Frugal Living Challenge 2011 - part 1

Lesley_Gaye

redglass wrote: »

I've been admiring Weezl's site and thinking I'd like to use one of her super-frugal meal plans when the Great Store is eaten up. One thing, though, I'm a singleton and the plans are for a family of 4. Of course it's not hard to scale down recipes but it would make more sense, frugally, to treat 4 portions as batch cooking. However, if I did that every time, the fridge and freezer would soon be bursting and I'd grind to a halt before I got to the end of the first month - then if I ate the same lot all over again it wouldn't be very good for nutritional variety as her plan is carefully calculated to make sure you get your vits over a year. You have to go on eating the suggested recipes week by week to achieve this, not repeating what you last ate (that's my understanding of it, anyway).

Is there anybody here who's used one of these plans (or a similar plan) and successfully adapted it for a person living alone? Or are there plans specifically for singletons? Can you give me any tips, please? Thank you!

Redglass - I use Weezl's recipes a lot for the 2 of us, and we usually have the same thing 2 days running, which is fine, not sure I would want the same thing 4 days running!

'Spoke' with Weezl re singleton planning as I was sure there was something written about it, but couldn't find it. I have pasted what has been written so far below. The recipe links are intended for when it is eventually loaded to the website, so don't currently work. Several of the testers are singletons and they found it worked out just fine

for anyone who wants the link still, the site is at www.cheap-family-recipes.org.uk



The planners are designed for a family of four, but if you're single, please don't feel daunted or think it can't be done - our testers have proved that it most certainly can! Read on for our tips on how to make life easier if you're cooking for one...
When starting the planner, simply dividing the shopping list by four will give odd amounts so round up to nearest size. This will leave things over but they can be used next month. The first month's shop will be slightly more than £25 but will average out over time, if you continue the planner for longer.
If following Planner One, you will need approx 1-2 pints of milk per week - this will vary somewhat, as it's used in some recipes and also depends on how much you like in your tea. This is not a concern for those following Planner 2, as it is Vegan so contains no milk or dairy.
You'll need two loaves of HM bread per week as a single following the plan to the letter, including all breakfasts and lunches - which is half a batch of this recipe (BREAD LINK). Simply halve all the ingredients stated EXCEPT the yeast, which you must always use at least 10g of, however small a batch you're making of any of the recipes it is used in. To make the most of having your oven on and to save time during the week, bake both loaves at the same time and freeze one. If you slice the loaf before freezing, it's quicker and easier to defrost as many slices as and when required. To avoid the slices sticking together, put plastic bag like a concertina between every two slices and put the whole loaf in a sealed freezer bag. After you have done two half batches of the bread (or a full batch, if you have plenty of freezer space!), you should have an empty flour bag, which your loaf for freezing will fit into nicely too.
If making the nut and seed butter, apple curd or any of the pate or houmous recipes (all can be found here RECIPE INDEX LINK) save time and effort over the month by doing the full batches - the butters, houmous and pate can be kept for 5 days in the fridge and or can be frozen. The apple curd will keep for a month or longer in the fridge in a sterilised jar and is also freezable.
You might not have a huge freezer, but make full use of whatever space you have by cooking full batches of the dinner recipes that freeze well (full list of all those here FREEZE WELL RECIPE LINK), so you have instant homemade readymeals for nights when you just can't be bothered or don't have time to cook. Simply reheat in the oven or microwave until piping hot. If you don't have the freezer space for this, cook half batches (two portions) of dinner recipes and keep one in the fridge for tomorrow's lunch. There are lots of other similar - and much more inventive! - ideas in our Leftovers article here (LEFTOVERS LINK).
As far as snacks go, making a quarter batch of whatever takes your fancy should be adequate as all the recipes are designed for four - although you might want to make more of your delicious baked goodies to share with guests! As a general rule, when quartering the recipes you will have odd amounts of ingredients so round these up or down as you see fit - this should have a minimal effect on the final result, if at all.
Please don't worry you will end up wasting food by following the planner as a single person, there are many things you can do to avoid this - for example, you might find it helpful to substitute frozen mince for the fresh mince on the shopping list, as this means you can conveniently use just the amount required if halving/quartering recipes and easily save the remainder. The same applies to the Grana Padano cheese - buy the full 200g block from the shopping list and immediately grate and freeze to be used as and when required.
If for convenience you are using tinned kidney beans or chick peas instead of dried and don't use a whole tin at once, these also freeze well so needn't be wasted, just drain any liquid and store in an air tight container. Mixed oriental mushrooms that can be bought in jars may also be a better value substitute for fresh when cooking for one - they keep for much longer and you will only need a small amount to achieve the same flavour compared to fresh mushrooms, as one of our testers discovered when using them to make Pasta Funghi (RECIPE LINK HERE?)
When doing the planner solo, you'll probably find you get the best value out of your chicken on Planner One by buying the one specified on the shopping list, roasting or slow-cooking it and then stripping the meat and freezing in individual portions for use in various dishes. Just keep in mind that meat can only be safely reheated once after its intial cooking, so any recipes you make with your frozen cooked chicken are not suitable to be frozen or chilled and reheated again. If you prefer to simply purchase a smaller quantity of any of the meat used in Planner One (e.g. the liver in the Lunchtime Pate), you might find your local butcher helpful and although prices will obviously vary, it may work out cheaper.

natnat13

Hi all
NSD today
I have started reading a great book about dieting and the author has written one called The Thrift Book, it's By India Knight, has anyone read it? She's a very funny writer so I might have to indulge!

midwinter

natnat13 wrote: »

Hi all
NSD today
I have started reading a great book about dieting and the author has written one called The Thrift Book, it's By India Knight, has anyone read it? She's a very funny writer so I might have to indulge!

