The Sunday times article states that a basic food only BASIC budget for a mum & dad, teenage son & teenage daughter is $260.00 per week (living in Auckland or Wellington) Add in non-food items such as cleaning products and toiletries and the bill goes up by $16 a week. Total grocery shop per week is $276.00
A moderate shop that contains some convenience food and greater variety leaps to between $328 (Dunedin) and $339 (Wellington) whereas a liberal budget which allows for more expensive cuts of meat, specialty items and convenience products comes in at between $393 (Dunedin) and $407 (Wellington). That would climb again with non-food items costed at $31 for a moderate shop and $48 for a liberal spend.
From this article I would put our family in the Liberal class as we do like nicer cuts of meat and require specialty items for food allergies this would mean my food budget should be $455.00 per week.
Now this just proves that the way I shop, buying in bulk, buying on sale, keeping a price book, buying meat from home kill & raising our own sheep, keeping our own hens for eggs, having a vege garden (even tho not producing much at this time of year)packing our own lunches is totally well worth all my efforts. And I bet the Sunday times figures doesn't take into account brought lunches & takeaways.
Showing posts with label stockpiling. Show all posts
Showing posts with label stockpiling. Show all posts
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Stockpiling
This weeks stockpiling at woolworths $119.56
Specials I homed in on - was rain check from last weeks chickpeas $1.59 - I got 10 tins
Baked beans watties on sale again - another 4 tins for $5.00
Shaved ham 2 packs for $5.00 - Brent likes these in his lunch & as full of preservatives they keep
Choysa tea bags $2.99 each so I got 2 - I'm over being fussy with brands for tea - I buy what is on sale.
Purex 16 pack for 6.99 - good price works out to be 44c roll good buy!
tegal chicken pieces 2kg $10.99
No photo sorry - time just was too short next coffee break I'll add in side bar a running total of weeks shopping -
It takes time to get to where I am for grocery shopping (ie bulk items are on sale because my pantry is stocked) Again I find it fun beating the supermarkets at their game and rather satisfying knowing we can shop at home cheaper.
If you are just starting out - your price book is the key. Then slowly as you watch the weekly specials you will see a bargain.
From excess money you have gathered - be it from eating frugal for a few weeks, making the weekly shopping last an extra day -( so after a few weeks you actually have a spare weeks shopping money), selling items on trade me, using tax refund.. watching what you are buying at the supermaket - cooking from scratch, making families lunches, having morning tea/afternoon tea at friends houses not cafes, not buying magazines, using the library, what ever means to get a few spare bucks ywhich you can use to start stockpiling.
Start slow - buy only items you will eat/use - watch expiry dates!!!!
Only buy one or two extra tins to begin with - slowly over the year your stockpile will grow & you will have extra cash to buy more in bulk once you begin shopping from home.
Specials I homed in on - was rain check from last weeks chickpeas $1.59 - I got 10 tins
Baked beans watties on sale again - another 4 tins for $5.00
Shaved ham 2 packs for $5.00 - Brent likes these in his lunch & as full of preservatives they keep
Choysa tea bags $2.99 each so I got 2 - I'm over being fussy with brands for tea - I buy what is on sale.
Purex 16 pack for 6.99 - good price works out to be 44c roll good buy!
tegal chicken pieces 2kg $10.99
No photo sorry - time just was too short next coffee break I'll add in side bar a running total of weeks shopping -
It takes time to get to where I am for grocery shopping (ie bulk items are on sale because my pantry is stocked) Again I find it fun beating the supermarkets at their game and rather satisfying knowing we can shop at home cheaper.
If you are just starting out - your price book is the key. Then slowly as you watch the weekly specials you will see a bargain.
From excess money you have gathered - be it from eating frugal for a few weeks, making the weekly shopping last an extra day -( so after a few weeks you actually have a spare weeks shopping money), selling items on trade me, using tax refund.. watching what you are buying at the supermaket - cooking from scratch, making families lunches, having morning tea/afternoon tea at friends houses not cafes, not buying magazines, using the library, what ever means to get a few spare bucks ywhich you can use to start stockpiling.
