2020 Frugal Living Challenge

Frugalistamama

Using the last bits of leftovers that are still refrigerated. I made duck fried fried with leftovers from roast duck and did a bone broth with the bones, made three portions, two in the freezer for later. With the turkey crown we have a lot of leftovers, made turkey fajitas which was lovely, chopped up the rest which is in the freezer for a curry later on. Leftover veg became bubble and squeak, never made it before but it was rather yum. Then last of the roast potatoes and red cabbage will be served with sausages and gravy and a couple of leftover stuffing balls tonight. I love leftovers, I made extra food just so I have them! 
Also got some leftover cheap uncooked veg I'll use during the week, carrots, potatoes, parsnips.
I have not been to the shops at all and don't think I'll need to go until new year. Feeling very frugal! 😀

willow_loulou

Couldsavemore it really depends on costs where you are and your ability to get yellow sticker food/fareshare/olio/grow your own. 

If it helps for 2 of us when dd is back at uni my budget it £25 a week. We eat some meat but I adjust meals to what I can get cheaply. The thing that helped me was sourcing the expensive must haves cheaper. For example I tried several different coffees and I now have an individual coffee in cup filter and fresh coffee. I’ve saved probably £16 so far with that. 

I’m growing salad, kale, and herbs indoors. Oh and in the £25 I buy some bits for DD at uni like noodles and soup. 

willow_loulou

Not sure how I managed to type in blue 😂

Couldsavemore

willow_loulou said:

Not sure how I managed to type in blue 😂

I was just thinking that but it did look lovely!
I only shop once a week.. Mr Al shall we say and tup uo at Mr S for certain vegan stuff like rice milk etc.
I do work full time and more hours ontop. 
Just realised that most weeks am actually just shopping for me! I thought I was doing well to be under 40 quid!! 
Serious support is needed!
Pet food and school meals are bought seperately from another budget.
I guess the question is whete the hell dors the money go.
Suggestions of cheap meals needed..
Worrying thing is I thought I was doing well 🤣🤣🤣

Couldsavemore

clearly looking at my spelling its obvious I'm not an English teacher.

joedenise

@Couldsavemore at the start of the Grocery challenge there are lots of recipes, no idea how many are vegan though but I'm sure some are.  I suggest basing your meals on whatever is on the Super 6 at Mr Al which will help keep costs down.

Viking_mfw

I can send you the recipe for this really terrible cabbage curry my husband made for dinner...

Bluegreen143

@Couldsavemore we are about £65-70 most weeks just for food but it’s two adults and two small children. But before we had the kids we kept it under £50 a week for two adults with big appetites, without being too restrictive. I do get a veg box at £17 a week which bumps up the cost, have to buy quite a lot of (own brand) cola and crisps for my husband and we like to cook and experiment with lots of different foods.

Next year my aim is to reduce the costs but NOT the quality of our diet as my husband and I are going on a health kick and I’m also trying to cure my son’s picky eating by stripping back the food on offer to 90% fresh and wholesome foods (we are already reasonably healthy but there is a reliance on cereal, muffins, pancakes, crackers, toast etc both at home and at nursery which I believe is filling him up and dulling his enthusiasm for fresh foods). For me it means saving money by meal planning, YS shopping, reducing food waste and frequenting Lidl are going to be very important as I’m aiming to cut out a lot of the cheap white carbs, sweet treats etc which can fill you up cheap. I don’t know to what extent my husband will stick to it and I expect that cola and crisps will still feature in my shopping list but hoping we can shake off some of the bad habits we’ve acquired in lockdown.

sashacat

Hello everyone, I hope you all managed Christmas ok. 
I had an unusual Olio pickup yesterday ...3 tins of tuna, 3 tins of baked beans, 2 tins of soup, a jar of tomato sauce type stuff for pasta and 3 tins of various fruits. Oh and 2 tins of spaghetti bolognaise. 
All had long dates on. I think the lady must be having a clear out or something.
But, on the other hand, I still have no heating. My boiler has been broken since before Christmas but I hope the engineer can sort it tomorrow. He thinks it needs a new pressure something or other. Thank goodness for my wood burner and all my free wood. 

Couldsavemore

@Bluegreen143..
Thanks for your reply.
I need to start with a meal plan I think...
65-70 for 4 is much better than my 40 for 1.
Like you I want to make sure I'm eating properly and when I cook for DS I give him proper food.