Eating healthily for £25 a week

greenbee

thriftlady wrote: »

Not always, grains vary in cost. Last November I costed various starchy staples and found risotto rice to be the most expensive at 22p per 75g serving and barley to be the cheapest at 3p. See here

I like your point about barley being locally grown obviously I'll need to check the packets, as it doesn't necessarily follow that the locally grown stuff will be what's in my local shop!). I guess the cheapest risotto to make is using seasonal vegetables, home-made stock and maybe a little left-over meat if you feel the need.

I shop in waitrose too... it's so nice and peaceful and somehow, I actually seem to spend less Mind you, I get all my fruit & veg at the farm shop, meat at the butcher, quite a bit at the health food shop and farmers' market and online, so I only go in there occasionally. I still come out with lots of stuff I don't need, but its not as bad as when I go to the other, even more soul less supermarkets!

juliapenguin

Your sister is sooooo lucky to have someone to help her out, and it's not on to be spending £1 just on a packet sauce which only lasts a meal - never mind that it's on offer! She can buy her packet and jar sauces when she's not living off your very good nature.

Like a lot of people on this board, I was a single mum on benefits at one point with a son with an enormous appetite, and we managed to live pretty well - I probably ate better in those days, in fact, because I learnt to be so resourceful. At the same time, I had two close relatives on benefits who couldn't manage their money and I used to help them out too with food - eating well doesn't have to cost the earth.

Sorry if I sound intolerant - I'm writing my MA dissertation at the moment as well as working full time, so I'm a grumpy old woman!!!

By the way, when you say scallops, I wonder if you mean the battered potato slices we have here oop North, rather than the super expensive fishy delights? My Mum used to make them when I was little and they are delicious and very cheap to make - thinly sliced spuds, flour and water batter, oil for frying, salt and vinegar for on top, that's it. If she learns to make them herself, she's in no danger of losing weight!!

LilacPixie

Just had a thought. you say she need to drink milk to stop loseing weight. could she possibly get the protein shake things on perscription?? As she is on benefits her perscription would be free. My grandmother got these from her GP when she lost alot of weight as it has the protein and the calories but not the high level of saturated fats.

Just done my shop for a week in Lidl, 2 adults 2 kids and I was £44. I personally find bulk cooking to be very economical. I have a routine of 12-14 different dishes that we all enjoy and I make and freeze multiple portions so we never get bored.

Ames

lol, we both love the battered potato scallops, but I meant the fishy ones.

I doubt she'd get the protein shakes on prescription, her weight isn't at a level they'd intervene.

Is there a good time to go to aldi/lidl? I went once because of their 49p offers on the veg, but when I got there (mid afternoon) there wasn't any left. I assumed that it was a con and they were advertising offers just to get people in the store, but from reading here it seems that's not the case.

clutterydrawer

I have to say it sounds like she needs to be a bit less fussy - if you weren't giving her money, what would she do then? Probably eat what she could afford and get used to it.

There is an Aldi in Meanwood (LS6) if she can get there, their fruit and veg is pretty cheap. My main advice though would be to get her to set aside a chunk of time and read as much of this board as possible, there are so many ingenious little tips here and when you manage to implement a lot of them the savings really add up.

Ames

That's the one I went to, I live just down the road from it. I've sent her the link to this thread so hopefully she'll become an addict, uh, I mean, convert, too!

LilacPixie

Dunno about in your area but before mid-day is advisable. I got a few of the Cauli's at 39p each they are worth it. we also got the 1.5kg bag of new potatoes 49p, some plums 49p and a cucumber 29p. I guess it is all reletive but packet sauces in general are more expensive than making your own even when on special offer.

bigmomma051204

Hiya - please don't take this the wrong way but i think your sister is taking the mick a little bit!! As a support worker with familes and single peole, i see people in real debt and living off jobseekers. They have to cope on what the government gives them. I can understand as a kind sister that you want to help out and thats great but i can also see that perhaps you have made her a little too reliant on your extra money coming in each week. To be honest, i would personally give her the £20 which you can afford (at least i hope you can afford and are not going short yourself!?) and tell her to shop within her means. If you are good at budgeting, then maybe go with her and help her to shop those first couple of times so she understands what to buy etc but then leave her to it. Unfortunately if you continue to subsidise her in her somewhat "lavish" eating habits she will continue to need that money (live within her means AND yours iykwim) and won't ever want to stand on her own two feet. Can i ask, if her weight is fine and doesn't require intervention, why does she need milk? Surely if there are issues with needing extra nutrition, she could go to her GP and ask for a referral to a nutritionist - yes i know the waiting list is long but it might be worth it.....also, if the doc listens
and agrees that your sister needs to get extra nutrition (which if there are health issues any good doc wil!) then they will probably be able to prescribe something which your sister can get free on prescription.
Sorry if i sound a bit doom and gloom - i just think your kindness is being a little bit taken for granted.

jennyjelly

This is a really old thread but full of good cheap meals - though I do think your sis could maybe make a bit of effort to read it herself!

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=336033&highlight=

mumto1_2

Glad I'm not the only one that noticed the scallops.......... Think you need to let her sink or swim on her own a little more, and let her make her own mistakes over what she buys food-wise.