FOOD SHOPPING FOR A FAMILY - ISH

deronda

Petree

No I don't steralise the jars but I do heat them with boiling water before I put the marmalade in anyway.

There is not such a necesssity I don't think with the vacuum as long as the jars are clean.

Reason for getting through so much marmalade - I love it and probably have more of that than the toast!

16011996

Took middle one car booting yesterday, she came home with a bag of clothes she loves, and as i'd given her a fiver to spend on them, and possibly cos I left her to ask how much things were she came home with change. Now the other two are begging to go!!!!

Have applied and got working families tax credit, applied for a 25% discount for being only adult, but will enquire if I can get help with paying it, as I read it before that I may be able to get help, but it went out of my mind so thanks for the reminder.

Yesterday, as it was warm and we were bored took the kids to the local cricket match in the afternoon. I used to watch it as a child, and thought they might enjoy it. Anyway, cost £1 for me and 50p each for the kids, we took a picnic tea, and spent six hours there. There was loads of room for the kids to play and run about, and I got a couple of hours in the sun. ALso, because I could see the kids and knew they couldn't go too far away (am slightly protective at the mo, can you tell?) found it very relaxing.

Have found that in our local park they do nature walks on Sat mornings (8am, god help me) These are 50p each, and we should get to see birds, squirrels and various other things the leaflet says.

Also, found out our local sports centre is having an open day next Sunday where you can go and have 20 min sessions on different things to try it out. Sounds like good fun, and the excersise will tire the kids out hopefully.

Its funny, I didn't realise so much was going on till I started to look. The being busy is helping me too, had a rough couple of weeks trying to sort the mortgage, life insurance and a whole lot of other stuff out, so thanks for all your advise, means a lot,

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

mini

Hi

Depending on your entitlement to tax credits some leisure centres have free or reduced prices to pay, may be worth checking out.

I sent you a personal message with another thought I had, didn't want to broadcast that one though!

love mini

16011996

M

16011996

Please ignore the above message of mine, god knows what I did.

Mimi,

thanks for the pm, sent a reply. Haven't enquired about discounts, but will. Worth a try.

Have enquired bout the council tax thismorning, and they are sending me a form (oh joy, I love filling them in)
so will have to see if eligable.

;D

Munkee_2

I am very sorry to hear of your loss.

With regard to cheap but nutricious meals, Asda sell HUGE bags of pasta for little over £1. These would probably last a family of three about 3 months if you eat pasta twice a week.
They also do huge bags of rice. If your kids are fussy (like me!), try cutting up pieces of sausage or chicken and mixing them in with the rice for a 'bland' child-friendly meal.

Make your own puddings like baked cakes and crumbles, freeze ice lollies in plastic cups made from cordial and water and use old lolly sticks for the kids to hold.

Jacket potatoes are a godsend with cheese or tuna. Spuds are horrendously cheap if you buy in packs from the market or supermarket.

Keep frozen oven chips in and small pizzas etc and find out what you really like and find ways of putting together a meal for under 75p.

There are hundreds of budget meals you can make that are nutricious, filling, tasty and exciting.

Take yourself (on your own) round a supermarket with a trolley and see how many meals you can actually make for what you have to spend. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

16011996

thanks munkee, already buy large bags of pasta, but can't remember how long it is since we had jacket potatoes, not a bad idea. my kids won't eat rice since the eldest declared it was maggot eggs, the middle one heaves at the sight of it. youngest will, but calls it eggs so can't see him eating it all that much longer.

Have been trying out value/no frills brands some are ok, but some aren't, are there any that you guys can recommend, as the trial and error is a bit waste full.

Angela

I was only thinking yesterday about starting a thread about own label & basic brands.
It all came about after I bought a can of Asdas Smart Price Chunky Chicken 400g @74p.
Tried it out on other half last night(I had a taste too but am on a diet,but thats another thread)and it was very nice,big chunks of chicken & it wasnt stringy at all as some of these chicken in a tin things can be.
One tin would be enough for an adult and one tin would probably do two kids.
It comes in a white sauce so could be served with rice or with vegetables,I think this is a good product and will be keeping some in the cupboard for sure.

16011996

will have to give that one a try. we like asda own brand sausage casserole in a tim, (is about £1.10) has between 6-8 sausages in it, and with a bit of mash is a good meal. also we buy value pich tea biscuits and some icing so the kids can decoarate them, they don't know the difference.

deronda

I use the savers version of ASDA flours and at around 18p for a bag it is very good. Cakes come out brilliantly. I think I said before about fruit juices they are perfectly alright. I use their butter which is really nice.