Just for now, the 30-30/5-2 budget challenges have morphed into something else. The aim is to free up as much space in my freezers as possible by just eating out of it (plus fridge and cupboard), only buying the basic essentials such as milk, fresh fruit and veg, etc, each week.
It won't be as frugal but it will mean I don't spend too much money on food in July.
AND I can defrost my freezers!
Yesterday I slow roasted a small joint of rolled belly pork and what remains will form the basis of today's meals.
B: rhubarb, natural yogurt and muesli
L: shredded pork filled roll, salad, piece of fruit
D: pork and vegetables with pasta. Also, I am hoping there will be a courgette or two down the allotment to gently fry in a little garlic butter!
S/S: fruit
I won't need to buy anything for today's food. Great!
Friday, 30 June 2017
Thursday, 29 June 2017
The freezer challenge: day 1
As I said yesterday, the 30-30/5-2 budget challenges are on hold right now or, rather, they have morphed into something else.
I'll still post what I'm having in here because I've become accustomed to the accountability, but I can't guarantee it will be frugal in terms of being inexpensive. In another way, it will be pretty frugal in that I won't be spending very much each week as I will be using up the many and varied things I have in the freezers.
The aim is to gain space in the freezer, pure and simple, by using up all the pre-frugal stuff that is cluttering the lower depths right now.
So today:
B: fruit (rhubarb from the lotty and strawberries from the garden, natural yogurt and muesli
L: leftovers from last night - turkey and rice
D: roast pork, roast potatoes, roast parsnips - all from the freezer. The pork is a small rolled belly pork joint that will do tonight, tomorrow lunch in a roll and tomorrow dinner in a tomato sauce with veg and pasta and will be slow roasted this afternoon.
S/S: fruit
I'll still post what I'm having in here because I've become accustomed to the accountability, but I can't guarantee it will be frugal in terms of being inexpensive. In another way, it will be pretty frugal in that I won't be spending very much each week as I will be using up the many and varied things I have in the freezers.
The aim is to gain space in the freezer, pure and simple, by using up all the pre-frugal stuff that is cluttering the lower depths right now.
So today:
B: fruit (rhubarb from the lotty and strawberries from the garden, natural yogurt and muesli
L: leftovers from last night - turkey and rice
D: roast pork, roast potatoes, roast parsnips - all from the freezer. The pork is a small rolled belly pork joint that will do tonight, tomorrow lunch in a roll and tomorrow dinner in a tomato sauce with veg and pasta and will be slow roasted this afternoon.
S/S: fruit
Wednesday, 28 June 2017
Time Out
I'm taking these last three days of June off challenge. The reason is that I am getting so frustrated with the bits and bobs in the freezer that I can't use because I have no idea of their cost. In fact, it is driving me bonkers.
So, till the end of the week, I will be rootling in the depths of the chilly space, pulling up unpriced stuff and using it!
I might even carry on a bit longer, depending on how I feel.
I've paid for it so it won't be free or frugal, in fact, it might be rather naughty, but I won't need to do all that much shopping and it will be clearing much needed freezer space for the summer harvest.
I bought it once upon a time - I've got to use it up! Got to!
So, till the end of the week, I will be rootling in the depths of the chilly space, pulling up unpriced stuff and using it!
I might even carry on a bit longer, depending on how I feel.
I've paid for it so it won't be free or frugal, in fact, it might be rather naughty, but I won't need to do all that much shopping and it will be clearing much needed freezer space for the summer harvest.
I bought it once upon a time - I've got to use it up! Got to!
Tuesday, 27 June 2017
Day 19
B: 2 slices toast (apf) with home made jam (5p)
L: beans (8p) on toast (apf)
D: sausage roll (24p), salad (apf), coleslaw (6p)
S/S: fruit - peach and apple
(apf means 'already paid for' which means when I bought the item I took the whole cost from the budget rather than doing it per portion. It works for things like lettuce, cabbage, milk, yogurt, oil, etc, where working out one portion would make life a lot more complicated!
YS means Yellow Sticker - reduced)
End of day update
B: total 5p
L: total 15p
D: total 42p
S/S: total 18p
Today I spent 80p
Budget so far £20.00
Spent: £18.46
Money in hand: £1.54
And I am now off challenge until July 1st
L: beans (8p) on toast (apf)
D: sausage roll (24p), salad (apf), coleslaw (6p)
S/S: fruit - peach and apple
(apf means 'already paid for' which means when I bought the item I took the whole cost from the budget rather than doing it per portion. It works for things like lettuce, cabbage, milk, yogurt, oil, etc, where working out one portion would make life a lot more complicated!
YS means Yellow Sticker - reduced)
End of day update
B: total 5p
L: total 15p
D: total 42p
S/S: total 18p
Today I spent 80p
Budget so far £20.00
Spent: £18.46
Money in hand: £1.54
And I am now off challenge until July 1st
Monday, 26 June 2017
Day 18
It's going to be an odd day today as I am having ceilings re-plastered and I have an evening meeting so dinner will have to be very late.
B: Pineapple (6p), natural yogurt (apf) and muesli (gifted)
L: tuna pate (half tin tuna - 22p, mayo 2p) with carrot batons (4p), fruit (approx 10p)
D: chorizo and bean stew (28p), 50g rice (4p), banana (12p)
S: fruit (max 14p)
(apf means 'already paid for' which means when I bought the item I took the whole cost from the budget rather than doing it per portion. It works for things like lettuce, cabbage, milk, yogurt, oil, etc, where working out one portion would make life a lot more complicated!
YS means Yellow Sticker - reduced)
End of day update
Amazingly, all went according to plan.
B: Total 8p
L: Total 35p
D: Total 44p
S: Total 9p
Today I spent 96p
Budget so far £19.00
Spent: £17.66Money in hand: £1.34
B: Pineapple (6p), natural yogurt (apf) and muesli (gifted)
L: tuna pate (half tin tuna - 22p, mayo 2p) with carrot batons (4p), fruit (approx 10p)
D: chorizo and bean stew (28p), 50g rice (4p), banana (12p)
S: fruit (max 14p)
(apf means 'already paid for' which means when I bought the item I took the whole cost from the budget rather than doing it per portion. It works for things like lettuce, cabbage, milk, yogurt, oil, etc, where working out one portion would make life a lot more complicated!
YS means Yellow Sticker - reduced)
End of day update
Amazingly, all went according to plan.
B: Total 8p
L: Total 35p
D: Total 44p
S: Total 9p
Today I spent 96p
Budget so far £19.00
Spent: £17.66Money in hand: £1.34
Sunday, 25 June 2017
Recipe: Pasta with sardines, chilli and lemon
Here's the link to the original. Scroll down to find it.
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/nov/21/sardines-recipes-croquetas-bruschetta-hash-indian-chutney
This is how I frugalised it.
I used budget penne.
I used sardines in sunflower oil from Aldi.
I used garlic puree and chilli puree from tubes.
The tomato sauce was left over from yesterday and it was passata, made last year with garden grown tomatoes and frozen. I had reduced it down to a thick consistency and added garlic puree, pepper and oregano leaves.
