Budget meals?

[HexagonalQueenOfTheSummer]

Hi all

I wonder if any of you would share your budget meal ideas with me? Our food bill goes through the roof most weeks and I really need some budget ideas. There are 5 of us; me, DH, one teenager and 2 younger children aged 3 and 8

Thanks in advance

Do you meal plan?

We roast cherry tomatoes with olive oil, seasoning and sometimes balsamic for 20 mins at gas 6, then cook spaghetti, mix together and serve with Parmesan.
Corned beef hash is a nice budget meal too.

pasta with caramelised onions
pasta with chick peas and garlic
chick pea and pasta soup
scrambled egg rice
lentil chilli
taco spiced tomato rice with cheese (often in tacos or tortilla wraps)
root veg crumble
ham and egg pasta
pea and ham soup
cheese, ham and potato pasties
nutty potato cake with either spinach salad or creamed spinach
slow braised cabbage pasta
spicy potatoes and cabbage
spicy potato pasties
spinach and potato pie
lentil soup
potato soup
sweetcorn chowder
sausage and bean bake
mushrooms baked in cheese sauce on toast
creamed tuna on toast or mash
mushy peas with jacket potatoes, cheese and tomato slices
dahl (made with leftover mushy peas)
tomato mince pasta bake

Oh yes, forgot to say soup! If we are having a tight month, eating more vegetarian dishes makes the money go further.

Chickepea & ketchup curry (it really is lovely!)
Macaroni peas
Sausage Pasta
Hawaiin pasta
Tuna & sweetcorn fishcakes
Lentil & bacon soup

It's difficult to say why your food bill is so high without knowing specifics but the following might give you a few pointers

• Anything ready-made is usually pretty expensive.. basic ingredients are relatively cheap. Rolled oats are cheaper than fancy cereals.
• 'Meat/cheese are flavourings'... i.e use both sparingly and bulk out dishes with cheaper ingredients like beans or pasta
• If you buy brands, trade down to a house brand or a value brand. There's often not much in it.
• Meal plan for a few days ahead and shop with a list.
• Soup, omelettes, things on toast or jacket spuds are good meals
• Only take advantage of BOGOFs and other special offers if a) you use the product and b) you can store the extra ones.

Good luck