Beef Schnitzel
2 onions
5 cloves garlic
2 Tablespoons soya sauce
4 tablespoons of sweet chili sauce
salt n pepper
frozen beans
broccoli
Beef Schnitzel cut into fine strips, use as much or as little as you like- I use about 250g - 500g & cut all the fat off. Trimmings are good for the pets.
2 onions diced finely
5 cloves garlic chopped - add more or less to your taste.
Quickly fry above in a hot pan - you don't want the meat to stew - as meat cut thin it will not take long a real fast meal to prepare.
Add 2 Tablespoons soya sauce
Add 4 tablespoons of sweet chili sauce
Good amount of pepper, bit of salt
Throw in 4 handfuls of frozen beans - then mix in broccoli Stir until cooked. If getting too dry add a little water.
Serve on noodles with salad.
A frugal quickly prepared meal
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
Menue plan week ending 4th April
Week one's menu
Sunday Roast Chicken, new potatoes from garden, cauliflower, beans, carrots, kumera, pumpkin & gravy.
Monday Chili beef with noodles & salad
Tuesday Sheppard's pie bread & salad
Wednesday Taco's with mince & beans & salad toppings
Thursday Soup, fresh bread pudding Ginger Bread & custard.
Friday Burmese Chicken in crock pot, potatoes, cabbage & carrots.
Saturday Sausages, onions, apples, hot chips, tomatoes & eggs.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Ella Shortcake
Grease well a lamington tin or a shallow cake tin - pop it in freezer while you make the mixture
4 0z (115 g) flour
1 tsp baking powder
pinch salt
2oz (55 g) butter - I keep butter in fridge so just grate into mixture
2 0z (115 g) sugar
1/3 cup (35g) ground almonds
2 eggs separated
1/2 cup icing sugar
Handful of flaked almonds (don't be mean)
Grate butter into flour, baking powder & salt. Rub in well with your fingers.
Add ground almonds & sugar.
Mix well
Add egg yolks.
Then mix well with your hands - you are wanting a shortcake texture - if a bit dry add 1 teaspoon of water at a time. It doesn't matter if it's a bit crumbly as you will push it into the cake tin with your fingers.
Whip the egg whites to nice stiff peaks , beat in icing sugar a bit at a time till well mixed.
Spoon over the top. Sprinkle a good generous handful of flaked almonds over the top.
Bake at 180 deg C for about 30 minutes until meringue pale gold & almonds slightly toasted.
I do not put it on fan bake for this recipe.
When cool cut into squares.
Lamb Patties with Hummus & Pitta bread
Lamb Patties
500g mince - can be lamb or beef we have home kill so I use lamb
1 onion finely chopped
4 teaspoons dried mint (use 2 teaspoons of fresh mint if you have it)
4 teaspoons dried oregano
2 cloves garlic
salt n pepper
1 zest of lemon & a small bit of lemon juice to help bind the patties.
Or 1 egg to bind if you don't have egg allergies.
As we don't use egg - I really scrunch the mince up with onion, garlic, mint, oregano, salt n pepper & zest of lemon. The longer you scrunch the mixture with your hands the better it will bind - about 2- 3 minutes. Add about juice of 1/2 a lemon if needs it.
Mold into Pattie shapes & fry in a small amount of olive oil.
Make pita Bread & then fill them while hot.
I lay out the table with choices for family to fill their pita breads with
hummus, olives, lemon 1/4's to squeeze into pita's, finely sliced red onion, chopped tomatoes, shredded lettuce
To Make Hummus
Cheats way! - 2 tins of chickpeas - drained & rinsed pop into food processor
add 4 cloves garlic, juice of 1 lemon - a drip or two of olive oil, coriander leaves & whizz.
To Make Pita Breads.
I use my basic bread recipe.
1 teaspoon salt
3 teaspoons of yeast - Edmonds sure bake
3 teaspoons of sugar
3 cups flour
1 1/4 cups warm water
1 tablespoon of olive oil.
Place in bread maker on dough cycle (about 2 1/2 hours)
Shape into buns - let them rise
when nearly ready to dish up push buns down flat Brush them with olive oil
Bake in a hot oven 220 deg c
(they will rise again while cooking so 1/2 way through cooking put your hand in oven & push them flat again)
watch the pita breads as they do not take long to cook - 5 - 10 minutes approx.
