Help! £40 to feed family for the month

Downsizing__for_sanity

Agree with Louise - what she said. So often people (including myself) either can't or don't want to spend lots of money on the month's grocery shop, and with the mega shops these days, it is so tempting to buy when actually, if we were really pushed, we could manage for months without stepping over the threshold of a supermarket except for essentials.

For example, although I have tons of all different sorts of flour in, OH and kids prefer supermarket bread, so I only bother to make my own when he is working away. However, this time last year I had a 6 week old baby and we were snowed in for a time, so managed on the store cupboard and dried milk to make bread. Let's remember that OS has to fit with our individual life styles! I mean, we have our own hens (proper OS!) but does that mean everyone else should or is able to? I am a full time student with an OH departing for sandy climes this weekend - so tonight I bought some "Little Dish" ready meals for the kids at 10p each. Lentil curry made from scratch might work out cheaper but having something in makes my evenings easier some days. And ultimately, using a cheese sauce mix for 30p ish is a darn sight cheaper than caving in and spending £30 on takeaway. Baby steps and each to their own!

PolkaDotsAndLace

Can only repeat what everyone else said! Am new to this, but as far as I can see, it's near impossible for everyone to be completely OS, all of the time. We have a desire to do it but life doesn't just stop - we all have family, work, life things to deal with and time constraints can mean a packet sauce is the best option. Like someone else said, making it yourself doesn't always equal cheaper either - and since this whole thread is about a limited budget, cheaper options matter too.

dom300186

Im just glad im not the only one, as stated before it uses alot of cheese making cheese sauce especially on how cheesy i love my pasta bake lol, water under the bridge its just a recipe as anyone else knows recipes can be adjusted to own preference i just happen to keep packet sauces in just incase, i dont but asda curry sauce in a packet i buy the 9p jar its just as good i think its great stuff i use over my chips or as a curry? i dont keep in any other sauces as i will make my own.
the other night we had cumberland sausages which were reduced in tesco to 99p for 9, i made a leek and mustard sauce, inspired by the colmans sauce i think? so instead of spending £1 on it i made my own.

Leek and mustard sauce for sausages or anything else you can think of
flour
milk
mustard didnt have grain had normal smooth mustard in....
chopped up leeks.

I put sausages in oven first to brown then put sausages inmy pyrex casserole dish and poured sauce on top and it was gorgeous!!!!!
I also will make my own casserole mix/curries/stew/parsley sauce/bbq chicken sauce/chilli and spag bol sauces.

all goes down to preference and time, i have a 4 year old who runs around like a nutter and im 6 months pregnant so sometimes i dont have time plus im suffering with my pelvis at the moment so standing and walking can hurt me.

This thread is for anyone going through money trouble and looking for alternative recipes to help them though a tough time so lets carry on doing that.xxxx

furndire

Dom to make cheese sauce more "cheesey" add a bit of mustard - I hate mustard, but it does work.
I read it on MSE somewhere, but not a clue where - was maybe even on this thread.

cooking-mama

furndire wrote: »

Dom to make cheese sauce more "cheesey" add a bit of mustard - I hate mustard, but it does work.
I read it on MSE somewhere, but not a clue where - was maybe even on this thread.

I hate mustard too,but i have heard this before,never tried it yet though because ive never known if it was supposed to be mustard powder or the mustard paste type:o

Pink.

cooking-mama wrote: »

I hate mustard too,but i have heard this before,never tried it yet though because ive never known if it was supposed to be mustard powder or the mustard paste type:o

cooking-mama,

It can be either. Whatever you use just make sure it's stirred into sauce well. If using powder, I mix it in a small amount of water first. You shouldn't taste the mustard, but it will really bring out the flavour of the cheese and mean a massive reduction in the amount of cheese (and therefore fat) that needs to be added to the dish.

Pink

kezlou

Hope no one minds,

Just bumping the thread as i think it would be a great help to people as it was to me .

[Deleted User]

My late ma-in-law always made cheese on toast with the cheese seperate in a saucepan mixed up with milk and a little mustard powder once melted and poured over hot toast it was to die for It was the best cheese on toast I had ever tasted.I think her lete Oh taught her as it was the way his mum made it in Tredegar in Wales.No idea of the quantities of milk to cheese though as I have never made it myself that way I'd love to know if there are any folk on here from Wales who make it like that

Purplekylie22

JackieO wrote: »

My late ma-in-law always made cheese on toast with the cheese seperate in a saucepan mixed up with milk and a little mustard powder once melted and poured over hot toast it was to die for It was the best cheese on toast I had ever tasted.I think her lete Oh taught her as it was the way his mum made it in Tredegar in Wales.No idea of the quantities of milk to cheese though as I have never made it myself that way I'd love to know if there are any folk on here from Wales who make it like that

That sounds really fine, I should try my kids on it! I have some American mustard in the house so maybe I could add a little of that too it? I don't really like mustard so only have the American in for fake MD cheeseburgers

Butterfly_Brain

JackieO wrote: »

My late ma-in-law always made cheese on toast with the cheese seperate in a saucepan mixed up with milk and a little mustard powder once melted and poured over hot toast it was to die for It was the best cheese on toast I had ever tasted.I think her lete Oh taught her as it was the way his mum made it in Tredegar in Wales.No idea of the quantities of milk to cheese though as I have never made it myself that way I'd love to know if there are any folk on here from Wales who make it like that

Oooh Welsh Rarebit :drool: I remember that from when I was little
Also Gypsy toast also known as French toast which was basically eggy bread
http://www.cottagesmallholder.com/eggy-bread-recipe-650