Feed a family of four for £20 a week challenge

missymoo81

The ideas for weekly plans at the beginning of this thread are amazing, but I've noticed that most of the things that were available that were super cheap or tesco value just aren't available now, like the 15p value stuffing mix or value custard powder, 12 bread rolls for 35p or value mixed herbs, mine doesn't do value rich tea anymore or bourbons, small things but really make a difference if they're things you used to buy every week! Makes it a lot more difficult to come up with a plan too

Soworried

missymoo81 wrote: »

The ideas for weekly plans at the beginning of this thread are amazing, but I've noticed that most of the things that were available that were super cheap or tesco value just aren't available now, like the 15p value stuffing mix or value custard powder, 12 bread rolls for 35p or value mixed herbs, mine doesn't do value rich tea anymore or bourbons, small things but really make a difference if they're things you used to buy every week! Makes it a lot more difficult to come up with a plan too

I noticed this so I re costed one of the weeks menus I did (pg13) and it was a whopping 21% price increase.
Asda still have the 15p stuffing in some times and they do the mixed herbs, the rest I haven't seen for ages.
Stock cubes cost almost 300% more now :eek:

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

Morrisons still have their Savers stuffing, I mix it in with sausage meat when making sausage rolls and I think they still do the cheap mixed herbs too.

I've noticed the 'value' ranges vary with the seasons ie value hot chocolate is available in the summer months but not in the winter, I guess they think you'll pay the extra when you really need something - uh no, I just stock up in the summer months!

NewShadow

Serena03 wrote: »

How about carrot cake? I swear by this recipe http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/3229/yummy-scrummy-carrot-cake

It does help, thanks.

Everyone keeps saying carrot cake.

Is it just me that can't stand the stuff? I love the cheese icing but I think i had a really bad experience once and it must have put me off

I think about it and the texture in my head is just all grainy and gross - was it just a bad cake (oxymoron, I know)

slowandsteady_2

Nice to see this thread pop up again, not had an email for a while about it. I don't have much worth contributing but do appreciate all those who do have that knowledge and share it 😁

honeythewitch

NewShadow wrote: »

It does help, thanks.

Everyone keeps saying carrot cake.

Is it just me that can't stand the stuff? I love the cheese icing but I think i had a really bad experience once and it must have put me off

I think about it and the texture in my head is just all grainy and gross - was it just a bad cake (oxymoron, I know)

Seen as parsnips are so cheap at the moment it might be worth giving a parsnip cake a go. http://www.riverford.co.uk/recipes/view/recipe/parsnip-cake

I dont know if the texture is the same as carrot cake.

SmlSave

Parsnip cake is amazing and much nicer than carrot cake imo. I grate it really small

Yuk to cream cheese frosting though

I've got half a leek and half a cabbage - any ideas on what to do with them?

Feral_Moon

SmlSave wrote: »

Parsnip cake is amazing and much nicer than carrot cake imo. I grate it really small

Yuk to cream cheese frosting though

I've got half a leek and half a cabbage - any ideas on what to do with them?

I always stir fry leek and cabbage together usually served with mashed potatoes (so any leftovers can be turned into bubble & squeak) and a meat/gravy based dish - so maybe braised steak, liver & onions, sausage & onion gravy, steak & kidney pie etc.

HOWMUCH

I had to return something to Sainsbobs so I did a YS shop £6.60 to £1.65 then passed MrT's so popped in £12.94 to £1.12 then Asder £3.60 to £1.08 I had a free lift as DS was going to the supermarket to double up his points. We are lucky we have 5 supermarkets within a mile and 3 are on 1 road.

buzzyzoe

Hope no one minds me reviving an old thread!

I've read a lot of the low cost meal plan threads, and decided I would like to have a go myself. This is a plan for 4 people for a week and comes in at £18.74, which would leave you a bit of money for some fresh fruit, biscuits or anything else that you felt particularly deprived of following this plan!

This differs from most of the plans that I've seen as I don't particularly like sandwiches or find them very filling, particularly extremely low cost sandwiches, so I haven't included sandwiches at all for lunch and have done a variety of other meals instead.

All prices are correct as of today from Tesco. I can elaborate on any of the recipes if anyone wants but should all be fairly straightforward! I have gone for veggie chilli and bolognese as it's so much cheaper, and the lentils are a great source of protein and give you more than your daily needs. These are all recipes I make regularly, but with some alterations to make them a bit cheaper, be that leaving out some ingredients or using basics options.

Shopping list:
Oats (£0.75/1KG)
Jam (£0.29/454G)
Couscous (£0.70/500G)
Rice (£0.45/1KG)
Pasta (£0.30/500G)
Spaghetti (£0.20/500G)
Mayonnaise (£0.40/500ML)
Stock cubes (£0.30/Pack of 10)
Onions (£0.59/1KG)
Mushrooms (£0.86/380G)
Potatoes (£0.79/700g)
Carrots (£0.90/2KG)
Lentils (£1.05/3x 390G)
Tinned tomatoes (£0.62/2x 400g)
Kidney beans (£0.30/400g)
Sausages (£0.66/Pack of 8)
Chicken (£3.58/1.8KG)
Cooking bacon (£0.60/500G)
Extra mature cheddar (£1.40/200G)
Gravy granules (£0.20/200G)
Instant noodles (£0.60/3 packs)
Curry sauce (£0.25/440G)
Garlic (£0.30/1 bulb)
Flour (£0.40/100G)
Milk (£1/4 pints)
Eggs (£1.25/15)

Total: £18.74

Breakfast
Porridge with jam x 5 days (Use porridge oats and jam)
Pancakes with jam x days (Use 200g flour, 4 eggs, 600ml milk, jam)

Lunches
Pasta salad w/bacon x 2 days (Use pasta, 200g bacon, mayonnaise)
Lentil and vegetable soup x 2 days (Use 1 tin lentils, 300g carrots, 300g potatoes, 2 onions, 100g mushrooms, 2 stock cubes)
Couscous w/roasted veg (Use couscous, 1 onion, 60g mushrooms, 100g carrots, 50g bacon, 1 stock cube)
Rice w/roasted veg (Use rice, 1 onion, 60g mushrooms, 100g carrots, 50g bacon, 1 stock cube)
Toad in the hole and gravy (Use 4 sausages, 100g flour, 1 egg, 300ml milk, 1 stock cube, gravy granules)

Dinners
Vegetarian spaghetti Bolognese (Use 1 tin lentils, 1 tin tomatoes, 1 onion, 200g carrots, 80g mushrooms, 1 stock cube, 50g cheese)
Vegetarian chilli con carne with rice (Use 1 tin lentils, 1 tin tomatoes, 1 tin kidney beans, 1 onion, 200g carrots, 80g mushrooms, 1 stock cube, 50g cheese)
Bacon risotto (Use 200g bacon, rice, 1 stock cube, 50g cheese)
Sausage pasta (Use 4 sausages, spaghetti, 1 stock cube, 50g cheese)
Roast chicken with roast potatoes, carrots, Yorkshire puddings and onion gravy (Cook whole chicken, serve roughly ½, 400g potatoes, 300g carrots, 1 onion, gravy granules, 140g plain flour, 4 eggs, 200ml milk)
Chicken curry and rice (Use ¼ of chicken, jar of curry sauce, 200g carrots, 1 onion, rice)
Chicken noodle soup (Use ¼ of chicken, packs of noodles, 1 stock cube, 1 onion)

Hope this helps someone!