower seeds on top...Gawd only knows how it will turn out.....time will tell...

But...anyways...back to the point.

Our Weezl - you know just how highly I rate you by now:). So take it as coming from that standpoint my lass:) - and t'thing is you are very much an extremely hard worker and a perfectionist. I have perfectionists for parents - so I do understand this. Lets hear it for the perfectionists of the world:T

I DO know by now that not a lot of other people are half as "perfectionist"....so, whilst thoroughly applauding such laudible aims as this £100 per month for our "family" - then that bit of upping the figure I suggested - or some other way of upping the figure JUST that little bit really does seem like a good idea to me. Believe me - its just a little bit of "adaptation" to allow for the fact that 98% of us just arent in your league of determination/willpower/resourcefulness/etc.

A leetle bit of "elbow room" makes for a heck of a difference sometimes.

Realistically - I have to say that Bob and Shirley will want that bit more meat than I would personally want them to want - BUT ITRW they will do. Also - I have to say that I doubt very much that anyone (no matter how hard their backs are against the wall) will use powdered milk in their tea (remembers that from decades ago....and sticks fingers down throat gesture...).

Weezl - my lass - you are SO determined, SO committed, SO ..well all sortsa good qualities that it may be a bit difficult (and I DO understand - oh boy...do I understand:cool:) - but one hell of a lot of people dont have your huge level of dedication/commitment/etc.

You ARE quite exceptional in your hard work/resolve/determination...(aside to other posters: "She WILL believe us all one day...honest guys/gals...if we keep telling her often enough":)) - and Bob & Shirley and 98% of the human race simply isnt in your league in that respect. BUT....the big BUT....we are doing our best to emulate you...so with justa little bit of "adjustment" of the amount of money allowed in this monthly Budget...then I think we will be there/done and dusted/Project ready to go "out there" and we can all sit back/break out the celebratory alcohol..or cakes....and have a b****y good celebration..before getting onto Phase II work.