My cupboards are too full!

ellie-g

maman wrote: »

I think a a sort out and inventories of cupboards and freezer is your next step. It's quite therapeutic and you'll be so pleased with yourself when it's done.:)

I have a paper list of what's in my freezers stuck on the microwave. I have an overflow storecupboard upstairs. So I always write my meal plan from my freezer list, basing it on the meat and HM ready meals that I already have. Then I check the kitchen cupboards to make sure I have other basic ingredients (tomatoes, red beans, pasta, rice or whatever) if it's not in the kitchen then I check the storecupboard. Only if we've really run out do I add it to the shopping list. So if I'd run out of baked beans I'd buy the minimum for recipes that week unless I saw them on offer then I'd stock up. Otherwise they get carried over on future lists until an offer shows.

Most weeks I only need bread, milk, eggs and fresh fruit & veg as essentials then I buy a bit of extra for the cupboards/freezer if it's a bargain. And while you're attacking the stockpiles, be creative. If you want to use up frozen or canned veg, consider that first for recipes before buying fresh.

Maman, thank you, this is exactly my approach. I have also found that a regular evening stroll to our local Tesco Metro yields plenty of cut price fresh food and meats/fish that I can freeze. My food bill for 2 of us is £14 per week (ie £1 per day per person). This is calculated over the year and includes bulk buys, offers and vouchers. I shop to replenish my store cupboard rather than have a 'weekly shop'. I never menu plan and invent new meals all the time. It's just like 'Ready, Steady, Cook' everyday and I love it!

lantanna

Lol this made me laugh, but seriously though think of the savings you will make if you start to work your way through it now - Get in there though and get the dates sorted.


I used to be a bit of a stockpiler and it ended up that there was times that I had no money for anything but a ton of food etc in the cupboard that I didn't need. So now I just buy things as and when I need them and find that this works for me!


I'd rather have the money and be able to decide what to do with it as opposed to having dozens of tins of baked beans in the cupboard that will do nothing to cheer me up. Good luck

[Deleted User]

This week I have actually only bought a packet of Crackerbread £1.09
a bottle of double strength orange squash (for my grandsons )42p and a box of basic tissues 65p
total outlay = £2.16.This was on my essential list and I now need not go to the supermarket for anything until the New Year.I am definitely eating from the freezer and fridge.As I am away from next Tuesday for at least a week in the fridge I have
7 tomatoes
1 cucumber
4 eggs
9 laughing cow 'lighter ' cheese portions I use this instead of butter/spread on crackers)
2 litres skimmed milk
2 litres orange Juice
1 lemon
some soft marg (for baking)
some soft butter(I'll give to DD on Sunday,when she comes for coffee)
a carton of longlife single cream
and thats it I will use all of this up over the weekend so when I go to Dds on Christmas eve my fridge will be hopefully empty.
My freezer on the other hand is stuffed full of HM portions for dinners,plus lots of bacon,sausages and god knows what else.I am determined not to buy anymore food in until I have got the contents down quite a bit.My food cupboards too are full to bursting with tins of stuff and lots of dry goods so its rein in the spending and see what I can conjour up with what I have instead of buying even more.
I have 12 tins of mushy peas that I bought awhile ago when there was a 'mushy peas war' between the supermarkets and they were 3p a tin !!!
I must find some recipes that I can use them up with :):)
JackieO xxx