Start slow - buy only items you will eat/use - watch expiry dates!!!!
Only buy one or two extra tins to begin with - slowly over the year your stockpile will grow & you will have extra cash to buy more in bulk once you begin shopping from home.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Beginning to stockpile
I've had a few friends ask me how can they start stockpiling when their money is tight.
My first suggestion would be get your price book going this is the key to stockpiling. If you don't start learning your prices you will not know when there is a bargain to stockpile.
Again I've shared here how I use my price book - you can be as simple as me or if I had a fancy phone/palm I'd love to have it in that - but a budget exercise book works fine. The key is just start & begin - don't get too hang up on how to do it. I've got a friend who wants to but likes things done just right - hence she still is yet to start.
Starting to stockpile on a budget.
1. For a week or two (pick your weeks when life is easy ie husband away on travel, no visitors, no one sick) and plan a week of frugal meals - more challenging if you have food allergies but if not meals like maccaroi cheese, soup, pizza, toasted sandwiches, pancakes, pudding for dinner, bacon n eggs, baked beans on toast. It's not going to hurt you for a week or two to go without meat & veges and if you get all the family on board it can be fun!
2. Cook from food in your fridge, pantry or freezer for the week - buying only must haves.
3. Go through house & look for items you don't need any more - hold a garage sale, or have a stall at market - or put items on trade me.
4. Join in the no spend weeks currently run on blogs
5. If your panty, fridge, freezer is low then just keep $10.00 aside from this weeks grocery to begin your stockpile fund.
6. Change your shopping day each week so the food is lasting 8 days not 7 - eg if normally shop Wed, next week go Thursday, following week Friday so on it's really fun how inventive your meals can be to make that day before shopping last - have another frugal meal as above in no 1.
Go get your pric book set up - start planning some frugal meals for this week, sell some no longer wanted items,. But just choose one or two things this week from the above to do - if you try & do it all you will feel too stressed & give up.
You will be doing great this week if you just get your price book started.
My first suggestion would be get your price book going this is the key to stockpiling. If you don't start learning your prices you will not know when there is a bargain to stockpile.
Again I've shared here how I use my price book - you can be as simple as me or if I had a fancy phone/palm I'd love to have it in that - but a budget exercise book works fine. The key is just start & begin - don't get too hang up on how to do it. I've got a friend who wants to but likes things done just right - hence she still is yet to start.
Starting to stockpile on a budget.
1. For a week or two (pick your weeks when life is easy ie husband away on travel, no visitors, no one sick) and plan a week of frugal meals - more challenging if you have food allergies but if not meals like maccaroi cheese, soup, pizza, toasted sandwiches, pancakes, pudding for dinner, bacon n eggs, baked beans on toast. It's not going to hurt you for a week or two to go without meat & veges and if you get all the family on board it can be fun!
2. Cook from food in your fridge, pantry or freezer for the week - buying only must haves.
3. Go through house & look for items you don't need any more - hold a garage sale, or have a stall at market - or put items on trade me.
4. Join in the no spend weeks currently run on blogs
5. If your panty, fridge, freezer is low then just keep $10.00 aside from this weeks grocery to begin your stockpile fund.
6. Change your shopping day each week so the food is lasting 8 days not 7 - eg if normally shop Wed, next week go Thursday, following week Friday so on it's really fun how inventive your meals can be to make that day before shopping last - have another frugal meal as above in no 1.
Go get your pric book set up - start planning some frugal meals for this week, sell some no longer wanted items,. But just choose one or two things this week from the above to do - if you try & do it all you will feel too stressed & give up.
You will be doing great this week if you just get your price book started.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Grocery shopping challenge
There is talk of $100.00 per week food budgets & other ideas of a no spend week - or even $25.00 per week shopping. WOW! This might of worked well for us over the last 2 months when we were on a 3 & 4 day pay week, but due to the way I shop it will not work for me.
