Where to begin?

[BeansAndToast]

Hello,

I could do with some help in regards to saving and cooking. I am a bit of a beginner as so far we have always had quite a bit of income in between us but DP is going back to uni so we need to save a bit of money. He will be commuting which is eating a ridiculous amount of money and after council tax, rent and other bills we have estimated that we will have about £200 left a month. This will have to include all kinds of cosmetics, loo paper and so on as well.

I know that doesn't sound too little but it seems very tight somehow-I would rather not spend the full 50 a week if possible to have a bit of money for 'emergencies'. DP eats quite a lot but is happy with vegetarian meals. I am a bit chubby at the moment and am trying to eat healthily but fresh fruit and veggies are just so expensive and I am worried whether we can keep that up after summer.

I just wondered whether anyone has any advice in regards to meal planning or whether anyone knows any good sites that might help me. We will have a freezer so I can batch cook and I have a slow cooker, but I will be very busy with my job (newly qualified teacher) so can't spend all weekend cooking I think. So I am looking for some cheap, quick and healthy recipes- I know, not much to ask

We are moving to a new area and don't have a car. We will have a Sainsbury and Iceland within walkable distance if that is any help.

I just don't really know where to get started with organising our finances and meal planning. My family lives in a different country and is not much help due to that (product wise etc).

I hope people don't think I am somehow 'spoiled' or 'stupid' for not knowing where to start but I am just a bit worried and could do with any support I can get. I am very aware that a lot of people have a lot less money than this but I want to do this right from the start. Thank you

[bodingading]

Things to do with leafy green veg off the top of my head:

I throw a mix of frozen spinach and frozen petit pois in an old plastic takeout tub and microwave for 2.5 mins on high as my standard side. No added water.

Or sometimes I heat a wok with some oil and throw in chopped kale, cabbage, whatever (I buy it prepped and just throw in handfuls) and stir fry on high heat for 5 mins or so, then finish with lemon and salt.

Kale is also great tossed with olive oil and salt and crisped in a hot hot oven for about 20 min. I only do this if the oven is on anyway, and just put it on the bottom of the oven.

Sometimes I stir fry any sliced greens with some lardons and chestnuts - those cooked ones you can buy vacuum packed, but they are a bit expensive to always have in, and also then there's a pan to wash up.

Most often I microwave thin sliced greens with frozen sliced cabbage and spinach with a big chunk of butter, that's good, and even better with peas and mint in there too. Fresh mint or, tbh, mint sauce is fine. The water released from the frozen veg will steam the rest with the lid firmly on, no need to add any.

Oh, hm, samphire is great with fish, especially tuna, and I steam that in the microwave for 2-3 mins - no salt needed with samphire!

Fresh spinach I just wash and then let the heat of the fish wilt the leaves.

A microwave is perfect for steaming brassicas as if you undercook them they taste bitter and if you overcook them they stink of rotten eggs, so you really want to hit the sweet spot of like 3 mins and then they are delicious.

[Fluffycloudland77]

That Hugh fearnly whittingstill book on vegetables is meant to be very good, you could get it out of your local library.

[specialsubject]

regarding electricity - if you are with Scottish Power you can have an online account, do a monthly reading and see how much you are spending. You can probably read the meter more often if you want.

no doubt others do this too but this is the one I know about. Hundreds of tariffs though, as usual finding out the per-unit cost is a real game.