The lemon was from a bottle of lemon juice, not a fresh lemon. It was great in this dish.
I also used half a small onion, finely sliced and softened in oil from the can of sardines - didn't need all of it. I removed most of the skin and the bones from the sardines - fiddly but better, I think.
It took only as long as the pasta took to cook (12 mins) and was really filling as well as frugal.
And here it is. I'll do this one again, for sure!
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/nov/21/sardines-recipes-croquetas-bruschetta-hash-indian-chutney
This is how I frugalised it.
I used budget penne.
I used sardines in sunflower oil from Aldi.
I used garlic puree and chilli puree from tubes.
The tomato sauce was left over from yesterday and it was passata, made last year with garden grown tomatoes and frozen. I had reduced it down to a thick consistency and added garlic puree, pepper and oregano leaves.
The lemon was from a bottle of lemon juice, not a fresh lemon. It was great in this dish.
I also used half a small onion, finely sliced and softened in oil from the can of sardines - didn't need all of it. I removed most of the skin and the bones from the sardines - fiddly but better, I think.
It took only as long as the pasta took to cook (12 mins) and was really filling as well as frugal.
And here it is. I'll do this one again, for sure!
Day 17
. . . and probably a £1.50 day today.
B: beans (8p) on toast (apf), brown sauce (2p), apple (7p)
L: cheese toastie (20p), salad (left over from yesterday so apf), fruit (approx 10p)
D: pasta with sardines, chilli and lemon (approx 40p), yogurt (apf) and pineapple (6p)
S/S: more fruit (to be costed as eaten)
Lots of fruit this week! I went shopping yesterday and there were some good deals. I got peaches, flat peaches, plums, apples and the usual bananas. It's just as well I love fruit.
The flat peaches (I think they're called 'doughnut' peaches) were 49p in Tesco and I got two packs of seven. The numbers varies depending on weight but fruit is eaten in units usually, not weight.
I found the pasta recipe online, in an old Guardian article. If it works, I'll post about it later.
(apf means 'already paid for' which means when I bought the item I took the whole cost from the budget rather than doing it per portion. It works for things like lettuce, cabbage, milk, yogurt, oil, etc, where working out one portion would make life a lot more complicated!
YS means Yellow Sticker - reduced)
End of day update
It's been a rather delicious day, to be honest and it's definitely a £1.50. Lunch was tasty, dinner was scrummy and it was nice to have more fruit.
B: Total 17p
L: Total 27p
D: Total 45p
S/S: Total 45p (peaches and 30g cheese)
Today I spent £1.34
Budget so far £18.00
Spent: £16.70
Money in hand: £1.30
I will post about the pasta in a separate message.
B: beans (8p) on toast (apf), brown sauce (2p), apple (7p)
L: cheese toastie (20p), salad (left over from yesterday so apf), fruit (approx 10p)
D: pasta with sardines, chilli and lemon (approx 40p), yogurt (apf) and pineapple (6p)
S/S: more fruit (to be costed as eaten)
Lots of fruit this week! I went shopping yesterday and there were some good deals. I got peaches, flat peaches, plums, apples and the usual bananas. It's just as well I love fruit.
The flat peaches (I think they're called 'doughnut' peaches) were 49p in Tesco and I got two packs of seven. The numbers varies depending on weight but fruit is eaten in units usually, not weight.
I found the pasta recipe online, in an old Guardian article. If it works, I'll post about it later.
(apf means 'already paid for' which means when I bought the item I took the whole cost from the budget rather than doing it per portion. It works for things like lettuce, cabbage, milk, yogurt, oil, etc, where working out one portion would make life a lot more complicated!
YS means Yellow Sticker - reduced)
End of day update
It's been a rather delicious day, to be honest and it's definitely a £1.50. Lunch was tasty, dinner was scrummy and it was nice to have more fruit.
B: Total 17p
L: Total 27p
D: Total 45p
S/S: Total 45p (peaches and 30g cheese)
Today I spent £1.34
Budget so far £18.00
Spent: £16.70
Money in hand: £1.30
I will post about the pasta in a separate message.
 |
| Lunch! |
Saturday, 24 June 2017
Recipe: French bread ham and pineapple pizza
I had some YS French bread to use (I chopped it into lengths and froze it) and I remembered that I really liked these pizzas when they first came out.
I also had some home grown/made passata and some ham trimmings.
Sorry about the vagueness of the ingredients but it's just what I had! You don't need much of anything really
Ingredients.
some French bread (about 10 to 12cm long) - or you could use a crusty roll or even a chunky slice of bread!
some passata
oregano, seasonings
bits of ham
bits of pineapple (I reserved some from my breakfast portion which was a quarter of a Savers can)
a tsp oil
bit of onion, sliced
bit of sweet corn (from a bag of frozen corn)
3-g finely grated cheddar
a few olives if you have any (I didn't)
Method
Heat oven to 180C
Reduce the passata down, adding herbs/seasonings to taste. A bit of garlic puree would be nice.
Soften the onion and corn in a little butter until soft
Cut through the piece of French bread lengthwise.
Spread over the reduced and thickened passata, then add the onion, corn, ham and pineapple. Season if wanted. I then added some oregano leaves from the garden.
Sprinkle over the grated cheese and top with olives (optional)
Place on baking sheet and I used a bit of scrunched up foil to keep them level. Bake for about 15 mins until the cheese is melted and bubbling.
Serve with salad. Or chips. Or whatever you fancy really.
With my apfs, frugal purchases and bits from the garden, it came to 46p. It would be more if I had needed to buy everything at full price, of course.
I also had some home grown/made passata and some ham trimmings.
Sorry about the vagueness of the ingredients but it's just what I had! You don't need much of anything really
Ingredients.
some French bread (about 10 to 12cm long) - or you could use a crusty roll or even a chunky slice of bread!
some passata
oregano, seasonings
bits of ham
bits of pineapple (I reserved some from my breakfast portion which was a quarter of a Savers can)
a tsp oil
bit of onion, sliced
bit of sweet corn (from a bag of frozen corn)
3-g finely grated cheddar
a few olives if you have any (I didn't)
Method
Heat oven to 180C
Reduce the passata down, adding herbs/seasonings to taste. A bit of garlic puree would be nice.
Soften the onion and corn in a little butter until soft
Cut through the piece of French bread lengthwise.
Spread over the reduced and thickened passata, then add the onion, corn, ham and pineapple. Season if wanted. I then added some oregano leaves from the garden.
Sprinkle over the grated cheese and top with olives (optional)
Place on baking sheet and I used a bit of scrunched up foil to keep them level. Bake for about 15 mins until the cheese is melted and bubbling.
Serve with salad. Or chips. Or whatever you fancy really.
With my apfs, frugal purchases and bits from the garden, it came to 46p. It would be more if I had needed to buy everything at full price, of course.
Day 16
A £1 day today although, if I find some nice fruit as I go shopping, it might become as £1.50 day!