I price shop & stockpile & I tell you our stockpile sure came in handy over the last few months. The kids commented they didn't notice any difference living on less pay.
I keep a good price book & been doing it long enough to know the supermarkets cycles & stock up accordingly.
Photos are of this weeks stockpile/bargains. Only impulse product is licorice. New World & Woolworths have good specials - BUT you have to be strong & not buy products not on sale as their standard prices are higher than pack n save - I find it well worth checking their fliers, looking at price book, making a list & then just zipping into the two shops. Doesn't take me long. I challenge myself to buy only on special at these two shops.
Total cost was $101.00 New World & $54.06 at Woolworths. Total spent $155.06 Plus I got a rain check for chickpeas that were all sold for $1.59 tin - a good buy!
The items I brought work for our family - they may not work for yours eg I buy paper towels as use them a lot in cattery, tissues for colds, and I like 3ply loo paper just can't do this finger poking 1 or 2 ply stuff! Brent enjoys a beer with friends & a glass of wine at night - I even stockpile this & this week there were some specials on beer & wine.
I'd like to set a challenge for other kiwis to begin stockpiling, share their best buys of the week which they record in their price book - I can't rave enough about price books. And as you build up your stockpiles you will end up shopping from home, making your menus from what you have on hand.
The Challenge..
Your weekly food budget must include:
If menu planning, stockpiling, price shopping/book, buying from local markets, or making lunches is new to you - just choose one thing to begin with & slowly you will find yourself shopping a different way & have more cash in your weekly shopping budget for healthy, enjoyable food.
I've blogged before here about how to make a price book
I've blogged before here about how to stockpile
Ive blogged before here about how to menu plan
Ive blogged before here about packed lunches for Brent
I price shop & stockpile & I tell you our stockpile sure came in handy over the last few months. The kids commented they didn't notice any difference living on less pay.
I keep a good price book & been doing it long enough to know the supermarkets cycles & stock up accordingly.
Photos are of this weeks stockpile/bargains. Only impulse product is licorice. New World & Woolworths have good specials - BUT you have to be strong & not buy products not on sale as their standard prices are higher than pack n save - I find it well worth checking their fliers, looking at price book, making a list & then just zipping into the two shops. Doesn't take me long. I challenge myself to buy only on special at these two shops.Total cost was $101.00 New World & $54.06 at Woolworths. Total spent $155.06 Plus I got a rain check for chickpeas that were all sold for $1.59 tin - a good buy!
The items I brought work for our family - they may not work for yours eg I buy paper towels as use them a lot in cattery, tissues for colds, and I like 3ply loo paper just can't do this finger poking 1 or 2 ply stuff! Brent enjoys a beer with friends & a glass of wine at night - I even stockpile this & this week there were some specials on beer & wine.
I'd like to set a challenge for other kiwis to begin stockpiling, share their best buys of the week which they record in their price book - I can't rave enough about price books. And as you build up your stockpiles you will end up shopping from home, making your menus from what you have on hand.
The Challenge..
Your weekly food budget must include:
- All food items consumed by the family including packed lunches for all of the family. Any brought lunches needs to come out of the food budget.
- All cleaning products, toilet paper, shampoo, soap etc.
- All fruit & veges from markets
- Foods grown in the garden have a zero dollar value - nothing like encouraging you to grow your own.
- Each week share on your blog your total amount you spent on shopping budget, any bargains you got & how your stockpile is growing and any thing from your garden you supplied the table with.
- Weekly share your families menu plan - another key to keep your food budget under control is to prepare ahead.
If menu planning, stockpiling, price shopping/book, buying from local markets, or making lunches is new to you - just choose one thing to begin with & slowly you will find yourself shopping a different way & have more cash in your weekly shopping budget for healthy, enjoyable food.
I've blogged before here about how to make a price book
I've blogged before here about how to stockpile
Ive blogged before here about how to menu plan
Ive blogged before here about packed lunches for Brent
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.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Stockpiling your fridge
My Basics for fridge are:
Fresh garlic - I don't do garlic in a jar & I try to only buy NZ garlic - not Chinese garlic as it has been sprayed - I do hope Greens policy gets in with mandatory labeling of food - Yea give your party vote to greens!!
