Desperate House....husband

Cupcake_4

Is your tescos a main branch or is it a "local" or "metro"? Theres a huge difference in the prices - locals being the most expensive.

You may find this link helpful re freezing http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OA/pubs/freezing.htm

When I buy trays of meat to seperate into smaller portions for freezing, I usually double wrap in cling film first and then pop it into a bag taking out as much air as possible before sealing as this helps prevent freezer burn.

fazer6

For the first month I have been super organised and have saved money. I have a small diary and stood in front of the freezer and planned meals using up everything I have in. I then write a shopping list for items I need for that weeks dinners, I also write in whenever I run out of clingfilm or cleaning stuff so that I don't end up buying things I *think* I need. I have a slow cooker and always cook multiple portions and freeze some, that will then be the dinner in 2 weeks time. Each week I try and have a dead cheap meal - something like omlette and pasta or soup. For sundays I cook a roast and the leftovers are used in sandwiches for the week or in a curry/casserole. A whole chicken is fairly cheap and can stretch for lots of meals.

If you have apples you're not going to use then why not either bake with them, or peel, slice and then freeze them. I have loads of apple in my freezer from the tree in my garden.

Try own brand stuff and Aldi/Lidl/Netto and your local market to reduce the shopping bill. Oh and take out in cash how much you want to spend that month on food and keep it separate.

carl310166

Sorry for the question about to be asked,but

When you freeze say a curry or spag bol,what do you put it in? do you buy containers?

And when you want to eat it,i suppose you just Zap it in the micro? or do you defrost it in the fridge like the meat?

Total novice here!

VickyA_2

Either containers or freezer bags. It's important that they're freezer bags, as these can be microwaved (check the packaging though) if you need to defrost them. Plus, non-freezer bags can sometimes taint the taste of the food inside them - or maybe it's just my really cheap ones from Wilkos!

fazer6

How I freeze it depends on how I'm going to eat it. If I'm going to put it in the oven to reheat with some jacket spuds I get those foil takeaway style containers from asda. soup generally goes in the polystyrene soup containers from the chinese, or there's also random pots - marg/fresh soup containers and also some normal shop bought tubaware.

I think I generally defrost stuff before I cook it (except roast pots which just get a blast in the microwave), but I guess sometimes I don't. Don't forget you're essentially cooking your own ready meal so treat it as a normal ready meal, you can cook a shop bought lasagne from frozen. My other half always asks how long things take and my response is always put your finger in the middle and if it burns it's done. If the food is hot and completely reheated through then it's done.

Galtizz

I put 'sloppy' things like chilli etc. in 2 freezer bags (to make sure they don't leak) then I put them in a bowl (still in the bag) in the fridge to defrost. A lump of sloppy stuff can take a bit longer to defrost. - I use bags instead of tuperware or empty ice cream tubs because bags can be 'made' to fit in small gaps in my tiny freezer.

I find it easier to take out Tuesdays dinner on Monday, whilst Monday's dinner is cooking and put it in the fridge. That way it gets 24hrs to defrost and I don't have to remember to do it the next morning.

Last point - don't forget to label everything you put in the freezer. It's really annoying when you defrost a chicken and veg. pie for tea only to find out it's apple and blackcurrant! You might think you can tell the difference between chilli and a bag of blackcurrants but some how, when it is frozen they look the same.

cath-w

Hi there,

We spend about £30.00 a week on food for 2 adults. This includes foods for sandwiches, evening meals and breakfast too.

The main way to save money is by cooking from scratch. Do not buy convenience meals, do not buy things like fizzy drinks, biscuits etc.

We plan a week worth of meals in advance and only buy what we need. We make our own bread, cakes etc and buy little meat. I am a vegi, but husband isn't. We only get meat when it is on offer and then buy in bulk and freeze. We also buy pasta, tinned tomatoes, rice, flour in bulk too.

We used to waste a lot of food until we plan meals and now waste very, little. For example this week the only things left (not including dried goods) are two oranges and a few grapes. These will have been eaten tonight for tea.

C.

carl310166

This site is a real eye opener.

I can't wait to go shopping this week(never thought i'd say that) and plan everything out.

My eyes keep scanning the food we already have,and thinking "what could i make out of that"

Pat__3

I don't have anything to add to this thread.:)


But I would like to Thank You all that have posted on it, I really find it enjoyable reading and the ideas you gain great.:)

I will post when I have something as worth while as you all to post.;)

Please keep posting its great.:D

Lucie_2

Over the last 12 months I have saved a fortune by shopping at my local greengrocers. I found I was nipping to the supermarket for some mushrooms & spending a tenner on non essentials. I set up an account with the veg man - I give him a cheque for £30 & he lets me know when it has run out. It normally lasts more than a month for two of us. I buy a lot more seasonal produce, because it's cheap, and it's all fantastic quality.
Saturday mornings usually involve a trip to Bury market for meat & fish. Again, far cheaper than the supermarket & great quality. If you go later in the day then it all gets reduced dramatically, especially on a Saturday because the market doesn't open on a Sunday.
Everything else is from a supermarket, but I stock up on non-perishables like dishwasher tablets, soap powder & loo rolls when it's on offer. Even if you don't need them now, you will soon & you can guarantee that when you do need it, it's full price!