Starting from scratch

NewShadow

A very close friend of mine is in the process of leaving an unhealthy relationship - her OH is not yet aware, but plans are in place for her to move out for good on the 2nd of January as he's away for a few days in the New Year. She will have little more than clothes and small personal items but I have lots of everything .

She's coming to me in the short term and I'm not going to be charging her keep. Once she's paid at the end of Jan, she'll have the cash for a deposit/first month's rent but not much else.

Assuming at this stage a furnished flat, I was thinking about gifting her the start of a store cupboard to help her for the first month, but I was wondering - what are the priorities for your cupboards?

My list so far:

Teabags
'Decent' coffee
Both milk to move in and a couple of cartons of UHT
Chocolate/biscuits

Baked beans
Tinned tomatoes
Tinned soup
Tinned tuna
Eggs
Cheese
Packets of flavoured couscous

Lentils
Rice
Pasta
Baking potatoes
Loaf of fresh bread/pittas/wraps

Salt
Pepper
Mayo
Oil
Butter/spread
Onions/Garlic

What do you think?

Prinzessilein

This sounds like a lovely idea...what a supportive friend you are.

Everyone will have their own 'essentials' for a store-cupboard.

For me, one thing missing would be some oats - so I can have porridge in the morning....and maybe a small bottle of brown sauce (well, you've got eggs and bread...which screams out 'fried egg sarnie' to me!..and that means brown sauce!)...and maybe some instant custard (I always keep some on hand)....and stock (Swiss Marigold is a good one)....maybe an 'instant' hot chocolate type of drink?.....oh and not an issue for me, but some people would want sugar/honey for their tea/coffee/porridge.

Plus non-food....washing up liquid and some kitchen towels?

I have supported someone through something very similar...and wish your friend strength for the coming weeks...and all the best for her new life!

Stoke

I know it sounds horrific, but a pot noodle or two wouldn't be bad. It's going to be very stressful for a few weeks and she might just need instant gratification comfort food on the odd occasion. I know they're rubbish, but they're at least tasty rubbish.

Bigjenny

How about including some tinned vegetable, e.g. Peas, Carrots, Green Beans, etc, and Toilet Rolls.

[Deleted User]

Stock cubes and some herbs and spices and an 'economy recipes' cookery book to help keep costs down until your friend finds their 'feet' again. Jam, honey, marmalade (any of these) packet of sugar, pack of S/R flour, stork margarine for cakes. Possibly tins of fruit as a treat.

MandM90

I do agree with a few 'ready made things' just to take pressure off.

Like:
dehydrated cous cous packets
tinned bean chilli
soups

Also maybe a smelly candle, a good book and some bath soak/posh shower gel.

You're a wonderful friend, best of luck to both of you!

AndyCF

Stoke wrote: »

I know it sounds horrific, but a pot noodle or two wouldn't be bad. It's going to be very stressful for a few weeks and she might just need instant gratification comfort food on the odd occasion. I know they're rubbish, but they're at least tasty rubbish.

I'd agree with this, some kind of 'cupboard storable' instant "just add hot water" items will always be useful given their long storage life (usually!) , there are other things besides the noodle obviously but its going to depend on preferences.

I would suggest a pack of decent branded "Cup Soup" too as they are quite handy anyway, usually plenty of varieties to pick from and not expensive.

The tinned veg is an excellent idea too. The 'mixed veg' tins are in my experience at least a bit hit/miss although some are reasonable. Having said that I absolutely love one brand of tinned baby carrots, but I do not like their pea tins nor their sliced carrots. It is another "low cost and very long shelf life standby" I'd concur with having a tin or two of.

I'm assuming we're not talking any frozen bits here given it may not be practical ? That's understandable.

Grumpysally

Might be deviating from the store cupboard, but also useful;

Toilet roll
Light bulbs
Torch
Spare batteries
Rechargeable screwdriver set

Not wanting to be alarmist, but also if her OH is the kind who will harass ( speaking from experience here ) ;

Door Chain
Some kind of attack alarm to keep by the door.

Don't forget to include some chocolate or some other treats too : )

Wishing your friend all the best. What a good friend she has in you.

fairy_lights

Non-food related bits:


Toilet roll
Laundry detergent
Washing up liquid and sponges
Multi purpose spray
Bleach

AndyCF

Couple more non foodie items:

Kitchen roll(s)

Tea towel(s) or something to dry things on.

Cheap plastic (£1 usually) washing up type bowl always useful too, can't rely on sink having a plug or being brilliant, bowl = fixes that.

Cling film and a roll of foil maybe. CF probably more useful at this stage I'd guess.

A bag of cheap 'freezer bags' or similar. £1 or less. I rarely use them for the freezer but they are so handy for other things too such as wrapping whatever up and throwing it into a cupboard / fridge.

Possibly cheap cutlery set, although it seems to be sets of 4, only the 'little people' it seems easy to get a 'single set' for. Alternative is just to get a cheap fork/knife/spoon.

Talking of which a teaspoon if not included in the set will be good

Don't forget a tin opener either!

EDIT... A pair of scissors will always be useful too if not already included in a "set of something"

thorsoak

Some shower gel, flannels, hand and bath towels, toothpaste, deodorant - just some extras for when her current supplies run out.

A torch!