Need help with food budget!

Confused_Newbie

Hi everyone

Well Im a newbie and not even sure if I have posted this is the correct place, if not apologies.

Trying to really cut back on the amount of money we spend at the minute and know one of the biggest things we spend on is food! There is only myself and my hubby at home and Im kinda thinking that £50+ per week on food really is a bit crazy!

We are newly weds and Im still trying to get to grips with the whole being domestic thing so kinda guessing I probably buy a lot of things that we dont really need or could get for less. Im not that great a cook but am willing to give anything a go.

Have some stuff at home that I could probably use in meals but really dont want to have to spend more than about £30 on food this week.

Can anyone give me any tips or hints?

Thanks
L

Phoolgrrrl

Hiya,

I'm a newbie to. Me and OH were spending around £50/ week and we are down to £33 now, 1st month GC (see sticky at top os page) Do you have freezer space? I found we saved alot by switching to frozen veg. Also by stocking up on meat when on offer and freezing. Making a meal plan helps as then you only buy what you need. We have started going to diff shops for diff things eg iceland for frozen veg and 'oven dinners' like pizza/breaded fish, lidl for junk food/snacks and tesco for everything else. look out for reduced stuff (whoopsies ppl on here call them) to put in freezer.

I'm still learnin sure there will be more tips!

Penny-Pincher!!

Hi and welcome!

Could you give us a list of food you have in and we can work our magic and see what meals we can come up with?

I think a meal plan would be a good idea. Do 1 week at a time, then you can buy just what you need and use up the food you already have in.

PP
xx

Confused_Newbie

Penny-Pincher!! wrote: »

Hi and welcome!

Could you give us a list of food you have in and we can work our magic and see what meals we can come up with?

I think a meal plan would be a good idea. Do 1 week at a time, then you can buy just what you need and use up the food you already have in.

PP
xx

Hi thanks for your reply.

Ok roughly from the top of my head we have..........

Frozen Chicken Fillets
Frozen Mince
Frozen Mixed Veg
Frozen Pizza
Frozen Garlic Bread
Frozen Roast Potatoes
Frozen Cottage Pie (homemade)

Pasta
Spaghetti
Super Noodles
Savory Rice
Uncle Bens Sweet and Sour Sauce
Herbs
Garlic
Soup
Sweetcorn

Im sure we have a few other bits and pieces but that would probably be the main things. Just really dont know what to buy to make some proper dinners!

floss2

Ok:

Chicken breast in sweet & sour with savoury rice
Cottage pie & sweetcorn
2 Roast Chicken breasts, mixed veg & roast potatoes
Spaghetti Bolognese(mince - buy an onion, tomato puree & tin of chopped tomatoes)
Pizza & garlic bread

That should see you to the weekend....:)

Confused_Newbie

Sounds great!

Actually did something I have never done before and wrote a list of all the food we had..............am so disgraced! Didnt even remember half that stuff was there! Going out tomorrow to buy essentials only, rice, potatoes, fresh veg and going to make it last at least two weeks! Now that will be a challenge!

rosieben

You've already had the best advice which is to do a weekly meal plan and then do your shopping list and most importantly, stick to it. I usually allow about £5 over my budget for any extra bargains that I know I will use.

I second the suggestion that you join the grocery challenge (GC as Phoolgrrrl says) as you'll get loads of good ideas and inspiration.

Good luck!

mioliere

I can only repeat what our true Old Stylers have said - shop to a meal plan, weekly at first and then monthly if you feel like it. From now on put together a list of about 30 meals that you and your DH enjoy so that you are never stuck for an idea, but leave room for new recipes that are always cropping up on here. Look at the indexed collections (link at the top of this page) for an infinite number of recipes that have been collected, all tried and tested by OSers. Stick to your shopping list but Rosieben's idea of having just £5 extra handy for bargains is good; never ever shop when you are hungry - it's surprising how much food in the supermarket seems irresistable when you are starving! Keep an eye on basic supplies in the food cupboard so that you don't have to pop to the shops for just one thing and end up buying twenty! We've all been there before and what you will learn on here is brought to you after years and years of experience and mistakes. One of the best things you have ever done is to find MSE and the OS forum. I would not be without it - the lovely people on here have saved me a fortune and encouraged me to experiment with different foods. Many of us visit the OS Daily thread and swap recipes and so on. It's a great thread - do join us, you won't regret it, I promise!