Armageddon food shop? what 2buy?

Butterfly_Brain

calicocat wrote: »

Hi,

Just a quick post re: oven chips. I got a tip when watching super scrimpers (I think it was that) .

If you come across a cheap bag of spuds or have extra that you won't use before going off, par boil and cut into chips, and freeze. Someone else said spray them with a bit of oil and salt and pepper so you have seasoned oven chips. I haven't tried this myself as yet, but may be worth a try, and probably healthier than shop ones too.


Edit, morrisons today have some of their veg at 50p, broccoli, button mushrooms, cabbage, and carrots, can't remember what else. Even if you don't need them right now you could make a huge batch of soup with it?

You can part roast potatoes and freeze them as well

the_cat

gailey wrote: »

sainsburys stopped doing bascic coffee.


we have spar, 2 saisnburys large and small, large co-op, tesco metro, lidls, aldis, morrisions and b&m nearby

Morrisons do a value coffee. Think it's similar to the Sainsburys one in taste and about 50p

EstherH

Thanks BUTTERFLY BRAIN.
GAILEY: I have been reading Mbaz thread about feeding a family of four for £20. Kezloe bumped it up and I have just read your contribution to that so know you have read it but it was 2008 so maybe worth looking back over? Some good ideas on there.

Eternal_Sunshine_2

I would say Tesco value cooking bacon think its 500gm for 81p seems to be at larger stores as my local doesn't stock it so buy 10 packs every now and again when have shopping delivered, it's not all misshaped we have had good packs and had plenty of good slices out of them for bacon butties it seems to be good quality bacon not pumped full of water just not the right shape to be sold, we can easily have bacon sandwiches, a quiche and a pasta sauce out of 1 packet ( family if four) xx

EstherH

Yes, I would agree with that. X

betterlife

i use to use bisto powder for my gravy but found it got too expensive, i now buy sainsburys basic gravy granules at 20p a tub, i make up with boiling water and add an oxo cube aswell (i buy these from home bargains 18 for £1) when its all mixed up i strain it into my saucepan which ive already popped any juices from the meat in, tastes great! i also use this in the slow cooker with mince and onions to tender the mince for a couple of hours, i always put loads of gravy in as the mince really gives it a lovely beefy flavour, i then strain and use mince in cottage pie, and have loads of tasty gravy.
twinks is hob nob recipes makes loads and works out really cheap for biscuits, i also make american pancakes for kids breakfast, works out really cheap and makes loads, they have then with various thinks, chopped fruit, yoghurt, maple or golden surup, choc spread, or butter.
i get a lot of kids clothes from a kids charity shop (cant remember which one it is) but its always lovely and clean and fantastic prices, i have 4 kids 5yrs -12yrs, 3 boys one girl, and alway manage to get for all. m&s had school clothes reduced to £1 today including blazers, trousers and skirts! meat wise, i make use of everything, a chicken (small/med size) will do all 6 of use a sunday roast, chicken curry, and bones and pickings for chic and veg soup. bulk out with lots of veg, lentils and pulses. the shops also seem to have good offers on cakes, cereal bars, choc biscuit bars etc at the mo, i also home bake for pack ups, but have been stocking up on these good offers aswell, for inbetween days. hope some of this may help x

calicocat

Butterfly_Brain wrote: »

You can part roast potatoes and freeze them as well

If only I had the freezer space. There's only me, I have a freezer the size of a coffin and still never enough room. However have just moved and no shops really in walking distance now. I'm thinking I really need to organise what's in there for the winter and potential 'snowbound ' days. So will be doing those roast potatoes as can't imagine life without roasties. Homemade ones that is.

I make my own stock boiling the bones, however this is time consuming so not convenient for busy families.

If you like ice for your drinks, chop up lemons and limes and freeze, two hits in one product and no trays or ice-bags.

gailey_2

Thank you everyone for your kind words and advice.

MSE has never let mew down over the years i mainly hang on here and food shops.

Got some free herb trays and pots was hoping to kitchen garden as have long windowsill. just on lookout for reduced herbs in pots.

so to plant garlic I just use normal garlic plant in compost and water daily?

I am prememting hard times yes really helps me feel bit calmer knowing I have a plan.

I use normal sugar.

we are growing potatoes, sweetcorn and tomatoes in garden.

locallly blackberreies and green gage plums ready to pick.

hoping we get some hazlenuts and chesnuts as dident get any last year.

we use normal sugar for baking
on offer butter spread
value flour

was planning on visiting larger morrisions and seeing what can get ther as have that on my uniform list as price checked against sainsburies and mums alreay brought her some aldi stuff.

she has some jumpers and cardigans from last year that fit.
will hit primark new pants , socks and gloves
sainsburys have 25%off lunchboxes.
will look on ebay for coat.

only think getting big money is bag she really wants a satchel now shes a junior. hoping to try m&s for shoes as sort of in between of cheap shoes and clarkes as last year got cheap shoes and they lasted weeks.

