£70 budget for a family of 5... Is this doable?

miasnanny

:TBravo! Well done!:T

There is something really satisfying about having everything sorted for the week. You have done really well with your money and batch making cakes makes lunch boxes a doddle. I'm sure you are going to find this coming week a lot less of a challenge than you expected.

McKneff

Didnt mean to put a negative on it OP, just an observation.

You did good, I get a real buzz from a bargain or two.

janb5

I love this recipe as the breadcrumbs are effectively free, you can use up other leftovers you have hanging around in the fridge, plus you can eat it hot as supper and then have the rest cold in a sandwich or as is in a lunchbox with some salad. It's not obviously bread so if you have a non- bread eater they probably won't notice!

This is the recipe I have for a 2lb loaf tin but it's very forgiving and I have upped the bread/ cut down the meat successfully.

Put all the ingredients below into a large bowl and squash together with your hands with lots of salt and pepper so everything is evenly combined. Pack the mix into a loaf tin and bake for about one and a half hours at 180 degrees/ gas 4. Leave to cool in the tin for about 15 mins so all the juices are absorbed, then cut into slices.


[/QUOTE]


Just made this so thank you for your suggestions- very popular!

[Deleted User]

well done honey thats brilliant keeping your eyes peeled for bargains is so satisfying I think.A pound saved is better in my pocket than in a supermarkets.I get a heck of a kick out of making things last that little bit longer with a bit of forethought.I only wished we had a 'pat on the back ' button I would definitely give you a big one as you have grasped what it takes some folk awhile to get.Its often adversity which give you a bit of a shove and we are all here to help if we can
Well done
JackieO xx
P.S.Have PM'd you a message

Butterfly_Brain

Well done :T

sunnyone

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

Oh, going onto DD isn't just about the better tariff, is it? Doesn't it require a change of meter as well? I've never had to persuade a utility supplier to change one, so I don't know how easy or difficult it might be. Impossible for those unfortunate enough to be paying back a debt, too.

Still, top marks to the OP for the savings. So satisfying

If you have a normal meter no meter changing is needed to change payment methods but if you have a pre payment meter (the most expensive way to pay your bill by miles) a meter change is needed and if you owe the energy company money they can refuse to change the meter.

ktez

miasnanny wrote: »

1 weigh your eggs in their shells

2 whatever the eggs weigh you need the same each of butter/marg, sr flour, sugar

3 cream sugar and marg together until pale and fluffy

4 beat in your eggs one at a time (to stop the mix curdling you may need to sift in some flour as you go)

5 sift your flour in gradually beating well

6 decide what you are going to make and use mix accordingly, don't be afraid to experiment. Muffin tins are great for this as are loaf tins. I usually separate my mixture up into smaller bowls and add whatever I need to use up. ie apple and cinamon or mash banana and vanila, or mixed dried fruit, or grated lemon zest and some juice. The choice is yours.

If you are a complete novice to baking start off with perhaps a 4 egg mix so that you get the hang of the creaming technique. There are loads of clips on YOUTUBE that will show you what you are aiming for.

With regard to thawing, I tend to take them out the night before and allow to thaw at room teperature. Cakes are frozen plain and iced afterwards. HTH

Many thanks for all the advice miasnanny. This will be invaluable to me over the coming weeks when I embark on my baking trials :j

Isis_Black

I wouldn't always say DD is the best way!!
We spent 3 years having our monthly amount increased to an amount we could afford!! Even thrm changing the amount after a call to tell them they can't as there's not enough money. It had got to nearly £200 a month!!
Had the past year paying every 3 month cash at the bank and it's been so much better, we save £150 per month and always come out after paying the bill with a nice amount left over so we treat the kids!

Anyway back to the original post were a family of 5 and have a weekly shopping amount of £70 and we just about manage it, it takes a day of going to a few different shops but it seems to work
Will add cat and dog food, cat litter oh and wild bird food is an extra monthly amount
We can find at times we go over a little but most of the time were find :-)

patchwork_cat

Isis_Black wrote: »

I wouldn't always say DD is the best way!!
We spent 3 years having our monthly amount increased to an amount we could afford!! Even thrm changing the amount after a call to tell them they can't as there's not enough money. It had got to nearly £200 a month!!
Had the past year paying every 3 month cash at the bank and it's been so much better, we save £150 per month and always come out after paying the bill with a nice amount left over so we treat the kids!

Anyway back to the original post were a family of 5 and have a weekly shopping amount of £70 and we just about manage it, it takes a day of going to a few different shops but it seems to work
Will add cat and dog food, cat litter oh and wild bird food is an extra monthly amount
We can find at times we go over a little but most of the time were find :-)

However you pay they can't keep money for fuel that you haven't used. On DD they will give you a discount and you can't get teh most competitive rates on a key card. Whatever method you use, read your meter and give them readings and work out whether what they are saying you have used and charged is true.

GeorgieFTB

ktez wrote: »

Many thanks for all the advice miasnanny. This will be invaluable to me over the coming weeks when I embark on my baking trials :j

Just remember if it all goes a little wrong, chop off the burnt bits and cover with custard, maybe add a little jam if it still tastes funny.

My kids know that if they don't get to pour their own custard something has gone very wrong!!!

Gx