Tight month .... keeping the food bill as low as possible!

mrsspendalot

I have a really tight month to keep a target I have set myself of paying off my £900 overdraft in full. I have a family of 5 and allow £200 a month for shopping. I could really do with managing on a bit less this month, perhaps £150. I'm sure with some good ideas for cheap and easy meals this will be achievable, which is where you guys come in (hopefully, if you will help me).

I don't keep a cupboard full of tins or a freezer full of food for emergencies - I just buy what I need each week. So I can't do a storecupboard type challenge. We have no cheapo supermarkets here .... it's Sainsburys or Tescos. I shop at Sainsburys because the carpark is more accessible and it is closer which saves me in petrol. I haven't noticed any difference in prices between the two, as I use the basics or value ranges anyway.

So ..... HELP!!!!!! What can I feed my family on for the month???? All ideas welcome!

ceridwen

Where you can see a banner headline just over your entry - look for the bit that says "Old Style Links" and click on the wording "Indexed Collections". Up comes a list of O.S. useful threads - scan through and you will find several for eating very cheaply.

mrsspendalot

Oh great, thanks. Will take a peek

ceridwen

Good luck. You'll find we are a friendly lot on this Board.

Pink.

Hi mrsspendalot,

As ceridwen has said there are lots of threads in the Indexed collections that should help. Also I would recommend reading Martin's article on Supermarket Shopping which has lots of tips on saving money on groceries.

Menu planning is a good idea...where you plan what you are going to eat for the next few days then shop only for those things. If you look in The Complete Menu Plans Collection there are lots of threads with good advice. Also have a look at the January Grocery Challenge thread where other Old Stylers who are trying to cut back on their grocery bills give each other great support and advice.

Finally, there are lots of great ideas for cheap moneysaving meals on these threads:

Cheapest recipes???

Meal for two for 50p. Suggestions?

The Cheapest Healthy Meal Ever!

Feed 6 for £1.62

Cheapest meal

Your Cheapest Evening Meal.

cheap, easy family meals

Good luck with staying inside your budget.

Pink

ceridwen

There ya go then.... knew Pink Winged would be along in a minute:beer:

mrsspendalot

Ok had a quick scan through and there are some great ideas in there. Thanks. I have 2 packs of diced lamb steak in the freezer which I bought reduced with the intention of doing something with it one day ..... only I have no idea what to do with it. Any ideas?

mrsspendalot

Thanks Pink Winged, that is great

ravylesley

I'd make some kebabs with the lamb cubes and marinate the meat in olive oil,garlic and mint beforehand and then skewer them up interspersed with peppers and onions.They can then be cooked under the grill or in the oven

Lesleyxx

Pink.

You could use the lamb cubes to make a casserole. Brown the meat, add potatoes and whatever veg you have (carrots, leeks, parsnips etc all work well) add some stock and seasoning (salt, pepper, garlic and rosemary are good) and cook on the hob or covered in the oven for a couple of hours.

Or the meat could be marinaded in herbs and lemon juice then grilled and added to pitta bread. Also lamb curry is good, or you could use it as a base for a chunky shepherds pie.

Pink

COOLTRIKERCHICK

mrsspendalot wrote: »

Ok had a quick scan through and there are some great ideas in there. Thanks. I have 2 packs of diced lamb steak in the freezer which I bought reduced with the intention of doing something with it one day ..... only I have no idea what to do with it. Any ideas?

depending on how much lamb you have in each pack you could make 2 meals... lamb casserole bulked out with veg... and serve with mashed potatoes..... carrots..... peas..... and yorkshire puds.. even though there is veg in the casserole... i find serving it with more veg.... stretches it further.....

a hot pot type meal with layered pots on top...... make a shephards pie but instead of mince.. chop up the diced lamb quite small..

lamb curry....

cawl...( lamb stew )