Wanted - ideas for eating on a budget

[Madmog]

Due to a change in circumstances we really need to cut back, so am looking at everything we pay out and trying to cut it back.

Can anyone give me any ideas for recipes on a budget/cheaper meals from freezer/ways to save on food shop etc. We like veggie, fish meals and chicken meals. DH will eat bought sausages, burgers, pies, lasagne (I don't bother make these as he's the only one who will eat them).

Bulking out is key. Learn to love lentils!

For example when I make bolognese I use much less mince, and then put some orange lentils and grated carrot and courgette with the tinned tomatoes. They all pretty much disintegrate during the cooking

Agree with bulking out. We buy a large pack of mince and I'll cook that and add in a tin or two of mixed beans, onion, grated carrot and some thin sliced mushrooms. I can then split that between 4 and make a shepherds pie, a bolognese, a chilli, and burritos/tacos.

A large roast chicken I can get 2-3 meals out of, I'm slow cooking one now actually and tonight we will have roast chicken with wedges and salad, tomorrow will be a chicken carbonara and then I'll cook the carcass and use the stock for a chicken and lentil soup.

I've found we cope better by spending that little bit of money on good meats that we can stretch out rather than living off value pasta and sauce.

Also can't praise meal planning enough and only buying exactly what you need for those meals.

agirlcalledjack.com/ is really good as a starting place. She was on a really tight budget and she gives lots of ideas. Also Money Saving Expert website has a section called Old Style Moneysaving where lots of people share ideas.

Meal planning - as the above poster says - is the way to go - so you can use left overs as well.

You could also try having a word with your husband how it might be cheaper if you all ate the same stuff and he could try some of the things you cook....

My best tip, if you like veggie meals, is to get hold of 500g packs of things like kidney beans, chickpeas and other big pulses. They cost next to nothing - typically sub £1 per pack. Soak and cook the whole packet according to the instructions, drain really well and leave until totally dry.... then freeze in a thin layer in a large bag. Shake to separate... voila.

What you end up with is about 1.3kgs of cooked free-flow pulses that you can then turn into burgers, casseroles, pasta sauces, salads, etc Much cheaper than tinned ones and much more convenient.

Ermagerd could I be very cheeky and ask how you do the chicken and then the stock in the slow cooker please? This is exactly what I would like to do, but I have used my slow cooker, er, once

That's a great tip cogito, I'll try that.

Where do you do your shopping? Aldi has amazing quality meats, fruit and veg at better prices than the bigger supermarkets.

When do you shop? Some supermarkets will reduce to clear anything with a use by date of that day in the evening and often in my area can get amazing bargains (up to 95% off!!) These can be frozen and used at a later date.

I make 99% of our meals from scratch and spend only approx £15 per week on food for myself, DH and DS (2). We eat really well.

In Iceland the other day I found some own brand veggie burgers at 89p for four. They were delicious and a very cheap dinner.

Thanks for your replies. Even though my husband eats meat and I don't, he will eat anything that's given to him so that helps - our DD is another matter although she does like plain rice and pasta (which I can keep aside if I'm cooking for us).

Will look into the question of more pulses and what I can do with them. mkmjimmy - I like the look of the peach and chickpea curry.

sharond101 - I do 98% of my shopping in Tescos due to the fact it's on the doorstep - only a one minute drive whereas Sainsburys, Aldi, Asda are the other side of town and it's more like a 25 minute drive. Also, next to work so I can check out any afternoon reductions after work. I used to get some of my fruit & veg from Lidl when passing, but in all fairness to Tescos they have reduced their prices so in line with Lidl. There is an Iceland in town, so on occasions when I do use the car and can get back quickly, I'll have a look in there.

I guess it's a case of finding some new recipes and foods that work for us!

Eggs are cheapish, frittata? Spanish omelette? My DCs love savoury pancakes. Another cheap meal they like are Yorkshire puddings filled with baked beans and cheese. Minestrone soup popular too. And lentil pie, lentils, onions and lemon topped with masked potato like a shepards pie. Plus baked potatoes and toppings, bacon and cheese, or tuna, or left over bolognaise or chilli.

Dried soya mince should be your new best friend! You can get it in the health food bits of larger tescos, with the dried beans and lentils. You basically pour boiling water on it and then use it as you would meat mince. We are not veggie, so I tend to use it to cut real mince - half soya, half meat. My DH hasn't yet noticed and I've been doing it for months.....

I agree with bulking out mince with red lentils and aldi courgettes on offer etc. then freeze smaller batches than you would normally and stir through pasta rather than piling meat on top IYSWIM

Pasta and pesto with value Garlic bread

Nothing wrong with sausages and mash- seperate sausages into potions you actually use at rather than the whole pack of eight or whatever

Pasta, white sauce (ounce flour, ounce butter combined then add milk and gently heat) add bacon bits and dried herbs

Make your own pizza with burger bag buns or pittas and use tomatoes purée and whatever veg you have onions etc

Cut back on cleaning supplies - white vinegar, bleach, washing up liquid go far.

Buy ceramic soap dispensers and fill with cheap bubble bath rather than pricey soaps - talking of soaps, buy old fashioned bars

Frozen fruit, peppers etc saves lot of waste

Instead of using four chicken filles for four people for curries etc - dice and use less - three will be fun if you bulk with your frozen peppers

Yy to A girl called jack.
And vegetarian eating.