500g mince - can be lamb or beef we have home kill so I use lamb
1 onion finely chopped
4 teaspoons dried mint (use 2 teaspoons of fresh mint if you have it)
4 teaspoons dried oregano
2 cloves garlic
salt n pepper
1 zest of lemon & a small bit of lemon juice to help bind the patties.
Or 1 egg to bind if you don't have egg allergies.
As we don't use egg - I really scrunch the mince up with onion, garlic, mint, oregano, salt n pepper & zest of lemon. The longer you scrunch the mixture with your hands the better it will bind - about 2- 3 minutes. Add about juice of 1/2 a lemon if needs it.
Mold into Pattie shapes & fry in a small amount of olive oil.
Make pita Bread & then fill them while hot.
I lay out the table with choices for family to fill their pita breads with
hummus, olives, lemon 1/4's to squeeze into pita's, finely sliced red onion, chopped tomatoes, shredded lettuce
To Make Hummus
Cheats way! - 2 tins of chickpeas - drained & rinsed pop into food processor
add 4 cloves garlic, juice of 1 lemon - a drip or two of olive oil, coriander leaves & whizz.
To Make Pita Breads.
I use my basic bread recipe.
1 teaspoon salt
3 teaspoons of yeast - Edmonds sure bake
3 teaspoons of sugar
3 cups flour
1 1/4 cups warm water
1 tablespoon of olive oil.
Place in bread maker on dough cycle (about 2 1/2 hours)
Shape into buns - let them rise
when nearly ready to dish up push buns down flat Brush them with olive oil
Bake in a hot oven 220 deg c
(they will rise again while cooking so 1/2 way through cooking put your hand in oven & push them flat again)
watch the pita breads as they do not take long to cook - 5 - 10 minutes approx.
Chili Con Carne
This is a quick cheap meal for our family as we do not have takeaways - it's like a takeaway meal for the cook
500g mince - beef or lamb
1 large onion
3 cloves garlic
1 teaspoon cumin
2 tins of Watties HOT chili beans
1 tin watties tomato paste
4 tomatoes (optional)
Salt n pepper
Brown the olives in a bit of olive oil.
Add mince - If cheaper quality of mince I cook on high stirring, getting all the lumps out. Drain the fat into a cup - this can be used in dog food or dog biscuits.
Turn element down to about 1/4 - add garlic,chili beans, puree & tomatoes - a bit of salt n pepper.
Let it cook away giving it a bit of a stir - if gets too dry add a little water.
The longer you can leave it to just simmer on the stove the better. I find it a quick meal - arrive home throw it all on & then I can go & do other chores - and a real quick meal to dish up.
Serve with rice & chopped coriander on the top.
NB I cook rice by boiling the jug - about 1/4 pot full of rice top with hot water from the jug put a lid on tight & leave - if in a hurry I will put this on the element & hurry it along. Drain what little water is left - fluff up with a fork & serve.
Kids like this meal & always a fight the next day who gets the left overs for lunch.
500g mince - beef or lamb
1 large onion
3 cloves garlic
1 teaspoon cumin
2 tins of Watties HOT chili beans
1 tin watties tomato paste
4 tomatoes (optional)
Salt n pepper
Brown the olives in a bit of olive oil.
Add mince - If cheaper quality of mince I cook on high stirring, getting all the lumps out. Drain the fat into a cup - this can be used in dog food or dog biscuits.
Turn element down to about 1/4 - add garlic,chili beans, puree & tomatoes - a bit of salt n pepper.
Let it cook away giving it a bit of a stir - if gets too dry add a little water.
The longer you can leave it to just simmer on the stove the better. I find it a quick meal - arrive home throw it all on & then I can go & do other chores - and a real quick meal to dish up.
Serve with rice & chopped coriander on the top.
NB I cook rice by boiling the jug - about 1/4 pot full of rice top with hot water from the jug put a lid on tight & leave - if in a hurry I will put this on the element & hurry it along. Drain what little water is left - fluff up with a fork & serve.
Kids like this meal & always a fight the next day who gets the left overs for lunch.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Tomato Soup, home made bread & Fruit crumble.
