A list of what I’ve got...

[Thiswillbeinteresting]

Due to an unexpected expense this week, my already severely depleted finances are taken a severe hit this month - and we’re less than a month in .

It is just me and DD2 for the majority of the month, and fortunately she has decent hot school dinners most days, so I only need to worry about tea for us both.

I am hoping that if I post a list of what items I have, people can inspire me as to how to make this stretch as much as possible, and to not have the same meals non stop

If I can reduce the weekly shop from the £90 I had budgeted then it would be a huge help - I do have a small contingency fund to top up essentials.

Tins
4 x tomato soup
1 x beef bolagnase
2 x beans
2 x pasta sauce
1 x ravioli
4 x chopped tomatoes
2 x mackerel in tomato sauce
1 x corned beef
2 x hot dogs
1 x tuna
Tomato purée
Garlic purée
2 x passata
2 x custard
1 x pineapple
1 x pears
1 x peaches
4 x microwave rice
2 x noodles

Freezer
3 minted lamb burgers
4 x Chicken breasts
3 x bolagnaise (3 packets of leftovers from spag Bol - not sure if there’s anything else I can do with it, as I think spag Bol every day will be a bit much!)
1 x leftovers meatballs and sauce
Parsnips

A lot of the tinned stuff is ‘there in case of emergency ’ and I guess that time has now come

*should state less than a week in

The only thing I can suggest is turning some of the bolognese into lasagna. You'd just need to get lasagna sheets and parmesan and make a white sauce. I often make that instead of Sunday roast.
I think you've got quite a good mix of things there. Good luck!

Buy some lentils or beans to bulk out the mince dishes. Use the lamb burgers in this bulked out shepherd’s pie which serves 6, so you could make them stretch over 3 meals. Because the burgers are already minted, omit the mint sauce. www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/lamb-recipes/super-shepherd-s-pie/ The frozen peas aren’t necessary in this recipe, and tbh neither is the rosemary.

Ooh excellent ideas, thanks both! I can definitely make a lasagna, although I’ve just found some taco shells so may do tacos instead.

The shepherds pie is genius thank you - DD didn’t like the burgers so this may be a way to use them up!

How to use your mackerel and microwave rice: www.myfussyeater.com/spicy-tomato-mackerel-rice/

Turn bolognese into beef keema curry. Heat through the bolognese sauce with1 tbsp garam masala,1 tsp hot chilli powder and1 tsp ground turmeric. Mix in200g frozen peas and leave to simmer for another 6-8 minutes. Serve with rice.

For the tuna and a tin of tomato soup: www.campbellsoup.co.uk/recipes/crunchy-tuna-pasta-bake

Make the chicken breast go further: www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/chicken-sweetcorn-egg-fried-rice Use the other microwave rice for this

Thanks @Ricekrispie22 will try those as well

Mix the tuna with some pasta, tinned tomato and cheese to make a pasta bake. Should last 2 meals

Tinned soup is a perfectly decent tea, especially if you add half a par-baked baguette or maybe a toastie

Tinned soup is a perfectly decent tea, especially if you add half a par-baked baguette or maybe a toastie

Absolutely. I find soup fills me up for longer.

I have flour etc so was going to make some cheese scones to go with the soup - I am sure I read somewhere that that was a thing.

I have been to Lidl and did my top up shop - £28 which included some cleaning items, and have my meal plan set out for the next 10 days. Fingers crossed it works! Then I think I will evaluate what store cupboard items were the most useful, and replenish my larder over the next couple of months.

Thanks again for all the ideas