I'm NOT os - but I want to be - can you help?

Prudent

I work out a reasonable budget for the month. Anything surplus at the end I transfer into a savings account. Sometimes its not much, but its nice to watch it build up.

moggins

Another really good basic cookery book is Grub On A Grant by Cas Clarke. It's supposed to be for students but all the meals are really easy to cook and very cheap.

MrsTinks

Instead of wasting money on more book you could ofcourse always pop in here and ask if anyone has a particular recipe

The slow cooker RULES!!! I do so muc in it now from stock (after the sunday roast chicken) and with that soup too, to beef and guinness casserole and franky anything I can think of chucking in Altough I have to admit that I have't tried chilli con carne but I think that might be one to try this week Thanks for the idea

If you're not experienced in cooking then start off easy Salads are simple to make but effective (grilled chicken pieces and grilled crispy bacon on a large portion of salad, tomatoes, cucumber and sweetcorn and your choice of dressing is VERY popular here you can even marinade the chicken first and it'll STILL be a VERY healthy meal) and then there is Lasagna... easy peasy, add more veggies to it to bulk it out and make it a little healthier. Curry isn't anywhere near as scary to cook as it might seem If you have a favourite recipe you want to try then just shout here and I am sure someone will be along to give you their favourite recipe that is easy to cook

Shop a little savvy when you buy wine and you can get some good bottles for £4ish (a lot less than a bottle at a resturant!). And alledgedly you can freeze any left over wine for cooking... personally I think this "left over wine" is an urban myth cos goodness knows I've never seen it in my house

Welcome to OS!

TOBRUK

Kittykate, I have a couple of recipes that are simple, quick, and easy to make, one of them is 'Moroccan Chicken' - it is so easy and very tasty:

4 boneless skinless chicken thighs 1lb 2oz total (last time I used chicken breast - beautiful)
Half pint chicken stock or veg stock (cube)
2 onions - finely chopped
3tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp clear honey
1sp each ground cumin and ground coriander
good pinch each chilli powder and ground cinnamon
8oz courgettes, cut into sticks (last time I did not have courgettes and I added peppers)
400g can chickpeas - drained
3tbsp chopped fresh parsley
juice 1 lemon (I found this too much so just added a little - to taste)
cous cous or rice to serve

method:
Put chicken, stock, onions, oil, honey, herbs and spices in a pan, and season.
Bring to boil, cover and cook gently (simmer) for 25 mins until chicken is tender.
Add courgettes (or peppers or any other) and chickpeas and cook for 10 mins.
Stir in the parsley and lemon juice.
Season to taste.
Serve with cous cous or rice.

This is a great recipe especially as you just throw everything in to the pan, stir and simmer! I keep adding other veg or mushroom etc. I think this would be nice with pork or beef but haven't tried it yet. But this is so easy to make, and lovely with cous cous. Hope this helps you.

Lucie_2

KittyKate
you've been given some really good advice so far, but I just want to stress that planning is the key. Think of it as another work or Uni project; "proper planning prevents poor presentation" (there was another P in there when I learnt it but I'll keep it clean ). Plan you meals around when you do your shopping. I tend to do my weekly shop on a Sat or Sun, which means I have more time to plan. It goes like this in our house:
Sit down with OH & work out who is going to be in when - ie this week he's on 2 late shifts & we're out at the rugby on Thurs, so no point planning for then, it will be wasted.
Plan what we're going to eat each day - avoids having chicken 3 nights on the bounce cos it's all you've got in. Base it around what's already in the cupboards/freezer.
Make a shopping list of everything else you need.
I also write the weeks "menu" on my white board in the kitchen; it means I don't have to think too much when I get in from work & helps with remembering what to get out of the freezer in a morning etc.
Sometime it goes to pot & we have a takeaway, but it happens an awful lot less now than it used to.
Good luck!

Loadsabob

Ah yes, budgeting and saving - I can't find my spreadsheet still on here, although Squeaky did put a link to it once. I love it, I use it constantly (there are separate pages in the one I use now, with a page like a cash book, detailing everything I buy in a week).

But as with a number of other people here, I save before I spend...ie: when the salary goes into the account, out goes the rent, all the bills, my monthly living money (£50/week), electricity, Council Tax, savings (about £100 into a cash ISA, a small account for the TV license and a stocks and shares ISA for long-term saving), etc etc...and then, what's left, I can either spend on things I'd like, OR (the plan each month!) add it to my cash ISA.

I usually find I have a couple of hundred a month to play with (unfortunately I often spend it!). About to join the pension scheme at work, but I should still have a margin of over £100 each month...

Linda32

Loadsabob wrote:

But as with a number of other people here, I save before I spend...ie: when the salary goes into the account, out goes the rent, all the bills, my monthly living money (£50/week), electricity, Council Tax, savings (about £100 into a cash ISA, a small account for the TV license and a stocks and shares ISA for long-term saving), etc etc...and then, what's left, I can either spend on things I'd like, OR (the plan each month!) add it to my cash ISA.

Thats what I do, the "bills" month starts on the 20th Wages in and then I use a spread sheet too. Income on the right outgoings on the left with a sum at the bottom.

I list everything that will come out as detailed above. That way the bills are accounted for already, so it doesn't actually matter when the date of the direct debit it. Whats actually left at the bottom is what you've got to play with.

Loadsabob

Linda32 wrote:

I list everything that will come out as detailed above. That way the bills are accounted for already, so it doesn't actually matter when the date of the direct debit it. Whats actually left at the bottom is what you've got to play with.

Exactly - I can never understand why people in my office are snookered when a bill hasn't come out on the right date, because they've then spent the money on something else by accident. HOW do they do that??!!

Yes, know your bottom line!

needmoney

Queenie wrote:

:hello:


The very best place to start reading would be: - Welcome to MoneySaving Old Style - (Read Me First) There is a wealth of useful advice that has been collated there and leads off in all directions from how to menu plan, shopping strategies, recipes, cleaning recipes, the monthly challenges.

You might benefit from reading The Mega Index thread too, heaps of reading, but broken down into subject matter to make it easier to go to a specific query you may have.

Thanks Queenie I've been here for ages and never read those two.:T

TOBRUK

Yes I agree with you Linda 32 and Loadsabob - some people just look at their 'balance' and they think that they can spend without thinking about the bills, and don't work out their outgoings - I wouldn't be able to sleep at night I'm afraid!

All my bills are covered and paid by direct debit which includes TV Licence, water, electricity, gas, broadband/phone,sky, mortgage etc. The only one bill that isn't covered is the quarterly BT rental which is about £35.00.

Once I calculate all the outgoings, and consider the extras e.g. birthdays etc, then I work out my budget and stick to it. The same time I plan (planning ahead is the only way I can be successful in managing - THE most important I feel) things such as meals and make out the shopping list based upon that, check cupboards to check stock levels, look out for offers and while making the list I price out every item so I know what the total bill comes to before I leave the house - some might say that is sad but hey!

I also save up through the year for christmas, and so that is covered. I mainly shop at tesco (main shop) and also have a savers card,which I get a stamp or two almost every week - this is also for christmas.

I really feel that the only way to cut down and save is take the time to plan although it may take a bit of time, but it is worth it.