Photo of soup cooking - not finished.Tomatoes as much as you wish - I filled about 1/4 of stock pot.
2 small Leeks just the whites cut into rings (this is optional but what I had in fridge from organic pack)
1 onion - If I had no leeks I would of put in 2 large onions.
1 - 2 cloves garlic crushed.
small handful of fresh basil 0r 1 teaspoon of dried basil.
salt n pepper
2 stalks of celery & a bit of the leaves too.
1/2 teaspoon of honey -( to neutralize the acidity of the tomatoes)
Place a little bit of olive oil in large pot, add diced onion, garlic & leeks until onions are soft & translucent. Add basil, salt & pepper for a few more minutes.
Add tomatoes & celery, cover with water & simmer for about 30 minutes.. Add more water if needed but not too much that it looses the flavour - there is nothing better than a cook having a taste & adjusting as needed.
This can be quickly prepared in the morning - left on the stove top turned off & then a quick evening meal is nearly ready - just turn the pot back on the element when you walk back in the door.
My family likes soup to be whizzed so near dishing up I put it trough the blender or use a hand held whizz.
Served with home made bread rolls.
My Basic loaf of bread
1 teaspoon salt
3 teaspoons of yeast - Edmonds sure bake
3 teaspoons of sugar
3 cups flour
1 1/4 cups warm water
1 tablespoon of olive oil.
I use this base for all bread - and I use the bread maker - a real time saver. I either fully make the loaf in the bread maker or set it to dough cycle which takes 2 1/2 hours then I mold it or add toppings like I did for the Poppy seed bread.
And then bake it in the oven
One can also mold them into buns
I use same base recipe for fruit bread - but just add spices & fruit.
Fruit Crumble.
Stew any fruit - a good way to use up bruised apples or pears & rhubarb - I've used all 3 fruits in tonights crumble.
topping
50g butter rubbed in 1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup (not pressed down) of brown sugar
1/2 cup rolled oats
1/4 cup coconut.
1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon.
Rub together & sprinkle over the fruit.
Bake in hot 200 deg C oven.
Served with whipped cream
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Banana Walnut Bread
Snack baking for week four.
125g butter
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
1/2 cup sugar (can make it 3/4 cup if you like sweet things)
3 mashed bananas (Any brown bananas from fruit bowl I just pop whole with skin & all in freezer - Just microwave for 25 seconds before using to unfreeze & peel easier)
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 handfuls of broken walnut bits (I just snap then into small bits) about 1/2 cup
Grease a loaf tin. I always grease & pop tin in freezer before I begin cooking. Cakes never stick - a professional cake decorator taught me this trick!
Soften butter in microwave for 30 seconds you don't want melted butter but nice & soft so test it out in your microwave. Stir & add sugar - cream well.
Add eggs & stir well.
Stir in banana
Add dry ingredients & walnuts.
Mix well
Pour into loaf tin & bake at a moderate oven (160 deg on fan bake) for 45 minutes - check with a skewer it is cooked.
Serve cold sliced with butter
Chicken
Pack N Save chickens this week are $10.98 for a size 24 Tegal. I've stocked up!
One chicken made two meals for us plus tit bits for the cats & left over from meals for lunches.
Remove thighs, wings, legs & put aside for meal two.
Cut up the breast meat & use for meal one.
Remove most of the skin & fat - put bones in a large pot to make Chicken Stock.
I boil this up with some of the meat on & then take final bits of meat off for cats before adding vegetables & onions.
Chicken Stock
place bones from chicken in large stock pan
cover with boiling water.
add what ever is limp in the vegetable basket but do try to put
onion
celery
carrots
pepper & salt
parsley
bay leaf
Let it cook away. Strain & use in following recipes or place in containers & freeze.
Meal One:
Frugal hen pies.
Chopped chicken breast
1 large onion
3-4 rashes bacon.
Gently cook in pan with olive oil - so partially cooked.
I Separate this into two pie dishes one allergy free & one not.
Cook about 6 potatoes - suitable for mashing in a separate pot.
If no allergies go straight to non allergy free method.
Allergy free Method.
