Do I really spend to much on food?

HariboJunkie

crux wrote: »

My baby salad leaves are finally starting to get respectable, especially the spinach and land cress, I think 2 more weeks and I'll be cropping them for the first time

Defo thinking about fruit bushes/small trees in the front garden.

lol, I just packed up 18 individual portions of assorted dried fruits in zip lock bags. 21p per bag inc the zip locks, 100 calories per bag and they are better than the branded fruit bags too :cool:

Spent less than £20 this week on general me stuff to (non food).

I feel like I'm starting to get a grip on this money saving thing :rotfl:

Hi Crux. Can I ask where you got the dried fruit from as my children eat huge amounts of it and those backs sound great for lunchboxes?

irishwexford

I've been reading this topic with interest. When I had three children and husband to feed money was tight. OH's weekly wages had to cover everything as we did not have credit cards in those days so food had to last the week. Now I am retired (OH still works) I have never been so well off and am busy spending the childrens inheritance but I do not waste money. We eat well, I only buy british meat, free range chickens and eggs and have an allotment for our fresh veggies and fruit. Since finding these boards I have cut my food bill by not wasting anything, meal planning, stocking up on bargains and planning ahead for any events. I think the supermarkets are rich enough without me adding to their wealth. I think its important to only buy what you know you will eat, I hate waste.

greenbee

HariboJunkie wrote: »

Hi Crux. Can I ask where you got the dried fruit from as my children eat huge amounts of it and those backs sound great for lunchboxes?

I get mine in bulk from the health food shop - a kilo of apricots, dates, figs, apples etc at a time. I use them for snacks and for making muesli

Money_saving_Diva_2

mumto1 wrote: »

ETA: I have a half allotment with 2 rows of 33' of asparagus...... we picked our first 2 lb yesterday and will be picking up to 5 lb every other day for the next 2 months. 3 crowns will be plenty once they get going! You can almost see them grow.....

I forgot about my asparagus as we were late planting them last year but wow they have grown well this year... my FIL who like you mumto1, has swathes of it on his allotment, has told me we can pick tomorrow so that is very exciting! Just hope I will be up to eating some.

Crux - don't forget to plant some herbs too, they don't take up much room and look and smell good as well as the culinary uses. I also grow goji berries, gooseberries, cherries and blackcurrents all in big tubs on the patio. Plus all the seasonal stuff like chillies, peppers, toms, strawberries, green beans, carrots, onions etc. It's amazing what you can do with very little space if you are inventive!

Diva.x

crux

HariboJunkie wrote: »

Hi Crux. Can I ask where you got the dried fruit from as my children eat huge amounts of it and those backs sound great for lunchboxes?

I brought from Morrison's baking section a 500gm bag of mixed fruit salad (apricots, Prunes, peach, apple, etc) £1.99 , also a 250gm bag of ready to eat dates for £0.59, then used 1/2 a bag = 250gm of value mixed fruit (sultana's, raisins & peel) £0.32.

The zip bags were £1.55 for 35 so 4.4p per bag and I will re-use the ones I remember to keep for next time.

Bit or a pain making sure each bag got at least some of everything

I looked at our small town health food shop, the prices are high in there

At some point on my travels I'll find a good cheap shop for big bags of dried fruit and do as greenbee suggested and get in a few kilo's.

jinky67

crux wrote: »

At some point on my travels I'll find a good cheap shop for big bags of dried fruit and do as greenbee suggested and get in a few kilo's.

I go to Julian Graves or Holland and Barrat, I try to go when they have an offer on though, cos I dont think they are very cheap either, but saves a fortune doing it that way

mumto1_2

Money_saving_Diva wrote: »

I forgot about my asparagus as we were late planting them last year but wow they have grown well this year... my FIL who like you mumto1, has swathes of it on his allotment, has told me we can pick tomorrow so that is very exciting! Just hope I will be up to eating some.

Just dont' go mad and pick too many...pick for 1 week this year - someone on our allotments didn't 2 years ago, picked everything that came up and got almost nothing last year, and was ticked off cause the old boys that almost live there were right. LOL They do the 'sucking in teeth' noise when they see someone doing something they wouldnt' do and most of the time they are right.

floss2

crux wrote: »

At some point on my travels I'll find a good cheap shop for big bags of dried fruit and do as greenbee suggested and get in a few kilo's.

Julian Graves are online..... or try a market?

crux

Anybody ever made cheese? I fancy making some feta, looks 'relatively' easy.

Not for the saving money aspect, more for the experience of doing it.

*wonders if Feta will freeze well*

Pink.

crux wrote: »

Anybody ever made cheese? I fancy making some feta, looks 'relatively' easy.

Not for the saving money aspect, more for the experience of doing it.

*wonders if Feta will freeze well*

Hi crux,

These threads may help:

making homemade cheese

paneer

Cheesemaking Kits - has any one tried them?

Pink