Missy, Roo and May Stretching out every last penny whilst drowning in Budgets, groceries & laundry!

WannabeFree

I've used quite a lot of my store items now and all the random things. I think you use more meat than us but then you're feeding 2 adults too. I haven't been buying much fruit either, just the kids size apples and we have raisins/sultanas in they use in their pack lunches. Are you planning 3 days at a time? Or a full week?

Could you not get a slightly larger chicken and make more than one meal out of it? Like Chicken pasta/Chicken curry/soup for instance?

Sorry if this is boring just trying to help
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missymoo81

WannabeFree wrote: »

I've used quite a lot of my store items now and all the random things. I think you use more meat than us but then you're feeding 2 adults too. I haven't been buying much fruit either, just the kids size apples and we have raisins/sultanas in they use in their pack lunches. Are you planning 3 days at a time? Or a full week?

Could you not get a slightly larger chicken and make more than one meal out of it? Like Chicken pasta/Chicken curry/soup for instance?

Sorry if this is boring just trying to help
x

Hey sweets, not boring. Really appreciate the help. Well I manage to stretch a packet of chicken to last me and BF 2 dinners (and he eats A LOT) and it will probably do the smalls 1 meal. So I don’t think that’s too bad. We don’t eat soup really unfortunately. I’ve tried buying whole chickens but everyone seems to dislike the dark meat so annoyingly pointless unfortunately. I’m hoping I’ve over guesstimated on some of the food As I’m sure we’ll need more bacon and milk...... no idea how much sweet potatoes are in Lidl, and wondering if I should just make the white sauce for the lasagne... kind you the last time I made it I used so much milk and cheese, ended up being far more money than a bought sauce!

I’m trying to shop twice a week, as if I do a weeks worth things end up getting wasted as things change daily. How do you bulk out your lasagne. Wish I had enough for salad on the side.... wondering if I can bulk out the Thai curry to do 2 meals too.....

Hoping next week will be slightly easier as song need to buy cat food or dishwasher stuff!

WannabeFree

I bulk mince out with oats/lentils/beans/any veg that looks like it's going past its best I grate in. I don't put cheese in the white sauce either only top of the lasagne. I pinch a lot of ideas from Mortgagefreeinthree blog, I love a lot of Elaine's recipes and have used them for years.

I also make the smalls porridge with water now. I leave it to soak in water over night and then cook. They haven't noticed the difference where as they won't eat it made with water 'fresh'



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missymoo81

WannabeFree wrote: »

I bulk mince out with oats/lentils/beans/any veg that looks like it's going past its best I grate in. I don't put cheese in the white sauce either only top of the lasagne. I pinch a lot of ideas from Mortgagefreeinthree blog, I love a lot of Elaine's recipes and have used them for years.

I also make the smalls porridge with water now. I leave it to soak in water over night and then cook. They haven't noticed the difference where as they won't eat it made with water 'fresh'



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I usually do half and half. These have been having toast for breakfast. I’m Not sure which is cheaper!

WannabeFree

I buy the 55p bread and it usually has at least 16 slices and the two 'ends' - so about 7p a breakfast I think. Oats I think I paid 75p for 1kg last time - and it does about 30 breakfasts and because I use water it's a lot cheaper for me to feed mine porridge The youngest does have toast more often than not though. She's fussy

And yeah I really do sit and work it out :rotfl:

missymoo81

Mine eat porridge like it’s going out of fashion, I would only get around 20 breakfasts out of it. That’s awesome that you’ve worked that out! Ok so the bread would cost us 12.2p as each small has 2 slices. For the smalls to have porridge it’s 7.5p as they have around 100grams that’s not including topping though. They like fruit..... what do yours have on their porridge? X

WannabeFree

Mainly nothing I've never really offered. Sometimes the older two will have some jam but not even a teaspoon.

I work out rice/pasta etc I like to weigh it out to make sure I have enough to last as long as I need it too.

I think it's probably similar for yours to have either. Value cornflakes go down well here and are seen as treat too.

It's yogurt and squash and things like shampoo/toothpaste I find hard to keep the cost down.

missymoo81

WannabeFree wrote: »

Mainly nothing I've never really offered. Sometimes the older two will have some jam but not even a teaspoon.

I work out rice/pasta etc I like to weigh it out to make sure I have enough to last as long as I need it too.

I think it's probably similar for yours to have either. Value cornflakes go down well here and are seen as treat too.

It's yogurt and squash and things like shampoo/toothpaste I find hard to keep the cost down.

Mine have been spoilt with blueberries and strawberries as that’s what I used to have on mine and the only time I usually get time to make porridge is a Saturday so it’s seen as a real treat. But obv those days are gone!!! Fortunately we don’t have squash or yogurt here. The only time I use yoghurt is in place of sour cream. I’m wondering maybe raisins on porridge. How much is a big bag, any ideas? And I have two bags of nuts I could cut up too, and I have syrup....

Bulking wise. Carrots, peas and onions will be what I’m using. In the stew, curry + broccoli and minus the peas in the bolognaise. I’ll bulk that out with oats too.
Oooh just realised I have peppers in the fridge already so will take that off my list and replace it with something else!

missymoo81

I’ve just been looking at recipes for overnight oats and it just looks and sounds all dry and not nice. How do you make yours wannabe? I literally want it like sweet porridge so I’m assuming I just put the normal amount of porridge and milk/water on and it does the job itself no need for cooking?

WannabeFree

We don't like overnight oats as in oats layered with fruit and yogurt. It tastes like sick Sorry to anyone that likes it!

I literally weigh my oats out put in a jug with water and leave in the fridge overnight then cook as normal. They are 'creamier' than just made with water without soaking

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