£500 to fill a chest freezer whats the best way ? [merged]

I suppose my staples for a family of 4 are:

Plain and sr flour
Tins of pulses
Tomato puree and tinned tomatoes
Baked beans
Dried lentils
Stock cubes
Oil and vinegars
Mustard
Jam, marmalade
Tins of tuna
Dried pasta
Dried noodles
Basmati rice
Dried herbs (oregano and thyme get used a lot here)
Worcester sauce
Basic spices - cumin, coriander, chilli powder, paprika, ginger, curry powder
Soy sauce
Brown sauce/ ketchup
Salt and pepper
Brown and white sugar
Oats
Golden syrup


As well as the meat in the frezer, I tend to keep in it:

Puff pastry
Bacon lardons
A few bags of frozen veg (peas, sweetcorn and spinach)
Milk

In my fridge -

Cheese ( cheddar, cream cheese and parmesan)
Eggs
Milk
Butter
Creme fraiche/ cream
Orange juice


That is without the meat. I tend to always have a couple of whole chickens, a few packs of mince, chicken breasts and fish in the freezer. Then I know I can knock up a roast/ chiili/ Spag bol/ shepherds pie/ curry/ fish pie, without having to go to the shops.

Unnecessary things I buy but use regularly are

Coconut milk
Dried mushrooms
Balsamic vinegar
Fish sauce
Mayo
Wine for cooking

Not to mention the things I could make/probably do without, but don't

Bread
Pizza base mix
Thai curry pastes
Oven chips
Chocolate
Ice cream
Garlic puree
Lazy ginger and chilli's
Cereal


I think with that lot plus your meat and veg I could create a huge lot of different, balanced meals and not feel bored.

I can't help with sourcing large quantities of meat but know others will come along and help.

i tend to use the same cuts of meat regularly so would buy a bulk amount of say shoulder of lamb, chicken thighs, mince pork, beef and lamb, pork belly, shoulder and spare rib chops,beef skirt etc rather than a half lamb/ pig,

Store cupboard for me is insanely large but as well as the obv flour sugar, pasta, rices etc involves lots of sauces, spices and flavourings to give lots of variety to the above - soy, sweet chilli, fish sauce, rice vinegar, balsamic, port, marsala. Add in hm pickles and chutneys, nuts, dried fruit, baking supplies like maple syrup, golden syrup, vanilla

Hello OP,
Don't know about buying meat in bulk but can recommend dry goods etc as follows for your store cupboard:
pasta, rice, bread flour, dried yeast, tinned tomatoes, tinned beans, dried beans, dried pulses, oats/muesli/cereal, spreads eg. peanut butter, jam etc, condiments & sauces eg. ketchup, worcestershire sauce, soy sauce etc, teabags, instant coffee, cocoa, sugar...
if you can get to a cash and carry, your money will go even further.
HTH
MsB