Help me save on my meals!!

MummyOnAMission_2

Hello all, I'm new to the OS board but pop in on the DFW abit. Im just starting a DMP and desperate to cut my shopping budget down abit. We are a family of 5 consisting of 2 adults 1 child 1 toddler and 1 baby.

I did what i thought was going to be my first OS shop last week and ended up spending more, much more than i normally would. So need to have ago again!! I have nothing in to get me going like herbs,spices garlic etc and no idea what to buy dont want to buy stuff i wont use.
I make stews,casseroles, meat and potatoes in slow cooker. If make currys use a sauce pre-made but would like to try this myself in slow cooker if can? Make roast dinners. But then do get prebought burgers,nuggets,chips, fish fingers etc. Would like to make chips in oven dont have deep fat fryer and dont want one. We have a combination oven/microwave as our electric oven doesnt work so its all got to be cooked in there or on the hob or in slowcooker.

So have any of you budding money savers got any great tips for a newbie who can cook a little bit only?

Obukit

MummyOnAMission wrote: »

Hello all, I'm new to the OS board but pop in on the DFW abit. Im just starting a DMP and desperate to cut my shopping budget down abit. We are a family of 5 consisting of 2 adults 1 child 1 toddler and 1 baby.

Welcome to Old Style .

MummyOnAMission wrote: »

I did what i thought was going to be my first OS shop last week and ended up spending more, much more than i normally would. So need to have ago again!! I have nothing in to get me going like herbs,spices garlic etc and no idea what to buy dont want to buy stuff i wont use.

No need to spend a fortune here. Tesco Value mixed herbs can be used in place of any herbs mentioned in recipes and are only 19p for a tub. Fresh garlic is pretty inexpensive too - if you don't have a garlic press already you can make do by simply putting a clove under the side of a knife and using your palm to crush it, then chopping it finely. I wouldn't bother about spices for the moment - few sweet dishes call for them.

MummyOnAMission wrote: »

I make stews,casseroles, meat and potatoes in slow cooker. If make currys use a sauce pre-made but would like to try this myself in slow cooker if can?

Good start. Stews and soups are cheap, nutritious and really good at this time of year. Make sure you're taking advantage of all the cheap winter veg out at the moment, e.g. potatoes, carrots, parsnips, turnips etc. With curry, try using a couple of tins of chopped tomatoes, a dessert spoon of medium curry powder and a dessert spoon of curry paste. Much cheaper and healthier than curry sauces. Currys are great if you bulk out the meat with potatoes and aubergine too - both really absorb the flavour of the curry and add great texture!

MummyOnAMission wrote: »

Make roast dinners. But then do get prebought burgers,nuggets,chips, fish fingers etc. Would like to make chips in oven dont have deep fat fryer and dont want one.

Burgers, nuggets etc. are usually bulked out with rusk and all sorts of chemicals and so aren't very nutritious. Much better to use cheap cuts of meat that can be cooked in your slow cooker until lovely and tender . If you have a local butcher he'll be able to take you through the best cuts to use.

Chips are pretty easy to make yourself - just chip a pound of potatoes, put into a bowl and add a couple of teaspoons of veg oil and toss around with your hand until they're all coated. Then spread out onto your combi baking tray into a single layer and put on the high rack microwave/grill for about 15 minutes until they start to brown. Delicious and a lot more healthy than normal chips!

MummyOnAMission wrote: »

So have any of you budding money savers got any great tips for a newbie who can cook a little bit only?

The key thing you need to do to stick to OS cooking is Meal Plan!. There's loads of different plans in that thread so you're sure to find something to suit your family. Make a list of all the ingredients you'll need, then go to your kitchen cupboards and cross off all the ones you already have. Then go to the supermarket and stick to your list (this is vital the first time - after a while you can adapt your plan to take advantage of BOGOFs/reductions but it's best to avoid these now - too tempting to buy rubbish or waste food).

Menu planning may sound hard but in fact it's dead easy - no more "What to cook for dinner?" because you already know what it is AND that you have all the ingredients to cook it . Plus you'll no longer be wasting food and, without the "nothing left to eat", they'll be no need to use ready meals from the freezer or order takeaway.

Good luck - cooking OS means taking a step back from supermarkets pushing ready prepared this and easy cook that and making them work for you, but it's really satisfying when you can eat healthily for very little - you'll soon notice how almost everyone else is spending much more than you and getting much less in return. Very satisfying! :j

Jorgan_2

Have you made any meal plans? Making a list of what meals you are going to cook for the week, the day before you go shopping will help you focus the mind when it comes to shopping, buy only whats on the list.

Another good way of cutting down is too work out if you can make two or more meals out something. Cooking a chicken in the SC will leave you with a nice stock, add some veg & lentils/broth mix the following day for a great, inexpensive soup.

Curry sauces can be cooked in the slow cooker, well it hasn't done me any harm.