Will keep my eyes open for the thrift book

BTW, How is your diet going? I'm also aiming to lose weight (yet again!) this year, and thinking of the cost of the snacks, is helping me to resist them

Even saw a huge family size cream sponge at a very reduced price last night in mr M's..... think it was £4.99 down to just 49p..... picked up, then thought, yes, but then you have to eat all this..... and put it back ......and 49p is 49p that you don't HAVE to spend ! so that's both a and a !

natnat13

Well done on putting back the sponge Midwinter, that was very disiplined! I find that with whoopsies, it's tempting to buy anything just because it's reduced and a bargain, which if you don't need it, it isn't really a bargain!

My diet is going ok, I'm not being that strict, just trying to cut on the junk and doing more exercise, I have lost a couple of lbs so far. Should get more focused really! Saying that, I must go a check my beef and ale stew that's cooking for tea, it's definately a stew day today, dark and windy weather!
Catch u later x

redglass_2

LESLEY GAYE: Thank you so much for taking the trouble to write up all that information as well as providing the link. I'm really grateful.

:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T

[/QUOTE] I have started reading a great book about dieting and the author has written one called The Thrift Book, it's By India Knight, has anyone read it? She's a very funny writer so I might have to indulge![/QUOTE]

You needn't buy - try the public library. Not only is it a lot cheaper but while so many libraries are under threat it's a question of 'use it or lose it' - your library needs you! Our local library has been SAVED thanks to public outrage and a strong campaign and the same thing is happening all over the UK. If anyone's thinking, 'That's not MSE' well I would say a public library is one of the most frugal AND educational things a community can have! And yes, there are books about frugality in there too... If your library is like ours, you can browse the catalogues on line, reserve books online, renew them online...it's all very IT-savvy these days....or you can just walk in there 'old-style'.

OK, end of public information announcement!

natnat13

flying_fresian wrote: »

Morning folks

Yesterday was another NSD which I'm really pleased with. All my work-snacking was either home-made (tasty soup) or from my fruit stash/free Graze box as well. I also received £15 from my various Halifax Reward accounts so have stashed that away and will be adding it to the Spreadsheet of Wonder as extra income.

My spends so far today are £1.74 on my half price Graze box, and hopefully nothing else!

I have last night's dinner (tasty pasta stuff) for lunch and am also taking fruit and the contents of my latest Graze box for snacking. I've been really good about not eating biscuits this week and am hoping I can continue that into next week too. I'm not sure about keeping on the Graze boxes, as £3.49 per week works out at over £180 per year but so far I'm enjoying them and it's nice to know that I'm snacking on mostly healthier choices. In a four-week month, my Halifax Reward payments will cover this anyway so I'll keep them for a while and see how I get on!

I'm off to the cinema tonight so that's another "free" activity. I've decided to offset the spend with Mr Fresian's sister's rent money for this year and then look into paying it from savings next year. I won't count the rest of her rent money received as it went straight into savings anyway and I don't need it to live on.

Well, that's turned from a couple of thoughts into a mammoth post! Hope everyone has a lovely day!

I just cancelled my graze box and it offered me one at £3.19 for the next 5 weeks before I clicked the final cancel button. Maybe give it a go? It's a small saving.
Redglass - I'm all for libraries but I also like to keep books for reference and read them again etc. Think I get it from my dad, he is a great hoarder of books. Infact on the subject, I am going to a book swap tomorrow, pay 50p and take books you don't want, then take the equivilent number home, a mum at school has organised it, for a cancer charity (her daughter had had it, she's ok now thank goodness).

silvasava

Natnat13 - what a super idea! I have quite a few friends who are avid readers & we swap books (none of us are hoarders unlike DH!) You've given me an idea for raising funds for our local hospice & the chance of some new reads!!

ceridwen

natnat13 wrote: »

Hi all
NSD today
I have started reading a great book about dieting and the author has written one called The Thrift Book, it's By India Knight, has anyone read it? She's a very funny writer so I might have to indulge!

Hi..serial lurker here...to no-one's great surprise (certainly not Nuala Buala's anyway...:)) - I've got a copy. Ummm...its not my most-used thrift book - but it is a nice one...so worth it I think.

rising_from_the_ashes

Arrrrgggghhhh - another quickie (as still need to catch up on this weeks' news.

Done something horrible to the wonderous spreadsheet......... Totals page: desired spend in Column B is OK, spend has been carried in from the other pages but Column C doesn't come out with the correct monthly amount (ie Column B is £180 which should be £15/month but it's showing £30).


Arrrrrgh - do I have to start it all again?

rising_from_the_ashes

Sorry guys, think it may be me - is it very, very clever and knows it's Feb! (even though I don't have any Feb totals in!)

(Lily will get the hang of spreadsheets even if it kills her and she still doesn't understand why they do things)