Advice please on starting out

lilly81

I am giving up working full time whilst my 5 year old son is going through diagnosis for special needs.
My husband is still working full time, it's going to be tight but doable.
Luckily we aren't in debt but do have a mortgage.
I have been wasteful with money but now need to get back on MSE.

I have been buying sandwich fillings for my husbands wraps for work, what sandwich fillings do you make at home and how long can u keep them in the fridge?
I have been getting my milk from the milkman for environmental reasons, would milk in plastic bottles or carboard pack be better?
I have gone from being a little over weight to being obese in the last year, so would like to loose weight but obviously needs to be done on a budget.

Any help would be appreciated

monnagran

You will be getting much advice on sandwich fillings and general watching the pennies advice so I won't go there.

I word of advice though from a lifelong battle of the bulge.

FORGET DIETS.

When you are watching the pounds and ounces, as well as the pounds and pence, go small.
Eat what everyone else is eating, no need for special food, but eat less.
Get yourself a small dinner plate, a special pretty one if you can find one in a CS. Don't pile it high, just enough to satisfy you. If you usually eat 2 sandwiches, eat one. Just scale down your amount of ordinary food.

Eat slowly, and mind fully. No shoving food in your mouth while watching TV. Enjoy every mouthful.

NO EATING BETWEEN MEALS.

If, like me, you tend to "taste" while cooking get yourself a mask, such as workers use if dealing with noxious vapours. My generation calls them Smog masks. it sounds, and looks, strange, but it does stop the unthinking popping of bits into the ever open mouth.

That's it. Cheap and effective and you are denying yourself nothing.

Good luck.

Prinzessilein

You've got a LOT on your plate, love!

Firstly, let's look at your son...what exactly are his special needs?...Would you say that your little lad needs more help than other boys of his age?...I am wondering about your claiming DLA (Disability Living Allowance) for him...you don't need to wait for a specific diagnosis, the claim is made on his additional needs....a few of us here on OldStyle understand the benefit system....or you could go onto the Disability Forum with specific questions...it COULD mean a few extra pounds a week to help with the lad.


You say you have been wasteful...well, you know this...and you are determined to change...and you have come to OldStyle...you've made the right first moves!

You say you are a little overweight...no real need to do anything 'special' ...healthy eating is the way to lose weight!...and that will be healthy eating for the whole family...no need for you to do anything 'different'...no special meals for you...just good tasty healthy family food- that will help save money too! (I speak as someone who has lost a HUGE amount of weight over the years...more than 100 pounds!!...I used 5:2 based on healthy eating)


So...some ideas to help....


Number one with me is pretty much always...get a slow-cooker (or a multicooker with a slow cooker function!)...you can cook really cheap cuts of meat in them and it is honestly SO easy...bung in the meat ,veg and liquid, switch on and leave it all day until ready to eat!...it cooks stews, casseroles, soups, bolognaise, curry, chilli...all of which can be veggie (and a day or two without meat each week is healthy, tasty and cheap!)

Batch Cook wherever possible - the freezer is your friend!...and freeze in portions...portion control is easiest done when you are NOT hungry!

Sandwiches fillings...buy YS cooked meat and freeze in sandwich-sized portions then you just need to take a pack out to thaw overnight in the fridge before making the packed lunch...if hubbie likes cheese this can be bought on offer, grated and frozen.

Have you thought of soup for his lunches?...made in a slow cooker or I was given a soup-maker this year (I LOVE my soup!!!)...tasty and warming in the colder months...if he can't reheat at work, then invest in a wide neck thermos flask.

Does your family eat enough bread to justify a bread-maker? Home baed bread with home made soup...mmmmmmmmm!

You might be able to make a saving of a penny or three by buying milk at a supermarket...but I agree about the environmental reasons for having a milkman.


How confident are you at cooking?...home made food tends to be healthier than ready-meals/take-away...if you let us know your favourite meals there are some very good cooks on the forum who will direct you towards making them healthier ( including more conducive to weight-loss!)

