Tips and Quick Questions on “How To Start Being Old Style”

maman

Good luck carolannie. I definitely agree with the advice to start small with the batchcooking especially as you have the house to sort as well.

From a budget point of view there are lots of cheap meals and frozen veg to be bought from places like Iceland and Farmfoods . It's not what I would normally recommend but it'll tide you over until you get organised on the cooking front. Your boys are easily old enough to heat things up in the oven/microwave. It means you could stick to a budget and not have to resort to (expensive) take-aways.

squeaky

Hi

look here:- The Complete 'Getting Started' Collection

Maitane

Welcome Carolannie,

If your boys aren't brilliant with indoors yet, why not try getting them to do a bit of salad growing for you? Rocket and some other of the winter leaves grow like weeds in pots (you can get pots and the like from poundland or recycle things like tomato cans, cans aren't long term though). There's a gardening thread, I think that can give you some hints.
Also, in the same vein, if they like doing little bits and bobs in the kitchen, maybe get them to help prepping veg and things to go in the freezer. I always keep some chopped, diced and grated onions in the freezer along with other veg like carrots, parsnips, mushrooms, peppers.
It makes it easier to make quick meals.

You're certainly in the right place to get tips - everyone is friendly and has some advice to give.

jpscloud

Hi Carolannie, I know just how you feel - during work times I literally drag myself around and have no spare time or energy for anything. I have to wait for the holidays and hope that I don't happen to have a cold or feel ill during those - even then, if I let myself have some time to go out that seems to take all my energy so nothing gets done.

I have had a burst of energy this summer and started decorating/rennovating the kitchen. I do keep wanting to just stop (my bedroom is still half painted from two years ago!!) - but as many people are saying, baby steps - do one thing a day, maybe? Choose something that makes you feel better, and tell yourself to STOP after you've done it, then reward yourself.

Spending less - I feel faint when I think how much money I've wasted so far in my life. Coming to this site is a great step in the right direction so well done to you and me both!

Remember you're in good company - very many people feel overwhelmed and can't get started. Keep reading threads till something motivates you.

catchooky

Hi there just read through all these pages with great interest!
I have a somewhat silly and probably obvious question - I take packed lunches to work (in theory!) but often end up running out of time - I'd love to prepare pasta salad the night before so I can have it the next day but whenever I've tried to do it the pasta ends up really yukky - is there a certain way to do it? Need to get my finger out as I want to move out next year and am fed up of wasting food!xx

dancing_in_the_rain

Hi All

I read in the Observer last weekend that most household would need to take a 25% decrease in their standard of living over the coming year and I was wondering what changes I could make.

I was very OS but as I now work full time and study part time over the past few years my OS ways seem to have gone by the wayside. OH and I do live within our means but like others the rising cost of living means that we need to tighten our belts.

At present my shopping budget seems to be spiraling out of control and the amount of food that I end up putting in the bin or feeding to the dog is frightening. I really do need a kick up the bum to help me mend my way and was wondering if you lovely people would be willing to help me mend my ways :o

:

daisiegg

I suppose with the shopping budget, the first and most obvious question to ask is do you meal plan? if you think about it carefully and plan what to buy and cook, you should be able to keep wasted food to a minimum.

Also, I'd really really recommend shopping online. You can see exactly what you're spending so there are no nasty surprises at the checkout, and it prevents anything that wasn't on the list 'falling' into the trolley! Furthermore, the website will have a handy 'Great Offers' section or similar so you can see all the BOGOFs and special offers in one section - useful for picking up bargains. I know you have to pay for delivery but in my case at least, I can guarantee that I would have spent more than that £5 delivery charge on impulse buys when in the shop!

Good luck

dancing_in_the_rain

I do try and meal plan but as both OH and I wok long hours it can be by the time we get in we end up doing chicken ding or a take away so that the kids have time for it to digest before bed and so if this happens a couple of time a week it makes a right mess of my meal planning.

I have dusted down my slowcooker in the hope that this helps but the kids are too keen on anything produced by this.

I do shop online but always find that stuffs missing and then I have tio go to the shop and I do end up impluse buying alot .

[Deleted User]

Without a doubt a slow cooker can be your best friend if you work long hours Stick it on low as you walk out the door and you meal is ready for you when you come in The kids can either eat up or do without.Believe me they will soon be scoffing what you put in front of them I would never take a scrap of notice of what my kids said as I was the cook not them.Put your foot down firmly in this matter.Given the choice kids will whine 'I only like this,that or t'other' ignore that blackmail and dish up what you want and can afford, trust me they won't go hungry, and coming through the door to a gorgeous smelling chicken or casserole on a cold day is one of lifes pleasures when you have been grafting all day

notjustlaura

Have you tried batch cooking or once-a-month cooking?