Feed a family of four for £20 a week challenge

ariarnia

Feral_Moon wrote: »

I'm not angry at all. Not sure where you get that idea. I just want to show people it's possible to eat a healthy, nutritious diet on a budget.

This thread is titled "feed four on £20 a week" but it's four years old. That equates to £5 per person per week. Impossible long term, assuming you don't want to become malnourished.

But I've just shown you how to feed a family of four on £40 a week, which is just £10 per person. Even those on JSA can afford that. A single fast food meal costs just as much.

I'm not sure why I'm getting slated here. There are people who spend more than that just on a single person household.

Hi again.

You've shown one meal - using reduced items - that's over the set budget (which has been increased to £25 for a week for a family of 4).

If you'd like to try again within the budget, that would be very welcome.

Or are you not interested in taking part in the challenge that's being explored on this thread?

BB- thank's for the feedback. I also get good deals from the local market. Our's is a Sunday so I'll be going in the morning - if it ever stops tipping it down.

I didn't want to include a market in here because the prices vary so much with the season and what's available - it makes it hard to plan with costings.

I do want to try again with maybe a couple of supermarkets (rather than just tesco) and see if £20 is still actually possible...

Feral_Moon

ariarnia wrote: »

Hi again.

You've shown one meal - using reduced items - that's over the set budget (which has been increased to £25 for a week for a family of 4).

If you'd like to try again within the budget, that would be very welcome.

Or are you not interested in taking part in the challenge that's being explored on this thread?

BB- thank's for the feedback. I also get good deals from the local market. Our's is a Sunday so I'll be going in the morning - if it ever stops tipping it down.

I didn't want to include a market in here because the prices vary so much with the season and what's available - it makes it hard to plan with costings.

I do want to try again with maybe a couple of supermarkets (rather than just tesco) and see if £20 is still actually possible...

I think this thread is outdated and a new thread should be established with current prices and sensible meal plans that are nutritious and easily accomplished by those with limited cooking skills.

It's easy for me to produce cheap meals because I'm an accomplished cook and can utilise anything given to me or what I can forage. Just today I took home 2kg of sloes. I also have a very well stocked store cupboard, which I appreciate many don't.

I'd love to pass on those skills to others.

ariarnia

Feral_Moon wrote: »

I think this thread is outdated and a new thread should be established with current prices and sensible meal plans that are nutritious and easily accomplished by those with limited cooking skills.

It's easy for me to produce cheap meals because I'm an accomplished cook and can utilise anything given to me or what I can forage. Just today I took home 2kg of sloes.

I'd love to pass on those skills to others.

Excellent news - Sounds interesting.

When you start your new thread please PM me the URL so I don't miss it!

juliesname

Here's mine - fairly traditional stick-to-your-ribs food, and I expect to get slated by the Health Police.

Breakfasts - porridge made with milk

Lunches
Lentil soup x2 (lentils, carrots, spuds)
Cheese on toast x2
Eggy bread
Corned beef hash
Sausage/pasta/cauli

Dinners
Cauli/pasta/boiled egg under cheese sauce
Corned beef/lentil/carrot cottage pie
Chilli with pasta
Jacket spuds with cheese, baked beans, scrambled egg
Jacket spuds and chilli
Cubed pork and chickpeas in tomato/onion sauce with pasta and broccoli
Sausage, mash and carrots

Shopping list
Tesco prices, cheapest brand apart from sausages and corned beef where I have gone next level up.
Oats 75p
12 pints milk £3
Jar chilli powder 70p
2 tins kidney beans 60p
2 packs spaghetti 40p
1 kg onions 59p
Carton passata 35p
Tin tomatoes 25p
1 kg carrots 45p
2.5 kg spuds £1.29
Loaf bread 40p
Big bag lentils can't remember the weight £1.80
500g block cheese £2.48
15 eggs £1.25
Cauli 95p
Tin corned beef £1.75
2 500g packs mince £3.38
2 tins baked beans 48p
700g pork chops £2.03
tin chickpeas 35p
8 sausages £1.50
500g loose broccoli 22p
Total £24.97

Hardest bits for me were having to buy a smaller quantity than what would work out cheapest per kg, and not having a shelf-ful of dried herbs. I'd miss teabags and fresh fruit. And I couldn't do this as it stands for myself as gluten-free bread and pasta cost more.

Julie.

Butterfly_Brain

Julie Farmfoods is doing two tins of corned beef for £3 at the moment

milasavesmoney

Some very excellent menu plans and ideas.

Yategirl

Hi Everyone! Arguments (ahem discussions ) aside, I always find this thread really inspiring and helps me keep my own budget for a family of 4 as low as possible (2 adults, 2 young teens eating adult sized meals...and more!).

Can I ask for packed lunch ideas? I know if you are on JSA or certain tax credits or have a child in primary school then you get free school meals but what if you are working, on a low budget and don't meet criteria or need a packed lunch yourself?

For example: My husband takes a packed lunch. If he's in the office, he can take leftovers but quite often he's not in the office or doesn't know where he will be so no access to microwave or plug for our mini portable slowcooker if the meal needs heating. He also eats tons so whatever he has needs to be filling and spread out through the 12+ hr day. My children take packed lunches - like most kids they want to eat quick and go so it needs to a) be very portable as carried round all day and b) be quick and no mess (flasks are out). My eldest hates sandwiches with a passion and my youngest won't eat eggs so no quiche! Wraps, sandwich thins, pitta breads and cold pasta are our usuals. They also don't like to be *too* different from their friends!

Lunches also need to be safe out of a fridge for a few hours. Ice packs are available (doesn't mean teens will use them!)

If anyone has any ideas of cheap portable lunches (especially sandwich/wrap fillings), I (& im sure others) wouldn't be grateful for the suggestions!

Yategirl

Forgot to add - I have access to Tesco, Morrisons, Lidl, Waitrose and Iceland. Plus Poundland. No Farmfoods or markets. I also get most food delivered (Tesco) due to a health condition - I can get to the other shops but it's health dependent plus I can't carry a great deal or walk too far (in the case of Iceland and Poundland as a trek from the car!). Just throwing a little awkwardness into the mix as this is why our budget is v tight (as I'm unable to work)!

determined_new_ms

Hi just wanted to respond to the poster who asked about packed lunches ideas. I wanted to say do you make your own tortillas? I just made some yesterday. I made 16, the cost was 38p! And they were so easy to make! You could make simple quesadillas, refried bean burritos (batch made and frozen and taken out as needed - I can post recipe if anyone is interested), thin spread of chocolate spread and a banana rolled up and then cut into inch wheels. There are loads of ideas out there on what to do with tortillas! The blog I got the idea from concludes that the prepacked tortillas must have gold flecks in then to justify the cost of them. And after making some I totally agree!

Ladyluck1

I find it easy to do a cheapy £20 week once every month or 2 but it involves a lot less meat and much more jacket potato and beans, pasta dishes etc.
my eldest gets free school dinners 5 days a week though so that helps!