Pixie 162 Posted July 30, 2013 Report Share Posted July 30, 2013 After not having much money as it is, food sucks up most of our expenses if you count the bills etc individually. Anyone know any nice cheaper alternatives to foods (iv been told Lidl do nice own brand cereals and cheaper than Asdas own that I usually buy), budget dinners etc? Any other money cutting ideas to share with everyone may be appreciated by other members - who doesn't want to save the pennies? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mick2me 3,033 Posted July 30, 2013 Report Share Posted July 30, 2013 I like Aldi Honey and nut cornflakes £1.19 for 500g. Though asda sometimes has 750g Kelloggs on offer for 1,99 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
colly0410 1,181 Posted July 30, 2013 Report Share Posted July 30, 2013 Noticed our grub bill is lowest when we go to Aldi, go to Tesco or Morrisons now & then to get stuff Aldi doesn't sell.. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
carni 10,094 Posted July 30, 2013 Report Share Posted July 30, 2013 Hi Pixie, We buy our Chickens from the CO-OP 'Two for £7.00; one to use one to freeze. Pixie, these are the closest to old fashioned crispy skin chickens i have found anywhere. When you have had your dinner, boil the carcass for about 1hr; sieve and take the meat off the bones; put it in a pan with grated carrot, swede, parsnip, a few frozen peas and a Knorr Chicken stock cube and finally simmer approx 45mins and Wallah. Nutritious, cheap Chicken soup. I have mine not thickened, but that is a personal taste. Lovely with bread dipped in the soup, mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm loverly jubberly! Season to Taste. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mick2me 3,033 Posted July 30, 2013 Report Share Posted July 30, 2013 Why do they not give us chicken giblets now? Great for making gravy. I suspect EU rules! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Pixie 162 Posted July 30, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 30, 2013 I live right by co op but never bothered buying chickens, Iv never cooked a whole bird before so I usually buy a cooked one from morrisons, it'll do two dinners + sarnies. But I may give it a go and cook one up for a roast one day soon! Making pork + cider stew/casserole today, that seems to be a cheap dinner, pork was only 2 quid ready chopped and a £1 bottle of cider + a pot of plain fremarge Frey (cant spell that!) And of course a ton of veggies slapped in the pot too Quote Link to post Share on other sites
denshaw 2,871 Posted July 30, 2013 Report Share Posted July 30, 2013 CO-OP also good for reduced food close to sell by date. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mick2me 3,033 Posted July 30, 2013 Report Share Posted July 30, 2013 I like to roast chicken and taters in a big roasting bag. All of the juices are retained for making the gravy, with of course your veg water. A tip Always remove the lumps of fat just inside the bird before cooking, there is very little fat on a chicken apart from this. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fynger 841 Posted July 30, 2013 Report Share Posted July 30, 2013 Chickens dont have any taste anymore Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mudgie49 401 Posted July 30, 2013 Report Share Posted July 30, 2013 Chilli and cornbread, is a tasty and inexpensive meal. 1lb ground beef,can tomatoes,seasoning, and 1/2lb coarse cornmeal,makes enough for 4 good meals. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
piggy and babs 544 Posted July 30, 2013 Report Share Posted July 30, 2013 i bulk buy a lot of my meat fresh or frozen farm foods good value then make up large pans of stews sheperds pies cheasse and potato pies eat pne that day put one in fridge for next day and freeze any others for later in single portions so we or the lads just go and get one out of the freezer when we need one . withe trays ect it works out the same as ready meals from frezer shops but better taste and quality as you can choose the things you like to go into it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Pixie 162 Posted July 30, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 30, 2013 Chickens dont have any taste anymore Pack it with stuffing + butter or smother in herbs. We're cutting another cost soon, canceling virgin media! Such rip offs, costing us £80 a month for all the hidden charges... Gonna save, pay one lump of money on a decent free view box and get talk talk for net and phone Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fynger 841 Posted July 30, 2013 Report Share Posted July 30, 2013 Stuffing....YUCK !! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
