Store cupboard challenge

415SanFran

Have you had a look at approved foods? They sell short dated food and really low prices.
You seem to eat a lot of the same stuff that I do, like the curry sauces and the micro noodles/rices.
I do a order once a month for all the lunch items, like box/bottle drinks, crisps crackers,jam,honey mayo, beetroot, olives, tuna, cup a soup. It comes to about 20 pounds (yes really, that's all)
But you do NOT NEED IT YET.

LauraM65

415SanFran wrote: »

When you say "sandwich fillers" do you mean the pots of egg/tuna/chicken fillers?
If you read the label they are really easy to make the tuna one for instance is just equal amounts of tuna mayo and sweetcorn, with a little salt and pepper. Real easy and more than half the price.
HTH

No, I will probablly buy a packet of ham or beef as thats what my lot like. I would, as you suggested make up that type of filling as those sandwich fillers are expensive and dont last 5 minutes in my house and I dont every buy eggs as we have our own hens which is really handy. We've been keeping them for about a year now they are such characters and I wish we had done it years ago, the only draw back with them is that they are rather messy if you let them roam about everywhere. We are trying to contain them now in their rather large area which is sufficient for what they need as we are planting up our veg patches, last year they ate what we planted so we did not grow anything. :T

LauraM65

415SanFran wrote: »

Have you had a look at approved foods? They sell short dated food and really low prices.
You seem to eat a lot of the same stuff that I do, like the curry sauces and the micro noodles/rices.
I do a order once a month for all the lunch items, like box/bottle drinks, crisps crackers,jam,honey mayo, beetroot, olives, tuna, cup a soup. It comes to about 20 pounds (yes really, that's all)
But you do NOT NEED IT YET.

Have to say I have never heard of Approved Foods are they on the net? Will certainly take a look if they are that cheap for lunch item essentials. Thanks:)

LauraM65

LauraM65 wrote: »

Have to say I have never heard of Approved Foods are they on the net? Will certainly take a look if they are that cheap for lunch item essentials. Thanks:)

Just had a look at them on line, WOW will certainly be ordering when I need it from them, might even do like you do and order stuff on a monthly basis. Thanks:T

missychrissy

I always find that the p & p for approved foods is expensive and costs about the same as the goods. However, occasionally they do do free delivery.

415SanFran

I agree misschrissy the postage can seem expensive, but if you buy certain items they have discounts at the moment the best deal are the CASE of micro noodles for about 1.50 that takes about a quid off the delivery price.

also I have emphysema so I cannot carry alot in one trip, the cost of a taxi to my house costs about 5/6 pounds so its pretty much the same.
About 18 months ago I bought the full box of ground coffee nothing else and still managed to save over 100 pounds just from that order alone. Also they 99 CASES of suso drinks were fab lasted us lot all last summer. They sell for about 98p EACH in asda.
So yes it does depend on each persons personal circumstances just thought I would put it out there.

mlz1413

LauraM65 wrote: »

:beer:
So here goes the freezer inventory just as bad as the cupboard:

1 huge pork joint (can make 3 joints out of it) do you want this for roasts? make a list of things it can make and then decide how to use it. (easter is coming up do you want to invite family / friends over for a roast?)
1 whole salmon fillet economy gastronomy do one salmon 4 ways - worth googling.
1 packet filo pastry fill with jam to make posh jam tarts
2 boxes faggots with mash & gravy - yummy
2 packets of lean beef mince chillies/lasangas/spag bol/ cottage pie/ meatballs.
1 packet thin fries
1 packet bacon lardons pizza topping
1 pack sausage meat scotch eggs
1 packet prawns stir fries, salads
2 boxes vegetarian burgers wtih the fries above
1 packet quorn pieces
1 box fish in batter
1/2 bag mixed peppers stir fries
1/2 bag mini corn on cob with burgers and fries
2 packets of quorns mince same as other mince, or mix with lean mince to pack out
2 tuna fish cakes
1 bag green beans serve with curries or add to stir fries
1 frozen korma curry
2 packs chicken leg quarters oven bake, fry, bbq or slow cook
1 mexican chilli bean soup lunch with nice bread
1 box of 30 fishfingers hope you like them!
2 packets beef meatballs
1 sandwich box full of home made soup from yesterday
1 bag breaded chicken breasts stuff with garlic butter, or cheese&bacon, chop for stir fries or curries
1/2 bag chunky chips with the breaded fish above
1 packet of peas as above
1 packet bacon sarnies at weekend breakfast, add to bean chillies, wrap around chicken breasts
1 individual chicken breast
1 cheese pizza
1 pack of 3 naan breads
1 packet of pork loin chops grill seasoning with S&P and herbs, serve on top of tagliatelle with a creamy white sauce and mushrooms

