Single Money Saver living on my own

CH27

ceecee1 wrote: »

Zippy !!!

Thank you for those links:j

I never take anything out because I only seem to remember when I get to work.

Organisation, organisation is what I need and what I never seem to have. Will just have to retrain myself

Set an alarm on your mobile ten minutes before you leave home to remind you:D

zippychick

ceecee1 wrote: »

Zippy !!!

Thank you for those links:j

I never take anything out because I only seem to remember when I get to work.

Organisation, organisation is what I need and what I never seem to have. Will just have to retrain myself

No problem!!! you just make it part of your routine to think about the dinner the day before !:):j

Owain_Moneysaver

Are you sure your fridge is cold enough?

Tesco Value Soft Cheese (a lot cheaper than Philly) lasts at least a week for me, opened.

As for freezer, I defrost everything in the microwave. No prior planning needed.

Argos now have a Value Undercounter Fridge/Freezer, fridge 60 litres / freezer 22 litres, which gives you both appliances in one under-counter white box. Not as much freezer space as even a small tabletop freezer which is about 30 litres, but still better than a fridge ice-box.

dom300186

a meal plan is the best option so you know what to buy and know it will all get used.
if you have something that will turn soon have a look for a recipe that you can use it in?
I freeze milk so it savesa a trip to the shop everytime we run out, the same with bread we get a few slices out as and when needed and leave it on the side to defrost which takes upto 15 minutes, i freeze as much as possible like fresh veg, cheese is put in a containerin the fridge, ham i open the pack and freeze half of it for the following week etc

missychrissy

I don't meal plan. I hate the idea of having my meals determined a week in advance. I prefer the spontaneity of eating whatever I fancy. I often cook in bulk using my slow cooker, freeze lots of one portion sized meals that |I can take out of the freezer on my way to work or if I don't want to cook.

ceecee1

Well I've made a start - split a loaf of bread into little packs of 2 slices and chopped a block of cheese into 50g blocks. All in the freezer.

Hopefully its the start of the organised me !

hermum

This is a brilliant thread. I try & batch cook as often as I can but then never seem to use what I've frozen.
I need to do a meal plan & organise the freezers, cupboards, storage boxes.
There's something in my brain that seems to buy things but then keep hold of it. I don't know why, a hoarder of the highest order.
Maybe I will try & start to do an inventory of everything that I have stashed, I would be far too embarrassed though to post everything that I have.
That is food, clothes everything, just hoarded, maybe I was a squirrel in a previous life, or somebody with nothing. Other than fresh fruit & veg, dairy & dog food, I could probably live for months on what I have.
I think that I'm just rubbish at life & so easily distracted by this site that I spend days reading things, thinking, that's a good idea but don't get any further than, wow, what a good idea.
Help this useless person. (I'm not really even sure if this belongs on this thread).
My motivation seems to have gone completely since living on my own though.

vl2588

I do food stock takes before I shop to a) save money and b) use things up. I never seem to stick to the plan 100% but it's definitely better than not doing it

I often feel useless but when you force yourself to sit and think about what you've achieved you will realise you're not useless at all *hug*

I find writing lists of things to do in really pretty colours helps

lizzyb1812

Knowing what you've got is important, especially re the freezer stuff. Just do a quick stock take of main meal ingredients - meat, ready meals (HM), fish, etc. You don't have to have a plan that says "Monday it's burgers, Tuesday it's chili" - just write down a list of 7-10 main meals, check if you've got the makings in the freezer and have the meals as you choose. Shop for anything you haven't got.

A friend does it a bit differently - every month she puts into a drawer in her freezer all the building blocks/meals that she wants to use up and makes it a challenge to empty the drawer without refilling it until it is empty.

Starting to be organised is the hardest step, after that it really is very easy - honest

hermum

vl2588 wrote: »

I do food stock takes before I shop to a) save money and b) use things up. I never seem to stick to the plan 100% but it's definitely better than not doing it

I often feel useless but when you force yourself to sit and think about what you've achieved you will realise you're not useless at all *hug*

I find writing lists of things to do in really pretty colours helps

lizzyb1812 wrote: »

Knowing what you've got is important, especially re the freezer stuff. Just do a quick stock take of main meal ingredients - meat, ready meals (HM), fish, etc. You don't have to have a plan that says "Monday it's burgers, Tuesday it's chili" - just write down a list of 7-10 main meals, check if you've got the makings in the freezer and have the meals as you choose. Shop for anything you haven't got.

A friend does it a bit differently - every month she puts into a drawer in her freezer all the building blocks/meals that she wants to use up and makes it a challenge to empty the drawer without refilling it until it is empty.

Starting to be organised is the hardest step, after that it really is very easy - honest

Thanks for that, you'd think after living alone for years and now being very poor I'd have it down to a fine art.
Maybe I need to set a day aside to unload the freezer & do a list, I know that I need nothing freezer wise, I have a small chest freezer, (fridge size) & a fridge freezer with 3 drawers. Both totally chockablock
I did sort it out a while ago, so that meat was in one part, HM meals another etc, then I tend to scrabble for something & it all gets mixed up again.
An upright freezer would probably be better for me as I wouldn't be able to lose stuff.
If I do a list of the freezers first, then the cupboards & make up some meals & use them, then at least that will be under control ish.
It's stupid as I know how to cook & make cheap good HM food but for some reason I'm not able to put it into practice.
I shall join the living from my cupboards thread I think.
Anyone got a spare kick up the ar5e for me, please?