Need help to get started please

mardatha

My big mouse (aka Jimmy) seems to take his neat...

maman

You need to do something with left over meat ASAP to keep the mice (and Jimmy!) away:rotfl: Some hide it in microwave or somewhere until it can be frozen. I freeze mine in packs for sandwiches, stir fries or whatever (presumably stir fry no use to OP if OH doesn't like veg much).

Pie from a little leftover meat, veg and gravy would be easy perhaps add an onion and'or mushrooms for bulk and flavour too. If you don't want to make pastry then top with mash like a cottage pie. You could do this with chicken or leftovers from the steak and ale casserole wssla00 suggested.

Bolognese sauce (can be done easily in SC) is probably among the most versatile and can be served up in so many ways with simple additions/accompaniments (spaghetti, lasagne, cottage pie, mince &tatties, chilli, curry etc etc).

I think one secret is to bulk cook and freeze so that the 'left-over' meals only come out about once a week. Otherwise you hear posters saying they ged fed up with rubber chicken every night (where's those smilies when you need them?)

Just wanted to ask why half of your budget is going on other items? Is it all cleaning materials and toiletries? If so it seems huge and perhaps some cutting back possible.

Crisp_£_note

maman wrote: »

Presumably stir fry no use to OP if OH doesn't like veg much.


Just wanted to ask why half of your budget is going on other items? Is it all cleaning materials and toiletries? If so it seems huge and perhaps some cutting back possible.

Stir fries are great I just do my own and hubby gets meat, mash and a tin of Ravioli or beans n sausages or whatever he wants. Just means this kind of meal becomes split into 2 rather than keeping costs low and sharing. Same with salady stuff sadly. It all goes off so fast. Ends up being money wasted as cant keep up eating it and end up throwing it away. I try my best to have a varied diet as I get bored with the same fruit and veg each week so sometimes its easier and more economical to buy frozen or tinned fruit (or fruit and freeze) as easier to portion for 1.

Not £50 thats for sure! Its roughtly £20 a month for laundry, cleaning and toiletries / loo roll and kitchen roll and the remaining £30 is on dog food / treats and any other bits we find have slipped into the tolley.

Thanks all for the ideas please keep them coming.

wssla00

Shop online! Then you don't get as many bits slipping into the trolley :P

mardatha

Actually I find shopping online is much better. Fot us especially as it would cost more to go and fetch it in the car - but also because you can go over an dover the list, pruning and nipping and tucking
I throw out tons of salad stuff too. I hate it, and I hate fruit as well. I try hard to eat it but its hellish I buy tins of apricots and peaches, and I can eat strawberries and rasps in summer. If I eat much fruit I come out in a rash.

Crisp_£_note

I actualy used to shop online (as I dont drive) and it was quite a cost cutter, but then I still deviate from my list as the special offers seem unavoidable.

I will have to try harder and maybe change supermarkets if doing shopping online for delivery as we dont have an Asda in our area only Tesco or Sainsburys or Morrisons and Iceland its just getting to understand a new website ordering process I cant be bothered with.

:beer:

Kazipoo

Does he like dishes with a bit of heat?? If he does, why not try a hungarian goulash??

Add diced beef, sweet bell peppers (these can be very finely chopped if it helps, use a food processor), beef stock, 2 tablespoons paprika, pinch cayenne pepper, an onion (finely chopped) and herbs and spices to taste (mixed herbs is fine), bung it all in the slow cooker and heat on low all day. By the time it is cooked it should be a fairly thick sauce, and most of the peppers and onions will have turned quite sludgy so shouldn't be too much of a problem for him.

Or how about a corned beef hash? Potatoes, corned beef, onions, carrots, beef stock and if you like, a tin of tomatoes, herbs and spices to taste, low heat all day again.

Why not try making your own stews using the veggies you know he likes (mine is a fussy one too) and bung in some meat, cook on low all day.

Some people prefer to brown their meat first, its all down to preference and time, so I'll leave that up to you.

Good luck!

wssla00

Crisp_£_note wrote: »

I actualy used to shop online (as I dont drive) and it was quite a cost cutter, but then I still deviate from my list as the special offers seem unavoidable.

I will have to try harder and maybe change supermarkets if doing shopping online for delivery as we dont have an Asda in our area only Tesco or Sainsburys or Morrisons and Iceland its just getting to understand a new website ordering process I cant be bothered with.

:beer:

if you use my supermarket.co.uk you can compare the prices of all of the major shops in your area and it shows you cheaper substitutes as well. Oh and you can collect ipoints on it too