It's getting tough out there. Feeling the pinch?

Spendless

Thanks for the tips. Re fresh food, I am (mostly) ok when it comes to veg/salad because I line my salad drawer with a thick wad of kitchen roll and that really helps things stay fresh. However today, I have thrown away a packet of opened cooked pork slices - can't remember when or who opened them - I have a poor sense of smell, so can't take judge things by sniffing so have to err on the side of caution. Also some salad potatoes which were both sprouting and mushy. My fault I'd left them in the plastic wrapper. There's some strawberries about to turn too. 


I do need to meal plan to take my fresh items into account to stop this sort of thing. There's some of DD's Quorn chicken slices too (yuk) that also needs using up for DD. The packet says it's not freezable and I really can't remember a time when she got through it all, so I'm going to stop buying (unless it's specifically requested for something) and instead use the Quorn pieces that are frozen as and when required, which I often do when I'm out of fresh slices. 

I found  2 x £4 Tesco clubcard and went and bought some missing grocery bits with one of them. With DS & DD now adults I don't use them to turn into deals anymore, plus DD works for a large entertainment company and free passes for their tourist attractions are a perk of her job. I had to add just under £2 in cash to the bill, but that was better than using both £4 vouchers as some of the other items needed were far more expensive in there than I'd pay at Aldi (my usual haunt). I can buy the additional bits in Aldi later. For the 2nd week running I've had to leave baked beans. Last week Aldi had no 4 packs and I wasn't prepared to pay the price of single ones and I found Tesco to be dear on the multi packs too.

I have enough food in for  chicken and veg curry maybe tomorrow, including some Indian snacks in the freezer. I had yoghurt to make a raita but no mint sauce. I bought that in Tesco as they priced matched theirs with Aldi. I also have a Naan in the freezer and plenty of rice. Monday can be sweet and sour with the remaining fresh veg and noodles. Tues - Thurs is just me and DD so can find enough for us. DD has plenty of veggie stuff in so if she wants a different meal rather than a veggie equivalent to what we're having it won't be an issue. 

By Friday I can look what's left and meal plan for the next few days till month end possibly using the other £4 clubcard voucher.

Florenceem

Spendless - I use the fridge liners from £land - 2 in a pack - find my veggies/salad stay fresher now I put those in the drawer.
Dd phoned - my Dgs - a student is broke - feel blessed that I could transfer money to him.

luvchocolate

Florenceem said:

Spendless - I use the fridge liners from £land - 2 in a pack - find my veggies/salad stay fresher now I put those in the drawer.
Dd phoned - my Dgs - a student is broke - feel blessed that I could transfer money to him.

I use the thick tea towels as a lining in salad drawer then wash regularly 

cuddlymarm

Hi guys
Thanks for all the good ideas on here.
I tend to have a rolling meal plan on a wipeable board on the fridge, changing if necessary. I plan a few days ahead, getting food out of the freezer to defrost in the fridge as necessary. When my shop arrives most of the fresh stuff goes in the freezer too to cut the risk of any waste. I’ve deliberately  stopped buying salad for now, I know it’s good for you but not if it just ends up in the bin.

I got a message from Iceland this morning saying that over 60s can get 10% off their shop on a Tuesday. Every penny adds up but this week I’ve got plenty in so I need to avoid going in to resist temptation. It’s only a bargain if you actually need it.

Spendless

Thanks for the further tips.  Going forward  definitely need a plan to use up the already opened fresh bits and plan B when family thwart my best laid plans as I realised last night. Full of intentions of a family meal that incorporated some of my fridge items, DH informs me he's not feeling too good and will just do himself a bacon sandwich. DD had a friend round all day, when I took him home she asked if we could call at a shop for her to get something as she 'was starving' (her fault I'd offered food during the day), pointed out we were 10 mins drive from home, with food in, but she wanted to stop. I personally thought it a waste of her wages esp as she's going on hol next month, but her money, her choice. Meant when we got home she also only wanted a sandwich! So I made myself an omelette so I could at least throw some veggie bits in, and as I watched that took hubby's bacon out of the oven and asked him to make his sandwich, totally forgetting that I'd put a small cheap pizza in there too to form part of DD's work lunch today. I turned the oven off not long after that and only remembered about the pizza this morning when I found it in an inedible state, had to be binned - sigh. Fortunately there's other stuff to pack her up with as she's working today. DH will need to run her there as no trains run at an early enough time - thankfully  we don't pay for petrol in his company car   

C_J

Another thing I have taken a good hard look at is portion sizes - I’m sure everyone else on the OS board has already been doing this for yonks, but it has only just dawned on me that I serve really overly-generous platefuls. For instance, if I am cooking something up with (say) chicken breasts, I would allow one each for Mister CJ and I, but actually that’s way too much especially if they are served with plenty of veg. 