B: pineapple (6p), natural yogurt (gifted), muesli (gifted)
L: beans (8p) on toast (apf), apple (7p)
D: ham and pineapple French bread pizza (home made and around 35 to 40p), salad leaves (garden), cucumber (apf), grated carrot (around 3p), sweet potato fries (apf)
S/S: carrot batons (3p), maybe a banana (12p)
(apf means 'already paid for' which means when I bought the item I took the whole cost from the budget rather than doing it per portion. It works for things like lettuce, cabbage, milk, yogurt, oil, etc, where working out one portion would make life a lot more complicated!
YS means Yellow Sticker - reduced)
End of day update
More or less according to plans but there are some apfs to add. The meals came to just over £1 so I am calling it a £1 day
B: Total 7p
L: Total 17p
D: Pizza was 46p and I didn't need the fries. Total 52p
S/S: banana, two 'flat' peaches Total 26p
Plus:
Iceberg lettuce: 41p
Some not butter spread - I thought I'd try it as butter is very expensive: 75p
A batch of natural yogurt: 47p
Today I spent £1.02 plus £1.63 on apfs
Budget so far £16.50
Spent: £15.36
Money in hand: £1.14
B: pineapple (6p), natural yogurt (gifted), muesli (gifted)
L: beans (8p) on toast (apf), apple (7p)
D: ham and pineapple French bread pizza (home made and around 35 to 40p), salad leaves (garden), cucumber (apf), grated carrot (around 3p), sweet potato fries (apf)
S/S: carrot batons (3p), maybe a banana (12p)
(apf means 'already paid for' which means when I bought the item I took the whole cost from the budget rather than doing it per portion. It works for things like lettuce, cabbage, milk, yogurt, oil, etc, where working out one portion would make life a lot more complicated!
YS means Yellow Sticker - reduced)
End of day update
More or less according to plans but there are some apfs to add. The meals came to just over £1 so I am calling it a £1 day
B: Total 7p
L: Total 17p
D: Pizza was 46p and I didn't need the fries. Total 52p
S/S: banana, two 'flat' peaches Total 26p
Plus:
Iceberg lettuce: 41p
Some not butter spread - I thought I'd try it as butter is very expensive: 75p
A batch of natural yogurt: 47p
Today I spent £1.02 plus £1.63 on apfs
Budget so far £16.50
Spent: £15.36
Money in hand: £1.14
Friday, 23 June 2017
Day 15
After yesterday's health-crash, I've been extra organised this morning. The food is out of the freezer, ready and waiting. When I open the tin of pineapple, it will be portioned out into pots and I will use it over the weekend.
B: pineapple (from an old tin, 7p), natural yogurt (apf), muesli (gifted)
L: the beans (9p) on toast (apf) from yesterday
D: chicken and veg curry (43p) with rice (7p)
S/S: apple (7p) and banana (12p), maybe a few strawberries (garden)
Please send lots of motivational vibes. It will help that it's a lot cooler but that's no excuse! :-)
(apf means 'already paid for' which means when I bought the item I took the whole cost from the budget rather than doing it per portion. It works for things like lettuce, cabbage, milk, yogurt, oil, etc, where working out one portion would make life a lot more complicated!
YS means Yellow Sticker - reduced)
End of the day update:
A really good day today, more or less going according to plan.
B: Total 7p
L: Total 9p
D: I had the banana as a dessert. Total 62p
No S or S
Today I spent 78p
Budget so far £15.50
Spent: £12.71
Money in hand: £2.79
And I have planned the next week's meals so am much more likely to stay on track.
B: pineapple (from an old tin, 7p), natural yogurt (apf), muesli (gifted)
L: the beans (9p) on toast (apf) from yesterday
D: chicken and veg curry (43p) with rice (7p)
S/S: apple (7p) and banana (12p), maybe a few strawberries (garden)
Please send lots of motivational vibes. It will help that it's a lot cooler but that's no excuse! :-)
(apf means 'already paid for' which means when I bought the item I took the whole cost from the budget rather than doing it per portion. It works for things like lettuce, cabbage, milk, yogurt, oil, etc, where working out one portion would make life a lot more complicated!
YS means Yellow Sticker - reduced)
End of the day update:
A really good day today, more or less going according to plan.
B: Total 7p
L: Total 9p
D: I had the banana as a dessert. Total 62p
No S or S
Today I spent 78p
Budget so far £15.50
Spent: £12.71
Money in hand: £2.79
And I have planned the next week's meals so am much more likely to stay on track.
Thursday, 22 June 2017
Day 14
I was really lucky yesterday. After the governors' meeting, I popped into Morrisons, just to see, and came out with two large sliced Warburton's wholemeal loaves and a pack of crumpets, each costing just 9p. I shall take the cost of the loaves off at source so they will be apfs as it will be too tricky to cost each slice and two crumpets will be 3p.
Very pleased with that
I could have got more but there's no more room in the freezer, sadly.
On to today's plans. It is day 14 and a £1 day
B: fruit (last of the gifted grapes), yogurt (apf) and muesli (gifted).
L: probably beans (9p) on toast (apf) as it's so easy.
D: it's got to be easy as the evening is busy so I will get out another pot of cooked chicken (28p) and make a salad and some coleslaw to go with it (to be costed)
S/S: apple (7p - YS and not perfect but I cut off any bad bits and the rest is absolutely fine), maybe a banana (12p)
Plus the two loaves of bread (18p)
Is anyone else finding they don't want to eat much on these hot days?
Evening update:
A few changes, not terribly healthy ones. It was a bit crash and burn as far as the calories were concerned.
B: as planned Total 2p
L: two crumpets, toasted, with butter Total 3p (the butter was apf and the crumpets were YS)
D: Oh, dear. I had the other four YS crumpets and they were, frankly, absolutely delicious. Total 6p
S/S: apple Total 7p
I have GOT to get myself organised again. OK, yesterday was so, so hot, but I was just lazy and had what was hanging around instead of making the effort to eat properly and healthily - very bad. Enough is enough.
Not bad for the old budget, mind you!
Today I spent 18p (not great, is it but those YS crumpets were only 9p, you see)
Budget so far £14.50
Spent: £11.93
Money in hand: £2.57
Very pleased with that
I could have got more but there's no more room in the freezer, sadly.
On to today's plans. It is day 14 and a £1 day
B: fruit (last of the gifted grapes), yogurt (apf) and muesli (gifted).
L: probably beans (9p) on toast (apf) as it's so easy.
D: it's got to be easy as the evening is busy so I will get out another pot of cooked chicken (28p) and make a salad and some coleslaw to go with it (to be costed)
S/S: apple (7p - YS and not perfect but I cut off any bad bits and the rest is absolutely fine), maybe a banana (12p)
Plus the two loaves of bread (18p)
Is anyone else finding they don't want to eat much on these hot days?
Evening update:
A few changes, not terribly healthy ones. It was a bit crash and burn as far as the calories were concerned.
