I want shop extra frugally this month - What would you buy?

[CharCharGabor]

Following on from my NYR to save more money, I'm planning to do a really frugal food shop. We shop monthly except for fruit and veg, which I take money out of the tax credits to buy weekly. DD and I eat very little meat. I'd really appreciate it if you could share your ideas of what to buy so that we have healthy balanced diets and save some money

So far on my list is:
pasta
rice
lentils
tinned tomatoes
cheese
eggs
a whole chicken maybe?
a bit of dried fruit for DD
natural yoghurt

What else can I get? TIA

potatoes + anything else = cheap meal
baked beans

i think it is better to meal plan and then you can see what you should buy, and then you know you will use the food you have bought IFYSWIM

also, out of a large chicken which is not necessarily cheap you can get 3 -4 meals

the roast itself, risotto/stir fry/chicken friend rice with left overs , soup from carcass

so it might be worth doing that?

Thanks Peabody, will add those to my list.

Pulses if you like them.

Yes, deffo agree with lulumama re meal planning.

Chicken thighs are cheap and much tastier and versatile.

Pesto sauces are great to add to all sorts of pasta/potato meals.

Sainsbo were selling Warburtons seeded for £1 a loaf a couple of days ago...freezer?

Will have a think...

Baking potatoes - when cooked, scoop out the flesh, mash it with cheese and put it all back into the skins into the oven for another ten mins. Really tasty with tuna or baked beans.

Kippers - really tasty grilled and with new potatoes and salad. Healthy too.

Chicken drumsticks - cheaper cut of meat but very tasty.

I definitely recommend meal planning to help you spend wisely.

One of my faves is spag bol (I know it's meaty but it's usually popular) - one pack of mince goes a long way when carrots, celery, mushrooms etc are added - usually 500g makes at least 6 portions, depending on what you add and it freezes well. I make a batch at the start of every month and then freeze portions ready to use as the month goes by.

Another that works along similar lines is a big casserole - I bulk mine out with so much swede, parsnips, carrots etc that this is another meal that lasts a long time. It can be reheated the following night or frozen for later in the month. This could be really good if you don't eat much meat!

xpost Lulumama, yes I was thinking of that. I bought a medium chicken this month which really was tiny but got 3 meals out of it, a roast, chicken pasta and soup so I might get a bigger one this month. I'll give the meal plan a go later I think and see what I've got. Thanks

Do you live anywhere near a farm shop?

If so look into buying a sack of potatoes from them.

DP bought a sack recently for around £6 and they will last for ages. So versatile too.

More great ideas, thanks!

If anyone has a somerfield near them there doin a large chicken half price for £3.50 that would certainly do afew meals

It is also a good idea to see what specials the supermarkets are doing - I know our Sainsbos was selling thighs and drumsticks (750g) for £1.50 and there are buy two for a fiver deals ...

Also, you can buy cheaper cuts of meat from the butcher, which are fine so long as you give them long, slow cooking (e.g. in a casserole).

I think there might be a farm shop nearby, good idea. I'll go on the supermarket website once I've had a bit of a plan. I only live near an asda so unfortunately can't do much shopping round.

Oh I only started meal planning - two weeks ago spent £40 a wk, last week, £25 (except for the odd bits of milk/bread). Which is brill considering there are three of us. Just make out a list of your lunch and dinners per day, check what you already have in the cupboards and freeze anything that's left. Love food hate waste has some good ideas.

Soups are really cheap, easy to make and can be bulked out with lentils/pearl barley.
With the likes of fruit and veg, I would only buy for that week rather than the month as you may end up throwing some of it out.

Duh, just read your post properly and you do buy fruit and veg more often.

I would occassionally buy tinned fruit in own juice as our Tescos stuff is horrendous and normally goes off before it ripens (we don't have markets unfortunately nearby)

Thanks for that trixie, I hope mine can be as cheap as yours! I make a fair few soups already but I'll make more next month I think. I've got some pearl barley and things like that so I'll just have to get some lentils too.

The other thing is , if you can find a local greengrocer, their fruit and veg is often cheaper (and more local) than what you can buy from the supermarket.

Yes, I've got one of them at the bottom of my road. Mostly local veg and I think the ones the supermarket don't want as well. It's not the highest quality but it's nice and cheap and works fine for me I am amazed at the price of a bag of carrots when I go into Asda, compared to what I pay for the same amount.

Our greengrocer's is good, as there is also nothing wrong with the quality. Exotic stuff is just as expensive, but local stuff in season is good value, and probably fresher!

Also our greengrocer sings all the time, so you get entertainment while you shop! (Better than the piped music in the supermarket!)

do you like fish, CharChar? sprats, herrings, mackerel and dab are usually cheap (Morrisons have good fish counter if you have one near you). If you're not eating them that day, they all freeze well and can be either grilled or rolled in flour and shallow-fried. Good with salad, rice.

also liver, cuts like neck or breast of lamb. Some chipolatas from the butcher (about £1 for 8). Pitta bread for quick snacks and eating with lentils etc (freezes well). And, yes, meal plan otherwise you will end up buying stuff all the time to make meals with your staples.

lol SMTB, a singing greengrocer sounds interesting They also do 2 packs of blueberries for £1, which although I try and shop local, I have to get for DD as she loves them! Unfortunately fish makes me ill harpo, so that's out. It annoys me tbh because I know if I could eat it I'd be able to save a lot. I'll get some chipolatas too. Do you think if I ask the butcher what the best value cuts are he'll help me out? I usually buy pitta breads and freeze them, so convenient. Really appreciate all the help everyone.

Lol, I think he should change the name of the shop to "The singing greengrocer" instead of "Chris's Fruit and Veg" - he'd get more custom!

Butcher should certainly help you out. Most are very helpful, and don't mind at all if you're not sure what you want/how to cook it.