So definitely no shopping for me hopefully for 2 weeks make that 2 months! only for the essentials such as milk (does anyone know if milk is still a good buy at Farm Foods), bread, butter, veg, fruit, sandwich fillers, drinks for school, crisps, dog and cat food. Budgeting £30 for this little lot, although still rather expensive hopefully I can get it cheaper. you really are a shop-aholic! with that lot I wouldn't be going near a shop that wasn't on the corner.

Just done a massive overhaul of everything that we have coming in and going out this month, in theory if all goes to plan should save about £500 WOW this would be amazing and will go to paying off debts. Will let you know what we (as were a family in this) achieve.

Keep the tips and suggestions coming.
:beer:

put the £500 into a different account and only transfer it if you HAVE to, make a list of all the things you could do with that money and read it every time you go to dip into the money - ie do you really need to spend any of that £500 more than you want what is on the list?

julietiff

LauraM65 wrote: »

Just had a look at them on line, WOW will certainly be ordering when I need it from them, might even do like you do and order stuff on a monthly basis. Thanks:T

They are good! I have a liking for the 'soupful' chicken balti soups-
big lumps of chicken with rice and peppers in a microwave pouch
only £1 for a case (6) they are very filling, have ordered another
6 cases:)

[Deleted User]

Right I waste way too much. I know I do. I also have bulging cupboards and freezers and still end up spending £300 per month on groceries for the family (2 adults 2 kids of 3yrs and 20mths). I am not too worried about the spend or trying to reduce it long term - I am not too interested in a downshift as I like what I like but I really really would like to cut down the amount of waste food.

I get paid on 15th of the Month. I normally put £120 into Clubcard plus for a 'big shop' at Tesco of tins, packets, jars etc and then have £180 cash to spend at the butchers/grocers/local shop for milk etc to last me the month. I usually do a monthly meal plan to help but I don't stick to it religiously it's more of a guide.

On 16th May we are going to Eurodisney for 3 nights with the kids. I would really like to be able to take that £180 as spending money. So my plan is this - this month use up everything in the freezer/cupboards and just use the £120 to buy the fresh fruit/veg for the week. I have a tesco express local to me I can nip to for bread/milk/bananas etc and still use my clubcard plus card.

I may need help from you guys for inspiration when I am running out of ideas what to cook next!!!

[Deleted User]

Well first thing is first I better catalogue the small freezer in the kitchen and the chest freezer. I shall come back to this post and strikethrough food I have eaten so I can see what is left.

4 chunky cod fillets
[STRIKE]60[/STRIKE] 54 fish fingers
[STRIKE]Packet[/STRIKE] Half a packet of potato letters
2 x 8pack Sausages
1 x 2 chicken large breasts
[STRIKE]3 x 3 chicken breasts [/STRIKE]
5 small lamb chops
1 portion of mash
2 beefburgers
4 Ultimate beefburgers
1 x 3portion HM chilli
[STRIKE]2[/STRIKE] 1 x 2portion HM chilli
1 x 1portion HM chilli
20 chicken dippers
2 quorn sausages
2 x 8 sausages
2 x portion cooked rice
Family sized portion HM bolognese sauce
2portion HM bolognese sauce
440g diced beef
Half packet Ikea meatballs
2portion HM squash and carrot cobbler
5 x 1portion HM beef casserole
1 salmon fillet
500g pork mince
900g beef mince
3 x HM leek and potato soup
Filo pastry sheets
HM Red wine gravy
4 loaves bread
Cheese pizza
WW beef hotpot
WW spag bol
WW chicken and dumpling casserole
2 x 360g bags prawns
4 x 12 potato waffles
Large bag oven chips.

I also have a load of frozen veg and cupboards full of stuff.