Fresh ginger - but not a must - just nice
Butter - but freeze extra
Olivani - dairy substitute
Cheese - I only buy cheese on special & you can store it for quite a while, just check expiry date -
eggs
Milk
Bacon - often on special & can be frozen
Ham for lunch fillings
Sure bake yeast - I buy the biggest jar as use often & works out cheaper - but do watch expiry date
opened jams, preserves & sauces.
Beer & wine - I stock pile this too. I don't drink anymore - awww doesn't that sound like I'm an angel but sadly I get allergies from them pre menopause gives similar effects - foggy brain GRIN.
Fruit & veges - have you noticed how small fruit & vege bins are now????
We have begun getting a fruit & vege order from Chantal - I have found it cheaper & working well for us. Our garden will not feed us weekly the food from Chantal is organic & I like knowing my broccoli is not from China I do feel it is my right as a consumer to know where my food is grown & comes from - local Saturday markets are good - but they like supermarkets get a lot of their produce from Turners & Growers and again we have no knowledge of where our food is from as NZ power of bees do not think we need mandatory food labeling. This is a HUGE issue for our family with food allergies - we want to know.
Fresh garlic - I don't do garlic in a jar & I try to only buy NZ garlic - not Chinese garlic as it has been sprayed - I do hope Greens policy gets in with mandatory labeling of food - Yea give your party vote to greens!!
Fresh ginger - but not a must - just nice
Butter - but freeze extra
Olivani - dairy substitute
Cheese - I only buy cheese on special & you can store it for quite a while, just check expiry date -
eggs
Milk
Bacon - often on special & can be frozen
Ham for lunch fillings
Sure bake yeast - I buy the biggest jar as use often & works out cheaper - but do watch expiry date
opened jams, preserves & sauces.
Beer & wine - I stock pile this too. I don't drink anymore - awww doesn't that sound like I'm an angel but sadly I get allergies from them pre menopause gives similar effects - foggy brain GRIN.
Fruit & veges - have you noticed how small fruit & vege bins are now????
We have begun getting a fruit & vege order from Chantal - I have found it cheaper & working well for us. Our garden will not feed us weekly the food from Chantal is organic & I like knowing my broccoli is not from China I do feel it is my right as a consumer to know where my food is grown & comes from - local Saturday markets are good - but they like supermarkets get a lot of their produce from Turners & Growers and again we have no knowledge of where our food is from as NZ power of bees do not think we need mandatory food labeling. This is a HUGE issue for our family with food allergies - we want to know.
Stocking your freezer
I highly recommend you purchase a chest freezer - you can pick them up cheap on trade me.
My basics must haves for ours is:
Butter - yes you can freeze butter & I only buy butter on sale. Here in NZ dairy prices have gone up totally unreasonably.
milk
bread
Hot chips
sweetcorn on cob
beans sliced & whole
peas
mixed stir fry veges (this is for a quick stir fry lunch for James who doesn't do sandwiches for lunch)
pastry sheets
chickens
chicken pieces
mince
sausages - we have allergy free ones
schnitzel
pork roast - this is often on sale
Once you begin price booking - you will again mostly only buy these items on sale.
My basics must haves for ours is:
Butter - yes you can freeze butter & I only buy butter on sale. Here in NZ dairy prices have gone up totally unreasonably.
milk
bread
Hot chips
sweetcorn on cob
beans sliced & whole
peas
mixed stir fry veges (this is for a quick stir fry lunch for James who doesn't do sandwiches for lunch)
pastry sheets
chickens
chicken pieces
mince
sausages - we have allergy free ones
schnitzel
pork roast - this is often on sale
Once you begin price booking - you will again mostly only buy these items on sale.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Stockpiling your pantry.
Stockpiling depends on where you are with your pantry.
