Uni students eating me out of house and home

Brambling

I make popcorn in the microwave rather than a pan, i use a lidded pyrex dish and just cover the bottom with the popcorn I think it takes about 6 mins if you keep an eye on it and shake every so often, then stir marmite through it for savoury popcorn

Spendless

theoretica said:

Sleeping outdoors will make them even hungrier.  A big pot of peanut butter is cheap to go with bread.

Really? I wasn't aware of that. I've never gone camping in my life. The tent is from years ago when DH took the kids away. I'd forgotten all about it till recently when it was 'discovered' at my in-laws. It would certainly make sense why I had no problem with 2 of them (who slept indoors) compared to 3 of them sleeping outdoors.
I'm sure I've got a tub or two of peanut butter in that I can also pop in the 2nd fridge.

Sea_Shell

Cheap "own brand" cream crackers are good to keep in too.   

PasturesNew

They're spoilt.... toast will be good enough.  Toast with 40-55p bread and some cheap things like 28p jam, cheapo peanut butter etc. 
They're being fed proper meals, so set a daily budget of £1 between the 3 of them.... so that's £7/week, or round it up to £10 and stick to it!
You can get cup a soups for 25p for a box of 4 (Tesco) and 67p frozen pizzas (Tesco)... 

It's not your job to give them a 3 star lifestyle. 

Rosa_Damascena

theoretica said:

Sleeping outdoors will make them even hungrier.  A big pot of peanut butter is cheap to go with bread.

It will certainly  make them colder!!! Its supposed to be getting stormy over the coming few days...

newlywed

Crumpets were the only thing that stopped out boys from demolishing the biscuits.

Spendless

Morning everyone, crumpets and crackers also sound like good cheap things to get in.
Sooooo last night DH came home from working away for a few days. He'd taken a half day hol earlier this week to collect DS's friends and then worked away since, so hadn't had chance to have much of a conversation with him. DH tells me on the car ride back to ours one of the friends, who has been living with a relative (due to parents illness). that he heard the relative has insisted the friend be on a diet and exercise regime for months. DH wondered if it was the freely available food after this that has contributed to the 'eat as much as you can when you can'. I've no idea but if there has been some issues around food, I am really glad I didn't read the riot act about it. They were aware of slight annoyance on my part but that's all.
On a practical level, yesterday they had breakfast, lunch, tea plus a mid afternoon snack that I gave them.
When I went to a mates for a cuppa and a catch up, they'd walked to the shops themselves and bought a sharing pack of crisps.
Their tea was early due to me taking DD out to meet friends  (one was celebrating GCSE results).
A lot later in the evening DS queried what the pizzas were in 'their' fridge, so I told him they could have  them with the various different toppings when they wanted.

monnagran

spendless, you are doing so well.  A bit of motherly cherishing and a bit of 'now sort yourselves out.
There is nothing like forbidding young people to do something, to ensure that they will do it to excess when the handcuffs are taken off.

MrsPorridge

My standby is a sausage casserole in the slow cooker (or oven if you don;t have one).  I chop up the sausages into 2 or 4 as it goes further, two tins of chopped toms and two tins of baked beans.  Plus masses of mash.  That should do for two days and the second day I serve with jacket spuds.

CapricornLass

Have you got lumbered with the cooking as well, Spendless? I hope they are helping,  even if its just peeling the veg and doing the washing up!

If you cooking for everyone have you thought about a Wooton Pie?  Basically lots of veg in a pie -  onion, carrots and turnip,  diced and cooked, and then what ever veg you have in - I've put in courgettes, mushrooms, cauli, green beans, the odd new potato, add some thickened stock, not too much, and then cover with a pastry lid, to which you can add grated cheese if you want.  If you are using frozen veg, defrost/cook it first,  Its very useful for using up whatever is left!  Otherwise, anything with rice, baked potatoes, and pasta, pasta and more pasta!  Buy the rice and pasta in LARGE bags - more cost effective.

Veg lasagne?
Cottage pie - though more mashed spud than cottage?

I know its nice to give them treats, but they are that - treats.  Perhaps just limit it to a nice chocolate cake for Sunday afternoon?

The other thing is that although they are students, they are over 18, and should have started to get some grasp on money and budgeting.  Presumably they are also aware that you are unemployed?    It will be a difficult conversation to have, but you might have to tell them that you can't afford to keep paying out as you have been for food.  Ask them if they have any suggestions for cheap meals - they may surprise you.