Eat Well For Less Series 3

Pollycat

VfM4meplse wrote: »

The other week my brother decided to cook us Sunday lunch. He asked if I had any tinned tomatoes, so I gave him a box of passata that had been hanging around for a while. I shan't miss it, not will I be in any rush to replace it. For me, less is definitely working out better!

I buy passata - but only when it's on offer - I use it when batch cooking dishes like chilli & bolognaise, in addition to tinned tomatoes.

I think it gives a nicer depth of taste instead of just using tinned.

maman

pelirocco wrote: »

To be fair to her , if you dont buy extra food for a 'rainy day' then you should have the money left for a 'rainy day'

pelirocco wrote: »

Me too , but my point was you spend the same money if you buy item A now or buy it later

You're right in theory. The trouble is that it takes discipline to hang on to the money. I know too many people for whom money 'burns a hole in their pocket'.


Both families so far in this series seem to have had plenty of food in the cupboards at the start (judging from how much was taped away from them) but it seems they didn't take it into account when they went shopping.


I'd say the problem with most of the families on this series (and the previous) is that they aren't disciplined or organised. So no checking what's in to use it up, no apparent meal plan, either no shopping list or pathetic one with items like 'things to fry' on it....... The families could save money by, for example, going to Aldi for their shop. So they might be 'eating well for less' but if they keep throwing out food or carry on eating junk they've learned very little other than to try cheaper options. Big opportunity wasted IMO.

lessonlearned

Tbh I get a bit "angsty" if my food stocks get too low. I do like to keep well stocked cupboards and freezer. I have a back which tends to "ping" every so often so it's nice to not have to worry.

I had a car crash a couple of weeks ago, not too badly hurt but very nasty whiplash and dreadful headaches. I felt really awful for several days.

So as well as having no car even going down to the local shops would have been a problem because I couldn't really lift or carry anything.

Having well stocked cupboards and a freezer full of meat and home cooked "ready meals" was an absolute godsend. At least I didn't have to make do with takeaways or ready meals from the local shop.

Flat_Eric

Can I ask how everyone meal plans? I.e notepad\diary\calendar\scrap of paper etc

PasturesNew

PasturesNew wrote: »

That's always who I feel sorry/embarrassed for - the poor sucker working to pay for waste.

And here's another one - she admits she buys the same food all the time and throws a lot of it away. He's pretty mad and she hides what she throws away so he doesn't know; full packs of perfectly good food.

She needs a kick up her bum.

She's unbelievable! Waiting for her bill.

£235 - and she'll still do her top ups she said.
Average bill should be £95, so she spends 3x the average.

All in, £320/week. £16,500/year.

suki1964

Flat_Eric wrote: »

Can I ask how everyone meal plans? I.e notepad\diary\calendar\scrap of paper etc

I meal plan around the protein I can buy at the price I want to pay

We are meat eaters here but we do eat fish and I can pass a veggie meal as long as it's tasty


This weeks meals for example are around the meat choices bought

800gr mince for £2.69. This will feed 3 adults for two meals ( I also fed 2 kids as well )

A slab of pork, nearly 2kg for £5

Meatballs 12 for £1

Chicken fillet pieces , can't mid the exact price but cheap enough that I went for them over the price of a whole chicken

So Monday it was keema curry with half the mince ( had used the other half on Saturday to feed 5) Served with naan there was a portion left which I ate today

Tuesday, the pork got cooked. Served with roasties, cabbage, carrots and peas and there is over half the joint left

Tonight was one pack of meatballs served with spaghetti in a rich tomato sauce

Tomorrow it will be a chicken pie using the rest of the spuds and cabbage etc


Friday will be fake away Chinese using the pork

Saturday is find your own from the fridge or freezer night. We have piles of eggs. I have a well stocked larder filled with herbs and spices

Sunday will be a roast, be it chicken or beef or gammon. I buy these on special, reduced or from the chicken factory. I never ever ever pay full price. I splash the cash when I see a price I find acceptable

Basically I spend between 50p to £1.50 per person per main course dinner.


The one thing I always do is make for 4. Three are fed, one goes in the freezer. Or I double up when I can. That is if I find two cheap chickens I cook them both, one for that day, the rest portioned to be added to recipes other days.


800grs of mince is a big packet. To me that is between 8 and 10 portions of protein. That's at the most 33p per person

When served with loads of veg it is a cheap meal. Serve with either frozen, tinned or veg that is in season. I don't like mince and tatties, but I can turn the same 3 ingredients into a lovely mild flavoursome curry with just a few spices that I always stock

That's how I do it. I'm not feared to try new recipes. I'm confident with basic cooking skills. Sometimes things don't pan out but hey, who cares, it's a learning curve

Wednesday2000

I was ready to scoff at the woman tonight when I saw her shop, but it seems like she has a deep-seated fear of not having enough from her childhood.:(

The veggie stew looks lovely, I'm trying that.:)

lessonlearned

Given her childhood I'm not surprised.

I really warmed to this family, the girl was delightful and the couple were nice. I loved it when they got an attack of the giggles over the teabags. They had me giggling too.

I got the impression they were real converts at the end and will probably end up being really savvy in the future.

One of the best programmes so far.

lessonlearned

Suki. That's more or less how I work. I see what meat/fish is the best and then build meals from there.

If I find some good bargains I will buy extra and freeze some.

Tonight I have bought a groupon voucher for muscle foods. It looks like a very good deal. I'll see how it goes.

cbrown372

I find I learn something each programme, last week it was that I really dislike Aldi crackers, prefer Tesco's own which are the same price! So happens I had a trip near to an Aldi but my usual shop is Tesco as its nearest, I know where everything is and I know all the staff which really makes a difference.

I too had to laugh at the teabags and I did wonder if I would pass a blind taste of crackers to be honest? Today I shopped in Iceland, first time for years and was pretty impressed with the pricing but only had 20 minutes before it closed so will go back another day.