But each week as the specials come out from supermarket flyer's scan them & by using your price book (another post to come) start stocking up.
Jamie Oliver has his list of Pantry requirements here
Mine is different from his, I cook to suit allergies, cook from basics & possibly cheaper grin.
Flour white flour , wholemeal & self raising is nice but must have is white flour. I have 5kg tupperware bins (good investment) and buy flour in 5kg lots, flour does come on special monthly - your price book will help you.
Rice flour for gluten free cooking
Sugar - white sugar also in 5kg bulk purchase. Again much cheaper in bulk & comes on sale often.
Brown sugar
icing sugar
Castor sugar nice but you can otherwise just whiz up standard sugar in food processor
Baking Powder
Baking Soda (buy biggest pack you can as will use for cleaning (another post to come)
Cornflour
Custard powder
Golden syrup
Honey
Jams
vegemite
coconut
raisins or sultanas
Mixed fruit
rolled oats
cornflakes
breadcrumbs
popcorn just plain standard popcorn
walnuts
jelly
condensed milk
Asian Home Gourmet curry pastes - this is about the only processed food I have & is suitable for our families allergies. We go for beef curries.
Sea salt
pepper corns
Mixed herbs
bay leaves
nutmeg
cinnamon
ginger
Vanilla essence (real stuff not imitation a little goes a long way!)
NB I use a lot of spices - but tried to put in must haves - build your spices up slowly.
Soya sauce
Sweet chilli sauce
tomato sauce
Olive oil
vinegar (white vinegar is very good for clean windows so I buy big bottle)
Beef stock & chicken stock (NB stock is very easy to make & will do a post about this) (I buy campbells)
Basmati rice - I buy this in 5kg lots when on special.
lasagna - nb for all my pasta I buy budget brands I have founds works well.
Spaghetti
Macaroni pasta
Baked beans
Chilli beans - hot & mild
Chickpeas
Pasta sauce I use Watties & comes on sale often.
Tinned tuna & salmon
Tinned fruit - peaches, pears, pineapple, mixed fruit
tea bags
coffee
milo
That would be my basic pantry. Items I use the most. So I only buy them if on sale - all because of price booking.
I suggest you go through your pantry & work out what your family eats.
Get a pantry list going that your family likes. - Every family will be different - and with this knowledge it will help when you begin price shopping.
But each week as the specials come out from supermarket flyer's scan them & by using your price book (another post to come) start stocking up.
Jamie Oliver has his list of Pantry requirements here
Mine is different from his, I cook to suit allergies, cook from basics & possibly cheaper grin.
Flour white flour , wholemeal & self raising is nice but must have is white flour. I have 5kg tupperware bins (good investment) and buy flour in 5kg lots, flour does come on special monthly - your price book will help you.
Rice flour for gluten free cooking
Sugar - white sugar also in 5kg bulk purchase. Again much cheaper in bulk & comes on sale often.
Brown sugar
icing sugar
Castor sugar nice but you can otherwise just whiz up standard sugar in food processor
Baking Powder
Baking Soda (buy biggest pack you can as will use for cleaning (another post to come)
Cornflour
Custard powder
Golden syrup
Honey
Jams
vegemite
coconut
raisins or sultanas
Mixed fruit
rolled oats
cornflakes
breadcrumbs
popcorn just plain standard popcorn
walnuts
jelly
condensed milk
Asian Home Gourmet curry pastes - this is about the only processed food I have & is suitable for our families allergies. We go for beef curries.
Sea salt
pepper corns
Mixed herbs
bay leaves
nutmeg
cinnamon
ginger
Vanilla essence (real stuff not imitation a little goes a long way!)
NB I use a lot of spices - but tried to put in must haves - build your spices up slowly.
Soya sauce
Sweet chilli sauce
tomato sauce
Olive oil
vinegar (white vinegar is very good for clean windows so I buy big bottle)
Beef stock & chicken stock (NB stock is very easy to make & will do a post about this) (I buy campbells)
Basmati rice - I buy this in 5kg lots when on special.
lasagna - nb for all my pasta I buy budget brands I have founds works well.
