I'm back! Trying to spend less on food!

London_1

Did a bit of cooking today, dug out 200 gms of lamb mince that was in the freezer. diced up one of my special offer red onions from Tescos (big bag for buttons ) added some left-in-the-box mushrooms that were looking a bit sorry for themselves diced up ,browned off the mince added a handful of lentils and some gravy made with one crushed up Oxo cube and a dessert spoon of Bisto gravy chucked the whole lot on simmer in the pan, added a small bowl of frozen mixed veg, and got three decent helpings of Shepherds pies for the freezer.Topped with some mash, made with spuds from the special offer tesco spuds added the last ounce or so of butter from the block in the fridge, and the tail end of some red leicester cheese grated into the mash and topped the three rectangular take-away boxes, and once cold popped the three into the freezer .

So three easy to cook shepherds pies tucked away ready for when I don't feel like cooking.  Three decent meals and I've costed them about 65p per portion.

So I'm pleased with that.its the first reall cooking I have attempted since coming out of hospital in late January. I had to sit to peel the spuds ,and stopped a couple of times for a sit down and a cuppa as I still am attached to a drain in my tummy until the Drs decided whats blocking my gallbadder from working properly.I have to go to see them in the hospital this coming Wednesday and I'm hoping they will remove the drain and give me the results of the test I have been having its almost 14 weeks since they put the drain in at the end of December and its a bit exhausting .I can't bend very well and I get worn out fairly quickly and find a lot of things difficult to do, but slowly getting to do little things that I couldn't when I first came home my two DD have been brilliant and do most of my shopping and all of the washing for me.So today was a good day and I kept thinking I must make the effort and cooking is what I have always liked doing. Feeling quite chuffed tonight  daft how making three small shepherds pies can cheer me up, but its baby steps at the moment and getting a little bit of normality has really helped 
I have nurses coming in to change dressing etc and they all lovely lasses bless them and they are all rooting for me for this Wednesday fingers crossed.

I read what everyone is up to and am hoping if after the drain is out and the hole in my tummy has healed (my DDs call it Mums bullet hole, as that's what it looks like ) I will be able to drive again, and go proper shopping, as I've not really been since before Christmas. No doubt I'll have a surprise at the prices though  

Onwards and upwards

JackieO xx

mumtoomany

Hello all. Lovely to hear from you @London_1. Glad you seem to be on the mend at last. Take it easy, we all need you on here. 

Not been doing much cooking, well only easy stuff. DD1 and her family have. taking advantage of both parents being off work at the same time as the children are off school, this rarely happens. They have been taking the little ones out and about, and either eating out, picnics, or cooking something for them all when they come in later. So only needed to cook for OH and I, and the last two days, DS1, here for Easter. 

Today is roast gammon. A 6kg joint I bought for half price after christmas. I've cut half of it into gammon steaks, and roasted the other half. Serving with carrots, cauliflower, and roast potatoes. Pudding is plum and nectarines crumble with cream.

Lots of weeding been done and the tree is, at last, cut and stacked. It took 15 days of OH working most of the time and me helping when I could. Wood for several winters now in store.

Hugs to all, mumtoomany.xxx

Soontobeoap

Hi, have just found this thread. Hope you dont mind me reading along. Been pretty pleased with my budgeting until this month when I had a huge budget thinking we had lots of guests and for one reason or another we have had no guests and gone over!!! Freezer is full but thats about it. I think that I have become a bit lax so reading along with you @mumtoomany has given me new inspiration. I am definitely going to add some oats to my mince next time I batch cook to make it go further. Also going to grow more veg than usual but it will be some time before that is ready. Have decided to drop my tesco shop this month and stick with Aldi. I need to give myself a kick up the backside so here I come fully ready for April. 🤞

Soontobeoap

Determined to spend much less this month I have started well. A small shop done for £12.91. No big shop this month! Have started eating from what we already have in! Hot dogs last night, chicken chow mein tonight, DS is treating us to a meal out tomorrow when he comes with his family to visit for the day so the huge gammon that I bought for the event for £6.00 just after easter has been cut in half and put into the freezer. I am learning to be much more flexible! I think it will be a hm chicken and ham pie roast on Sunday and then I will meal plan the week from stores and be prepared to change it up if I havnt got stuff in already. 

islandhoppa

This thread is giving me lots of inspiration for creating my own storecupboard (and then eating from it!) I’ve made a start on the last thread too and am particularly enjoying the pantry photos

mumtoomany

Hello all, I'm still around, just crazy busy. Today so far I've, wormed a small flock of sheep, 17, and moved then to fresh pasture. Moved the ewe, who barns birth yesterday, and lamb back off the yard, to rejoin the flock. Feed the chickens and collected the eggs. Checked another ewe, who have both this morning. Checked all the other expectant ewes. Water in the tunnel. Picked some broad beans. Peeled and chopped carrots for tea. Loaded and unloaded the dishwasher. And drink lots of coffee! 

At least when I'm so busy i can't shop! 

Total spends this year to date are £728.40. Don't think I'll be shopping again in April, except possibly milk.

I'm glad I'm inspiring others. The pantry and cupboards are looking a little less full. The freezers, however are still stuffed. 

I'm off to check sheep again now, hugs to all, mumtoomany.xxx

mumtoomany

Hi all, just popping in, before I go outside again. 

We ended up going to the garage for milk yesterday. Walked down with the dog and OH. (Just over a mile round trip). OH found chocolate, so spent £2.95 in total. 

The list for Tuesday is growing. Seem to be running short on quite a few things. 

Does anyone shop at iceland or the food warehouse? According to the young girl on the till last time i was in, you can load up your bonus card with money, and they give you an extra £1 for ever £20 added. Works out at 5%, which, when i add in the 10% discount for offer 60's on Tuesdays, isn't bad. Going to try it this week. I normally only buy reduced things and large boxes of chocolate biscuits there, but every little helps.

Hugs, mumtoomany.xxx

clyndu

Hi mumtomany, I top up my bonus card. Usually rounding it up to the nearest pound. That way I don't miss the money and I can cash out twice a year. I do go in most weeks though. hth.

mumtoomany

Thanks, @clyndu.  I go a couple of times a month, but i also go into four or five other shops/supermarkets on the same days. I've, mostly, work out what is cheapest where. I'll defiantly be putting some money on it this week. Can I top up at the till? Or does it have to be online? Thank you, hugs, mumtoomany.xxx

joedenise

@mumtoomany - you can top up your Bonus card at the till - not sure about online.