Today marks the day

Kmac_Edin

That i embark on my £150 for a month challenge...

This is £150 for everything execpt

£350 rent
£120 bills
£32 mobile phone
£110 credit card payment


I am going to have £37.50 per week to spend on EVERYTHING else, food/drink/entertainment/transport (inc petrol).

All tips gratefully received as this is the first time I have done something like this. I budget, but I usually budget £80 monthly for food alone....

MSE hats at the ready...

:beer:

See you on the otherside, 15th November 2008

fizz190

Good luck!!

It sounds like a challenge but it is possible!

Have you seen the Old Style board? Lots of advice on saving money on household stuff like food and cleaning.

I personally found the cheapest way to eat on a budget is to cook from scratch and to use things like pulses (beans, lentils etc) to bulk everything out. I didn't eat much meat (doesn't bother me but I know it's not for everyone) and tried out lots of value products (some nice, others not so nice!)

Good luck
Fizz

Kmac_Edin

Ive not really used many pulses so could get interesting!

PercyPig

Good luck!

I have been doing the same thing for October but I allocated myself £200. I now have £84 left with half the month to go. It has been a challenge as it has been my niece's birthday and my OH's next week. My tips are:

• not to carry the whole amount on you - I divided my cash into 4 x £50
• don't carry your debit and/or credit cards
• make a shopping list and don't buy anything not on the list

I am feeling quite pleased with how I have been doing so far this month. I would have done a lot better but I had a night out last Friday and spent £43 :eek: Still I used to fritter away £100s a month of comfort eating, clothes shopping, magazines etc and I haven't done any of that this month so feel happy overall.

Keep us informed with how you are getting on

Percy

flowerscotland

good luck ! positive thinking, you can do it !

mstopham

Kmac_Edin wrote: »

Ive not really used many pulses so could get interesting!

I cooked a big pan of chilli on monday, wasn't doing it particularly to be cost effective but thought I would share this with you! It feed 3 on Monday and will do 7 tonight so 10 portions.

Bag of cooking onions 73p
800g of minced beef £1.96
1 tin chopped toms 23p
2 tins kidney beans 68p
1 tin sliced carrots 35p
1 jar fajita sauce 60p (was one of a BOGOF)
1/2 bulb garlic 18p
1 tsp chilli powder 1p
3 tblsp olive oil 20p
200g sliced mushrooms 79p

total cost £5.73 or 57p a portion.

Could easily reduce this by swapping meat for more pulses.

fizz190

mstopham wrote: »

Could easily reduce this by swapping meat for more pulses.

If you don't fancy more kidney beans, throw in a handful or two of red lentils. Lentils are fab as they don't need soaking or anything. Also good in stews as a thickener.

(I'd also leave out the fajita sauce and replace with another tin of toms, but I'm very 'anti-jar'!)

Fizz

Kmac_Edin

That chilli receipe seems really easy to do and pretty cheap as well... given that 10 portions would do me well over a week I may way make that tonight once I get in from drama.

Even better I have kidney beans, chopped toms, mince, garlic and olive oil at home so my only outlay are my onions, carrots and the sauce. I might have chilli somewhere as well.

Thank you so so much!! x

Kmac_Edin

Are lentils easy to cook?? xx

fizz190

Yep, just boil them for 15-20 mins until soft (or throw them into another recipe for the same amount of time)

NB. There are 2 types of lentils (both yummy):

Split lentils - usually red/orange - these break down and lose their shape making them very good in sauces
Whole lentils - various colours, usually green or brown - these keep their shape and have a lovely texture if you don't overcook them. Really nice in salads and as a side dish with meat.

Enjoy!

Kmac_Edin

Ace. And you dont need to soak them or any of that business do you??? xx