Using some chicken stock add 1 - 2 tablespoons of cornflour you want to make a gravy texture - but a bit thicker than a gravy - in between gravy & white sauce. The gravy-sauce will thicken up more in the oven. Pour this over your chicken & bacon mixture. Add salt n pepper
Topping.
Mash the potatoes add 2 tablespoons of olivani (dairy free butter substitute) stir well so no lumps of potato, spoon on top of pie dish - like you would a Shepard's pie.
Non allergy free method.
Make a white sauce - nob of butter - 2 Tablespoons flour - microwave for 1 minute. Stir.
Add a bit of milk approx 1/4 cup. Stir with a whisk. place in microwave for 2 minutes & stir.
Add a ladle of chicken stock at a time stirring until texture of a white sauce.
Add an egg, stir.
Add more chicken stock - you want it a sloppy white sauce but not runny - it will thicken up in oven.
Pour over chicken bacon mixture
Add salt n pepper
Top with mashed potato - I always make allergy free part of a meal first - so as potatoes mashed I will add in a bit of milk to make creamier.
Bake in oven until heated through then grill topping.
Variations
I also add celery, mushrooms & spring onions if I have them.
Served last night with boiled carrots, cauliflower & cabbage (that was in our organic pack yesterday)
If you are lucky you have some left over for lunch.
Meal Two
Chicken & Apricot Casserole
Place chicken wings, thighs & legs into a casserole dish
Add 1 large diced onion
1 sliced green pepper
500mls of your chicken stock
1 cup of water
2 tins (425g) of apricots (on sale this week at pack n save) juice & all.
salt n pepper
2 teaspoons of fresh rosemary
Leave overnight in fridge.
Place in crockpot for 8 hours ( you may like to brown chicken first in fry pan)
or place in oven for about 1-1/2 hours on a mod heat.
Near serving time take out 3/4 cup of juice & add 1 heaped tablespoon of cornflour, stir well so no lumps & add to casserole.
Our family enjoys this served on rice with broccoli & beans.
Gluten, wheat, egg, nut, fish allergy free meal
One chicken made two meals for us plus tit bits for the cats & left over from meals for lunches.
Remove thighs, wings, legs & put aside for meal two.
Cut up the breast meat & use for meal one.
Remove most of the skin & fat - put bones in a large pot to make Chicken Stock.
I boil this up with some of the meat on & then take final bits of meat off for cats before adding vegetables & onions.
Chicken Stock
place bones from chicken in large stock pan
cover with boiling water.
add what ever is limp in the vegetable basket but do try to put
onion
celery
carrots
pepper & salt
parsley
bay leaf
Let it cook away. Strain & use in following recipes or place in containers & freeze.
Meal One:
Frugal hen pies.
Chopped chicken breast
1 large onion
3-4 rashes bacon.
Gently cook in pan with olive oil - so partially cooked.
I Separate this into two pie dishes one allergy free & one not.
Cook about 6 potatoes - suitable for mashing in a separate pot.
If no allergies go straight to non allergy free method.
Allergy free Method.
Using some chicken stock add 1 - 2 tablespoons of cornflour you want to make a gravy texture - but a bit thicker than a gravy - in between gravy & white sauce. The gravy-sauce will thicken up more in the oven. Pour this over your chicken & bacon mixture. Add salt n pepper
Topping.
Mash the potatoes add 2 tablespoons of olivani (dairy free butter substitute) stir well so no lumps of potato, spoon on top of pie dish - like you would a Shepard's pie.
Non allergy free method.
Make a white sauce - nob of butter - 2 Tablespoons flour - microwave for 1 minute. Stir.
Add a bit of milk approx 1/4 cup. Stir with a whisk. place in microwave for 2 minutes & stir.
Add a ladle of chicken stock at a time stirring until texture of a white sauce.
Add an egg, stir.
Add more chicken stock - you want it a sloppy white sauce but not runny - it will thicken up in oven.
Pour over chicken bacon mixture
Add salt n pepper
Top with mashed potato - I always make allergy free part of a meal first - so as potatoes mashed I will add in a bit of milk to make creamier.
Bake in oven until heated through then grill topping.
Variations
I also add celery, mushrooms & spring onions if I have them.
Served last night with boiled carrots, cauliflower & cabbage (that was in our organic pack yesterday)
If you are lucky you have some left over for lunch.
