Shopping questions.

Benthosboy · 26 February 2008 at 6:00PM

Hello all.

In preparation for living on my own in the motorhome, I'm wondering what's the best way to shop. The 'van itself is fairly well equipped with loads of cupboard space, a full gas oven with grill and 3-ring hob and a reasonable sized (for a motorhome!) fridge with a diddy freezer compartment. I may be able to keep hold of the small chest freezer that's in the shed and put that in the awning.

We have a fairly well stocked shop on the campsite but I don't want to start buying bits every day as that will soon start to add up :eek: The nearest Te$co/Asda is about 11 or 12 miles away, there's a Sommerfields and a Co-Op as well as all the usual shops in town, about 4 miles away. I really need to give the 'van a run once a week but with an eye on fuel prices, it will cost me almost a gallon of diesel to go to Te$co and back so would I be better getting a "big" shop delivered monthly/as necessary, and top up in between from the local shops on my day off? Or, would getting out to the supermarket once a week do me more good than saving the cost of the fuel? I'm genuinely worried that as I'm already a Grumpy old Man, if I don't get out more I WILL turn into a Billy-no-mates

As another question, how do you "do" a weekly meal planner? Is it as simple as draw up a list of meals on a piece of paper or is there something I can find on the interweb?

Last question,

, can you freeze milk? If so, I'd rather but it in big cartons and decant it into smaller ones so it doesn't get wasted.

If anyone can help, I am, as ever, extremely grateful.

Thanks all.

Martyn.

squeaky · 26 February 2008 at 6:22PM

I've added my answers into your post in red

Benthosboy wrote: »

Hello all.
Hiya

We have a fairly well stocked shop on the campsite but I don't want to start buying bits every day as that will soon start to add up :eek: The nearest Te$co/Asda is about 11 or 12 miles away, there's a Sommerfields and a Co-Op as well as all the usual shops in town, about 4 miles away. I really need to give the 'van a run once a week but with an eye on fuel prices, it will cost me almost a gallon of diesel to go to Te$co and back so would I be better getting a "big" shop delivered monthly/as necessary, and top up in between from the local shops on my day off? Or, would getting out to the supermarket once a week do me more good than saving the cost of the fuel? I'm genuinely worried that as I'm already a Grumpy old Man, if I don't get out more I WILL turn into a Billy-no-mates

Best option would be to have a shop delivered 'cos Asda are nice and cheap and you can usually find a discount code on the vouchers board Asda Codes Thread on shops over £50 - which means a monthly shop when shopping for one - don't be shy about over buying veggies - you can blanch and freeze many of them, and/or make soups with the others and freeze it in portions. And fruits can be made into freezable puds. See The Complete Cooking Collection for tips on freezing most things.

As another question, how do you "do" a weekly meal planner? Is it as simple as draw up a list of meals on a piece of paper or is there something I can find on the interweb?

We have spreadsheets available if you need one - most people "shop from the pantry" first and then sort of fill in and so make up a shopping list. Keep your eyes on the front page here for the weekly meal planner threads for more help Mealplans WB 22nd February 2008

Last question, , can you freeze milk? If so, I'd rather but it in big cartons and decant it into smaller ones so it doesn't get wasted.

YEP!

If anyone can help, I am, as ever, extremely grateful.

Thanks all.

Martyn.

angchris · 26 February 2008 at 6:36PM

:hello: hiya Martyn!
the way we do our shopping all depends on our lifestyle i guess...do you like shopping is the first question, if you like it and feel its a good way of getting you out and about and meeting people then go weekly, its a good way to get cheap food as you can have a good rummage around the reduced shelves and pick up bargains.i personally hate all forms of shopping its a neccissary (sp?) chore to me so i do my shopping online monthly and get it delivered.
how watertight is your awning? will a freezer be ok in there when its pi$$ing down with rain? if its fine i`d say go for the online monthly shop its much easier to sit at home with a cuppa and work out 7-10 meals that you fancy eating and buy to cook for a meal for 4 people, eat 1 portion and freeze the other 3 portions in containers for later on in the month..this saves cooking every day and washing up is minimal every day!:j im so lazy any way i can find to make my life easier is a winner in my books!:rotfl:
yes you can freeze milk, i buy enough for the month and take it out to defrost the evening before.
i wouldn`t worry about being a billy no mates, campsites are fab places to meet new people for a chat campers are always really friendly. it always takes a little while to settle into a new pad anyway. i`d avoid the campsite shop though they tend to be quite expensive.
im sure you will be fine once you get into the swing of things, if you need any easy recipes to get you started just hollar and the bevy of homecooking beauties on this forum will give you a gentle kick in the right direction

squeaky · 26 February 2008 at 6:41PM

angchris wrote: »

if you need any easy recipes to get you started just hollar and the bevy of homecooking beauties on this forum will give you a gentle kick in the right direction

Well that includes me out then

angchris · 26 February 2008 at 6:44PM

squeaky wrote: »

Well that includes me out then

awww don`t put yourself down squeaky, im sure you are as lovely in person as you are here in the forums, we all love you anyway..you do a fab job and we all appreciate your time and effort and help! :kisses3:

squeaky · 26 February 2008 at 7:00PM

angchris wrote: »

awww don`t put yourself down squeaky, im sure you are as lovely in person as you are here in the forums, we all love you anyway..you do a fab job and we all appreciate your time and effort and help! :kisses3:

Yeahbut...

I'm a bloke

lilac_lady · 26 February 2008 at 7:03PM

I'd carry a large stock of tinned food so that you don't have to use expensive on site shops.

CRANKY40 · 26 February 2008 at 7:05PM

You can freeze milk. Also, rather than decant it, if you start with a bigger carton, defrost it slightly, then put itin the fridge, it defrosts slowly enough for one person to use. You can always take it out of the fridge again if you want it to defrost more quickly.