Frugal food: meal planning & no spend January update
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ก.พ. 2025
- So, I did a biggish shop, but I'm still using up food from the stores and planning our meals carefully to keep costs down. Plus, as I'm in the middle of a no spend January, here is an update.
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We've had a houseguest and I cooked loads of food while he was here. We've had leftovers for three days. Tomorrow I'm going to make pork chops from the freezer and some potatoes. We'll have soup on Sunday, pork sandwiches on Monday and chicken and rice on Tuesday. We're eating mostly from our freezer and pantry. I thunk reverse meal planning is the best way to save money and waste less food :)
'Going grey and being invisible' - I'm quite happy with that arrangement!
Me too!
Brilliant food shop haul and meal plan Jane. Agreed, the less you spend the less you want to spend.
I went into a charity shop yesterday with a friend and looked all over but bought nothing. Today my husband and I went into World Market and looked around for quite a while but spent nothing. The no-spend/low-spend 2024 has changed my behavior. Grocery shopping can make a person grumpy because it’s so expensive now.
Like you, my interest in buying things has greatly diminished with the right mindset. I can visit shops and leave with nothing. I used to use shopping as therapy so the no spend idea has been a catalyst for change ❤️
I loved seeing the kitty shadow on your white board. On going grey…I did that during Covid. It does make me look older but it is a relief not to have to colour it and it was getting expensive. I have found that suddenly I am being called “Dear” more often so I guess I am a little old lady. Still worth it though.
Hi Jane. The ma made marmalade is easy and great. I make it with less sugar. It only makes 4 jars, but they are very tasty and better for you 😋 ❤
I use Marmade and I agree that it's dead easy. I add a couple of tablespoons of whisky as it's cooling and this takes it to another level and they make great Christmas gifts. I've also made the lemon version too, it's almost as nice as the orange one.
I gate grocery shopping too, Jane, so I order online. That makes it easier to stick to budget as you can remove stuff from your basket and juggle purchases to stick to a certain amount. I'm doing a low spend month and so far have spent just under £56 cash. Hopefully, this week's spend will keep the total to under £100 for the month. I'm using up all the oddments from the fridge and freezer so that I can start afresh next month. Any extra bits we need or that I forgot are being purchased using Nectar points. It's very satisfying 👍
Angie ❤
Hi Jane, I have a problem with eating onions, I can't seem to digest them and get bad tummy ache however I can tolerate shallots and leeks so I substitute those in recipes where onions are needed. Ma Made marmalade is great, I reduce the amount of sugar stated and often add the juice and zest of a lemon it makes a more tangy mixture delicious 😋. Hope you like it. Your cats are so sweet. Regards Sue H
Feeling very accomplished as I recently did homemade marmalade with Seville oranges, I used a vegetable peeler and my slow cooker to do the oranges and a couple of lemons, it turned out beautifully, so tangy. I also made yoghurt for the first time after seeing your videos, I’ll be having that for breakfast. Also cutting down to lose a few pounds. I’d be interested to see how your spicy rice dish turns out, have a great week x
❤❤❤
I was watching one of the World in Action 1970s programmes on TH-cam about poverty and the elderly and one of the homehelps came in with some shopping, everything was wrapped in paper, no plastic in sight.
I spent today at vets and Tescos , must be a January thing😊
Things have changed so much in such a short time. It feels like we could go back to the days of much less plastic if we really wanted to!
My goal was to stop dipping into overdraft and I am sticking eith ut so far
👍👍👍
I agree re: the Tesco club card prices! Think the on cubcard prices are artificially inflated. They are trying to hoodwink customers!
And they are succeeding I think....
Lidl do some really nice sausages that are their version of the Gosh brand and are based around chickpeas
Hi Jane, Ma Made is lovely stuff and so easy to make up. 😻❤️🙏
I think as a reseller you might want to add into your budget as January is super in the charityshops due to lots of people having a post Christmas sort out , making room for all the new stuff they have bought 😀
@@alisoncotterill4048 I don’t have an actual ban for business purposes, but it would have to be something good. I just didn’t see anything
Agree with you on society being ageist. I don’t have a lot of greys but I think not colouring my haird makes me look older and a bit unkempt (I feel) so that is one luxury I have kept.
I’ve bought that decaf tea and don’t like it at all. No taste at all it’s like drinking hot water. I’m going to have to find an altermative.
@@nevertoolate8589 agree, it’s not the best tea! You have to brew it for ages
@ I actually leave the bag in while drinking it, it’s that weak!
I got 3 lge cans of granulated Blend 43 coffee for $18 Australian ea today, saving $10 per can. I now have 5 cans, enough for about 7-8 months!!
That's a great saving!
My Mum could not eat Onion but she could Leek,so in soups and stews and cheese flans I used Leeks instead which is just as good of course. Maybe better.
I use LIVE brand,the shade Amethyst Chrome,it suits me best. I do try different now and then but LIVE A/C is best for me.
I buy a 3 litre one of Olive Oil Pomace now,all the stores sell those now,cost approx £14 and last me six weeks. I know it's the seconds from the milling but I don't mind. I use lard a lot too,makes the crispiest fried potatoes,but no good for veggie or vegan of course.
I have used the Mamade stuff with great success. The house smelt absolutely amazing while it was cooking. Im not doing too well with a no spend January….the dreaded Vinted again. Im going to have to delete the app as cant be trusted 😩
I find Tesco expensive, Aldi & Lidl have poor shelf life so I shop in Morrisons, plus they are supporting the farmers
What is your weekly grocery budget?
Sorry should have waited for the end 😂
Hi Jane, such an enjoyable time spent with you as always ❤
I'm sure you have, but have you tried trimming their claws when they're asleep/sleepy? Only time my cat Teddy lets me xx
@@leannejayne3545 Lola would have to be unconscious 😂😂
@@ShoestringJane We had a calico cat for nearly 19 yrs, and every time we brought her to the vet we heard “Oh my! She’s a feisty one, much stronger than you’d think!!” 😂
I am always amazed at a cars strength when you try to trim their nails.