The second hurdle - Nichelette v the huge mortgage

debtfreewannabe321

Omg I'm going to be following with lots of interest on the grocery challenge!!
Years ago when I was a DFW (hence my name) I took part in the grocery challenge every month and I did really well at getting my budget down super low on food and we had five of us home then. Appreciate food is more expensive now but I think it's relative to income and we had a really small income then with a large debt. You'd have to be dedicated to using up all leftovers, making meal plans (I used to plan for a month and then buy in bulk and cook 3-4 of each meal) if you get repetitive with the meals you can do it cheaper. And freeze bulk portions. It can be done although I will be honest I think £250 per month is a tad on the low side. 
Our yearly spends last year on food were around £7000 although included toiletries, cleaning stuff and take out as well as meals out. That was for four of us for half the year and then three of us (adult portions) for the rest of the year. I think £4800 might be a better budget for you all but even that might be tight given the current prices (ps we're veggie and vegan here).

Nichelette

Just checking in quickly, but mostly not eating meat does save us a huge amount. DH likes most of the veggie stuff I make and will often eat veggie during the week (sometimes he'll chuck something like a chicken breast or some sausages on the side), though he does have a steak every Friday to make up for it 😅.

I like lentils and beans and don't get issues with them like some people so they're a good cheap protein. I will sometimes use things like frozen chopped spinach instead of fresh as it goes to nothing when cooked and is massively cheaper with no waste. We eat plenty of fruit and veg but I usually go with the more boring affordable stuff (though not always). We also grow raspberries and blueberries in the garden so they help in summer. Along with not having to feed the kids a fair few meals, DH and I aren't fans of breakfast either and seldom eat early (I've still not today and not hungry yet, same as DH). 

Takeaways don't really exist here. There are a few local places but most of the big chains won't even deliver here which removes the temptation. Occasionally I'll get a bag of chips 😂. 

I've got a ninja soup maker. DH bought me a different branded one a very long time ago as a gift. At the time I did think thanks but I've got a pan so why do I need this... I then used it to the death and replaced it with the more expensive but brilliant ninja which was well worth it (for what it's worth, my other worthwhile investment was a decent coffee machine). Anyway, I eat a lot of soup for lunch which is pretty cheap and healthy. Something like this will be 3ish portions with a roll and costs very little https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/mexican-bean-soup-guacamole . DH came back with a block of finest stilton that was reduced to 59p after Christmas so I've frozen it and will do more broccoli and stilton one day. 

I rip off a lot of hello fresh recipes for dinners. This is one of my favourites which again isn't very costly. There is chilli in the spice mix (I replicate myself) so I only add that on top if I've already got them in for something else, and I use yoghurt instead of sour cream so it's a bit healthier, but it's predominantly black beans, a small amount of rice and cheese and an egg. I just stick some avocado mixed with tomato on top and use lime juice. https://www.hellofresh.com/recipes/buenos-dias-black-bean-bowls-5d892f9862ccf0134a593bdc

I was lucky to have been well taught when I was younger so I'm quite a confident cook and can do most things from scratch which helps. My downfall is time and planning. 

DH hasn't left the house today so no more spends 🤣. We do need milk though (feel like we might as well get a cow) so I'll update later. Should probably get the kids bananas too as pretty sure they're part monkey 🐒.  

debtfreewannabe321

Well, I'm excited to follow along for some tips then! 😄
I used a lot of lentils/beans/chickpeas here too - hope you'll share some good recipes 🙏🏻😁.

Nichelette

@Merlin's_Beard to be fair food inflation has been massive since then. A year or so ago when I was decluttering I came across the book I was recording spends in when we were saving our mortgage deposit so 2017-18ish, and looking at the old receipts was interesting (and a bit depressing 😂).

@debtfreewannabe321 I'll try and share some recipes if I remember. I'll leave this one here before I go. It's lovely but a bit rich so couldn't be eating it all the time! If I get a big squash I use half for this and the rest for soup. It's good for when they're on offer! 

https://www.hellofresh.co.uk/recipes/cosy-butternut-squash-mac-and-cheese-6876750f7299475a5b049016

ladysummerisle

Saving some of these recipes. I definitely need to eat cleaner this year so inapiration welcome. We’re predominantly veggie here too but local takeaways very tempting! £250pcm might be a stretch but you don’t know unless you try. (We’re at 400ish with 2 adults, DS8, DD4).