Spaghetti
Macaroni pasta
Baked beans
Chilli beans - hot & mild
Chickpeas
Pasta sauce I use Watties & comes on sale often.
Tinned tuna & salmon
Tinned fruit - peaches, pears, pineapple, mixed fruit
tea bags
coffee
milo
That would be my basic pantry. Items I use the most. So I only buy them if on sale - all because of price booking.
I suggest you go through your pantry & work out what your family eats.
Get a pantry list going that your family likes. - Every family will be different - and with this knowledge it will help when you begin price shopping.
Menu Planning
Planning your weeks menu is powerful & wonderful for living on a budget.
To begin with just ask all of your family what are their favourite meals for dinner. Just write down what they say - only catch they have to be home made meals not takeaways.
Then ask the same of them for breakfast, lunches & snacks.
Compile the answers. And you are well on the way to menu plan.
Begin menu planning slowly - just work on evening meal, from families suggestions allocate meals - I usually work in a 5 week cycle so we don't end up eating similar meals.
Work out what nights of the week you need quick meals due to being home late or evening activities. If you have kids, allocate one night a week they will be cooking with you or being your helper.
What vegetables or bread will you serve with the meal?
Have some fun! - Join others around the world who menu plan & share on your blog. A good place to visit is http://orgjunkie.com/menu-plan-monday
Sample of this weeks menu for our family. (NB I don't plan until Tuesday as wait to see what is in our organic fruit & vegetable delivery is first)
Sunday Lasagna with bread
Monday pumpkin soup & bread (we had a real cold snap & have lots of pumpkin)
Tuesday beef casserole with mashed potatoes, carrots & parsnips, broad beans from garden (YUM)
Wednesday Roast chicken with roasted potato, parsnip, pumpkin & kumera. Broad beans from garden (Yum) cabbage & spinach from garden
Thursday Rump steak ( saved from Tuesday's casserole making the meat go further) green salad & hassle back potatoes.
Friday Pork stir fry with rice - lots of vegetables, make the pork go further.
Saturday Spaghetti meatballs with green salad.
You will notice we do not have desert - if still hungry they help themselves to fruit. We have food allergies so puddings aren't really suitable. But if you haven't you can make a meal stretch by serving a pudding. They did this a lot in the 1940's - small amount of meat quite a good serving of vegetables & filled the tummies with pudding. There are lots of inexpensive puddings eg apple crumble.
What is really wonderful about menu planning is you do not have to think what is for dinner each night any more - you know because you have planned. Stops takeaways!
You shop for your weeks menu - no more wasted food at the end of each week - this saves you money!!
If you are having a tight financial week - it is amazing what you can plan with just a few ingredients -
I usually plan by what I have on hand in pantry & freezer. This way each week when I grocery shop I am buying only items on special for my stockpile & will use them in another weeks menu. I very rarely pay full price any more for any items from the grocery or butcher because I menu plan, stockpile & price book shop. This has enabled our family to continue to eat well even with the prices of food sky rocketing.
Shopping this way didn't happen over night - lots of changes slowly. But I would recommend begin with menu planning & plan in a few cheap meals 0f even meatless meals like macaroni cheese. pancakes & soups served with bread. You can get your food budget down with this method & with money saved you can begin stockpiling.
To begin with just ask all of your family what are their favourite meals for dinner. Just write down what they say - only catch they have to be home made meals not takeaways.
Then ask the same of them for breakfast, lunches & snacks.
Compile the answers. And you are well on the way to menu plan.
Begin menu planning slowly - just work on evening meal, from families suggestions allocate meals - I usually work in a 5 week cycle so we don't end up eating similar meals.
Work out what nights of the week you need quick meals due to being home late or evening activities. If you have kids, allocate one night a week they will be cooking with you or being your helper.
What vegetables or bread will you serve with the meal?
