How to survive on what’s in the store cupboard (plus a little money)

BlushingRose

oldtractor wrote: »

you could cook one of the roasts [ fill the oven with other things lie HM cakes at the same time to maximise energy use] then when its cold slice thinly for sandwiches. You will get about a months supply of lunches out of a decent size roast.

Hoping to get a few meals out of the roast, yeah.
I'm not currently working, and Mr BR just has fruit for lunch usually - we could have cold slices with veg for tea though?

I don't make cakes though as we're both on diets :-)

BlushingRose

quintwins wrote: »

assuming you use £5 a week or less (i wish i used that little i also have no choice i have school runs to do) i would set aside £4 for food, if it's just the 2 of you and you have bits and peices that should be do able, that leaves you £5 desil for the next 3 weeks, and a little bit extra if you need it, try not to spend your £40 unless you have to you might be surprised what you have in

I suspect we usually use more than £5 a week on petrol, but if Mr BR is going to use his bike for work, I'll not be using the car much during the week apart from some medical appts.
It's three adults, but only temporarily, usually it's just the 2 of us.

BlushingRose

Penelope_Penguin wrote: »

This is really the best Old Style way forward

Take a look at this older thread on the subject, which will give you some pointers. I'll merge this thread to that one later.

Good luck :beer:

Thanks, I'll give it a look for sure.
I'm a bit overwhelmed with all the threads on this board. I'm used to the debt-free wannebe board, and I still like a newbie in there (as although I registered back in 2008, it's only since mid Dec I've been a regular poster)

BlushingRose

pink_princess wrote: »

You can do it & when you do you will realise how much money you normally waste. You make one meal out of your store cupboard etc & it creates a left over ready meal at the same time.
Do the cupboard/freezer/fridge inventory asap. It will surprise you how many meals you have in there. Also how many people is this for? Are there any under 5s who need full fat milk etc?
Do you have any nectar points you haven't used? or Tesco ones?

I'm sorry - a meal creates a left-over ready meal?

No children, no.
No Tesco vouchers, as we've been watching the pennies for a while, we've already spent all that sort of stuff.

MandM90

BlushingRose wrote: »

I'm sorry - a meal creates a left-over ready meal?

No children, no.
No Tesco vouchers, as we've been watching the pennies for a while, we've already spent all that sort of stuff.

I think she means if you cook once, the leftovers can just be reheated for another meal....so it's a sort of homemade 'ready meal'

pink_princess

BlushingRose wrote: »

I'm sorry - a meal creates a left-over ready meal?

No children, no.
No Tesco vouchers, as we've been watching the pennies for a while, we've already spent all that sort of stuff.

Yes take a curry for example. Make it with any left over meat/veg you have available. Serve up a portion each then I always end up with enough for a freezer portion.
This becomes 1 ready meal, stick in the microwave when you have worked late etc:j
We have about 1-2 HM ready meals a week for lunch or dinner. As quick as I empty my fridge I fill up my freezer so to speak.

BitterAndTwisted

BlushingRose wrote: »

I'm sorry - a meal creates a left-over ready meal?

Hello BlushingRose *waves* I've been following your journey on DFW.

You have come to the right place. Welcome to Old-Style.

I think the point being made was that when cooking any meal you keep any eye out for how to bulk it out so you can have left-overs either for the freezer for another time or a lunch the next day. Oats and red-lentils can be your friends on that one.

Have you visited the cheap-family-recipes.org website for some really cracking ideas on cooking on a miniscule budget? £100 a month to feed a family of four so maybe with a bit of practice that 70 quid you have now could be your whole month's housekeeping? Now, ain't that a thought to cheer you up? Please come back with you fridge/freezer/ store-cupboard inventory because you will get help with that.

BlushingRose

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

Hello BlushingRose *waves* I've been following your journey on DFW.

eeek, a stalker! ;-) lol

*waves back*

I'll do a cupboard thingy, I promise x

rising_from_the_ashes

BR - *wave* from me too - I'm pretty new to this OS living too ..... so no useful tips from me (sorry) as you've already had great advice above.

Once you get through to the 24th - have a bash at the grocery challenge too ... loads of people manage on miniscule budgest (I am often in awe!), a great friendly bunch, load of tips & some fantastic recipes at the start of the thread.

BitterAndTwisted

Eh, I suspect we'll have BlushingRose on Stardrops and vinegar only for cleaning and making her own laundry gloop before you can say "knife".