Planning ahead-living away from home for the 1st time (Old style help needed)-update

Toonie

OK, so its a long title, but I think it sums up what I'll post. I will probably be moving out of home within the next two months and my boyfriend and I will be renting somewhere. I have already started planning a few things (I have boxes of crockery, cutlery, other kitchen bits from my sister). But I was wondering, as this will be my first time away from home is there any Old Style advice you can offer? When we get our own place the money will be quite tight, so I guess I'm looking for things that will help with making the pennies go further. Both my boyfriend and I can cook, so will be cooking most things from scratch, so I guess starting a store cupboard would be a good idea with staples, but are there any specific ones I should make sure I always have around?

Can anyone recommend a good basics cookbook? I'm probably looking for something which has recipes in like omelette, toad-in-the-hole, cakes, stews and stuff like that. Though, I've probably got the cakes bit sorted as I got the James Martin Desserts book for my birthday this year (such yummy recipes).

I already have promises from my sister and her hubby to help us move (I've moved them 3 times in last 2 years), so that shouldn't be overly expensive once the van is hired.

We also have a lot of furniture sorted (we have sofas, chairs, beds, dining furniture), so no real expense there.

Is there anything else I should budget for when moving to my first place? Thanks in advance

misscomickat

The Delia Smith collection (3 books), absolutely. It has EVERYTHING in there, classics, basics, simply explained.

Charity shops are really good places to pick up bits and bobs like extra plates etc.

redruby

Hi Toonie,

The best advise I can give you is to meal plan, I do it weekly, but some do it 2 weekly or monthly. Write down every meal you will be having, then just shop for the bits you need, I do my shopping online, which saves me getting tempted in the shop, and works out cheaper for me.

Also do you have a slow cooker ? if not you should get one, easy to shove a dinner in first thing in the morning, then when you get in from work its all done.

Good luck to you and your bf, it is an exciting time xx

thriftlady_2

I recommend Delia for a good basic cookbook too. I think her Complete Cookery Collection is better than How to Cook, and it's just one book so bound to be cheaper.

Another good basic cookbook is the [URL="p://www.amazon.co.uk/River-Cottage-Family-Cookbook/dp/0340826363/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1198231840&sr=8-2"]River Cottage Family Cookbook[/URL] by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and Fizz Carr. Don't be put off by the title -you don't have to be a family to use it. It is a good basic cookbook with loads of information about how food is produced as well as plenty of recipes for basic things (one criticism though, the recipe for raisin bread gives far too short a cooking time -needs about 35 mins).

For storecupboard basics take a look at this thread.

trying-very-trying

Hi, Toonie, big step.
My 19yodd has just moved into her first whole flat(rather than a room).
She has furnished it completely from Freecycle. Now I know that you say you have your basic furniture, but one of the first things I asked for on freecycle was a slow cooker. She uses it at least twice a week, visiting her local asda around 9-10p.m to get cheap meat for cooking in it.
My father bought her a panasonic combination microwave for £5.00 at a market, but she could easily have got a basic micro from freecycle, they do come up frequently.
For recipes, why don't you make up your own book from recipes on this forum. Print the pages out before you leave home, assuming you won't have internet access in your new place. I've bought my dd a couple of Sam Stern books for chrissy, they seem to come quite highly recommended on this site.
I'll try and think some more.
hth.
Just minded, dd uses her old school HE book, with all the recipes they made at school, cheap and simple, and mostly quite quick as well. If you still have yours

newlywed

Hi, I definitely agree with the meal plan comment. I used to spend a fortune - and threw away lots of unused food - until I did this!

Freeze any leftovers or work out how to use them up - eg for lunch next day or in wraps or something

Also think about the price before you put it in the trolley/basket. I used to pick up tuna steaks thinking £5 for two of us is cheaper than a restaurant.... then this board made me realise for £2 worth of mince I can feed the two of us for about 3 meals!! Or a £5 chicken to roast will also do at least 3 meals - plus soup if you boil up the carcass for stock!

Actually have to confess to almost falling back into the trap yesterday

Also, buying frozen sweetcorn etc can save money as you only need to cook what the two of you will eat and not just tip a whole can into the pan

sunshine6650

I moved out on my own last year after prev living with a partner..

Before i went i had a sort of hamper as you mentioned with things i would need staright away, your mum always has them but never seemed to buy them..
Bleach,Kitchen spray,loo cleaner,salt,pepper,tom sauce,oil,cling film,foil,beans,tinned tom,tea bags..etc..
buying them before you go in will stop a mass spend when you get in there..ASDA seems like heaven!!

Before you buy things for your palce..decrotaive bits etc wait until you have lived there a few weeks, you will really get the feel foe what you want & what will fit etc rather than buying things before as they look gorge in the shop & getting into your place & no wall being big enough for a picture or vase wont go anywhaere..thats how i ended with clutter & wasting money..
Im still trying to get into meal planning but i will but thats a great idea as suggested..

x

angelavdavis

Try to get hold of a decent freezer as, with only two of you, you can batch cook and freeze ahead so when you get home from work and are tempted into a takeaway, you have easy meal options.

Also, a freezer is useful for freezing a loaf of bread so you can grab slices for toast when you need to (I always found we couldnt' use a whole loaf in time before it went off).

You can freeze expensive veg such as red and green peppers that don't keep well for long in the fridge. Slice them up, tray freeze then put in a bag when they are frozen - tray freezing means they can be shaken into your pasta sauce when required.

I also freeze grated cheese in the same way as we don't eat enough to use it up before it starts to turn.

You can also freeze milk too. Just get it out to defrost the night before you need it.

There are lots of threads on here with ideas for freezing stuff.

Toonie

Wow, thanks a lot, some great tips. I don't have a slow cooker at present, but it was one of the things I was thinking I may need. As for recipes, I have a whole lot saved already from this forum which I'm going to print out. We probably will be getting the internet very quickly when we get our own place as my boyfriend needs it for his job (to look for auditions).

A question about freezing veg---can you freeze fresh carrots, swede etc? When I buy onions, I tend to chop/slice and freeze them and use them straight from the freezer, so can I do the same with other veggies?

I got quite good at cooking for one whilst at university (though I lived at home, I had awkward hours so mostly cooked for myself), so I'm fairly good with bolognese etc, but wondered what's the best thing to freeze it in? I know someone who uses the metal boxes (like from the takeaway) with lids to freeze things and to cook in, is that the best thing to do?

angelavdavis

Toonie wrote: »

A question about freezing veg---can you freeze fresh carrots, swede etc?

Yes you can. I peel, chop and blanch carrots, parsnips and swede in advance. I also blanch peeled parsnips and bung them in with potatoes straight from frozen to roast them. Really useful for swede as usually there is far too much for one meal. So I do the lot, and then freeze into portion bags. I then chuck them in from frozen, with the other veg, into the SC at the start of the cooking process.

Toonie wrote: »

When I buy onions, I tend to chop/slice and freeze them and use them straight from the freezer, so can I do the same with other veggies?

With onions, I do the same, but personally have had better effect blanching carrots, parsnips and swede first to keep their colour. Carrots cook real quick though so be careful as they can go rubbery if cooked too much then frozen.

I also raw freeze washed leeks and celery and add to stews in the SC from frozen.

newlywed

angelavdavis wrote: »

I also raw freeze washed leeks and celery and add to stews in the SC from frozen.

Thanks - was going to look up whether to mess about blanching celery and leeks before freezing - saved me a job and saved my slightly sad looking celery from the bin