Have a good reader of other threads on here, you will be surprised how little some people can live on with a bit of imagination. I'm a relative newbie on here and its quite inspirational what some people can do with a few items. There is a thread for one pot cooking which is ideal for your situation.

Good luck with it all.

ALFlem

Try the 'Whoops' section of the supermarket especially for veg and meat. The meat is normally just a bit bashed and the veg is normally fine but again is in a split bag.

Mixed herbs is a good base...and salt and pepper are a must. And Oxos of all varieties (i've tried the cheaper ones and they don't really do the same job).

Making stews etc is great in your slow cooker. Same as the other posters about the curries too. Anything with a sauce can be done in the slow cooker...even rice pudding!

Stock up on bulking items like lentils and oats. These can be added to stews, soups etc to make them more filling and go further.

Fish fingers and burgers are convenient but nothing tastes quite as good as something you've cooked yourself. Every couple of weeks I have a prep day. I make soups, pies, cakes, biscuits, bread and I prepare 2 lots of slow cooker veg. Put one in in the morning for tea that night, and one for the following day. I then freeze it all and it's my meals for the next week or two. Plan what you would like to eat, look up a couple of recipes (bbc is good for this) and see what you can create.

MummyOnAMission_2

Many thanks for the replys so far. Yes I think I will sit down and do I meal plan. Our cupboards always empty weekly so never have much left to use in other meals but if I stick to the plan then shouldnt spend more this week. Thanks for the ideas.
Obukit, think I might try the curry and the chips this week! Sound lovely thanks!

OrkneyStar

MummyOnAMission wrote: »

Would like to make chips in oven dont have deep fat fryer and dont want one. We have a combination oven/microwave as our electric oven doesnt work so its all got to be cooked in there or on the hob or in slowcooker.

Firstly, welcome :wave:
Now re the chips-
I make my own wedges in the oven- simply slice potatoes lengthwise, I then soak o/n in water to help soften or you could par-boil, next day dry them off, toss in a tbsp olive oil and seasoning (and any herbs or spices you fancy)- cook at 200 for 25 mins until soft inside, crispy on outside (turn halfway or shake about). To make 'chips' just peel beforehand. Fresher, nicer and cheaper than shop bought ones . I presume you could do this in a combi oven easily enough.
Otherwise, ditto the other posters real meal planning.
x

PasturesNew

What I do is simply be aware how much everything's costing me. If I see a sign that says "Cheese, BOGOF" I still compare the £/Kg against my inbuilt price list (which says I can get supermarket own brand, mature cheddar for about £5/Kg) and see if it really is a bargain or if it's actually (even on bogof) at double that.

I also think about every ingredient in a dish, how much is it costing? Is there a way to swap it with something else? Or get a cheaper brand without it being noticeable? Or leave it out altogether? e.g. if you follow a posh chilli recipe it will have a splash of wine in and some peppers. These can easily be dropped without any detriment to the overall dish... then grating carrot into the dish itself can push it easily to being an extra 25-30% of the quantity. Top quality tinned tomatoes are also not required - you'd never know, so why get best quality ones when cheapest would do in this instance.

So, get to know your prices. Get to know what is and is not a good price; compare and buy on £/100g.

I think I picked up from your original post that you seem to be quite meat reliant for meals. Investigate how you can use less meat overall, thereby cutting the cost significantly. Try some dishes on your family where meat isn't noticed as missing, e.g. spanish omelette and home made chips, macaroni cheese, cauliflower cheese. Meat can make an overall meal 3x as much in cost (or more). I rarely use meat, although I am not vegetarian.

Obukit

MummyOnAMission wrote: »

Many thanks for the replys so far. Yes I think I will sit down and do I meal plan. Our cupboards always empty weekly so never have much left to use in other meals but if I stick to the plan then shouldnt spend more this week. Thanks for the ideas.
Obukit, think I might try the curry and the chips this week! Sound lovely thanks!

No worries at all . Having a kitchen stocked with store cupboard essentials really does make a massive difference. Perhaps if you were to write a list of what you already have we could advise on a few cheap things that will mean you can cook many times more meals?

Above all, remember that if you're having "one of those days" don't beat yourself up if you have a day off proper cooking - some of my favourites when it's been a bad day at work are: -

• Jacket potato (10 mins micro), beans and cheese
• Pasta (pour boiling water over, 5 mins in micro, 10 mins on side and it's done) with pesto or a tin of chopped toms/mixed herbs reduced in micro for 8 mins)
• Weezl's quick gnocci (make up half a packet of instant mash with water, add mixed herbs/pepper and roll into sausage, slice into 1" pieces and chuck in boiling water for 4 mins, with a tin of chopped toms/mixed herbs reduced in micro for 8 mins)
• Really cheesy toasted sandwich - Tescos sell toaster bags for 99p and they are great, you can put anything in them, whack in toaster for 5 mins and done, quick easy meals with almost no washing up!

Good luck and remember we are here to help you every step of the way!