2021 Frugal Living Challenge

the_cross_rabbit

Whilst out for my walk this morning I decided to walk up to the local church as they have a red telephone box nearby full of free books. Picked up 4 books for mum. We’ve been buying books as she is an avid reader and generally reads 1 a week. Anyway I passed this box the other day when I had to get my vaccine. Love the recycling aspect as well as the money saving. Will definitely be going again and will take some unwanted books to deposit.
CRx 

fionaandphil

I'm with you all, use the same types of tins and like them as a back up in case of illness or low availability.  We buy our meat in bulk at the market every month or two and freeze in individual portions, we get huge discounts for buying this way but it does cost a fortune each time.  We also bulk out like everyone else using pulses and beans, although my DS has a hissy fit if he even sees a chickpea, but he does love hummus!  Have a good day everyone, very wet here so I'm just going to get stuck into work x

joedenise

I've just ordered some meat from an online butcher as I wanted some goat meat and my local butcher can only get it if I order a whole goat but I just haven't got the space in my freezer at the moment.  There are several online butchers so it's worth a look if you want to buy meat in bulk.

-taff

balabooberlies said:

We have almost identical cupboards, except hominy and coconut milk.........

bala

I bought the hominy when I had some stuff from an online shop to make up the order minimum. I haven't used it yet, but if it's anything like the limed corn flour [ which I buy to make fajita wraps] it'll be lovely. Haven't got round to making it yet, keep forgetting to buy shoulder steaks.

Ah yes, I forgot about corned beef, my guilty pleasure sandwich with brown or fruity sauce....

It's hard to stock stuff really because OH won't eat beans of any description except kidney ina  chilli and I lvoe them all, he won't eat corned beef, so no corned beef hash for me. He has starteda new job though where I will be responsible for my own suppers a week on and off so I forsee a lot of pulses in my future.

joedenise

-taff said:

balabooberlies said:

We have almost identical cupboards, except hominy and coconut milk.........

bala

I bought the hominy when I had some stuff from an online shop to make up the order minimum. I haven't used it yet, but if it's anything like the limed corn flour [ which I buy to make fajita wraps] it'll be lovely. Haven't got round to making it yet, keep forgetting to buy shoulder steaks.

Ah yes, I forgot about corned beef, my guilty pleasure sandwich with brown or fruity sauce....

It's hard to stock stuff really because OH won't eat beans of any description except kidney ina  chilli and I lvoe them all, he won't eat corned beef, so no corned beef hash for me. He has starteda new job though where I will be responsible for my own suppers a week on and off so I forsee a lot of pulses in my future.

... and corned beef hash!

CRANKY40

I'm starting to feel better after my hospital jaunt and I can eat proper meals now (just small portions still though) so hopefully the food that is in the freezer can come out and be made into meals. There are also some batch cooked bits still in there too that can come out and be eaten.

I spied a tub of butter chicken last night, yum. I might go and haul that out for tonight actually - it's safe for me to eat because I didn't add the butter at the end (which also makes it much healthier). My son wants to lose some weight so I've said that I will cook healthy meals and if he doesn't like them he can make himself a ham sandwich. That seems fair to me and he has agreed. 

Frugaldom

Tightpants24 said:

If you want some free sunflower seeds go on the Nestle website and enter the code BEES for a free pack.  I don't know how many are in the pack but it is FREE! 🥳

I tried this but it wouldn't let me proceed without uploading a proof of purchase.

Frugaldom

joedenise said:

I use up yoghurt (both Greek and regular) to make baked oat muffins.  We have these for breakfast or just as cakes with a cuppa.

40g oats (per person); some sugar to taste (don't like them too sweet); natural yoghurt; an egg (per person).  Mix together well, needs to be a bit loose.

Put a couple of Tbs of mix into each hole of a 6 hole muffin pan (I use silicon which makes them easy to get out!).  Cook at about 180 for 35 minutes, turning after 20 minutes.  Check to see if cooked by inserting a skewer and it should come out clean. Give them a few more minutes if not quite cooked.

Once cooked, remove from oven and leave to cool for about 5 minutes as it makes them easier to remove.

If we have them for breakfast we have 2 and serve with some extra yoghurt and some defrosted mixed fruit or chopped fresh fruit.  Can have a little honey or maple syrup with them too if you like!

Can also be eaten with a cuppa like a cake.

I'm going to try making these tonight - thanks for sharing the 'how to' and recipe  

Frugaldom

willow_loulou said:

I’m wondering what tinned food people buy actually. Any recommendations? 

Tomatoes are top of my list, but I also buy baked beans, kidney beans, tuna, sweet corn, sardines, peaches and pineapple. Those are the mainstay of my regular tin-buying but I usually try to have a tin each of chick peas, garden peas, butter beans, corned beef, hot dogs and soup in stock for emergency back-up. I'll buy anything that's reduced to clear if it is something we like. Other tinned goods are ingredients like syrup and treacle, as they get used for baking. Prices are escalating out of control now for those of us on very challenging food budgets, especially if we are relying on home delivery. I'm juggling an Asd@ order just now and can't believe some of the increases as a percentage on previous prices. It's truly shocking and is, once again, changing our eating habits accordingly. Toilet rolls, I have found, are cheaper to buy via somewhere like Gr0upon or W0wcher and getting the extra discounts by going via a top cashback site and paying with a cashback card.

Couldsavemore

@willow_loulou tins are the usual.. beans of various types, peas, chopped tomatoes, pasatta and coconut milk. I also have dried lentils and pulses.