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

VenusFlytrap_2

Ooh NJW chocolate and marshmallow pitta bread 'pizza' sounds delish! Quite often see pitta bread as whoopsies at supermarkets round here, will have to remember to pick some up next time!

mark55man

maltesers wrote: »

snip

I can now see why you have titled the thread "feeding your family on a low budget"

snip.

Bit of history - I started this thread with the title 6000 meals under 50p. That was my challenge - and I have not moved too far from it although I have learned a lot.

It was merged with another thread "feeding a family on a low budget" (hence the second half of my title) - I didn't know why it was merged then, and I still don't think it was a good idea even now as it effectively terminated Nikki's thread. But to paraphrase a poem "the Board Guide writes, and having writ, Moves on; nor all thy Piety nor Wit Shall lure it back to cancel half a line".

(While we're going back over old ground - Technically as well, I should have one of those flashy banners on my first post because I was mentioned in the one of Martin's emails - how do I get that to happen)

So - I know I have challenges outside of this one, and I will admit to be being slightly surprised at the size of the non challenge spends and this will motiivate me to chop back on the non-meal spending as well this month. But - like I said last month was unusual for being the first and for being snow bound for most of the first 10 days

mark55man

Reporting back (late - again) for Sun 7th February

Busy clearing out the garage - two car loads of junk - (genuine junk/recycling - sorted out some other for ebay and freecycle)

Today's Summary - 10/12 meals 50p or under
Summary Total - 618/672 = 92.0% = Target 91.3%

Breakfast: 50p or under (5/6)
:eek: first budget busting brekkie - DS2 has sports club on Sunday and wanted extra brekkie as he had been running out of steam - so 2 egg, 2 bacon and bowl cereal 85p
others had veggie sausage, egg and beans @ (16+16+10p) = 42p

Lunch: 50p or under (5/6)
OP, DS2 : Ham & Coleslaw sandwich (30 (3 slices) + 10 (2 slices bread) + 6p (50g) = 46p) (DS2 no coleslaw)
OH : Pate on toast (60p)
DS1, DD1, DD2 : Veggie Sausage Sandwich = 33p + 10p = 43p

Supper: 50p or under (0/0) -
All : Had family meal out using a "good performance" voucher from work. Very nice

Alison_Funnell

Mark - your challenge therefore your rules.

WELL DONE ON THE ACHIEVEMENTS SO FAR.

Lesley_Gaye

phizzimum wrote: »

now if the bargains disappear you'll be blaming me!

Ha ha, yes I will (no, not really).

There are usually 1 or even 2 boxes of stuff, usually of 1 thing, often cauliflower, often large toms and bananas sometimes.

I have taken to going there as much as I can as it is a locally run shop that it is good to support, and even better it is cheaper than the supermarkets, although not as cheap as a market. And if there is anything in the bashed box I can use, even better

Do you go to Heathfield market for fruit and veg? I don't myself as it doesn't seem that cheap and no prices are supplied which makes it awkward, you have to ask each time.

phizzimum

Hi lesley

I live in Uckfield and even though Heathfield is only down the road I don't know it that well - I still class myself as new to the area even tho we've been here 10 yrs!

I think I know where the market is - is it still on a Tuesday? does it go on all day or just the morning?

Lesley_Gaye

phizzimum wrote: »

Hi lesley

I live in Uckfield and even though Heathfield is only down the road I don't know it that well - I still class myself as new to the area even tho we've been here 10 yrs!

I think I know where the market is - is it still on a Tuesday? does it go on all day or just the morning?

The market is on the main road going towards Broad Oak and yes, is on a Tuesday until about 12 noon I think, only the morning anyway

boredofbeingathome

mark88man wrote: »

Bit of history - I started this thread with the title 6000 meals under 50p. That was my challenge - and I have not moved too far from it although I have learned a lot.

It was merged with another thread "feeding a family on a low budget" (hence the second half of my title) - I didn't know why it was merged then, and I still don't think it was a good idea even now as it effectively terminated Nikki's thread. But to paraphrase a poem "the Board Guide writes, and having writ, Moves on; nor all thy Piety nor Wit Shall lure it back to cancel half a line".

(While we're going back over old ground - Technically as well, I should have one of those flashy banners on my first post because I was mentioned in the one of Martin's emails - how do I get that to happen)

So - I know I have challenges outside of this one, and I will admit to be being slightly surprised at the size of the non challenge spends and this will motiivate me to chop back on the non-meal spending as well this month. But - like I said last month was unusual for being the first and for being snow bound for most of the first 10 days

I think the merging had a lot to do with the confusion at the beginning.:o

And at the end of the day it is your journey and you clearly show how you are learning from it.Given that you have also coped with a poorly OH and differing tastes of offspring- i think you are doing well. I am enjoying seeing how you get on with things and reckon there is a lot for all of us to learn and think about- after all this is a resource and we all take what we need and adapt accordingly.

Keep going Mark:D

Lesley_Gaye

boredofbeingathome wrote: »

I think the merging had a lot to do with the confusion at the beginning.:o

And at the end of the day it is your journey and you clearly show how you are learning from it.Given that you have also coped with a poorly OH and differing tastes of offspring- i think you are doing well. I am enjoying seeing how you get on with things and reckon there is a lot for all of us to learn and think about- after all this is a resource and we all take what we need and adapt accordingly.

Keep going Mark:D

Hear, hear. Since being on OS I have learnt that portion control is very important to controlling how much I spend on food. I have always cooked from scratch and using the cheaper ingredients, but after using portion control, I can now cook, say, a shepherds pie, portion it up, and actually have 1 or 2 meals (for 2 people) to put in the freezer instead of OH having seconds and even thirds leaving me with 1 mean portion leftover to put away.

Oh, and loads of other things as well

mark55man

Reporting back for Mon 8th February

Back at work - but back not too late - warning portion control failure - haggis, neeps and tatties for supper today (once at 6:30 and then again at 7pm)


Today's Summary - 15/18 meals 50p or under
Summary Total - 633/690 = 91.7% = Target 91.3%

Breakfast: 50p or under (6/6)

Lunch: 50p or under (6/6)
OP, OH: Pate & Oatcakes, Apple
DS1, DD2 : LO Pasta salad
DD1 : Cheese & Lettuce & Carrot
DS2 : Ham sandwich & Apple

Supper: 50p or under (3/6) -
OP, OH, DS2 : Haggis (£2 from Mr S), Neeps and Tatties about £1 worth - hoped to go two portions each - but seconds/thirds saw to that
DD1, DD2: Scrambled egg on toast
DS2 : HM Soup (from school)