On the subject of saving I thought I would share some of my tips on how I have managed to bring my shopping bills down.....
♡Meal Planning
I can not stress enough how beneficial this is!! Long gone are the days where I am standing infront of the fridge gazing in at 4pm with tiny voices of "Im hungry" in the background. Now a days I know exactly what we are having for tea a week in advance and most days it is prepared at 8am so I am completely stress free at tea time! Not only does meal planning keep me organised, it also has stopped me running in and out of Sainsbury's several times a week and wasting money!
I like to involve the family in meal planning and I aim to do one new recipe a week.
I can not stress enough how beneficial this is!! Long gone are the days where I am standing infront of the fridge gazing in at 4pm with tiny voices of "Im hungry" in the background. Now a days I know exactly what we are having for tea a week in advance and most days it is prepared at 8am so I am completely stress free at tea time! Not only does meal planning keep me organised, it also has stopped me running in and out of Sainsbury's several times a week and wasting money!
I like to involve the family in meal planning and I aim to do one new recipe a week.
♡Shopping Lists
Once we have decided on our meals for the week I go through the cupboards and see what we need and write up a list. Lists are good. They stop me wondering around the isles thinking I wonder will I need this, or throwing random things in the trolley for the sake of it which I really do not need! If I could stick to the list I would be flying but im actually pretty pants at that but I am definitely getting better!! The Mister is very good at sticking to lists so when he is around I tend to send him shopping.
Once we have decided on our meals for the week I go through the cupboards and see what we need and write up a list. Lists are good. They stop me wondering around the isles thinking I wonder will I need this, or throwing random things in the trolley for the sake of it which I really do not need! If I could stick to the list I would be flying but im actually pretty pants at that but I am definitely getting better!! The Mister is very good at sticking to lists so when he is around I tend to send him shopping.
♡ Well Stocked Cupboards
I try to keep my cupboards well stocked with a variety of dry staples and herbs and spices. This has taken time to build up as it would cost a fortune to go out and buy it all at once. These staples are the base of all my cooking. I make everything from scratch and not only does it save us money but I know EXACTLY what I am feeding my children and that feels good!!!! When I notice that something is running low I pop it on the shopping list.
Here is a list of things I could not live without in my kitchen-
I try to keep my cupboards well stocked with a variety of dry staples and herbs and spices. This has taken time to build up as it would cost a fortune to go out and buy it all at once. These staples are the base of all my cooking. I make everything from scratch and not only does it save us money but I know EXACTLY what I am feeding my children and that feels good!!!! When I notice that something is running low I pop it on the shopping list.
Here is a list of things I could not live without in my kitchen-
Pasta- shapes and spaghetti
Rice- Basmati and paella
Noodles
Rapeseed oil
Sesame oil
Baslamic vinegar
Red and cider vinegar
Borvil
Beef/chicken/lamb stock
huge range of herbs and spices, far too many to list
Tins of tuna and mackerel
Baked beans
Tinned tomotos
Tomoto puree
Flour- wholemeal, plain and self-raising
Baking powder
Cornflour
Dried fruits
Coco powder
Rice- Basmati and paella
Noodles
Rapeseed oil
Sesame oil
Baslamic vinegar
Red and cider vinegar
Borvil
Beef/chicken/lamb stock
huge range of herbs and spices, far too many to list
Tins of tuna and mackerel
Baked beans
Tinned tomotos
Tomoto puree
Flour- wholemeal, plain and self-raising
Baking powder
Cornflour
Dried fruits
Coco powder
Im sure there is more but that is what springs to mind. So basically any recipe I want to make I have the majority of the ingredients aready in the house.
♡ Only Cook what is needed.
I used to have a very bad habbit of cooking whole packets/boxes of things even tho my family would never eat it all. For example. I would cook a packet of 8 sausages. Two for me, two for the Mister and one for our Eldest daughter M. The other three would be put in the fridge incase someone fancied one tomorrow, but of course that never happened. So they were dumped! This happened on a regular basis. Also, I would make a huge pot of bolognaise, we would eat what we needed and the rest was put in the freezer never to be seen again. Now I know some people who would have no problem lifting that out the following week and and Ta Da! Dinner is served fuss free!! I just never seem to do it!! So after trial and error I have discovered that the best way to stop wastage is to cook exactly what I know we will eat. If I make something like bolognaise or a chilli we will eat it two days in a row so it does not get lost in the freezer. I never serve the dish up the same way, with a few small changes it turns into a completly different meal.
