New to this~need to chop costs

elona

For cooked meat for sandwiches - it can be a lot cheaper and healthier to put chicken or gammon in the slow cooker - then cool and slice.
When just trying to fill up kids quickly - how about pancakes - sweet or savoury. If you make them yourself it costs pennies.

Mine loved little drop scones or scotch pancakes - home made with jam, sugar or apple etc.

I make a huge quiche with ready made pastry on bogof - chopped softened onions, chopped bacon grated cheese and six value eggs and a little milk. It fills the oven shelf and even my picky lot love it.

Nicki

Hi. I'm new here. I've been reading for a while but never posted because didn't have any advice.

You don't say which one of your children is disabled. We also have a disabled child (learning disability not physically disabled) and once she reached her third birthday we got her nappies free from the NHS Trust. We got a 6 month supply at once, of really good quality nappies, and the allowance was very generous so they actually tended to last us for longer than 6 months. If it is your older child with the disability you should ask your HV about this, and if you have no joy with her try the Incontinence Service in your area. This is not a means-tested thing, it is solely a disability issue, and if you are getting DLA there should be no problem in qualifying for it.

If your 3 year old is only wearing them at night, you could probably share her nappy allowance with the 19 month old provided you don't mind the 19 month old's nappies looking a bit roomy!

Hay_2

Hiya~thanks for all those tips.Am trying to work out my first ever meal planner this morning AND we had pancakes for lunch yesterday which were a real hit so thanks for that tip too :cool:
And Nicki,it's my 19 month old who is on DLA so have a bit of time yet till she'll qualify for free nappies unfortunately but thanks for the idea x

elona

Hay

If you do not have time for pancakes - try french toast - bread soaked in egg and milk and then fried in a non stick pan. You can add sugar and cinnamon if you want it sweet or a little grated cheese if you want savoury.

Hubby always jokes that we eat better when I am either on a diet or economising.

Fortunately he loves home made pea soup in the slow cooker, poached eggs on toast, caulie cheese, chicken curry made with chicken thighs done in the slow cooker etc.
There is a recipe somewhere on the board for making your own tortillas - fill them with chopped onion (softened) bacon and cheese - warm in microwave or in frying pan - my youngest loves this. You can also fill them with salad, grated cheese or meat - any bits and bobs and it looks really fancy and expensive.

r.mac_2

hi there - a few things that might help.

make double and freeze. i.e. make two shepherds pies and freeze one for another time.

does your husband take packed lunches to work - this helps cut spending too

have a look at the rest of the site and see if you can save on your utilities etc.

get your 3ys old involved in the cooking and baking - I look after children and its one of their favourite things to do. We regularly schedule in something to bake. if it gets too messy or complicated i give them a seperate bowl which they can play with (and i bake this for them specially) so that we have something edible at the end of the day! It also helps teach basics such as 'don't eat raw egg' and 'eating flour gives you a sore tummy'!

I recommend a bulk buy shop too, if you have a freezer. Costco for example has a great butchery department and is very good value for money.

i always struggle with lunches for myself - my motivation seems to stop at dinners! Why not try elonas idea of cooking some meat for fillings yourself? Alternatively, could you try a weekly lunch plan i.e. mon - tuna sandwiches tues - pasta, wednesday - ham sandwiches, thurs - toasted sandwich, fri - pitta breads.

you sound like you are well prepared and i am sure that you will do great. Welcome to OS and please stick around.

catkins

Hi, can't really add anything to the advice given about meals (I'm veggie so no good with suggestions about meals with meat). With regard to your dog and cats. Do you have a Costco near you? I buy a big sack of dried food there for my cats (2). It costs £16 and lasts me about 4 months!!. Also I found with my dog buying cheap food worked out more expensive in the long run as he got through so much of it. Have started feeding him on CSJ which is a complete food with no additives or colourings. It costs £11 for a big sack and lasts about 5/6 weeks. He is a big dog so this works out very cheap. You would have to search the internet to see if anyone sells it near you as it is not that easy to get. There are other similar foods though and if you want I could find out some names for you.