How do I make the most of my food budget?

geordie_joe

Kimitatsu wrote: »

Do you have a large freezer? If you have the room to keep one then I would invest in a large chest freezer as it will pay for itself in the first year.

Will it? How does it save you money?

mrsraggle

Thanks so much everyone for your responses. My family is myself, hubby (baby next year) and two cats. I've got loads of helpful tips here!

hayleythedaisy

Also when you cook curry or something and look at the pan and think "that's 2 large portions", split it into 3 portions, one for the freezer. (you could do this slightly smaller for your lunch assuming you'll be eating alone while your husband is at work. If the slightly smaller portion didn't quite fill you up enough have a slice of bread and jam or the like an hour or so later, although you'd be amazed at how quick you get used to eating more reasonable portions.

Also you could consider feeding the baby yourself rather than formula (obviously a totally personal choice)

Have a go at your local butchers. Butchers in town centres tend to be ok with you picking up say £24 of meat and you saying "call it £20 for cash" with a nice smile. Try it and see.

Also frozen peas and sweetcorn are good for last minute "bulkers" - no need to by the expensive ones if they are going in currys or pasta dishes the value ones are fine.

Meat doesn't have to be in every meal as well, so long as you get a balanced diet you can substitute meat for beans.

Dishes such as pasta and sweetcorn with salad cream or mayo are good easy lunches. (just chuck the pasta and frozen sweetcorn in one pan boil and drain and squeeze a blob of sauce on.)

Make your own treats. Cakes, tarts etc.

If you go to a butcher ask if he has any small ofcuts of chicken or beef or whatever, fry them off, add onions mushrooms and peas (frozen of course!) into a dish, cover with gravy or cheap mushroom soup and cover with mash potato.

Have you got a slow cooker? If not get one! If you've got one you can do really cheap cuts of meat in them.

If you've got a windowsil get a pot of basil and a pot of parsley. You'd be amazed how much these can jazz up cheap meals.

If you're that way inclined you could make puff pastry and make your own pies and tarts etc, they can be frozen.

Make soups in the slow cooker, just keep adding everything you find until you like it!

And if all else fails... invite yourself to your families house for dinner ;-)