Today feeling bit brighter.

we already cut sky package right down few months ago took off movies.
If times get really hard would ditch it but for now its staying as one luxury as we rarly go out.

other month brought dvd player for 5quid which hubbys rigged up to bedroom.We also got free tv other month its huge as not flats screen but good tv. So everythings cost me £7

Got a sky box from car boot so now have sky upstairs.It cost £2 and is £60 new so well chuffed.
hubby de jammed the old wii so hoping get some new remotes, batteries and some 2nd hand games for it keep kids amused.

apart from sky box for 10 glasses for £1 as were short and loads kiddy tomme tippe cups, plastic plates an sports bottles for £1 so all practical things we would use.

as we take drinks and snacks everywhere and have picnics at park.

so next on list is cheapo cool box and picnic hamper and new flask.

got driving theory test book/dvd for 50p determined to pass this year at grand old age of 33.
.

Started my xmas shopping at carboot. got a lovley wicker hamper for £1 ideal for dad and all his homemade pressies plan to make him with few shop brought bargains no doubt.

its middle childs birthday next month and already brought 2 2nd hand presents ebay and hiding in wardrobe.

got handy manny toy for my boy for £1 so thats his first pressie.

some rubbers new in pack for eldest pencil case. 50p

one of those lavender hot water bottle type toys that go in microwave for 50p for eldest as she wants owl and butterflies in her room.

so dident spend much maybe £8 and sold a few thngs even gave away a few things.

sadly it rained. so everyone left early but was fun to get out took my mind off things and reminded me that we will cope if we careful.

hubby did reduced run at 3super markets tonight but slim pickings.

the freezer full of bread.so dont have to worry about bread until october.

have a list of cheap/free days out to keep us busy until school gets back.


Have brought a few 2nd hand toys recently as cant afford preschool for him until funding whole year yet so trying to replicate everything at preschool at home.

Also if have to take middle child out of nursery save money.
will need more at home so was on lookout for educational bargains.
we possibly intend to home educate her anyway as not convinced shes going to get a school place -just another worry on my mind.


Dident buy any clothes today but got load free clothes latly from a freind for daughter.

Also brought stuff for myself really cheap so im sorted just need new coat.

places on my list to go are

poundland
b&m
approved foods
morrons
farmfoods
lidls/adis/

im sure between them all can do a very good shop.

messy betty-will get mr ts this week 80p ideal teacher pressie.

made end of term leaving gifts for teacher pintrest given me ideas have who board on stuff I can attempt to make for kids.

want to do blankets for each child.

for teacher and preschool i got 2 terracotta pots
painted with blackboard paint which we already had
the painted rim white and use marker pen as if it was tape measure
used kiddy chalk wrote thank you for helping me grow
and plante some cheap flowers in it.

was very cheap and they seemed chuffed so sometimes homemade apprecated

with 3 kids buying few bits and staggering costs mean can do it all.

will put wanted for 2nd hand bike and hide in mil garage for eldest.

will start dong mysetry shops and surveys again
will give comping another go but never seem to win.

So for now will just focus on stuff I can do.

like sorting out house
making sure we well stocked.

we in credit for energy.

put wanted on local boards for cheap paint and looking for few bits cheap storage so can smarten up the house for pennies.

Decided to sell fish tank as fish keep dying have no idea why .

One thing would love to save up for is that tefal acti fry and jam maker. my freind has actifry and its so quick and simple where as my homemade chips at hoe take ages and more like roasties.

turned down bargain coffee maker as the pods just seemed so expensive.

Wil continue reduced hunt not having much luck with meat and fish latly.

Bella79

Just wanted to say goodluck with everything, you sound really organised!

Also you really dont need a jam maker! I have just started making my own jams and if id have known how easy they were i would have done it years ago, but was always put off because it sounded too scary!!!!

Also the acti-fry my mum has one and we all hate it, would much rather just cut up potatoes, rub with oil and oven bake

Oh and just wanted to let you know my dd is 6 and i have always brought her clarks shoes but last year i didn't have the money so got them from tesco and i have to say they have worn no quicker than the clarks ones

I_try

I think it is in Morrisons that I have seen giant (?10kg) sacks of broken grain rice for under £10. I buy the giant sacks of Basmati rice, last one was about £10 and lasts me a couple of years at least!! Asda do the giant sacks too, it works out much cheaper than the small bags and a good staple for the stock cupboard, or in this case behind the kitchen door :-)