B: as planned Total 2p
L: two crumpets, toasted, with butter Total 3p (the butter was apf and the crumpets were YS)
D: Oh, dear. I had the other four YS crumpets and they were, frankly, absolutely delicious. Total 6p
S/S: apple Total 7p
I have GOT to get myself organised again. OK, yesterday was so, so hot, but I was just lazy and had what was hanging around instead of making the effort to eat properly and healthily - very bad. Enough is enough.
Not bad for the old budget, mind you!
Today I spent 18p (not great, is it but those YS crumpets were only 9p, you see)
Budget so far £14.50
Spent: £11.93
Money in hand: £2.57
Wednesday, 21 June 2017
Day 13
. . . and another £1.00 day
B: bread roll (2p - home made), butter (apf)
L: probably fruit (garden and gifted), yogurt (apf) and muesli (gifted). It's really a breakfast but it is nice and cooling.
D: Dinner is problematic as I have no time between tuition and evening meeting so I have got out a couple of pots of cooked chicken (56p) and another bread roll (2p) and will make a nice filled roll with lettuce and cucumber (apfs) and maybe a dollop of mayo (around 6p), followed by an apple or a banana (7p or 12p)
No snacks or supper today
(apf means 'already paid for' which means when I bought the item I took the whole cost from the budget rather than doing it per portion. It works for things like lettuce, cabbage, milk, yogurt, oil, etc, where working out one portion would make life a lot more complicated!
YS means Yellow Sticker - reduced)
End of day update
All went well and I pretty much stuck to the plans
B: Total 2p
L: Total 2p (for some stevia)
D:Total 64p (I didn't have the fruit)
Also, seeing as I have plenty in hand, I am paying for a whole pack of butter rather than a bit at a time. So that's another 99p (bought ages ago and popped in the freezer - isn't it shocking how much butter has gone up recently?)
Today I spent £1.67 (including the butter)
Budget so far £13.50
Spent: £11.75
Money in hand: £1.75
B: bread roll (2p - home made), butter (apf)
L: probably fruit (garden and gifted), yogurt (apf) and muesli (gifted). It's really a breakfast but it is nice and cooling.
D: Dinner is problematic as I have no time between tuition and evening meeting so I have got out a couple of pots of cooked chicken (56p) and another bread roll (2p) and will make a nice filled roll with lettuce and cucumber (apfs) and maybe a dollop of mayo (around 6p), followed by an apple or a banana (7p or 12p)
No snacks or supper today
(apf means 'already paid for' which means when I bought the item I took the whole cost from the budget rather than doing it per portion. It works for things like lettuce, cabbage, milk, yogurt, oil, etc, where working out one portion would make life a lot more complicated!
YS means Yellow Sticker - reduced)
End of day update
All went well and I pretty much stuck to the plans
B: Total 2p
L: Total 2p (for some stevia)
D:Total 64p (I didn't have the fruit)
Also, seeing as I have plenty in hand, I am paying for a whole pack of butter rather than a bit at a time. So that's another 99p (bought ages ago and popped in the freezer - isn't it shocking how much butter has gone up recently?)
Today I spent £1.67 (including the butter)
Budget so far £13.50
Spent: £11.75
Money in hand: £1.75
Tuesday, 20 June 2017
Day 12
Goodness, isn't it hot! Lots of water is the name of the game, I think.
Today is a £1.00 day.
B: fruit (grapes and any strawberries I can find), natural yogurt (gifted) and muesli (gifted)
L: bread roll (2p) soft cheese (10p), lettuce (apf), cucumber (apf), apple (7p)
D: chorizo and bean stew (28p) with rice (7p), banana (12p)
S/S: carrot batons (4p),
I've also bought another carton of milk so that's 45p
(apf means 'already paid for' which means when I bought the item I took the whole cost from the budget rather than doing it per portion. It works for things like lettuce, cabbage, milk, yogurt, oil, etc, where working out one portion would make life a lot more complicated!
YS means Yellow Sticker - reduced)
Here's a link to the recipe for the chorizo and bean stew. It's very tasty!
http://my30-30challenge.blogspot.co.uk/2017/03/recipe-chorizo-and-bean-stew.html
End of day update.
All more or less went according to plan.
B: Total 1p as I had a bit of stevia on the fruit
L: Total 20p
D: Total 35p as I didn't have the banana
S: bread roll and butter Total 2p (bread roll home made, butter apf)
Plus milk: 45p
Today I spent £1.03 (including the milk)
Budget so far £12.50
Spent: £10.08p
Money in hand: £2.42
Today is a £1.00 day.
B: fruit (grapes and any strawberries I can find), natural yogurt (gifted) and muesli (gifted)
L: bread roll (2p) soft cheese (10p), lettuce (apf), cucumber (apf), apple (7p)
D: chorizo and bean stew (28p) with rice (7p), banana (12p)
S/S: carrot batons (4p),
I've also bought another carton of milk so that's 45p
(apf means 'already paid for' which means when I bought the item I took the whole cost from the budget rather than doing it per portion. It works for things like lettuce, cabbage, milk, yogurt, oil, etc, where working out one portion would make life a lot more complicated!
YS means Yellow Sticker - reduced)
Here's a link to the recipe for the chorizo and bean stew. It's very tasty!
http://my30-30challenge.blogspot.co.uk/2017/03/recipe-chorizo-and-bean-stew.html
End of day update.
All more or less went according to plan.
B: Total 1p as I had a bit of stevia on the fruit
L: Total 20p
D: Total 35p as I didn't have the banana
S: bread roll and butter Total 2p (bread roll home made, butter apf)
Plus milk: 45p
Today I spent £1.03 (including the milk)
Budget so far £12.50
Spent: £10.08p
Money in hand: £2.42
Monday, 19 June 2017
Day 11
I'm back after four days off challenge and raring to go again. I've been staying with my parents and, as usual, have come home with freebies - soft fruit (in the freezer for years!), yogurt (saves me having to make a batch for a few days) and grapes.
It's so hot today that I really don't feel like much to eat so it's all very simple.
B: muesli, fruit, toast (free as still away)
L: beans (8p) on toast (3p)
D: spag (2p) bol (25p), fruit and yogurt (probably all free - see above)
S: banana (12p)
Just a one pound day today.
End of day update
B: Free
L: I had more beans and no bread. Total 16p
D: the bolognaise, from the freezer, was 22p so a total of 24p
S: fruit and yogurt (garden and gifted), bread roll with cheese. Total 27p
Today I spent 67p
Budget so far £11.50
Spent: £9.05
Money in hand: £2.45
It's so hot today that I really don't feel like much to eat so it's all very simple.
B: muesli, fruit, toast (free as still away)
L: beans (8p) on toast (3p)
D: spag (2p) bol (25p), fruit and yogurt (probably all free - see above)
S: banana (12p)
Just a one pound day today.
End of day update
B: Free
L: I had more beans and no bread. Total 16p
D: the bolognaise, from the freezer, was 22p so a total of 24p
S: fruit and yogurt (garden and gifted), bread roll with cheese. Total 27p
Today I spent 67p
Budget so far £11.50
Spent: £9.05
Money in hand: £2.45
Wednesday, 14 June 2017
Day 10
A £1.00 day. I'm saving up the £1.50 day for when it's needed!
