Feed a family of 4 on £100 for a month.

poodledoodledoo

Flibsey wrote: »

baking your own bread is not cheaper if you factor in time, cooking power/fuel and any mistakes you make while learning.
Aldi's cheapish bread is really nice and 65p per loaf.

I buy the 47p one from Aldi and it's really nice. You wouldn't know it was a 'cheapy' and it's far nicer than the Asda Smartprice alternative which is the same price :j

Rebob

I tend to make each meal big enough for two. I will make a chicken roast dinner and cook extra potatoes and veg. I can either make bubble and squeak the day after or plate up an extra dinner for everyone and cover with clingfilm and put them in the fridge for the next day. I also fill the oven when its on by baking some simple buns (use value packet mix if you want) to have as treats, lots of yorkshire puddings for the freezer and anything else I can think of for us to eat over the next couple of days so not to waste the heat of the oven.

burge23

Hi,

We're in a similar predicament however we're really lucky as we have all the big supermarkets plus Lidl, Aldi, Farmfoods and Iceland close by. They've just opened an Asda 5 minutes form the house which is a godsend! :j

Our nightmare month starts from Tuesday but with a bit of juggling I'm hoping it will be ok. If you can get to an Asda 7.30pm-8pm ish you can pick up a lot of bargains. Last week we got 2 x 8pks of Turkey sausages for 50p a pack. They were really nice. I also got sausagemeat (you can use it in place of mince in pasta dishes (Jamie recipe!) for 50p also. Check the bakery section. We have to send in a morning snack for the wee one (age 6) and they had packs of pancakes, including the filled ones for 10p a pack. Rolls can come in from 10p-30p a pack and you can freeze them filled. They also have reduced sliced ham and chicken etc which can all be frozen in the rolls. Don't bypass the milk either. I picked up 2 x 6pt of semi skimmed tonight at 70p a bottle insetead of £1.74. Although the display was today the use by is 27th! :rotfl: Asda's Smartprice pasta is only 18p a packet and their rice is only 40p so you can bulk out with that.

Lastly if you have a Morrisons near you they do "seconds" fruit and veg which is really good. We got stew packs 35p, cabbage 27p, potatoes 29p etc. In total it was less than £2.50. I've now got 3 batches of soup in the fridge, veg for a steak pie, homemade coleslaw for sandwiches and baked potatoes and enough greens that even the rabbit is happy!

FrugalWorker

There was a thread a few years ago about a family that only had 40 quid left for the month - but this was more of a once off. Reading it might help with some recipes, or where I found it more useful was how she stretched out food.

She listed out everything that she had, this I think it really useful - even if you don't list it out here, but take the time to do it for yourself. I'm sure you've the making's of quite a few meals in the cupboards.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2116179

Good luck

gailey_2

Ahh everyones so helpful im quite good but even I learn some new things.

we family of 2adults 3kids age 5, 2 and 6months.

The 6month old is in cloth and breastfed so hes cheap.
hes on solids so reduced carrot puree, pureed foraged apples , value fromage frais.

my 2year old is a snacker and picks.
shes also a milk ,monster getting through least a pint a day herself so as a family we get through 4pints a day \28pints a week!
Also pottytraining not going well so least 1pack of disposable pullups £3.50pack of 20 so £14 month just on pullups.

get baby bath 17p sainsburys basics and value wipies 36p for 80.
try to get bog off or cheap showergel and soaps.

My 5year old eats like a small horse , a snacker and a bread monstor and takes after her dad.

with the girls im always battling for them to get their 5 day and try new things.
eldests obsessed with desserts after every meal.
they rationed to 1pack crisps a day
they wont eat porridge so its cereal for brekkie most days.

Because we like things spicey and eldest can be so fussy me and hubby often have diffent meals and sometimes eat different times due to hubby shifts.

School dinners gone up to £1.70 a day and we havent been able to afford it this term so typical packed lunch is

ham and cheese sandwich or emergancy tuna and sweetcorn .
1pack crisps
apple for morning snack
1bottle squash if flush value carton fruit juice as counts as 5 a day
cereal bar either sainsbursy basic 98p or poundshop do weetabix oatybix which she loves.
fruit tub depending what we have and whats cheap so raw carrot sticks, cherry tomatoes grapes or raisens. plus 1satsuma sometimes a value fromage frais yogurt 44p for 6 sainsburys or 55p co-op.

