first attempt at a shopping budget - £20/week

clutterydrawer

you seem to be slipping up when you get hungry at work, could you try makign something cheap but filling t home and taking it with you?

lumpy_bum

well done so far, im a bit concerned at how many negative comments there are about what you eat though :-s if youre keeping within your budget and youre enjoying your food then alls good :-) its good to have a treat now and then so dont deny yourself, youll end up having a blow out else and ruining what youve achieved !
il keep reading so keep it up

irishgirl62

I used to buy the cheap white lemonade 19p for the big bottle and top them up with lime cordial for lemonade and limeade and blackcrurrant cordial for "raspberry lemonade and orange squash added it was orangeade!! went down a treat with the kids at parties or barbques

dirtyflannel

Keep out of the coop lol. I am trying to limit the food budget too. best deals so far are the fruit and veg at Aldi 49p each. Have you a farmfoods near. I have only just started going there and theres qite a bit of veggie type food. Grassingtons meatballs, chicken fillet type things and burgers 2 packs for £1. Quorn products vary from £1 to £2. Fish is excellent value there. Large cartons of milk are £1 though all the major supermarkets are doing them for around 75p at moment. Eggs are 69p but they are not free range though to be honest do we know whats what anyway unless you saw the actual bird lay it? Iceland had 6 free range for a £1 last week. Shape yogurts 4 for £1 and those muller yogurts 6 for £2. Get yourself in home bargains too. Its excellent for smellies and other food bits and quarter of the price of supermarkets.

dirtyflannel

irishgirl62 wrote: »

I used to buy the cheap white lemonade 19p for the big bottle and top them up with lime cordial for lemonade and limeade and blackcrurrant cordial for "raspberry lemonade and orange squash added it was orangeade!! went down a treat with the kids at parties or barbques

freeway lemonade at aldi is 36p and quite nice too supposed to be premium.

want2bmortgage3

used up my weekly budget now, remaining £7 was spent on:
-loaf of white bread
-another 2pt milk
-co op own shampoo
-bag of potatoes
-small cheddar cheese

i remember seein a book at work (from the book club) just called potatoes and wish i'd got that now coz all i can think of doing is mash..lol

clutterydrawer

want2bmortgage3 wrote: »

used up my weekly budget now, remaining £7 was spent on:
-loaf of white bread
-another 2pt milk
-co op own shampoo
-bag of potatoes
-small cheddar cheese

i remember seein a book at work (from the book club) just called potatoes and wish i'd got that now coz all i can think of doing is mash..lol

Well you are in luck

you can use potatoes in:

Rosti
Potato bake
Stew
Curry
Fishcakes
Spanish omelette
Wedges
Potato salad
Moussaka
Shepherds pie
Baked potatoes
Gnocchi
That is just my own list from when i had a potato glut, there will be plenty more ideas, probably some on this board if you do a search.

Alison_c

Hi wanttobe

Also if you run out of inspiration and can't afford cookbooks at the moment use the internet Bbc food is a site I use regulary and theres another one where you type in what you have and it will come up with a recipe thats built around that product. It's http://allrecipes.com/ and it even has a vegetarian section for you, things must have improved since i was a vege I remember going into resturants and being looked at as if I was on another planet when I asked to see there vege menu !!!

I hope this has helped you a little

want2bmortgage3

thanks for that alison. i am going towards just using the internet rather than books, as i've yet to find a cookbook i actually like. too many of them just have a basic nutrition section at the front then recipe after recipe with either no pictures or no description of the recipe at all.

maman

I don't want to sound as if we're all criticising (albeit constructive) when you are obviously trying really hard BUT:rotfl:

This is a really interesting thread but I think that if we are really going to help you we need a bit more information: what do you really like eating? is it possible for you to get to a range of shops? could you afford to put a bit of money up front to fill your storecupboard so that you would save in the longer term? Also, if you want to get your 5 a day, would you prefer fruit as say snacks or puddings or vegetables as well as baked beans?

In the meantime, there is really excellent flavoured water (Perfectly Clear, still or fizz) at Iceland 2 x 2 litre bottles for £1. I'm sure there are cheaper brands available but this is good, branded stuff for a fraction of what you paid at M&S.