Today's menu
B: strawberries (garden), natural yogurt (apf) and some muesli (gifted)
L: beans (8p) on toast (3p), banana (12p)
D: gammon (12p - from a pack of cooking bacon that had lovely thick wodges), sweet potato fries (apf), coleslaw (8p), salad (to be costed
S: apple (11p)
(apf means 'already paid for' which means when I bought the item I took the whole cost from the budget rather than doing it per portion. It works for things like lettuce, cabbage, milk, yogurt, oil, etc, where working out one portion would make life a lot more complicated!
YS means Yellow Sticker - reduced)
End of day update.
It all went remarkably well, precious few changes except that I had the banana as a snack.
B: Total 2p
L: Total 11p
D: Total 27p
S: Total 12p
Today I spent 52p
Budget so far £10.50
Spent: £8.38
Money in hand: £2.12
Now I am off challenge for four days because of visitors. Back on Monday!
Today's menu
B: strawberries (garden), natural yogurt (apf) and some muesli (gifted)
L: beans (8p) on toast (3p), banana (12p)
D: gammon (12p - from a pack of cooking bacon that had lovely thick wodges), sweet potato fries (apf), coleslaw (8p), salad (to be costed
S: apple (11p)
(apf means 'already paid for' which means when I bought the item I took the whole cost from the budget rather than doing it per portion. It works for things like lettuce, cabbage, milk, yogurt, oil, etc, where working out one portion would make life a lot more complicated!
YS means Yellow Sticker - reduced)
End of day update.
It all went remarkably well, precious few changes except that I had the banana as a snack.
B: Total 2p
L: Total 11p
D: Total 27p
S: Total 12p
Today I spent 52p
Budget so far £10.50
Spent: £8.38
Money in hand: £2.12
Now I am off challenge for four days because of visitors. Back on Monday!
Tuesday, 13 June 2017
Day 9
I shall forget that I am due a £1.50 day and move on, I think, because today's food is going to be exactly the same as yesterday's food, partly because it's there and needs using and partly because it was tasty and satisfying and filling.
I do have one thing to add that I had yesterday after I'd wrapped up the accounts for the day and that is a banana. I'll put it on today's food.
B: strawberries (garden), natural yogurt (apf) and muesli (gifted)
L: beans (9p) on toast (2p)
D: chicken curry and rice (50p)
S/S: bananas x 2 (24p)
End of day update
B: Total 2p (I had some stevia on the berries)
L: Total 12p (one extra slice bread)
D: Total 50p
S: Total 12p (didn't have one banana)
Today I spent 76p
Budget so far £9.50
Spent: £7.86
Money in hand: £1.64
I do have one thing to add that I had yesterday after I'd wrapped up the accounts for the day and that is a banana. I'll put it on today's food.
B: strawberries (garden), natural yogurt (apf) and muesli (gifted)
L: beans (9p) on toast (2p)
D: chicken curry and rice (50p)
S/S: bananas x 2 (24p)
End of day update
B: Total 2p (I had some stevia on the berries)
L: Total 12p (one extra slice bread)
D: Total 50p
S: Total 12p (didn't have one banana)
Today I spent 76p
Budget so far £9.50
Spent: £7.86
Money in hand: £1.64
Monday, 12 June 2017
Day 8
. . . and the second £1.50 day.
B: Strawberries (garden) and natural yogurt (apf) with a sprinkle of museli (gifted) on top
L: beans (8p) on toast (apf)
D: chicken and veg curry (81p or 94p) with rice (50g dry, 7p)
chicken: 28p
onion: 2p
some sweet potato: apf
mushroom: 14p
pepper: 16p
carrot: 2p
curry powder: 10p
other spices, etc: apf
coconut milk: 9p
either some chopped tomatoes from last year's crop out of the freezer or half a can chopped tomatoes: free or 13p
I've costed out the curry but I suspect, looking at what I'm putting into it, that it will make two portions, so that will more or less halve the cost.
S/S: strawberries (garden) and yogurt (apf)
(apf means 'already paid for' which means when I bought the item I took the whole cost from the budget rather than doing it per portion. It works for things like lettuce, cabbage, milk, yogurt, oil, etc, where working out one portion would make life a lot more complicated!
YS means Yellow Sticker - reduced)
End of the day
As planned, pretty much, although I did alter the curry a bit, adding another bit of chicken (which are actually 26p each, not 28p) and I added some peas and some tomato puree (an apf). I found passata and I added a chicken stock cube to it. As a result, it has made three good portions - can't complain about that!
B: Total 0p
L: Total 8p
D: Total just under 50p
This was supposed to be a £1.50 day but I'm going to call it a £1.00 day instead as it has come out a lot lower than I expected and I have two more 50p dinners cooling for the freezer.
Today I spent 58p, a LOT less than I expected - it's all those 'already paid fors', that's what it is!
Budget so far £8.50
Spent: £7.10
Money in hand: £1.40
B: Strawberries (garden) and natural yogurt (apf) with a sprinkle of museli (gifted) on top
L: beans (8p) on toast (apf)
D: chicken and veg curry (81p or 94p) with rice (50g dry, 7p)
chicken: 28p
onion: 2p
some sweet potato: apf
mushroom: 14p
pepper: 16p
carrot: 2p
curry powder: 10p
other spices, etc: apf
coconut milk: 9p
either some chopped tomatoes from last year's crop out of the freezer or half a can chopped tomatoes: free or 13p
I've costed out the curry but I suspect, looking at what I'm putting into it, that it will make two portions, so that will more or less halve the cost.
S/S: strawberries (garden) and yogurt (apf)
(apf means 'already paid for' which means when I bought the item I took the whole cost from the budget rather than doing it per portion. It works for things like lettuce, cabbage, milk, yogurt, oil, etc, where working out one portion would make life a lot more complicated!
YS means Yellow Sticker - reduced)
End of the day
As planned, pretty much, although I did alter the curry a bit, adding another bit of chicken (which are actually 26p each, not 28p) and I added some peas and some tomato puree (an apf). I found passata and I added a chicken stock cube to it. As a result, it has made three good portions - can't complain about that!
B: Total 0p
L: Total 8p
D: Total just under 50p
This was supposed to be a £1.50 day but I'm going to call it a £1.00 day instead as it has come out a lot lower than I expected and I have two more 50p dinners cooling for the freezer.
Today I spent 58p, a LOT less than I expected - it's all those 'already paid fors', that's what it is!
Budget so far £8.50
Spent: £7.10
Money in hand: £1.40
Sunday, 11 June 2017
Day 7
I'm back and it is day 7 - a £1.50 day today.
B: Left over scone ( about 4p) with jam (guesstimate of 3p as it's home made from garden fruit), banana (12p)
L: Cheese toastie (20p-ish), coleslaw (8p), salad (don't know yet)
D: chicken drumsticks (50p) in a sticky sauce (about 10p-ish), more salad, strawberries (garden) and yogurt (apf)
Plus a sweet potato (57p), a cucumber (39p), and a batch of yogurt (49p) which will be apfs.
