Help! £40 to feed family for the month

catnap53

Thanks for raising the game.

I made some soup last night, guess what variety it was?

Mushroom!

Oh and I did make lentil soup too using stock that I had boiled Sunday's defrosted gammon joint in (one third of Costco's last offer on them). Still got loads left. I think I might have bulked it out with too many lentils.

I have worked out that it costs more for DH's lunches (four slices of bread for sandwiches) than a full meal, so will slice some gammon really thin for him. The prepacked meats are thin and/or expensive anyway.

My lunch today was some leftovers - sweetcorn, peas and fried peppers to which I added a ladleful of lentil soup and reduced it down then added some chilli dipping sauce. Served with boiled rice leftover from Saturday. It was so nice I might try to recreate it for real.

Glad your family are [STRIKE]co-operating[/STRIKE] none the wiser:D

mbaz

Phew! You know I think I got away with the burgers - OH wolfed down 3! Feel like I'm on the home straight now!

discodolly_2

Hi, Mbaz!

I never normally post but I read this thread every day and love it!
The other day I added lentils, oats, 4 grated carrots and half a grated turnip to 500g mince...I ended up with 14 portions!:j
I think that you and all the other oldstylers are fabulous and you have changed my life, so thank you:kisses3:

mummysaver

dazza32 wrote: »

i dont belive anybody is that hard up ,, im on benifits with loads of debt and i eat better than that ,,, you must be spending money on other things too,,,,,

This is primarily a thread about how to feed your family for £20, using what was already in the cupboards and freezer as well. This month it so happened that that was all that MBaz had left for food from her budget, perhaps she did have to spend money on other things, but don't we all, and many people are caught out by unexpected bills or reductions in income. All that said she was asking for advice about food and not for comments on her budget, I think she has done really well and her family have been fed a fairly balanced and nutricious diet.

I really hope that your post wasn't meant to be quite so mean sounding as it seemed when I read it, and I'm sure everyone would welcome your ideas and possible menu plans showing how you eat better and perhaps an idea of how much you would spend for the month.

Now back to lentils and oats, my favourite use for lentils other than a very garlicky soup, is Weezl's pate, have a look on her thread, on the first page she has an index of recipes, it is delicious and freezes well and is very very cheap (as our Weezl likes to work out costings as well!). And i'm sure most people could guess the best use of oats, Twink's hobnobs, no better use ever for them, these are delicious biscuits, plus you get loads from the mix and all the fun of watching the bicarb making the melted butter and syrup fizz!

chickadee

mummysaver wrote: »

And i'm sure most people could guess the best use of oats, Twink's hobnobs, no better use ever for them, these are delicious biscuits, plus you get loads from the mix and all the fun of watching the bicarb making the melted butter and syrup fizz!

LOL! I love that bit too!

Mbaz, you are doing so well. I pop in to read this thread every now and again and it is really great to hear how you are getting on, as well as picking up all the ideas.

mbaz

Thanks for all your support. Got some ebay money through today. Thank god I had just ran out of coffee!!! Sorry but cannot live without that! Got a load of reduced fruit and veg from ASDA as was feeling worried about how little we've had this month. I'll do the boys some carrot sticks with their lunch. My total now stands at £23.49 but I'm def going to need some more milk and nappies before the month is out. Anyone know whose value nappies are best ASDA, Wilkos or tesco??!

mummysaver

Mbaz - you are doing brilliantly, think your thread has made all of us think hard about what we spend! As far as fruit and veg intake is concerned, I don't think that it sounds like it has been too bad, and besides a month isn't likely to do too much harm. Perhaps for the future it might be worth ensuring that you always have some extra frozen or tinned veg for any future emergencies, just a thought. I like to keep a couple of bags of mixed veg, peas, sweetcorn and broccoli in the freezer and some tinned toms, sweetcorn and carrots, oh and mushy peas, then if we have no fresh veg there is always something to add to a meal - I replace them as we use them so that they are always there, but then I have to confess to a slight stockpiling mentality and liking to keep one spare of most things, lol!

Not much idea about nappies, as my youngest is now 7, but I know that I used the Tesco value nappies when i was potty training, as they did absorb liquid and keep them dry, but didn't suck it away from the skin as quickly as other brands, meaning they could tell when they were wet for a while! I know pampers are on offer at Mr T's at the mo, might be worth looking on the voucher/discount thread or pampers own website for any money off coupons.

Good luck with the rest of your challenge!

banana1975

I can recommend Tesco nappies. I completed a trial for them (not knowing that there were Tesco own brand at the time) and they are brilliant. They are in the purple packet and I have never had a problem with them. HTH.

By the way I have followed this thread and think you have done a remarkable job. We also have had a very tight month and have found this thread an inspiration.

Three cheers to you!

lollyfin

mbaz I think you are doing brilliantly and I really hope you will carry on this thread after your finished and let us know how you get on and what you get with your ...luxury... budget, as I am desparate to know what other meals you and other OSers come up with (am loving the lentils they go in everything! well almost)

mbaz

I'm going to start next month's shopping online at tesco tonight, see whats on offer etc and work out a menu plan. OOOO I'm going to enjoy doing it! I've ran out of lentils and oats so they will be top of my list! I'll post a copy on here tomorrow for your suggestions!

1st - carbonara (just found a jar in back of cupboard)
2nd Lasagne (with added lentils )
3rd chicken and rice
4th jacket spuds with smartprice beans
5th defrost a curry
6th lasagne
7th omlette
8th chicken dinner
9th casserole in giant yorkshire
10th canelloni
11th Beans on toast
12th Jacket spud
13th ate for free!!!
14th Egg and chips
15th curry (bulked out with lentils!)
16th veggie sausages and chips
17th left-over-bulked-out-curry
18th 4p curry sauce and chips
19th chicken risotto
20th beans on toast
21th Egg n chips
22th Gruel pie
23th Shezza's pasta sauce
24th - Chicken risotto