Make the most of your local library...lots of cook books to borrow there!...I would recommend the Hairy Dieters...really good, family food, but healthy versions....AND check out the childrens; activities, there might be free/budget friendly activities for your son (our library does holiday activities from reading to art groups to lego building to dancing...to sweet making.....all sorts!)

bouicca21

Sandwich fillings - egg mayo is easy enough, slices/scraps of left over roast, salad, etc.

Packed lunch doesn't have to be sandwiches/wraps though. Mine yesterday was a thermos of soup (I love my soup maker too), Greek salad and fruit with yoghurt. If there is a microwave on site you can get still more creative.

trailingspouse

Well done for spotting the problems and meeting them head on.


I totally agree with previous posters - portion control. Eat less - cheaper, quicker and will help you lose weight. Sounds quite simplistic, but the special 'diet' food is expensive. Make sure that what you do buy is good healthy food - don't waste money on empty calories (crisps, sweets, fizzy pop, cakes etc etc).
You don't need a bread maker to make bread - just a large bowl. And you don't need a soup maker to make soup - just a large pan. Save your money.
And don't just fixate on saving money on food - although that's important. Look at all the things you spend money on (keep a diary for a month if you're not sure where it all goes!), then look at what you can reduce and what you can cut completely.
And don't feel that you have to do this solo - your husband needs to be on board with this too, otherwise you will tie yourself into a knot trying to make up for the fact that you're not working. Have you had a proper chat about how you're going to manage and how he feels about him working for money and you not working for money? Does he see the value of the unpaid work you are doing at home?

PasturesNew

What sandwich fillings are you buying now? You could easily make those yourself, or slight variations of them.

[Deleted User]

Welcome, you will get lots of good advice on here. One thing I do take issue with is the cost of having milk delivered. When you are short of money a 2 litre container of milk from the supermarket is only just a bit more than a pint of milk from the milkman. You do not have to feel guilty about using supermarket milk, you are having to cut down for a very good reason.

The slow cooker idea is a good one, I admit I use use a pressure cooker for cheap cuts of meat and soup, but you can make simple soup in a large pan. You might be able to pick up a breadmaker from free cycle. I do have one and use it every couple of days. I have problems with arthritis in my hands and tenosynovitis in my wrist which does not help when you are kneading bread. Fresh veg can be expensive, look in the freezers and consider tinned fruit and veg. look at some veggie options for meals.

There are a lot of recipes in a file on this board and you will get lots of help.

Check and see if you are entitled to any benefits; if you are on a low income the citizens advice people can help you there.

Good luck.

lilly81

Thank you for all your replies.

I will apply for DLA, I'm just need to find someone to help me with the forms. :eek:

I do have and never use my slow cooker, bread maker and soup maker, I need to get these out the back of the cupboard and put them too good use.

Sandwich fillings tend to be coronation chicken, piri piri chicken, cheese and onion, and eggs mayo

My son has been diagnosed with Ataxia, the current assessments are to see how severe he has it. My husband is supportive of me not being in paid work, as he now understands the benefits to our son as I'll be able to do his physio and take him to extra curricular activities which will help with his physical development.


I finish work on Wednesday, so will have time to search the boards :T

happydays89

I used to make sandwiches in a bakery and I also had to make the fillings.

Coronation chicken is just mayo,curry powder and a few sultanas and chopped up chicken.Mix together and leave in the fridge the colours and flavour develope in a few hours.

Cheese and coleslaw.
Very finely chopped hard cabbage,finely grated carrot and onion.Add mayo and mix.Leave overnight in the fridge for flavour to develope.

Tuna,finely chopped onion and salad cream or mayo.mix together.

If you ever have a beef joint for Sunday lunch when you slice it cut a few very very thin slices for sandwiches,top with coleslaw or salad.

The same with chicken,have some for lunch,pick off some for sandwiches and mix with mayo and sweet corn.Make soup with the carcass.

The one gadget we have that is used everyday is an air fryer.
We purchased it in B&M for £39.99.
I use it like an oven,it heats up sausage rolls,quiche,cooks fishfingers ,oven chips ,sausages.i have put things in foil like chicken breasts.ready meals In fioil trays.I make cheese toasties and if any are left they go in the fridge ,the air fryer heats and crisps them up.

You save the cost of heating up the oven,and they cook faster.
With Christmas coming ......could be a very useful gift to yourselves.