The sticky sauce will be a mixture of oil and balsamic and honey with mustard, garlic and a bit of smoked paprika or something like that.
(apf means 'already paid for' which means when I bought the item I took the whole cost from the budget rather than doing it per portion. It works for things like lettuce, cabbage, milk, yogurt, oil, etc, where working out one portion would make life a lot more complicated!
YS means Yellow Sticker - reduced)
Update:
Not bad, actually.
B and L were the same except that I had another left over scone for a dessert at lunch tome - naughty!.
For D I had two drumsticks in the sauce but didn't fancy anything else. Flippin' hay fever.
B: Total 19p
L: Total 42p
D: Total 70p
Today I spent £1.31 plus £1.45 on those spfs
Budget so far £7.50
Spent: £6.52
Money in hand: slightly complicated calculation involving using up the rest of the money left over from May but it looks as if I am £1.71 in credit
And nothing left from May!
B: Left over scone ( about 4p) with jam (guesstimate of 3p as it's home made from garden fruit), banana (12p)
L: Cheese toastie (20p-ish), coleslaw (8p), salad (don't know yet)
D: chicken drumsticks (50p) in a sticky sauce (about 10p-ish), more salad, strawberries (garden) and yogurt (apf)
Plus a sweet potato (57p), a cucumber (39p), and a batch of yogurt (49p) which will be apfs.
The sticky sauce will be a mixture of oil and balsamic and honey with mustard, garlic and a bit of smoked paprika or something like that.
(apf means 'already paid for' which means when I bought the item I took the whole cost from the budget rather than doing it per portion. It works for things like lettuce, cabbage, milk, yogurt, oil, etc, where working out one portion would make life a lot more complicated!
YS means Yellow Sticker - reduced)
Update:
Not bad, actually.
B and L were the same except that I had another left over scone for a dessert at lunch tome - naughty!.
For D I had two drumsticks in the sauce but didn't fancy anything else. Flippin' hay fever.
B: Total 19p
L: Total 42p
D: Total 70p
Today I spent £1.31 plus £1.45 on those spfs
Budget so far £7.50
Spent: £6.52
Money in hand: slightly complicated calculation involving using up the rest of the money left over from May but it looks as if I am £1.71 in credit
And nothing left from May!
Saturday, 10 June 2017
Recipe: yogurt scones
This recipe makes a most delicious batch of scones - between seven and twelve of them, depending on the size of your cutter and how often you are prepared to re-roll and re-cut.
I frugalise them by using my own, home made natural yogurt (half the price of the supermarket savers kind and much nicer), Savers SR flour (same price and you don't need so much baking powder), granulated sugar that I zizz into caster sugar myself and no egg - the tops don't get glazed.
Ingredients
250g SR flour
50g sugar - either caster sugar or grind your own from granulated.
1 tsp baking powder
pinch salt
62g cold butter
around 135ml natural yogurt
Method
Pre-heat over to 180C
Sieve flour and mix with sugar, salt and baking powder. Cube the butter and rub it into the flour mixture until it resembles breadcrumbs. Mix in the yogurt until it forms a soft dough. You may need more or less so be flexible here.
Roll out to about 2cms in height and cut into smaller pieces. I tend to use a round cutter but cutting it into triangles would be easier all round.
Place on a baking sheet lines with parchment.
Bake until risen and golden on top. Timing depends on size to a certain degree so give them ten minutes and then keep an eye on them.
Allow to cool and then serve with sweet tasty stuff. Butter and jam, jam and clotted cream - lemon curd - whatever you fancy really.
Any not used will freeze and can be refreshed by warming slightly in the microwave after thawing.
If wanted, you could add some dried fruit to the dough.
Using my work arounds and not counting the yogurt which is an apf, this mixture comes to around 40p. That's not bad.
I frugalise them by using my own, home made natural yogurt (half the price of the supermarket savers kind and much nicer), Savers SR flour (same price and you don't need so much baking powder), granulated sugar that I zizz into caster sugar myself and no egg - the tops don't get glazed.
Ingredients
250g SR flour
50g sugar - either caster sugar or grind your own from granulated.
1 tsp baking powder
pinch salt
62g cold butter
around 135ml natural yogurt
Method
Pre-heat over to 180C
Sieve flour and mix with sugar, salt and baking powder. Cube the butter and rub it into the flour mixture until it resembles breadcrumbs. Mix in the yogurt until it forms a soft dough. You may need more or less so be flexible here.
Roll out to about 2cms in height and cut into smaller pieces. I tend to use a round cutter but cutting it into triangles would be easier all round.
Place on a baking sheet lines with parchment.
Bake until risen and golden on top. Timing depends on size to a certain degree so give them ten minutes and then keep an eye on them.
Allow to cool and then serve with sweet tasty stuff. Butter and jam, jam and clotted cream - lemon curd - whatever you fancy really.
Any not used will freeze and can be refreshed by warming slightly in the microwave after thawing.
If wanted, you could add some dried fruit to the dough.
Using my work arounds and not counting the yogurt which is an apf, this mixture comes to around 40p. That's not bad.
Friday, 9 June 2017
End of day 6
I'll fill this in today but I think that I'll just edit the first post each day from now on so both messages are on the same post. Makes more sense really.
Anyway - today.
B: delicious strawberries, yogurt and muesli Total 1p (for a bit of stevia on the berries)
L: beans on toast Total 8p
D: pepperami pasta Total 66p
Today I spent 75p
Budget so far £6
Spent: £3.76
Money in hand: £2.24
Plus 74p remaining from May
Tomorrow I will be off challenge for a day.
Anyway - today.
B: delicious strawberries, yogurt and muesli Total 1p (for a bit of stevia on the berries)
L: beans on toast Total 8p
D: pepperami pasta Total 66p
Today I spent 75p
Budget so far £6
Spent: £3.76
Money in hand: £2.24
Plus 74p remaining from May
Tomorrow I will be off challenge for a day.
Day 6
Still on the £1.00 days until the weekend.
Today's plans:
B: muesli (gift), yogurt (apf) and strawberries (garden)
L: beans (8p) on toast (apf)
D: pepperami pasta*, more strawberries and yogurt
(* made with some YS pepperami, onion, mushroom and pepper with tomato passata from last year's tomatoes)
(apf means 'already paid for' which means when I bought the item I took the whole cost from the budget rather than doing it per portion. It works for things like lettuce, cabbage, milk, yogurt, oil, etc, where working out one portion would make life a lot more complicated!
YS means Yellow Sticker - reduced)
Today's plans:
B: muesli (gift), yogurt (apf) and strawberries (garden)
L: beans (8p) on toast (apf)
D: pepperami pasta*, more strawberries and yogurt
(* made with some YS pepperami, onion, mushroom and pepper with tomato passata from last year's tomatoes)
(apf means 'already paid for' which means when I bought the item I took the whole cost from the budget rather than doing it per portion. It works for things like lettuce, cabbage, milk, yogurt, oil, etc, where working out one portion would make life a lot more complicated!