I’m off to make a groundnut stew 😁

Nichelette

@ladysummerisle I think DH's random supermarket trips may actually be what destroys the budget! I will do my best to stick to it though🤞🏻. 

Think I did well tonight as I've been trying to clear leftovers from the fridge. DS1 had some chilli and nachos I made from wraps that needed using up, DS2 had lentil bolognaise (both left over). I made a cauliflower cheese for myself, but there is a second portion for one of us. There was also too much cheese sauce, so instead of just chucking it all in like I'd usually do I've fridged it to use another time. It may end up in the freezer eventually but will become an easy macaroni or similar one day.

DH is having this which he is absolutely addicted to! https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/amatriciana-chicken-traybake

So anyway, today we had to buy milk, bananas, beef stock as we were out of it and chicken thighs for his dinner. Total £6.30 so running total is £36.58/£3000.

We're running low on potatoes now so that will probably be the next need, but I have plenty of other carby stuff (rice, pasta, grains, noodles, cous cous etc) so I might see how much of that I can use first. Tomorrow I'm going to make the Mexican bean soup for me and chicken soup for DH for work lunches. I'm in the office on Monday and squashes are on offer in lidl so I'll probably grab one and some top up veg on my lunch break. 

Nichelette

DH spent £3 on two big bags of crisps today 🤦🏻‍♀️. Anyway, he got me a butternut squash at least 😂. I've made the soup for us both for lunches, kids had store cupboard fishcakes for dinner with veg and we had this: Korma Spiced Sweet Potato Dal Recipe | HelloFresh https://share.google/VbryeZkDjEVIlcggF . It's a really l easy one as it just all goes in one pot and then in the oven.

I've added my total to my signature so I don't need to bore with individual purchases 😅

Nichelette

Current food spend is just under £50 so we're roughly on track, though we're running low on fruit and veg. This week has still been a bit all over the place with meal planning, but I'll do a proper plan/shop at the weekend as I still feel like we've been in Christmas hangover mode.

We've got about £650 left until we're paid on the 15th with no big expenses anticipated (aside from food shop). I'm quite happy with that as I've bought the kids new bed this month plus curtains etc so a few out of the ordinary spends. 

Forgot to say no PB win again. Lucky streak has clearly ended 😂

Nichelette

Sent DH food shopping today. He had a few disasters with his buying choices (buying wrong thing that's more expensive etc). Anyway, we're about half way through the budget for the month but shouldn't need much until next week. That did also include a £10 bag of coffee beans as lidl are doing the xxl ones this week and it's worth stocking up in the long run. Plus we've reached the £50 threshold which means we can get a free 7.5kg bag of potatoes (I do this most months and they usually last us the month). 

This is tonight's dinner, DH will stick something meaty on the side: Tomatoey Bulgur and Mozzarella Stuffed Peppers Recipe | HelloFresh https://share.google/2Zl3BJhitDaBTafJE

I found out a little whole ago that Sainsbury's do a big bag of panko breadcrumbs in the world food aisle which was good as it's about half the price of the smaller pots I was buying/kilo. It hadn't even occurred to me to look there so that was a happy find. 

DS2 operation is hopefully going ahead on Tuesday. My mum is coming down to look after DS1 whilst we're at the hospital and has made us 3 days worth of dinners in case DS2 is grumpy and clingy after (possible) I don't even care about the money tbh, it's a practical win not having to make dinner 🥳. Make that 4, she's just messaged saying she has made a quiche too 😂. She's very sweet, she lives an hour and a half away (usually longer due to M25 traffic) but always tries to help where she can. 

Had a bottle of wine and bought 2 hoodies last night 🤦🏻‍♀️. To be fair one is a birthday present for my sister. I will wear mine, but I don't actually need new clothes so bit of a fail there... I usually look on vinted too but didn't even occur to me. Never mind. I suppose I had wanted it for ages lol. 

beanielou

Hope operation goes smoothly.