NewBasfordlad 3,599 Posted July 30, 2013 Report Share Posted July 30, 2013 Flipping heck My Virgin Media, internet, 2 phone lines and essentials collection costs £57. If I took £14 off for the extra phone line £43. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ayupmeducks 1,730 Posted July 30, 2013 Report Share Posted July 30, 2013 I'd say the reason chickens are bland these days is feed... Chickens allowed to run around eat everything form seed to bugs, mice, small birds, lizards etc In batteries they only eat high protein dry food as they are egg layers, at the end of their egg laying career, usually just a few months, they are slaughtered. Mine eat everything, but I don't have the heart to neck them...... 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
carni 10,094 Posted July 30, 2013 Report Share Posted July 30, 2013 Fynger #9 If the CO-OP near you, have the chickens from the same source as our CO-Op, they are the only ones that remind me of the way they used to be.Not pumped up with water and very tasty, worth giving a try, you can buy one, or two for a cheaper price of £7.00. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mick2me 3,033 Posted July 30, 2013 Report Share Posted July 30, 2013 Chickens dont have any taste anymore Try going down the butchers and asking for a pound of Chicken Lips! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mick2me 3,033 Posted July 30, 2013 Report Share Posted July 30, 2013 Virgin Media and Sky both rip offs. Buy yourself a satellite recorder like the Humax and connect the wire from the sky dish. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
carni 10,094 Posted July 30, 2013 Report Share Posted July 30, 2013 Left over Diced carrots, Peas, Frozen mixed veg, Cauli, Broccoli, Bobby beans, on their own or mixed together and covered in cheese sauce will go nicely the following day, with a Jacket Potato and salad for a cheap meal instead of throwing them away. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DAVIDW 1,681 Posted July 30, 2013 Report Share Posted July 30, 2013 Good one Carni . We do the same with Quorn minced beef . Our youngest son and his family are all vegetarians so we often use it . We make a bolognaise sauce with all the veg you mention , first day with spaghetti and usually have enough left over to reheat and put over a baked spud for day two . Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fynger 841 Posted July 30, 2013 Report Share Posted July 30, 2013 Vegetables.....more YUCK !!!.....just meat n taters....I'm done.....not played with or spiced up.....cooked served...TA DAA !....specially fried stuff......but get limited....boooo Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MELTONSTILTON 452 Posted July 30, 2013 Report Share Posted July 30, 2013 Check out the bargain bins in your local supermarkets. As long as the food is in date and not contaminated, it is ok. If you have garden, try to enlarge the vegetable patch, so you can grow more vegetables, because you don't need a large lawn,to sit on in the summer. The best saving my wife and I made was over 20 years ago, we got rid of the TV and all that goes with it, so we now have more time to do things 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
darkazana 1,736 Posted July 30, 2013 Report Share Posted July 30, 2013 if you have a slow cooker you can buy the cheaper cuts of meat and make delicious healthy meals. I buy cheap beef roast cuts and pot roast it in the crockpot. yummy and make the gravy out of the juices. Mince is very versatile, and not just beef. Minced pork and lamb are good. Bolognaise, savoury mince in Yorkshire pud or with dumplings, meatloaf. And the cheaper cuts for stewing, casseroles or curry, are all ideal for long slow cooking. I wouldn't be without my slow cooker, which is also cheaper to use than an oven/stove. Just chuck every thing in and let it get on with it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
NewBasfordlad 3,599 Posted July 30, 2013 Report Share Posted July 30, 2013 Remember me mums stewing meat cooked one day on a low light for hours, left overnight in the pan and then cooked again before serving. Served in a plate sized Yorkshire pudding with veg. Food for the gods. Colin Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mick2me 3,033 Posted July 30, 2013 Report Share Posted July 30, 2013 I dont like Slow Cookers they use too much energy. Buy a pressure cooker and cook food quickly over a very low heat. For veg small amount of water is needed, and the veg cooks quicky in the steam, in a basket above the water. Result very tender veg and veg stock to add to the gravy. Pressure cookers can also be used to 'pressure roast' meat. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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