i need to do a weeks shopping for about £15, only food everything else sorted, what do i buy??

[lucysmam]

as i'm on a super-duper tight budget this week. stuff like beans, tinned toms and mince, tea bags etc (basic stuff really) have to be included as well, but i'd like to still be able to do something a bit interesting and exciting with the limited budget i have. also, i dont have a freezer at the mo so all needs to be either fresh, able to refrigerate for a week or cupboard type stuff.

thanks in advance for any suggestions xx

[charliecat]

Mil gave you a fiver for beer 12 value loo rols in sainsburys/tescos are 1.12 ish and morrisons too BTW for next time
Let us know how you cope this week

(A couple of weeks ago I found, what I know know as a spug, in the cupboard that was like a tree, it had eyes...oh at least a foot long)

[lucysmam]

there's not much of the beer left now mind you!! was a bargain, 15 carlsberg for a fiver at local netto so got them as a treat. she treats us every now n again, its great being all grown up n having kids but still getting treats!

didn't know that about loo rolls, thought id got quite a bargain there but will know for next time now!

well my weeks meal plan is this

fri:chick thighs (£1.59), salad and new pots 25p

sat:prawn salad £0.99 on reduced rack

sun:lasagne (only needed mince 99p and toms 19p) as have everything else

mon: mushroom 89p/box & bacon 79p risotto (already have risotto rice &stock cubes)

tue:bangers 99p, mash n beans 20p (big bag of spuds £1.49)

wed:fried brekky (have sausages/bacon to use up) beans 20p, toms 19p

thurs:spag bol (mince 99p, toms 19p)

there were some other bits as well like cheese spread (cheap stuff this week) and crackers for lo. we get healthy start vouchers for milk, fruit n veg but can use all 4 in a week but they took the pressure off a bit this week as i really couldn't go over budget by more than pennies!

hopefully it'll all work out and i'll know in future i can do it and spend less than i usually do!!

and now i know what a spug is, i've encountered a few of those in the drawer mine are in (don't ask, it's the only place big enough to keep a 5kg bag in our kitchen)

[lucysmam]

i should add that the prawns were on reduced rack at local co-op today so i'll have something left over at the end of the week to use up next week but it still only totals around £15

[moondog]

If you want spices for dahl, buy a dry curry powder, or better still, a curry pasta. Pataks is good.

[moondog]

Fry onions,add paste/powder, then lentils,tin of tomatoes and let simmer,adding more liquid as necesaary.

[lucysmam]

cheers moondog, i kind of gave up on that idea as i wasn't too sure what to buy when confronted with a rack full of herbs and spices. will add it to my next proper shop i think as next week i'm going to have to be just as careful as this week and work from anything i have left over before i write a list.

i am definately going to try it though so thanks, that's made it easier for me to get something i know

[moondog]

As I said, plain oldcurry powder will do. Get your confidence up and then you can think about individual spices.
Youneed to watch it to make sure it doesn't stick and burn though.

[moondog]

Health food shop would sell you tiny bag of curry powder for pennies.

[lucysmam]

pennies sounds good!!! although i might trust myself a bit more with paste but after a few goes will try powder or some spices maybe. am quite good at burning stuff n noone here dares ever complains so can't be that bad but i will try to be careful

[moondog]

Good luck.
It's so liberating and enjoyable knowing how to rustle up a handful of good dinners.

[lucysmam]

atm thats all i can do, most are packet/tin based though so am hoping to learn over the next few weeks and cut my normal costs at the same time.

[lilolilmanchester]

OK, know I am going to get slated for this but am going to post without namechanging anyway ("brave" emoticon...)
If you are struggling to feed your family on £15 for the week, why are you spending £5 on a crate of beer (or have I missed something here????)

[Quattrocento]

MP you are obsessed with sausages!

Tuna pancakes with cheese sauce

Easy quick and vv cheap

You need some fresh fruit so get some 2for1 melons in there - they are good value at this time of year

[lucysmam]

lilolil, my mil bought it for us or we wouldn't have had it! i did say that earlier on though. we don't often get anything like that unless it's split between us and bro in law for a £5 crate of stubby bottles from netto or we've nothing extra to pay for but insurance excess was £150, out of about £200 or so wages this week so i had to be careful about what the rest was going on and make sure i could keep enough back for oh to get to work unless he can sort lifts for the week until next payday.

quattro, we get healthy start vouchers for fruit, veg and milk so used them already for that and will top up as required through the week getting more using them.

[lucysmam]

where are melons 2for1 btw?? i've not seen any near me but love melon!

[lilolilmanchester]

yes, I did read that but if I'd have been struggling to feed the family on £15, I'd have taken the beer back for a refund to get an extra £5 for food. As much as I love my beer....

[mamadiva]

Lilo it was a gift. I know yes it's a fiver for food etc but she managed to get all that they need and no one is going without so doesn't lucysmam deserve a treat?

Oh and random question has anyone tried Tesco Value Quick fry beef steak?

[Poppycake]

mamadiva - yes have been experimenting with tesco v everything before going back to work (tomorrow aaah!!). Found fattier than "normal" but otherwise OK - especially with strong sauce!

[lilolilmanchester]

of course she deserves a treat, and I should have kept my thoughts to myself. Sorry Lucysmam.

[mamadiva]

Lilo your allowed to have your thoughts was just making a point .

Thanks Poppycake have just got new Weight Watchers mag and fancied trying a few recipes and cant afford some of the not so basic items involved.

[lucysmam]

lilolil, don't worry about it! takes a lot to offend me! if i hadn't got everything else i needed then would have used it for food instead but we managed on what we had so used it to treat ourselves.

[hez011]

Thanks to all for excellent ideas - you have expanded my repertoire . I think we all feeling the pinch but hats off to all of you,and me , who are having to live on a tight budget - it's character building as my mum would say.

[casbie]

pancakes
cheese-on-toast
omelette with rice (use veg cubes for flavour)
jacket potatoes
soup (veg)
toad-in-the-hole
beans on toast

fish fingers (from freezer section to eat that day)

best to keep a good stock cupboard!

tough one, but if you have toilet paper and washing-up liquid already, your half-way there!

[Katvic]

Hi!

Tescos and Sainsbury's do cheap 'mixed bean salad' tins which have a very mild and sweet vinaigrette in them already. The beans include a few thin green beans as well as the usual 'dried' bean types, and sometimes a bit of sweetcorn and red pepper...

My cheap meal is one of these tins, a tin of tuna in brine, any lettuce leaves, or salad i have left over (I grow lettuce, it's easy), and a couple of hard boiled eggs, cut in quarters.

Just assemble if all in a big salad dish.

If you have any left over cooked new potatoes, chuck a few in there as well.

Hey presto! Salad Nicoise!

Stale bread can be grilled for croutons on top if you really want to push the boat out!