Typical breckfasts for them-sometimes go big especially on weekend so they not constantly snacking throiughout morning

bowl of cereal-whichevers on offer or cheap.
peice of fruit or yogurt
toast eldest loves honey or nuttella on toast, sainsburys does basic honey
find in supermarket scoth pankcakes,muffins or crumpets always reduced or on offer.
crumpets a fave right now as its comfoirting when cold, filling and most imprtantly when rushing out on school run can eat on the go!

We have a rule of kids have 1cooked meal a day so in weekdays tea is always cooked as eldest had packed lunch.

Lunch usually light with large dinner

meals kids like is

plain pasta with passata on top and choped ham/grated cheese
tuna and sweetcorn mixed in with pasta and grated cheese.
bangers, mash and gravy
susage casserole
2year old likes jacket potatoes eldest not keen.
both love meatballs often reduced in co-op
if we have a roast with veg and yorkies they love that
breaded chicken and chips
fishfingers and burgers with chips with 1rule they have ketchup with it.
if they have chips i always add frozen veg as well with it and bread and butter
lasagane a meal we all enjoy
they like mild currys and rice latly been buying reduced korma
tacos with mince as brought a few reduced mexican dinner kits
chicken or turkey in wraps.
soups
homemade pizza or sometimes value pizza extra toppings on top value mini pizza 50p!
savoury rice either from packet or just rice cooked with stockcube and chopped ham and and veg mixed in.
Hot dogs-finger rolls often reduced, sausages cheap we having hm pizza/hot dogs bonfire nite.
mini quiches everyones fave good for lunchboxes I cheat and buy ready to roll supermarket brand fresh pastry about £1 as makes 24 mini quiches.

cheats pizza use either slice toast crust cut off , half muffins, wrap
add tomato puree tube
grated cheese
grill or mircowave,

Eldest obsessed with desserts which is

fruit salad usually reduced strawberries or grapes.
value choc mouse 35p for 4 in sainsburys-co-op
jelly and value ice cream
lollie usually just summer
always put icecream in cones as use much less than bowls
stewed fruit or crumble made from reduced or foraged fruit.
if see battered fruit reduced buy stew with sugar and freeze as can use as filling for pie or crumble at later date.
Angel delight or even value version sainsburys value choc dessert just 10p a packet just mix with milk and set in fridge.
jam on toast
pancakes
value fromage frais
hm cake or flapjacks.

Drinks I always buy supermarket double concentrate mostly same deal everywhere 2bottles for £2.50 lasts us 2weeks so thats their drinks sorted.

ocassionally eldest likes hot choc.

snacks usually fruit peice of bread.

focussed on kids as think adults can be easier less fussy.
hubby loves his meat I could live on supernoodles.

I love mild curry supernoodles with fresh cherry tomatoes added in.
I batch cook and freeze curry or chilli as that can be nice with jacket potaton for lunch as well as tacos or rice.

I make huge lasagne/sheperds pie and portion off into 8-10tubs
hubby loves sausage casserole and its cheap usually 25susages for fiver from butcher or always buy reduced fresh at supermarket and I never pay over a quid.

Havent brought fullprice mince in ages as keep getting reduced in bulk and freezing.
we like lean mince and usually dont pay more than 2quid a pack

convieniance places are the best last week in spar

got 1kg lean mince reduced from 4quid to 2pounds
got 600g in co-op for 1.85

i add red lentils to bulk out mince.

reductions dont have time to go round all qand find tesco/morrsions and sainsburys rubbish with discounting take very little off.
yesterday hubby went sainsburys 9pm they shut at 10 and hardly anything.

co-op and spar our nearest other week got 30quid meat for 15quid in co-op but reductions hit and miss cant be guaranteed.
we go all times including bankis hols, sunday last 2boxing days brought enough reduced from 2 different co-ops to last us whole of jan.

last week chickens were reduced to 2.05 so brought 4!

With rubber chicken I

roast and take breast/legs for sunday lunch
rest for curry or pasties next day
then boil the carcass to make stock and ytou be surprised how much meat comes off this either goes in rissoto or add poato and other veg to make a chicken and veg soup.

so 3meals sometimes cheaper to roast whole bird than buy slices meat for sandwiches.

chicken legs/wings/thighs good in casserole.
pork generally cheaper
turkey mince quite cheap £1 in co-op
diced turkey or breasts cheaper than chicken.

we have local butcher in pub carpark whos cheap he also does the market twice a week.

we buy most tinned from lidls passatta 45p a box and basis of pasta/bol sauce.

to make simple

chop up onion /garlic and fry
add passatta, herbs,spices and simmer.
maybe make huge batch and freeze.

fruit and veg lidls, aldis, fruit shop in centre or market cheapest here.
love farmfoods aqnyone know where get vouchers from? as havent had any in paper for months!
icelands next best thing but be careful i find them pricey for chilled/groceries so be strict.

frozen fish with passata and grated cheese on top nice.

