£8.50 for 2 weeks food

skidia

Another day down Tomorrow will be tricky as meeting a friend for a picnic, and I'm usually the one who brings all the food! I'm off work though, so planning to bake in the morning and make some mini pizzas and some cupcakes. Might try and make some pastry too.

Spent the last of my money today, so here's hoping it last the next week. What did depress me was the cluster of people loitering around the RTC shelves, quickly pouncing on new items as the shop staff priced them up (or rather down) and pawing them with indecision and angst. Which is of course what I was doing too.

I spent a full 5 minutes trying to decide whether it was better to buy a pack of 6 Smart Price unsmoked bacon rashers for £1.15 or a pack of 5 thin cut steaks reduced to £1.36. In the end I went for the steak for variety, as I can get cheap bacon any time.

I ended up using one of the steaks for a stir fry this evening. Very tasty, and it means I save the prawns I had planned to use for another dinner.

Today I ate:
Breakfast-
Yoghurt and frozen fruits
Toast

Lunch-
Coleslaw sandwich with garden leaves and 1/2 tomato

Dinner-
Beef stir fry
Thin steak, udon noodles, cabbage, leeks and shallots, and the packet sauce

Today I spent: £6.88
Thin cut butchers steak £1.36
White potatoes £1.30
Caramelised onion hummus 36p
Smart price sweetcorn 36p
Smart Price plum tomatoes 36p
Smart price sardines 34p
Cheddar £2
Butter 80p

This left a princely 2p which went into the charity box.

[Deleted User]

It sounds as though you have cracked it and now can see how to get through this tough patch.We have all been where you are at some point in our lives I can remember sitting in the kitchen back in 1972 counting how many slices of bread I had to last until friday when OH got paid .The mortgage rate had shot up to 15% and I had a stash of bills to find the cash for which at that time I just didn't have We had just moved into our first house (money pit :)) and my late OHs wages were £112. odd per month and the mortgage was £60.I had two small children under 4 and things couldn't have looked bleaker.But we survived, and so will you.Well done with how you have managed so far,this is your light-bulb moment honey when streetching money to fit your budget seems impossible but I am sure you will be fine.I loved the fact that no matter how broke you were the 2p went into the charity box,there is always someone in more dire staits than yourself.Once you get some cash coming in then try to put a small bit by,doesn'tr matter how much even if its only a fiver ,somewhere almost untouchable for a 'rainy day' as we all have slightly damp days from time to time and a tiny amount tucked away can make the difference when your brassic
Good luck I think you have coped admirably
JackieO xxx

skidia

I'm back after a lovely weekend away with my parents full of swimming and walking and best of all, mountains of lovely food!

I was more aware than ever how the attitude to food I've grown up with is somewhat unhelpful in my current circumstances. I loved going into the deli to buy artisan pies for a picnic lunch. I love roasted sea bass and shrimp butter for dinner. I love breakfast bacon from a small local producer whose rare breed, slow growing, acorn fed pigs will always be much more expensive. I love good wine with my meals, and good cheese to follow. I love having an abundance of good food made with great ingredients, and sadly that it not the world I am in at the moment. I am a Gluttonous Gourmand at heart and by instinct.

No wonder things sometimes seem hard.

candygirl

JackieO wrote: »

Do have a look at 'A Girl called Jacks' blog (google it) its amazing what that lady can make out of practically anything and very inexpensive as well She fed herself and her little boy on a tenner a week.Lots of great recipes for making all sorts of stuff though

I was just about to mention that hun!Hope you and the family are ok xx:D

kittiej

Hi, was just quickly reading and wanted to mention that you could make a satay sauce with your peanut butter (dessert spoon or so), soy sauce then add watered down milk until happy with the consistency. A bit of chilli powder and add meat of your choice or pour over stir fry veg etc.

Eat with rice or noodles.

Maybe a little treat for Sat night?

[Deleted User]

You've got to be well on the way now skidia and only 6 more days to go.hope your coping ok
JackieO xxx

lilian1977

Can you update us skidia? Would love to hear how you're doing. xx

phizzimum

skidia wrote: »

. I love good wine with my meals, and good cheese to follow. I love having an abundance of good food made with great ingredients, and sadly that it not the world I am in at the moment. I am a Gluttonous Gourmand at heart and by instinct.

.

But you will appreciate those things so much more now!