Meal Two
Chicken & Apricot Casserole
Place chicken wings, thighs & legs into a casserole dish
Add 1 large diced onion
1 sliced green pepper
500mls of your chicken stock
1 cup of water
2 tins (425g) of apricots (on sale this week at pack n save) juice & all.
salt n pepper
2 teaspoons of fresh rosemary
Leave overnight in fridge.
Place in crockpot for 8 hours ( you may like to brown chicken first in fry pan)
or place in oven for about 1-1/2 hours on a mod heat.
Near serving time take out 3/4 cup of juice & add 1 heaped tablespoon of cornflour, stir well so no lumps & add to casserole.
Our family enjoys this served on rice with broccoli & beans.
Gluten, wheat, egg, nut, fish allergy free meal
Monday, March 23, 2009
Meat Curry
A frugal meal that kids friends really enjoy - even ones who don't like vegetables enjoy this.
I think it's the adding of bits n bobs before eating they enjoy.Banana, sultanas, coconut & pappadums . I usually add mango but none in shop yesterday.
Use any meat you like - I cut lamb off the roast before being cooked - you don't need a lot of meat and cheap cuts are good.
Marinating meat:
meat (cubed) use as much or as little as you like - I had about 250grams. We don't like fat so I remove all fat.
2 tsp garlic (minced)
3 tsp ginger (minced)
1/2 tsp chili powder
1 1/2 tsp turmeric
3 tsp coriander powder
2 tsp cumin powder
salt & Pepper
1 onion finely chopped
Method:
In a bowl, add the diced meat. Add the garlic ginger and chili. Mix through the meat then add the spices and do the same. Refrigerate for a couple of hours or over night. The longer the better especially for cheap cuts of meat.
Cooking:
Quickly seal meat by placing in a hot pan with a bit of olive oil - this browns the meat too.
Add 500ml chicken stock (warmed if possible)
1 can whole peeled tomatoes (crushed)
Add vegetables you like - we use :
2 kumeras (sweet potato) diced
1/2 a small pumpkin diced
3- 4 potatoes diced
Cook until root vegetables cooked. Add water if needed.
Add a handful of frozen beans & 1 can chickpeas drained & rinsed. Heat through.
Serve on rice with toppings as above.
Shopping list:
250g - 500g meat
garlic
ginger
chili powder
turmeric
coriander powder
cumin powder
salt & Pepper
1 onion
olive oil
500ml chicken stock
1 can whole peeled tomatoes
2 kumeras (sweet potato)
1/2 a small pumpkin
3- 4 potatoes
handful frozen beans
1 can chickpeas
sultanas
coconut
banana
mango
pappadums
Gluten, wheat, egg, nut, fish allergy free meal
Menu plan
I really liked the format of the menu plan I shared yesterday - I have it all downloaded & printed off the weekly menu planners & weekly shopping lists. ( I Liked these)
I purchased 5 clear view folders & put them all in a ring binder. Each week I'll pull one out & that can sit on my kitchen bench.
I've made 5 weekly planers - worked out what activities we all have on for each week of the month eg every 2nd week is quilting evening, every 4th of the month is a home school meeting, all the activities & days the kids are out - these night I have easy meals planned.
I have only done the main meals & some lunch planning - but I also wish to add in breakfasts & snacks.
We are in week four at the moment so I'll share what's on the menu for this week.
Week Four Dinners
S Roast Lamb, potatoes, kumera, pumpkin, broccoli, carrots & mint sauce
M Curry (lamb I cut some off roast before cooked) served with rice, & papadoms
T Chicken Pie, mashed potatoes, cabbage, carrots & peas
W Apricot Chicken, rice, beans & broccoli
T Vegetable soup, fresh bread - pudding apple & pear crumble
F Chilli con carne
S Lamb patties with hummus, olives, lemons & pita bread
I purchased 5 clear view folders & put them all in a ring binder. Each week I'll pull one out & that can sit on my kitchen bench.
I've made 5 weekly planers - worked out what activities we all have on for each week of the month eg every 2nd week is quilting evening, every 4th of the month is a home school meeting, all the activities & days the kids are out - these night I have easy meals planned.
I have only done the main meals & some lunch planning - but I also wish to add in breakfasts & snacks.
