Any advice welcome - need to cut weekly shop costs

hex2

Two more sites that may help

http://thriftylesley.com/

A good feed yourself for £1 a day site - regularly updated with new menus.

Also

http://mortgagefreeinthree.com/ - lots of cheap recipes and frugal living inspiration, plus other peoples diaries.

Good luck with your challenge

maman

Just called by to wish you luck.:)

What did occur to me was that there will be times of the year when you're not working and so, if you're strict with yourself, should be able to save the childcare costs.

I'd also recommend you get some of those plastic boxes from £ shop (similar to the ones in Chinese take away) and use them to freeze your batch cooking. They stack well and take two portions. Do batch cooking at weekends or in holidays. Having a HM ready meal is better for you healthwise and financially.

If you've got time in the holidays, do some shopping around for basics. Aldi and Farmfoods are good.

Start to frequent charity shops, not just for clothes but so that your son still ends up with books and toys but cheaper!

Nikkiclaire

Well just had chicken dinner and now to set out cooking to freeze from left overs. Chicken curry and chicken soup to be frozen in handy plastic pots ( which I got from poundland for 10 and can be used over and over again)

Pink.

Nikkiclaire wrote: »

Well just had chicken dinner and now to set out cooking to freeze from left overs. Chicken curry and chicken soup to be frozen in handy plastic pots ( which I got from poundland for 10 and can be used over and over again)

For both curry and chicken soup don't add the chicken until the last minute and just heat it so that it has warmed throughly, otherwise it can be a bit tough and stringy,

Nikkiclaire

I just had to post this as one of my downfalls it buying lunch in the canteen at work which can range anywhere from 2.50 to 4.00. It is quite easy to end up buying a couple of times a week, which really adds up. When planning in my new regime I have put together a really nice lunch at a fraction of the cost ( I know I should have done this in the past )

Pitta bread 8p
Grated carrot 6p
Onion 5p
Dressing 7p

Asda smart value crisps 5.5p
Satsuma. 7p

Afternoon break snack
Smart choice yoghurt. 8p

Grand total for a lunch I would really like is 46.5p

Feel like I have just been throwing money away !

Broomstick

Pittas are a staple in our house. Since it sounds as if you are incredibly busy I wonder whether it would be worth adding some protein to the pitta salad mix eg a mashed up boiled egg, or some grated cheese, or some of the left over chicken, or whatever. Protein, although a bit more expensive, seems to fill you up and gives you longer lasting energy. The yoghurt will help with that too.

B x

fairy3

Another vote for pitta breads here although I push the boat out and buy the M&S ones at 70p for 6 which are much nicer than any others I have found.
Home made hummus works out as a cheap protein filler or add a little cheese to a value tub of coleslaw, I like the idea of costing up meals too and am going to try this, look forward to your blog.

Good luck

**purpleprincess**

Hiya!

I too am a teacher so know what you mean about being exhausted when you get in. What I do is cook huge batches of things and freeze into portions. It takes no longer to cook 6 or 8 portions than it does to cook 2 or 4, yet you have those dinners in the freezer for those evenings when you are knackered. Some weeks we don't cook a single meal, just reheat our homemade meals from the freezer. It really is fab. And mince dishes can be padded out with grated carrots, lentils or oats.

We went food shopping today and I bought lots of bits to cook over the next few days ready for when I am back to school. I'm going to do beef bolognaise, chilli con carne, vegetable curry, pork chilli, beef casserole.

I would also definitely recommend making your own lunches instead of buying from the canteen. It can cost me nearly £2 to buy a jacket potato with beans at school, but I can cook a load at home and put into containers with beans divided up and take to school and heat in the microwave. I also have scrambled eggs sometimes on toast, or beans on toast.

Looking at your pittas as well, pittas make great mini pizzas. Spread with tomato puree and add toppings and cook in the oven. Yummy!

Good luck!

georgia1

Do you use childcare vouchers to pay for any of your childcare? That could help towards the cost. Have a look here:

http://www.which.co.uk/money/tax/guides/tax-and-your-children/childcare-costs/

ska_lover

Hi there, sorry to hijack the thread, but do you have to pay to get a water meter fitted, anyone? cheers