If you manage to find fresh fish fillets either white or salmon

place in foil
add slice of lemon on top
little oil
dried coriander
chopped chili
chopped ginger or garlic
wrap foil around to make parcel bung in oven for half hour or less

its cheap thai fish served with reduced new potaoes and frozen peas.

foil-sainsburys basics 30p a roll

oil -lidls 2.49 for huge bottle olive oil.
however you mention frylite which i use find i use much less oil so qujite economical.

i buy diced pancatta 2.50multi buy sainsburys for 2twinpacks or diced bacon fab in pasta.


we buy value toiliet roll
supermarket own brand washing up liquid
use carrie bags as bin bags
buy spray on offer when run out fill up hot soapy water
got huge box washing up powder from lids we rarly use full cup.
value bleach for toiliet
value dettol fab diluted in spray bottle
value polish

own brand gold coffee never value cant comprimise there.

got 24beef oxo for quid in poundshop couldent have got such good deal in supermarket
sainbsurys/morrisions do value herbs, pepper and spices.


advice

1)shop around all nearby supermarkets
2)make a list and keep to it
3)meal plan
4)keep reduced purse so if you see reductions you can buy them
5)batch cook and freeze
6)forage nuts and berries
7)try making chutneys or jams
8)keep leftovers and reuse
9)bake own biscuits/cakes
10)start growing even some stuff can be grown in winter months.
11)buy reduced and freeze/
12)watch the kids diets healthy so always have frozen /tinned veg and dried fruit on standby when you can afford fresh. find apples, pears the cheapest and just going into orange season.

Good luck we on tight budget next few months and been struggling with grocery budget last 6months as everythings going up. takes time to shop around, cook but can be done

Phil3822

Well we start today, not a bad start as we are eating round OH's parents so fee meal lol. We have done a two week shop and have come in at £47.00 Just hope it lasts! Due to some changes in bills etc we now have £150 per month to spend on everything however this includes domestics, toiletries and little ones nappies etc. Should be some room to move in this though so a little more flex. Again, thank you all so much. The info in this thread is great. Farmfoods have proven good for many items as well.

Aesop

Phil3822 wrote: »

Due to some changes in bills etc we now have £150 per month to spend on everything however this includes domestics, toiletries and little ones nappies etc.

have I mentioned the printable coupon thread for help with toiletries and nappies?

also my friend swears by asda own brand nappies, cheaper than pampers and huggies and just as good.

gailey_2

Forgot to say

check out grabbit board as sign up to lot of websites get freebies and money off coupons

got lots free household, kids stuff even free nappies.

I find lidls £3.50 cheapest best nappies
hate huggies and sainsbury basic not good.

do try poundshops for non food often get brand names 2 for £1

Good luck.

Phil3822

Lidl nappies? Never tried them, we use nappies from Asda, the little angels range I think they are called. We will give Lidl a try though if they are a cheaper option

gailey_2

my 2year old wears size 5pullup pants think they about £3.40 for 20 whereas sainsburys own brand/boots 4-5quid, pampers £5+.

lidls can be fab for selected things

nappies
washing powder
fruit and veg
tinned food
dried pasta /rice
some frozen

cereals, biscuits and cakes cheaper in sainsburys as we buy brand cereals when on offer, same with crisps or value range.

find rest of thier household and toilitries quite pricey
our sainsburys same retail park so we do lidls 1st

sainsburys work out better for other household/toilitries as they do value and offers.
if you checkout grabit board theres boots advatage card glitches with vouchers from machine so got £2 dove deodrant for 35 p brought7.

trick is with coupons use them on products when they on offer!

tesco/sainsburys value baby toilitries like wipes, lotion and bath 17p cant be beaten.

ask for toilitries for xmas.

i include some in my kids stockings as poundshop sell cheap kids character bubblebath for £1

good shops here are family bargains , poundland.
wilkos can be expensive i think for food.
superdrug has cheap makeup.

Home bargains good but sadly not near me , mums got b&m which is cheap for food.

Aldis good for

fruit and veg- they have super 6 on offer each week
find chilled range better
alchol and drinks find better in aldis as treat highly recommend their badger creek white oz chardonnay.

morrisions good grocery bogoffs, some value lines and good frozen deals
find them pricey for meats and dont like quality of their fruit and veg.