We are in week four at the moment so I'll share what's on the menu for this week.
Week Four Dinners
S Roast Lamb, potatoes, kumera, pumpkin, broccoli, carrots & mint sauce
M Curry (lamb I cut some off roast before cooked) served with rice, & papadoms
T Chicken Pie, mashed potatoes, cabbage, carrots & peas
W Apricot Chicken, rice, beans & broccoli
T Vegetable soup, fresh bread - pudding apple & pear crumble
F Chilli con carne
S Lamb patties with hummus, olives, lemons & pita bread
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Menu Planning
I was going to share more on menu planning, but came across this
I've downloaded it & really like her format & templates she has for menu planning. I'm off to print mine out - - will be back to share with you my 4 weeks menu plans.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Weekly specials WE 29/3/09
I spent time yesterday making a new price book - my old one was looking rather well loved. Lots of crossings outs... It was actually a year old.
Price shopping has been one of the best things I do - by buying only when items on sale I have been able to keep to our food budget & still eat well.
Best Buys for this week are:
Woolworths
$11.97 kg Schnitzel
$6.50 2 packs of Dilma tea bags
$5.00 2 tins watties refill sauce
$3.59 3 pack baked beans
$11.99 Tegal size 22 chicken
New World
$13.99 Tui beer
$4.99 rolling medow cheese (500g)
$6.00 Ingham size 14 chicken
$1.99 bluebird mega chips
$4.29 Arataki honey
$7.99 Ryans bacon
$1.99 500g jam
$1.99 Asian curry paste
$3.50 2 tins pam salmon 85g
$1.19 Brunswick sardines
$1.99 Chilli sauce (great price)
$2.99 Brooks 100g salami
$1.99 knights castle 4 pack soap (great price!)
$3.99 8 pack purex
$5.99 2 L sunlight dishwash soap. (great price)
Pack n save
$5.98 880g Dairy maid cheese
$2.58 dairy maid butter (good price!)
$10.98 tegal size 24 (great price)
$1.68 1.5kg onions
$1.88 1.5kg carrots
$4.78 aussie green grapes
$2.68 13 rolls
$7.98 pork leg roast
$1.99 bluebird mega packs
$2.78 rice bubbles
I'd encourage to you price book shop too - it is powerful! And you can save many dollars by buying items you will use when they are on sale. Once you have built up a stockpile you will be shopping from your pantry not the supermarket.
Just grab a note book & begin - I have here on blog the way I do it but there is many different ways - just do what works for you.
Grab the flyer's go through them & write in your price book anything you would eat/buy - grab any old shopping receipts and record prices of each items purchased.
After awhile - won't take many weeks of keeping this record - you will spot good buys.
Live a few weeks on frugal budget meals - or out of the pantry - use the money you would of used on the weeks groceries to begin stockpiling - and buy only the must haves. Slowly you will build up a spare pantry of your bargain buys.
The supermarkets have hiked up prices by 8% I last read - it is a good feeling to beat them at their game.
Price shopping has been one of the best things I do - by buying only when items on sale I have been able to keep to our food budget & still eat well.
Best Buys for this week are:
Woolworths
$11.97 kg Schnitzel
$6.50 2 packs of Dilma tea bags
$5.00 2 tins watties refill sauce
$3.59 3 pack baked beans
$11.99 Tegal size 22 chicken
New World
$13.99 Tui beer
$4.99 rolling medow cheese (500g)
$6.00 Ingham size 14 chicken
$1.99 bluebird mega chips
$4.29 Arataki honey
$7.99 Ryans bacon
$1.99 500g jam
$1.99 Asian curry paste
$3.50 2 tins pam salmon 85g
$1.19 Brunswick sardines
$1.99 Chilli sauce (great price)
$2.99 Brooks 100g salami
$1.99 knights castle 4 pack soap (great price!)
$3.99 8 pack purex
$5.99 2 L sunlight dishwash soap. (great price)
Pack n save
$5.98 880g Dairy maid cheese
$2.58 dairy maid butter (good price!)
