To ask how you've lowered your food shop?

[coffeecoffeecofffee]

Recently come under a crap time, can't work due to chronic health condition, lost our UC payment each month of £400 as my partner now earns above the threshold (but still doesn't take home much due to debt he has unfortunately) & had my PIP review recently (I used to get £430pm) and may have that reduced/taken away completely.

I'm trying to think of ways to reduce my outgoings and have decided to reduce my food budget to £25pw. (used to have £35pw)

My partner and I buy our things separately but share the cost of regular household bits, cleaning and usually salad! We both eat two completely different diets, me vegan & him a meat eater. So about £6 per week of each of our budgets goes towards cleaning & toiletries.

Left with £19 for food for the week.

I already buy a lot of frozen veg and the only fresh produce I buy are apples (whatever's cheapest), strawberries or blueberries, tomatoes, salad (spinach, kale & rocket), avocados& sweet potato.

I usually buy 1 dairy free milk (£1.40) which lasts me most of the week as I don't eat breakfast every day.

I eat a lot of wholewheat pasta w/ no added sugar pasta sauces (tomato based & pesto) as it goes a long way, no added sugar & is cheap and delicious as well as healthy as I don't eat a tonne!

I also buy a bag of plain frozen fish for the week at £3.30 for 5 fillets.

I tend to find the fresh stuff & toiletries like body wash take up most of my budget, I've tried shopping at my local Lidl and Aldi but the fresh produce is often going off when I'm in there! Let alone getting it home, hence I find Morrisons/Asda/Tesco better for that.

Anyone got any smart ways to reduce/meal plan for a vegan? I don't like beans, lentils etc so that's annoying as I know they're really cheap!

@StarLight10 you can get free from dairy free pesto. That's what I have :)

@perfectstorm Thank you.
I don't choose to be at home all day not living my life! Last year my boyfriend booked us a weekend away for my birthday and we ended up being unable to go because I was so fatigued. I couldn't wake up.
If I could go out and live normally, believe me, I would!!

@70isaLimitNotaTarget it's made with cashews, I believe that replaces the cheese. :)

@70isaLimitNotaTarget vegan Sacla is made with tofu. (I got some in for a cousin who's vegan once.)

@Daisydoesnt No we don't usually get kitchen roll but you're right, it's probably better and more absorbent for accidents!

I actually really like hummus! I find the shop ones to be too oily, I've made it before with chickpeas and just a drop of oil, salt and pepper in a blender :)

Haven't RTFT but will offer some proper advice once I have.. but I am baffled by all of those saying you can't go to the toilet more than 4 times a day. I probably go for a wee at least twice an hour and no, no medical conditions here, I just eat healthy and drink lots of water!

Sorry I pressed send too soon. Didn't mean to sound so rude.
Not sure if it's been suggested but can you have jacket potatoes more? They're cheap and cheerful but easy to mix it up with different toppings.

Also, if you're living with your partner regardless of marriage then most would say finances should be shared. Seems unfair that you're struggling if he could chip in.

@BeanBag7 oh wow, I've never shopped in co op properly but we have one round the corner, I'll check in there tomorrow around 5 and see if there are any cheap deals, thanks!

I brought 9 cans of beans recently for £3! Bargain :) I always look out for offers and buy double if it will last and is something to use regularly.

@MummytoCSJH haha ikr! These people must drink 1ml of water a day

Sainsbos veggie soya mince instead of mince. Going veggie in general.

@StarLight10 I do like Jacket potatoes, they tend to make me bloat up a lot though so prefer sweet potato for that reason.

@MutantDisco I love the Sainsbury's mince! The Morrisons one is good too.

OP I do get it. I've been lucky and healthy most of my life, but I'm on treatment for cancer right now, and unfortunately have been hit quite hard by chemo. I've been graded as having severe fatigue. It's given me a lot of respect for people managing with long-term health conditions. The simplest things are now very, very hard and I spend a lot of time in bed. Need to sit down if I go downstairs, even, and a very brief walk a month ago (fifth of a mile) left me shaking and feeling sick. It's been eye-opening, as someone who was pretty fit before.

I also get that when your life is very restricted, and your diet, telling you to sacrifice two quite small things that give you a lot of pleasure, and are also really good for you, isn't actually helpful. You have your mental health to consider, too, and vegan food is already pretty cheap.

A lot of the suggestions are sensible for people with normal energy levels - cleaning, especially. That's not so in your position. I'm sorry you've coped with so much, so young, and I hope the medical research into CFS and IBS are able to help your quality of life soon.

Op asks a question.

People make suggestions.

OP disregards every suggestion almost.

Why bother posting op!?

@PassMeTheWine That's the reason I keep my shampoo and conditioner too! I don't spend any other money on myself for pampering so it's nice for me daily. I use dove body wash so that exfoliating soap sounds amazing, how much is it? Is it a bar?

@coffeecoffeecofffee I just made a veggie lasagne with it - I couldn't tell the difference and it's so cheap!

OP yes you're right chickpeas - I've actually got a cheff-y recipe I want to try that uses cannelini beans so I obviously had them on the brain!

But the point is either (or indeed butter beans) make a good hummus. You can let the mixture down with the water from the can (or ordinary tap water) to reduce the amount of oil you use.

@perfectstorm What a kind post, and from someone suffering so much themselves. I really wish you all the luck and health in the world to beat your cancer.

I know what you mean about needing to sit down! I get really dizzy- weak feeling and shaky when I do too much and my body can't cope with it.

@MutantDisco I love a veggie lasagne, what a treat, how did you make it?

I had no idea oat milk was so easy to make.

@Daisydoesnt good idea regarding the water, I've never thought to use that before. :)

Are you washing your hair daily? Switch to 2/3x a week and your shampoo/conditioner will last 3x as long and your hair will look better, trust.

I would never give up my nice shampoo/conditioner lol.
I get the dove soap bars in pound land-a pack of two

@flirtygirl Thank you
I've never heard of farm foods, is it online?

I'll definitely reassess the spray and wipes, I've already ordered some cloths this afternoon I can use in the kitchen then put in the washing machine for the kitchen thanks to this thread :)

@coffeecoffeecofffee it's the Lorraine Pascale one that her dad gave her, just sub the meat for Sainsbos mince. I presume you can use Alpro products for the bechamel. It's tasty.