For example-
Night one- Spaghetti bolognaise
Night two- Sloppy joes using leftover bolognaise.
I used to have a very bad habbit of cooking whole packets/boxes of things even tho my family would never eat it all. For example. I would cook a packet of 8 sausages. Two for me, two for the Mister and one for our Eldest daughter M. The other three would be put in the fridge incase someone fancied one tomorrow, but of course that never happened. So they were dumped! This happened on a regular basis. Also, I would make a huge pot of bolognaise, we would eat what we needed and the rest was put in the freezer never to be seen again. Now I know some people who would have no problem lifting that out the following week and and Ta Da! Dinner is served fuss free!! I just never seem to do it!! So after trial and error I have discovered that the best way to stop wastage is to cook exactly what I know we will eat. If I make something like bolognaise or a chilli we will eat it two days in a row so it does not get lost in the freezer. I never serve the dish up the same way, with a few small changes it turns into a completly different meal.
For example-
Night one- Spaghetti bolognaise
Night two- Sloppy joes using leftover bolognaise.
Night one- Chill Beef with Rice, sour cream and guacamole
Night two- Baked spuds with leftover chilli
Night two- Baked spuds with leftover chilli
Night one- Irish stew
Night two- Cornish Pasty and beans made with leftover stew
Night two- Cornish Pasty and beans made with leftover stew
Those are just a few examples. I do that with lots of things.
♡ Cheaper Cuts of meat
Since discovering the slow cooker I have been being more adventurous with my cuts of meat. Things like a skirt of beef, chicken thighs, neck of lamb, ham shanks and beef oxtail all cost very little but will be melt in the mouth beautiful after a long slow cook. Ask your local butcher about cheaper cuts the next time you are in.
Since discovering the slow cooker I have been being more adventurous with my cuts of meat. Things like a skirt of beef, chicken thighs, neck of lamb, ham shanks and beef oxtail all cost very little but will be melt in the mouth beautiful after a long slow cook. Ask your local butcher about cheaper cuts the next time you are in.
♡Local, Seasonal Produce.
Shopping in local farm shops and markets is definitely the way to go where fruit and veg are concerned. We are actually very lucky to live in an area were we have plenty of choice. The prices can vary greatly so be prepared to shop around and see who is offering the best deals. Also get to know what is in season. Buying seasonal fruits and vegetables will work out cheaper.
Things that are at their best now are-
•Leeks
•Savoy Cabbage
So take advantage and think up recipes!
Shopping in local farm shops and markets is definitely the way to go where fruit and veg are concerned. We are actually very lucky to live in an area were we have plenty of choice. The prices can vary greatly so be prepared to shop around and see who is offering the best deals. Also get to know what is in season. Buying seasonal fruits and vegetables will work out cheaper.
Things that are at their best now are-
•Leeks
•Savoy Cabbage
So take advantage and think up recipes!
♡Dont Pay For Convenience
My mother is terrible for this. Peeled spuds, diced onions, crushed garlic, grated cheese, the list is endless. All these things are far more expensive. Being organised and doing all these things yourself will definitely save you money.
My mother is terrible for this. Peeled spuds, diced onions, crushed garlic, grated cheese, the list is endless. All these things are far more expensive. Being organised and doing all these things yourself will definitely save you money.
♡ Avoid 'Kiddy' Foods.
These are no different than any other food, they are simply packaged different.
•Instead of buying cheese sticks or cubes try cutting a thick slice of cheddar cheese and use a cutter to cut out difference shapes.
•Instead if buying small pots of fruit/jelly or custard try filling up small reusable pots from a large tin or packet of jelly
•Large packets of bread stick and crackers are much cheaper than the small packets designed for lunchboxes and it's very easy to split it yourself.
•Instead of buying cheese sticks or cubes try cutting a thick slice of cheddar cheese and use a cutter to cut out difference shapes.
•Instead if buying small pots of fruit/jelly or custard try filling up small reusable pots from a large tin or packet of jelly
•Large packets of bread stick and crackers are much cheaper than the small packets designed for lunchboxes and it's very easy to split it yourself.
So there you have it. Some of the things we have done to reduce our food shop and wastage.
I would love to hear more if anyone has an ideas that works for them please share xx
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