6000 meals under 50p in 2010; feeding your family on a low budget

XSpender

I have just read through the thread and wanted to say well done to Mark, you are doing really well.

I am really interested in working out what we spend per meal (there is only me and DH) as we can not seem to get our food costs down so I will be following this thread.

I was quite shocked to work out the costings of my breakfast 12p :T and lunch £1.03 including 2 pieces of fruit:eek: I thought I was having a cheapy day at home:rolleyes: I will be keeping a much closer eye on prices/costs in the future.

pipkin71

Kazipoo wrote: »

Bought some smart price porridge oats last week, think it was about 58p, making it up with water like my nana used to, rather than milk and had it for brekkie with the girls every morning this week so far, still got half the bag left, so definitely worth it, they have syrup on theirs and I have mine with a bit of sugar and milk!! Yummy and warm!!

I've got some blackberries in the freezer still, and DD will have a few of those on her porridge in the morning rather than the syrup. As the blackberries defrost, I get a bit of liquid in the bowl with them and that colours the porridge a bit

shanks77

Well i thought this was going to be a really good thread to join but some very opionionated people who have strayed badly from the point of this post have put me off. I hope that it gets back on track soon and will prob pop back in at some time but not if these people are still wittering on.
Good luck

Maxjessdru

Hi Mark

Congratulations so far - keep up the good work! One recipe you may like (everyone I have given it to have loved it) was a soup that JO did on his pre-Christmas programme. It is a spicy squash and rice soup. Basic recipe is blitz some chilli, ginger, lemongrass and onion until a paste and fry off. Chop the butternut squash into cubes, put into the pan and add stock. When the squash is getting soft, add a large handful (or so!) of rice and then add a tin of coconut milk. Delicious and very warming and filling. I see you shop at Lidls so six portions will easily come under 50p each (it makes loads). As I did not have all the ingredients fresh, I used a squeeze of chilli puree and a teaspoon of ground ginger powder. I also used coconut powder (cheaper than coconut milk and you just mix with water) which would make it even cheaper.

mark55man

Hi all - some lovely recipes there thanks very much. Soup will be nice, but I do like a Thai curry, so will be trying that - only trouble its oinly OH and I who like curry so have to make enough for a few meals to reduce the cost of the paste proportionately

will do my budgets later, just on quickly for now

mark55man

So reporting back for Monday 11th January

Back to school and work so lunchboxes for all bar OH who was on last day off

Today's Summary - 17/18 meals 50p or under
Summary Total - 182/198 = 91.9%

Breakfast: 50p or under (6/6)
OP - Alpen (Lidl) + 25p
OH - Lidl Crunchy Oat Cereal - 30p
Kids - Toast & OJ

Lunch: 50p or under (6/6)
OP - Smoked Mackeral Sandwich (29) + Lettuce and Apple = 49p
OH - One Portion Lentil Soup - 26p
DD1 - Carrot, Lettuce Bread Apple - 22p
DS1 - Carrot, Lettuce Bread Apple + Vege Chicken Burger (25) - 47pp
DD2 - Carrot, Bread, Apple + Vege Chicken Burger (25) - 42p
DS2 - Carrot (5p), Ham Sandwich (23p) Apple (10p) Crisps (10p) - 48p

Supper: 50p or under (5/6)
All but DS2 - Potato Layers in Cheesy Pea sauce : £0.40p potatoes (= 1kilo), £1.17p 200g cheese, Milk 10p, Peas 50p = £2.17 for 5 = 44p each
DS2 - chicken noodles : chicken piece 42p noodles 11p peas 10p - 63p

pipkin71

shanks77 wrote: »

Well i thought this was going to be a really good thread to join but some very opionionated people who have strayed badly from the point of this post have put me off. I hope that it gets back on track soon and will prob pop back in at some time but not if these people are still wittering on.
Good luck

The thing is, everyone has different opinions, and the right to voice their opinion.

It's up to you what you take on board and what you ignore, but making comments about ignoring a thread if so and so joins in, is rather silly imo.

I have ignored the comments directed towards the poster as it detracts from the thread, but have to say that the OP did actually find some use in what was said, as they increased their fruit uptake, I believe. [Correct me there, if I'm wrong Mark ]

We all have equal right to join in a thread and discuss the topic. People don't have to agree but negativity from both sides does take it off topic and could end up putting many off reading and joining in, plus, constantly going on about something, when the thread has moved on, is hardly making progress.

Just my two pennies worth and no offence meant by my comments

pipkin71

Maxjessdru wrote: »

Hi Mark

Congratulations so far - keep up the good work! One recipe you may like (everyone I have given it to have loved it) was a soup that JO did on his pre-Christmas programme. It is a spicy squash and rice soup. Basic recipe is blitz some chilli, ginger, lemongrass and onion until a paste and fry off. Chop the butternut squash into cubes, put into the pan and add stock. When the squash is getting soft, add a large handful (or so!) of rice and then add a tin of coconut milk. Delicious and very warming and filling. I see you shop at Lidls so six portions will easily come under 50p each (it makes loads). As I did not have all the ingredients fresh, I used a squeeze of chilli puree and a teaspoon of ground ginger powder. I also used coconut powder (cheaper than coconut milk and you just mix with water) which would make it even cheaper.

That sounds really nice, Maxjessdru.

I would definitely give this a try as I love finding new things to do with butternut squash [one of my favourite veg ]

phizzimum

financially_gaga wrote: »

Chappattis are very easy - for 2 of us (about 6 chappatti's x 2 days so 12 in all) i take 2 mugs of flour, add 2 tablespoons of oil and knead into a soft dough with hot water. I put half in the fridge for the next day. Make into ping pong ball size balls and roll out using extra flour. I use a frying pan to cook but use no oil, just dry cook. Needs about 30secs on each side x 2.

made these last night with a meatball curry and they were delish!

have to confess that I was rushing when I made a note of the recipe - so I accidentally used a mug of flour and a mug of oil instead of a tablespoon! I think I would have given up at that point but DD was helping me and she was having too much fun. so we added more flour and ending up eating them all - nomnomnom!

misscousinitt

The squash and rice soup sounds lovely...got a couple of squashes snoozing in the fridge - think I may have to invest in a can of coconut milk and do this recipe at the weekend for our sunday lunch snack (we have a roast dinner in the evening)!