Have some fun! - Join others around the world who menu plan & share on your blog. A good place to visit is http://orgjunkie.com/menu-plan-monday
Sample of this weeks menu for our family. (NB I don't plan until Tuesday as wait to see what is in our organic fruit & vegetable delivery is first)
Sunday Lasagna with bread
Monday pumpkin soup & bread (we had a real cold snap & have lots of pumpkin)
Tuesday beef casserole with mashed potatoes, carrots & parsnips, broad beans from garden (YUM)
Wednesday Roast chicken with roasted potato, parsnip, pumpkin & kumera. Broad beans from garden (Yum) cabbage & spinach from garden
Thursday Rump steak ( saved from Tuesday's casserole making the meat go further) green salad & hassle back potatoes.
Friday Pork stir fry with rice - lots of vegetables, make the pork go further.
Saturday Spaghetti meatballs with green salad.
You will notice we do not have desert - if still hungry they help themselves to fruit. We have food allergies so puddings aren't really suitable. But if you haven't you can make a meal stretch by serving a pudding. They did this a lot in the 1940's - small amount of meat quite a good serving of vegetables & filled the tummies with pudding. There are lots of inexpensive puddings eg apple crumble.
What is really wonderful about menu planning is you do not have to think what is for dinner each night any more - you know because you have planned. Stops takeaways!
You shop for your weeks menu - no more wasted food at the end of each week - this saves you money!!
If you are having a tight financial week - it is amazing what you can plan with just a few ingredients -
I usually plan by what I have on hand in pantry & freezer. This way each week when I grocery shop I am buying only items on special for my stockpile & will use them in another weeks menu. I very rarely pay full price any more for any items from the grocery or butcher because I menu plan, stockpile & price book shop. This has enabled our family to continue to eat well even with the prices of food sky rocketing.
Shopping this way didn't happen over night - lots of changes slowly. But I would recommend begin with menu planning & plan in a few cheap meals 0f even meatless meals like macaroni cheese. pancakes & soups served with bread. You can get your food budget down with this method & with money saved you can begin stockpiling.
Food Budget
One area to help your family budget is food. It is one area you have to spend & one area you can cut back on.
A well stocked pantry, freezer & menu planning is the secret. I hear you say all well in good if you have a well stocked pantry. I'm asked often how do I get that!
Menu plan - (will do a separate post on this)
Price book (will also do a separate post on this)
Buy in bulk (again will do a separate post)
Changes are not going to happen over night & it will take planning. But like a budget - oh soo worth it.
Areas you can save in your food budget are stop eating out, stop takeaways, take a packed lunch & take packed snacks & drinks for kids too. A flask of coffee for mum. All that is required is forward planning.
A well stocked pantry, freezer & menu planning is the secret. I hear you say all well in good if you have a well stocked pantry. I'm asked often how do I get that!
Menu plan - (will do a separate post on this)
Price book (will also do a separate post on this)
Buy in bulk (again will do a separate post)
Changes are not going to happen over night & it will take planning. But like a budget - oh soo worth it.
Areas you can save in your food budget are stop eating out, stop takeaways, take a packed lunch & take packed snacks & drinks for kids too. A flask of coffee for mum. All that is required is forward planning.
Welcome
Leanne's Back to Basics Blog was kick started by watching Jamie Oliver's Ministry of food.
I will take on his Pass it on challenge & via blogging will pass on what works for me in cooking for a family of four including cooking with severe food allergies, preserving, budgeting, menu planning, packed lunches, stockpiling, buying in bulk, vegetable gardening, raising our own chickens, raising our own sheep, keeping a home and living within your means.
I am going to try to blog basics as if the readers have limited knowledge - as Jamie says - passing it on.
Love Leanne
I will take on his Pass it on challenge & via blogging will pass on what works for me in cooking for a family of four including cooking with severe food allergies, preserving, budgeting, menu planning, packed lunches, stockpiling, buying in bulk, vegetable gardening, raising our own chickens, raising our own sheep, keeping a home and living within your means.
I am going to try to blog basics as if the readers have limited knowledge - as Jamie says - passing it on.
Love Leanne
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