Tonight I am doing pan fried chicken breasts with couscous and garlicky-fried tenderstem broccoli - but I have defrosted just one chicken breast and I will slice that after cooking it to divide between two plates. It will be plenty!

I am acutely aware that I am a numpty and should have been doing this all along. 

Spendless

Feeling a LOT more positive this morning. DH has just set off with DD, I packed them both breakfast to go, bacon sandwich, coffee and juice box for DH, veggie sausage with 2 hash  browns in a container  plus another juice box for DD. I cut the sausage up to enable her to eat en-route but she had a few mins to spare before leaving and likened the way I'd done it to how I cut things up for the dog!!
I've sent her a list of what veggie items we have in for her to give me an idea what she wants for tea as she won't want a curry.
DH asked if I'd like to go for a drink this afternoon, but have said No. When he's back I'm going to suggest that we do something productive in the house in the way of clearing de-cluttering whilst it's just me and him all day.  Am still in PJs so going to get dressed in a min as find being in day clothes gives me a different mindset too. 

pelirocco

Tahlullah.H said:

Ok.  So, I bought the Air Fryer as suggested - with basket to allow you to shake the food periodically as recommended.  But, what I had not bargained for was the level of washing I am having to do to keep the thing clean.  Although it says it shouldn't go in the dishwasher, I am putting the lower section in, just for peace of mind.  But, the basket gets gunked up with food and the small holes are just about impossible to clean.  This feels far worse than cooking in the oven.  I think I will keep going for the rest of the month, and if I can't get past this washing thing, it will have to go.  The dishwasher was invented to stop me needing to be tied to the kitchen sink. This gadget is setting me and womankind back 100 years!

Put water  and washing up liquid in it and "cook " for 10 mins or so

JinJinBlue

C_J said:

Another thing I have taken a good hard look at is portion sizes - I’m sure everyone else on the OS board has already been doing this for yonks, but it has only just dawned on me that I serve really overly-generous platefuls. For instance, if I am cooking something up with (say) chicken breasts, I would allow one each for Mister CJ and I, but actually that’s way too much especially if they are served with plenty of veg. 

Tonight I am doing pan fried chicken breasts with couscous and garlicky-fried tenderstem broccoli - but I have defrosted just one chicken breast and I will slice that after cooking it to divide between two plates. It will be plenty!

I am acutely aware that I am a numpty and should have been doing this all along. 

Thank you for mentioning this. I have started to eat smaller portions too and have lost nearly a stone. My stores are stretching further and my purse is heavier. Being vegetarian helps as well. This thread is amazing for friendly, helpful advice and ideas. 

London_1

I made a huge batch of curried veg, had a good search around for anything I could throw in the pot, and managed to make 5 portions for the freezer. Really pleased as its used up 4 sweet potatoes, a third of a cauliflower, four large mushrooms an onion the last lonely carrot in the veg box, starting to look less crisp than I like, a tin of chick peas, a handful of lentils and a jolly good dose of spices  so five meals popped in the freezer for next month.:) 

I had to nip across to my little local Tesco metro about 5 minutes from my house just at the right time. I needed some fresh tomatoes.

Spotted in the yellow sticker cabinet packs of 12 Tesco finest chipolata sausages, redced from £2.75 to £1.79 per pack.There were a lot there but I only took two. I usually only buy my bangers from Dobbies as I love their Gloucester Old Spot ones ,but seeing these i thought and did a quick calculation in my head that £3.58 for 24, works out some for  meals ahead. Just portioned them up in packs of three ,so 45p odd per pack, and three of these will easily make me a small taod in the hole or a sausage pasta dish or even as an add on to a jacket potato. Basic building blocks for 8 meals again towards next month. I can see my next months meals virtually sorted before the end of May There was also some reduced fat cheese at 63p a pack so I got one to use this week.I shall grate it up and use in cheesey mash or on a jacket spud.

Looking at my supplies I don't think I need hardly any shopping for the next few weeks , so my purse is now firmly shut and tucked away  

Its only 38 more days until my holidays, so I usually start eating down my fridge anyway a couple of weeks beforehand and I know I have enough stuff in the freezer to last me, so I can defrost it before I go away.

Feeling pretty pleased at my finds today . Gone slightly over budget for May, but will need very little for June at all. 

Weather is absolutely gorgeous and later this afternoon I shall be off to my youngest DDs for dinner tonight . I havemade the pudding to take with me, as I don't like to go empty handed  

Hope everyone is having a good day and the sun is shining down on you all 

JackieO xx