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I have done pretty much the same as you have re Christmas. It not only saves money, but also a whole lot of pressure, time and stress. We tend to do a celebratory seafood meal and salad here in Australia, as it is in the height of summer. My festivities are very low key. Usually with a niece and her partner, or a friend. For birthdays it is just meals out and enjoying the company of the person you are with.

You absolutely have to take some money out of the vlog payments we are all rooting for you ❤

Thank you for these videos, I love them! I'm 67 myself and I just love my bus pass which I got last year, it was a long wait for it!

I have just done an exercise in living out of my pantry stock and freezer for a month. Meals towards the end became very creative, but it was a fun challenge and has given me some idea of low long I could last, in the event there was some kind of calamity. Since our shelves were emptied by panic buyers when COVID hit here in Australia, and I was not fully stocked on items like pasta and toilet paper, I have learned the importance of maintaining my stock of pantry essentials. I stock up when things I use regularly are on special.

I add a lot of kidney and lima beans to meat or chicken dishes to stretch meat. I also do a lot of vegetarian dishes. I also substitute a large can of tuna for the meat to do a bolognaise ragout. I actually prefer my tuna version to the meat one. Plus I add carrots, zuccini/corgette, broccoli, green beans and capsicum to a lot of meat based casseroles and other dishes. I love my vegetables, so it only improves these traditional meat based dishes, in my opinion.

Im heartbroken my lovely cat is so sick,and various other problems ,it really help d listening to your lovely voice and I found it calming,I'm a distressed lady on Merseyside often bedridden so enjoyed your chat x

Ali, The Potato Guys deliver sacks of 12.5 and 25 kg to Falkirk and Stirling on Tuesdays £16 and £23.50 respectively, delivery free. Ive had them in the past and they are fine. If you look online you may find others. I hope this is helpful❤

“ I’ll tell you what I want, what I really really want”, she’s gorgeous.

Hi Ali… love the cooking . Maybe you could get a microphone and clip it on your top. Couldn’t really make out what you were saying while cooking. Just a suggestion. 🤗❤️

Same in belfast we call it messages xx

Oatmeal or lentils are great for padding out meals Awhhh Luna 🐾🐾🐾 my two terriers are also struggling with the clocks changing 🙈🙈🙈 they very confused with the time difference!

Lovely! So many great ideas, thank you!

Having the same dish for two months would make me very sorry for myself, hence I am in awe of your positivity and ability to "live well"

Brilliant Ali! This is exactly how I cook but I dont spend a day batch cooking. So if we have meat loaf for a meal- I will just freeze the other 4 portions, for example. Therefore I have 2 ' ready meals' in the freezer for the CBA days! 😂

Hi, subscription added. adverts watched until the end, all because you are an honest person with good and selfless intentions x Good luck to you.

Yah for the 'messages'! 😁 I completely agree about the madness of shops running up to Christmas but it's worth making an exception to take advantage of the price wars on vegetables in the week before Christmas. Perfect time to stock up for January for next to nothing! I haven't been able to get bags of unwashed potatoes for ages, shame as they last a lot longer.

You have great ideas 👍

hello we stay in fife and we call our food shop messages! Love it!x

I really enjoy your videos Thank you so much

Love the tip for making your own iced tea I'm going to try that. How long does it keep for in the fridge and what quantity do you make please?

Butter freezes really well so if you get it at a good price or reduced due to short date I would bulk buy and freeze it.

Can I ask where u got your containers from?

Are the dough balls same as dumplings? Dumplings i rarely have but do enjoy. I use green lentils, which i actually like away, to bulk out mince and literally no one notices.

You’re so inspiring with how you stretch your food. Im getting lots of ideas.

Hi Ali! Please can you give us a demo of how you make your doughballs? I’d love to try that too! Thank you! 🙏

I use tinned ratatouille to bulk up cooked mince along with tomatoes. The ratouille also makes a great savoury crumble to have either on its own or with a couple of sausages or a piece of fish. I have to shop online because I'm disabled and although I do use Tescos I've found for a long time many of their basic items like big bags of rice, butter, eggs etc are always out of stock. I do have the uneasy feeling that it's all a ploy on Tescos part to try and make me buy a ( much) more expensive alternative. The Pellegrinos are fab aren't they?

Wow that’s a great stretch of the meat for 20 meals 👏👏👏. Love seeing ashettes being used still. I had to order one from the UK then I found a beautiful big red one in a charity shop! I live a good homemade steak pie, especially on New Year’s Day. Have a great weekend.

Prices are going to get even worse because of the increased employer national insurance contributions. Planning is key

Yes the 2.5kg bags of potatoes have shrunk to 2kg drive me mad 😂

Hi Ali, really enjoyed your last 3 foodie videos and they gave me plenty of ideas. I did my shopping today in TESCO and it came to £102, but that is considering it is for 2 people and it will last us for the next 2 weeks in main meals. I followed your suggestion getting some extras for December and dry goods to draw from when needed. It bugged me that, due to tiredness or being poorly I overspent on Farm cooked meals that I could have done much cheaper so…onwards and upwards batch cooking and freezer here I come! 😊

The doughballs look like dumplings.

That is quite a lot

After watching your batch cooking video, I think you got a good deal on this grocery haul. I have been batch cooking too. I like being able to take out my ready, home-made dinner. Have a blessed day❤

Well done Ali, some great meals to keep you well fed. I’ve never frozen dough balls, just wondered if they froze well. Best wishes A

Where do I find your blog please? Love how you stretch things.

Well done Ali!

Great job, Ali! Love the bonus videos!

Love the buzzy bumble bee cushions!!!!!

Ali I went to look for the meatloaf recipe on the blog page. But alas canny find it. Could you possibly post that as well? Pleassssseeee…ps what did you make of the Lidl Worcestershire sauce??

I love turnip but many years ago they were always very 'woody'. After the effort of peeling, even trying to chop them up was more difficult. They never properly softened up when cooking so I gave up and bought ready mashed 'swede' with carrots. I'll have to try fresh turnips again.

You're well ahead - great meal prep!

We can get a sack of potatoes in Lidl

I need to do some batch coming, too. Saves so much time and packaging. Interested that you can dumplings dough balls. Is that a Scottish thing?

💕😀xx I love your egg house!🥰

Wow- what a lot of meals you got out of that haul! Really interested in the meatloaf recipe- it looked great!

Completely with you on the Tesco double sized loo roll. I live on my own and one pack lasts me ages. 😂😂

Please share recipe for meatloaf

Loving the bonus vids! Thanks

Thanks Ali. 😋