$10.98 tegal size 24 (great price)
$1.68 1.5kg onions
$1.88 1.5kg carrots
$4.78 aussie green grapes
$2.68 13 rolls
$7.98 pork leg roast
$1.99 bluebird mega packs
$2.78 rice bubbles
I'd encourage to you price book shop too - it is powerful! And you can save many dollars by buying items you will use when they are on sale. Once you have built up a stockpile you will be shopping from your pantry not the supermarket.
Just grab a note book & begin - I have here on blog the way I do it but there is many different ways - just do what works for you.
Grab the flyer's go through them & write in your price book anything you would eat/buy - grab any old shopping receipts and record prices of each items purchased.
After awhile - won't take many weeks of keeping this record - you will spot good buys.
Live a few weeks on frugal budget meals - or out of the pantry - use the money you would of used on the weeks groceries to begin stockpiling - and buy only the must haves. Slowly you will build up a spare pantry of your bargain buys.
The supermarkets have hiked up prices by 8% I last read - it is a good feeling to beat them at their game.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Living on 20% Less
Here in New Zealand & around the world job cuts are happening weekly, our family isn't immune to it - Brent's NZ owned company he works for are facing hard times - their first step has been to cut costs, wages being the biggest companies expenses. All staff are down to 4 days a week.
Hearing the wives reactions to the men going home telling their families was sad, some wives in tears - knowing they aren't going to be able to weather the storm.
If I could advise it would be to face reality - sit down as a couple & look at the state of your finances. Don't blame just look and be honest. Both parties need to be in the picture of where you stand. It could be a very stressful time so try not to get emotional or blame. An email came through from Scott Pape @ Barefoot.com.au yesterday - a lady had emailed him sharing she had clocked up $53,700 in credit card & personal loans - and has nothing to show for it - she spent it on her grown up children & grandchildren on THINGS. Her husband was not aware. In this scenario I also blame the husband - both parties should know what is happening with the finances not just one.
List all your debt then
Rank them from urgent - ie overdue
Work out which is costing you the most- ie highest interest rate.
Work out which one has the smallest balance.
List all your credit & assets
If your debt is frightening you - is there anything you can sell?
The market is against you - but you may have items you can get a good price for.
Have a garage sale or start listing things at night on Trade Me (Like Ebay) It's amazing what people will buy. This will help bring immediate relief and maybe help if you have overdue notices.
If credit card debt is a problem do stop using the cards now - you can put both of your cards in a bowl of water & freeze them - they have to thaw to use - and then both partners have to agree to their use if in an extreme emergency you need it. But I'd urge you do not use them.
Contact your bank and explain your situation they might help buy putting a freeze on the interest rate.
I'll share tomorrow a next step - just facing the facts can be the hardest thing ever for some partners. - Do remember it is only money & relationships & families mean a lot more.
Do not go to be on an argument.
Hearing the wives reactions to the men going home telling their families was sad, some wives in tears - knowing they aren't going to be able to weather the storm.
If I could advise it would be to face reality - sit down as a couple & look at the state of your finances. Don't blame just look and be honest. Both parties need to be in the picture of where you stand. It could be a very stressful time so try not to get emotional or blame. An email came through from Scott Pape @ Barefoot.com.au yesterday - a lady had emailed him sharing she had clocked up $53,700 in credit card & personal loans - and has nothing to show for it - she spent it on her grown up children & grandchildren on THINGS. Her husband was not aware. In this scenario I also blame the husband - both parties should know what is happening with the finances not just one.
List all your debt then
Rank them from urgent - ie overdue
Work out which is costing you the most- ie highest interest rate.
Work out which one has the smallest balance.
List all your credit & assets
If your debt is frightening you - is there anything you can sell?
The market is against you - but you may have items you can get a good price for.
Have a garage sale or start listing things at night on Trade Me (Like Ebay) It's amazing what people will buy. This will help bring immediate relief and maybe help if you have overdue notices.
If credit card debt is a problem do stop using the cards now - you can put both of your cards in a bowl of water & freeze them - they have to thaw to use - and then both partners have to agree to their use if in an extreme emergency you need it. But I'd urge you do not use them.
Contact your bank and explain your situation they might help buy putting a freeze on the interest rate.
I'll share tomorrow a next step - just facing the facts can be the hardest thing ever for some partners. - Do remember it is only money & relationships & families mean a lot more.
Do not go to be on an argument.
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