YS means Yellow Sticker - reduced)
Thursday, 8 June 2017
End of day 5, version 2
Three cheers - back on track again, thank goodness
B: toast and marmite, apple Total 22p
L: cod and salmon pie, strawberries and yogurt Total 9p
D: sausages and chicken drumstick, home made wedges, baked beans Total 42p
Also a YS sliced loaf which I will subtract from the May leftover money: 9p
Today I spent 73p
Budget so far £5
Spent: £3.01
Money in hand: £1.99p
Plus 74p remaining from May
B: toast and marmite, apple Total 22p
L: cod and salmon pie, strawberries and yogurt Total 9p
D: sausages and chicken drumstick, home made wedges, baked beans Total 42p
Also a YS sliced loaf which I will subtract from the May leftover money: 9p
Today I spent 73p
Budget so far £5
Spent: £3.01
Money in hand: £1.99p
Plus 74p remaining from May
Day 5 again
After a disastrous day yesterday, this is day 5, the second version. Sometimes things just get in the way, don't they?
I have to have that lunch because I had defrosted it for yesterday evening and I'm not wasting it, YS-cheap or not!
B: toast (apf) and marmite (11p), apple (11p)
L: cod and salmon pie (YS 9p), baked beans (1/3 of a can, 9p), strawberries (garden) and yogurt (apf)
D: chipolata sausages (YS 30), chicken drumstick (25p), some wedges (around 7-8p), more beans (8p)
S: carrot batons (6p)
Wish me luck.
(apf means 'already paid for' which means when I bought the item I took the whole cost from the budget rather than doing it per portion. It works for things like lettuce, cabbage, milk, yogurt, oil, etc, where working out one portion would make life a lot more complicated!
YS means Yellow Sticker - reduced)
I have to have that lunch because I had defrosted it for yesterday evening and I'm not wasting it, YS-cheap or not!
B: toast (apf) and marmite (11p), apple (11p)
L: cod and salmon pie (YS 9p), baked beans (1/3 of a can, 9p), strawberries (garden) and yogurt (apf)
D: chipolata sausages (YS 30), chicken drumstick (25p), some wedges (around 7-8p), more beans (8p)
S: carrot batons (6p)
Wish me luck.
(apf means 'already paid for' which means when I bought the item I took the whole cost from the budget rather than doing it per portion. It works for things like lettuce, cabbage, milk, yogurt, oil, etc, where working out one portion would make life a lot more complicated!
YS means Yellow Sticker - reduced)
End of day 5.
Well, day 5 was a disaster so I am wiping it off the record and having it again! C'est la vie!
Wednesday, 7 June 2017
Day 5
Another £1 day.
I'm still using up the YS purchases from last week (I have to admit that the chicken melt last night was rather tasty) as well as enjoying freebies and the first of the garden produce.
B: strawberries (garden), natural yogurt (apf) and a sprinkling of muesli (gifted), apple (8p)
L: beans (1/3 can 9p) on toast (apf), banana (12p)
D: cod and salmon pie (YS, child's portion, 9p), peas (100g, 16p), green beans (50g, 8p), strawberries (garden)
S: carrot batons (6p)
(apf means 'already paid for' which means when I bought the item I took the whole cost from the budget rather than doing it per portion. It works for things like lettuce, cabbage, milk, yogurt, oil, etc, where working out one portion would make life a lot more complicated!
YS means Yellow Sticker - reduced)
I'm still using up the YS purchases from last week (I have to admit that the chicken melt last night was rather tasty) as well as enjoying freebies and the first of the garden produce.
B: strawberries (garden), natural yogurt (apf) and a sprinkling of muesli (gifted), apple (8p)
L: beans (1/3 can 9p) on toast (apf), banana (12p)
D: cod and salmon pie (YS, child's portion, 9p), peas (100g, 16p), green beans (50g, 8p), strawberries (garden)
S: carrot batons (6p)
(apf means 'already paid for' which means when I bought the item I took the whole cost from the budget rather than doing it per portion. It works for things like lettuce, cabbage, milk, yogurt, oil, etc, where working out one portion would make life a lot more complicated!
YS means Yellow Sticker - reduced)
End of day 4
B: muesli, natural yogurt and strawberries Total 0p (gifted, apf and garden)
L: bacon and soft cheese bagel, coleslaw Total 25p
D: chicken marguerita melt (YS), peas, strawberries and natural yogurt Total 35p
S: banana Total 12p
Today I spent 72p
Budget so far £4
Spent: £2.28
Money in hand: £1.72p
Plus 83p remaining from May
L: bacon and soft cheese bagel, coleslaw Total 25p
D: chicken marguerita melt (YS), peas, strawberries and natural yogurt Total 35p
S: banana Total 12p
Today I spent 72p
Budget so far £4
Spent: £2.28
Money in hand: £1.72p
Plus 83p remaining from May
Tuesday, 6 June 2017
Day 4
It's a one pound day today and will be until Friday. I have skipped a couple of £1.50 days because of being away.
It's also a gifted, garden and yellow sticker week which isn't going to hurt the old budget.
Here's today's plans:
B: muesli (gifted), with yogurt (apf) and strawberries (garden)
L: bacon (YS - 8p), soft cheese (9p-ish), bagel (YS - 2p), coleslaw (6p)
D: chicken margarita melt (YS - 19p), peas (16p), strawberries (garden)
S/S: carrot batons (costed in the coleslaw), apple (8p)
(apf means 'already paid for' which means when I bought the item I took the whole cost from the budget rather than doing it per portion. It works for things like lettuce, cabbage, milk, yogurt, oil, etc, where working out one portion would make life a lot more complicated!
YS means Yellow Sticker - reduced)
It's also a gifted, garden and yellow sticker week which isn't going to hurt the old budget.
Here's today's plans:
B: muesli (gifted), with yogurt (apf) and strawberries (garden)
L: bacon (YS - 8p), soft cheese (9p-ish), bagel (YS - 2p), coleslaw (6p)
D: chicken margarita melt (YS - 19p), peas (16p), strawberries (garden)
S/S: carrot batons (costed in the coleslaw), apple (8p)
(apf means 'already paid for' which means when I bought the item I took the whole cost from the budget rather than doing it per portion. It works for things like lettuce, cabbage, milk, yogurt, oil, etc, where working out one portion would make life a lot more complicated!
YS means Yellow Sticker - reduced)
End of day 3
Just a few slight changes
B: fruit and toast, not at home. Free
L: marmalade on toast, apple, banana. Total 23p
D: leftover Chinese meal (gifted) and strawberries from the garden. Free
I was away over the weekend, staying with my lovely parents, and I came back with two bags of posh muesli* and a bag of granary flour (to turn into loaves, some of which I will take back to them). So I will be having posh and healthy breakfasts for a while.
Today I spent 23p (unusual but I won't complain!)
