Pay ALL your debt off by Xmas 2013

recurrent-ostrich

kerri_dfw wrote: »

How do you spend so much on food? Maybe list us your food shop and we can help you meal plan do you live near a local farmers market? Or a fruit and veg shop? I'm sure we can help you there xx

Family of 5 including two teens and a vegetarian, and a shiftworking hubby who has to take two meals a day to work several times a week (so can't just take sandwiches). Plus two cats and a big dog. I work 5 days a week and Saturdays am out of the house from 7am until 7pm, so Sunday is my only free day, so don't have time to do loads of batch cooking. It's a PITA, frankly. I meal plan, and buy value stuff, but it's crept up over the last few years. I shop at Tesco, there's no Aldi or Lidl nearby and only markets are mid-week when I'm at work.

amr547

Tesco is quite expensive IMO. Do you have a Morrisons ? I find I get more for my money in Morrisons.

kerri_dfw

recurrent-ostrich wrote: »

Family of 5 including two teens and a vegetarian, and a shiftworking hubby who has to take two meals a day to work several times a week (so can't just take sandwiches). Plus two cats and a big dog. I work 5 days a week and Saturdays am out of the house from 7am until 7pm, so Sunday is my only free day, so don't have time to do loads of batch cooking. It's a PITA, frankly. I meal plan, and buy value stuff, but it's crept up over the last few years. I shop at Tesco, there's no Aldi or Lidl nearby and only markets are mid-week when I'm at work.

What about a veg box delivery? Can you get the kids to do some cooking to help make some batches?
My OH takes a salad for lunch and a big thing of cereal to get him through his day at the moment. He'll also take in any leftovers from the night before to count as a small meal.
Do you have to make separate meals for most of them? Or can you have meals where the meat is part of the side dish instead of part of the main meal? I was reading on the O/S threads that when they switched to meat being an accompaniment they saved loads of money.

OnwardAndUpward81

£0/£5250
I'm a bit late but I hope it's ok to join

amr547

kerri_dfw wrote: »

What about a veg box delivery? Can you get the kids to do some cooking to help make some batches?
My OH takes a salad for lunch and a big thing of cereal to get him through his day at the moment. He'll also take in any leftovers from the night before to count as a small meal.
Do you have to make separate meals for most of them? Or can you have meals where the meat is part of the side dish instead of part of the main meal? I was reading on the O/S threads that when they switched to meat being an accompaniment they saved loads of money.

wish my OH liked fruit and veg more but he'd rather have more meat!

kerri_dfw

I've just put together a 28 day meal plan of veggie meals, each of them different. I'm now making weekly shopping lists based on recipes for the menu. Took some brain racking and internet searching to find 28 veggie meals though!

week 1: chilli & rice; lentil lasagne; aubergine parmigiano & salad; soup; stir fry with noodles; HM pasties & veg; Veggie sausage, egg, beans, chips
week 2: Dahl & rice; Veggie pasta; ratatouille; casserole; omelette; homity pie; bean burger, beans and chips
week 3 curry & rice; pasta bake; cheddar cheese & veg bake; chickpea & quinoa slow cooker stew; hallumi & med veg; quinoa & steamed veg; nut roast & veg
week 4 falafel & rice; macaroni cheese; stuffed peppers/mushrooms; veggie cottage pie; tomato & olive tart, potatos, veg; sweetcorn, roast potatos, greens; HM Pizza

In case it inspires/helps anyone

amr547

right then.

- that's 2 birthday presents bought
- 1 xmas present
- O/H;s car tax paid for
- the bunnies food (pellets) sorted for the next year:rotfl:
- enough hay and bedding to last over winter bought
- food shop done
- council tax paid

...so that's a lot of money GONE but heyho:mad: hopefully won't have any other unnecessarily big expenses this month so we can get some stuff in the savings pot! O/H is doing loads of overtime too, hoping we can do the xmas shopping with it.

amr547

kerri_dfw wrote: »

I've just put together a 28 day meal plan of veggie meals, each of them different. I'm now making weekly shopping lists based on recipes for the menu. Took some brain racking and internet searching to find 28 veggie meals though!

week 1: chilli & rice; lentil lasagne; aubergine parmigiano & salad; soup; stir fry with noodles; HM pasties & veg; Veggie sausage, egg, beans, chips
week 2: Dahl & rice; Veggie pasta; ratatouille; casserole; omelette; homity pie; bean burger, beans and chips
week 3 curry & rice; pasta bake; cheddar cheese & veg bake; chickpea & quinoa slow cooker stew; hallumi & med veg; quinoa & steamed veg; nut roast & veg
week 4 falafel & rice; macaroni cheese; stuffed peppers/mushrooms; veggie cottage pie; tomato & olive tart, potatos, veg; sweetcorn, roast potatos, greens; HM Pizza

In case it inspires/helps anyone

how do you make lentil lasagne?! sounds yum!

[Deleted User]

recurrent-ostrich wrote: »

and a shiftworking hubby who has to take two meals a day to work several times a week (so can't just take sandwiches).

Any chance he could take one proper meal, and sandwiches for the other?

minicooper272

kerri_dfw wrote: »

How do you spend so much on food? Maybe list us your food shop and we can help you meal plan do you live near a local farmers market? Or a fruit and veg shop? I'm sure we can help you there xx

What do you mean "how do you spend so much on food"!! I thought it was two adults and 1 child, and wondered how R-O spent so little! :rotfl::rotfl: I typically spend £80 a month on food for me alone! And that's 90% Aldo's

Sorry to hear of the set-backs R-O, but definitely agree it's still £1000 in the right direction. When I reached teenager stage, mum told me she would buy school uniform and food, and if I wanted anything else, I'd have to pay for it myself by finding a job/ Would that work for you guys?

Have just gotten back from my aunt's after the long weekend, and feel so embarrassed by how much she spent on my visit! She wouldn't accept a single penny from me, and sent me home with a big bag full of vegetables. However, even with the free weekend, I still have very little money left at the end of the month, and that was even with living carefully to keep some money aside for my hols next week! Have no idea where the money has all gone!