Budget so far £3
Spent: £1.56
Money in hand: £1.44p
Plus £3.76 left over from May
Butter 99p
Herbs and spices £1.00
Carton of milk 45p
Batch of yogurt 49p
Remaining 83p
*Dad saw this little muesli company on a TV programme, looked them up and ordered from them. Being the generous soul that he is, he ordered some for me too. So very kind.
B: fruit and toast, not at home. Free
L: marmalade on toast, apple, banana. Total 23p
D: leftover Chinese meal (gifted) and strawberries from the garden. Free
I was away over the weekend, staying with my lovely parents, and I came back with two bags of posh muesli* and a bag of granary flour (to turn into loaves, some of which I will take back to them). So I will be having posh and healthy breakfasts for a while.
Today I spent 23p (unusual but I won't complain!)
Budget so far £3
Spent: £1.56
Money in hand: £1.44p
Plus £3.76 left over from May
Butter 99p
Herbs and spices £1.00
Carton of milk 45p
Batch of yogurt 49p
Remaining 83p
*Dad saw this little muesli company on a TV programme, looked them up and ordered from them. Being the generous soul that he is, he ordered some for me too. So very kind.
Monday, 5 June 2017
End of day 2
(better late than never)
B: toast and soft cheese, strawberries and rhubarb Total 10p
L: apple, banana Total 20p
D: out but not paying
Today I spent 30p
Budget so far £2
Spent: £1.33
Money in hand: 67p
Plus £3.76 left over from May of which £1 goes to herbs and spices, etc, and 99p for a pack of butter. That leaves £1.77 for apfs.
(apf means 'already paid for' which means when I bought the item I took the whole cost from the budget rather than doing it per portion. It works for things like lettuce, cabbage, milk, yogurt, oil, etc, where working out one portion would make life a lot more complicated!)
Day 3
Well, after two days away staying with my Mum and Dad, today was going to be a £1.50 day but, after having pigged myself for two days at their expense, today is going to be a £1 and I will just miss out the two £1.50 days.
The menu today is . . .
B: fruit and toast (free as still away)
L: apple (8p), banana (12p)
D: what's left from one of those supermarket Chinese meals - it was supposed to be a meal for two, it served three of us and enough left for a smallish meal for me tonight. So free. Also strawberries from the garden, of which there ought to be loads.
S/S: Not sure yet.
A good start back on challenge but, of course, a one off.
The menu today is . . .
B: fruit and toast (free as still away)
L: apple (8p), banana (12p)
D: what's left from one of those supermarket Chinese meals - it was supposed to be a meal for two, it served three of us and enough left for a smallish meal for me tonight. So free. Also strawberries from the garden, of which there ought to be loads.
S/S: Not sure yet.
A good start back on challenge but, of course, a one off.
Saturday, 3 June 2017
Off challenge
I'm off challenge for a couple of days now. They were supposed to be £1 days so I will see how next week goes and maybe slot a £1.50 day in at some point, or maybe not.
Friday, 2 June 2017
Day 2
Second day of the new cycle and it is a £1 day.
B: toast (apf) and soft cheese (9p), strawberries and rhubarb (garden)
L: broccoli soup (12p), banana (12p)
D: out but not paying - yay!
B: toast (apf) and soft cheese (9p), strawberries and rhubarb (garden)
L: broccoli soup (12p), banana (12p)
D: out but not paying - yay!
Thursday, 1 June 2017
End of Day 1
As always, a few changes.
B: didn't have any, I just wasn't hungry . . .
L: . . . so I had two eggs for lunch not one. Cheg with shredded lettuce and tomatoes, banana Total 56p
D: I cooked the vegetable medley and added some cooked fish and some new potatoes, then strawberries and yogurt Total 47p
Today I spent £1.03
Budget so far £1
Spent: £1.03
Money in hand: -3p
Plus £3.76 left over from May
B: didn't have any, I just wasn't hungry . . .
L: . . . so I had two eggs for lunch not one. Cheg with shredded lettuce and tomatoes, banana Total 56p
D: I cooked the vegetable medley and added some cooked fish and some new potatoes, then strawberries and yogurt Total 47p
Today I spent £1.03
Budget so far £1
Spent: £1.03
Money in hand: -3p
Plus £3.76 left over from May
Day 1 of the June cycle
. . . and it starts with a £1 day.
Actually, I was dead lucky yesterday. I popped into Morrisons after tuition and they had just reduced some ready meals. Most unusually, they were reduced by a lot - right down to 19p or 9p and they were freezable, all but one thing. I don't usually get ready meals but there were too good value to ignore. So now I have seven meals in the freezer and a pot of 'Vegetable Medley' that was 9p which I will have today, one day out of date but it's fresh veg, it will be fine. I will plan the other meals in during the first two weeks to give the June cycle a good start!
I have £3.76 carried over from the May cycle. I'm going to leave that 'in the bank' for now as I am off challenge over the weekend so there's no point buying anything before it resumes on Monday.
A pound will go for herbs and spices and another pound (£1.08) will go on a pack of butter. It's amazing how splitting it into five portions of 50g makes it last and last.
Then I guess it will be another cabbage, some milk, some yogurt . . . the usual apfs, in fact.
On to today's menu
B: poached egg (13p) on a pikelet or two (max 2p - home made), apple (8p)
L: cheg (cheese and egg - I have eggs to use up - 20p) with salad (garden and apf) and coleslaw (6p)
D: fish (half a basa fillet - 19p) with vegetable medley (9p), strawberries (garden) and natural yogurt (apf)
S/S: banana (12p)
(apf means 'already paid for' which means when I bought the item I took the whole cost from the budget rather than doing it per portion. It works for things like lettuce, cabbage, milk, yogurt, oil, etc, where working out one portion would make life a lot more complicated!)
Actually, I was dead lucky yesterday. I popped into Morrisons after tuition and they had just reduced some ready meals. Most unusually, they were reduced by a lot - right down to 19p or 9p and they were freezable, all but one thing. I don't usually get ready meals but there were too good value to ignore. So now I have seven meals in the freezer and a pot of 'Vegetable Medley' that was 9p which I will have today, one day out of date but it's fresh veg, it will be fine. I will plan the other meals in during the first two weeks to give the June cycle a good start!
I have £3.76 carried over from the May cycle. I'm going to leave that 'in the bank' for now as I am off challenge over the weekend so there's no point buying anything before it resumes on Monday.
A pound will go for herbs and spices and another pound (£1.08) will go on a pack of butter. It's amazing how splitting it into five portions of 50g makes it last and last.
Then I guess it will be another cabbage, some milk, some yogurt . . . the usual apfs, in fact.
On to today's menu
B: poached egg (13p) on a pikelet or two (max 2p - home made), apple (8p)
L: cheg (cheese and egg - I have eggs to use up - 20p) with salad (garden and apf) and coleslaw (6p)
D: fish (half a basa fillet - 19p) with vegetable medley (9p), strawberries (garden) and natural yogurt (apf)
S/S: banana (12p)
(apf means 'already paid for' which means when I bought the item I took the whole cost from the budget rather than doing it per portion. It works for things like lettuce, cabbage, milk, yogurt, oil, etc, where working out one portion would make life a lot more complicated!)