 |
| I'm not in UK but am sure ideas can be applied anywhere. Credit to: https://savvybites.co.uk/7-day-budget-meal-plan-oct-5-11/ |
The budget challenge starts now. $200 to get to the end of the month. (That's food only, and I'm aiming for no more than $37 for household/health/ beauty.) That means it's essential we use up food we have. I got a jump start on this once we were back to just DH and I. First, what we ate this week.
- Sunday: Fajitas made with a pork roast, peppers and onions and all the fixings.
- Monday: Leftovers from lunch out, and leftover fajitas
- Tuesday: Curry for DD2, Hot hoagie DH, I nibbled
- Wednesday: Hamburgers- I made four to use up a pound that didn't get used over weekend. Assorted veggies
- Thursday: BBQ ribs, Mac and cheese, roasted potatoes, pork and beans and garlic toast- I know! DH made way too much food, but he was pleased with himself and I didn't need to cook.
- Friday: The two other burgers from Wednesday, homemade sweet potato fries.
- Saturday: BBQ Round 2
Here's what I think I'll do this week.
- Sunday: We having a late lunch for a family birthday, so likely just something like fruit, meat,cheese, and crackers during Sunday night football, and there's still leftovers
- Monday: Spaghetti and homemade sauce, garlic toast from hotdog buns *V, unless I add meatballs
- Tuesday: Spinach and cheese quiche *V
- Wednesday: Homemade pizza ( odds and ends from refrigerator)
- Thursday: Homemade chicken taquitos
- Friday: Tortellini soup and garlic bread.*V, unless I decide to add chicken
- Saturday: Creamy chicken and mashed potatoes, veg
*V=vegetarian meal. As part of challenges, I'm going at least 2x week meatless.
Other than milk, bananas, and bread for breakfasts and lunches, I don't need to shop at all. I even have items to send to the lake with DH on Sunday the 18th, plus plenty of items for baking. My daughter and I had a commitment already when they decided to use that Sunday for the docks. I feel like I can make up budgetary grounds the next 7-10 weeks, plus start getting DH's fast food habit curbed. I'll keep a running count for both. I was looking for pictures and found the link above. I love a good menu post with shopping included. What's on your menu this week?
Hi Sam! I’ve enjoyed reading about the fam but have been so swamped I haven’t had a minute to even comment! DH stopped at Sam’s Club yesterday and I went in Walmart for a few things he didn’t get. I don’t think we’ll need anything from the health/beauty/household categories the rest of the month and we are still actively using up what’s on hand too. I work today and then I’m off Monday thru Friday. I’m going to visit my dad Monday and then hubby and I are taking a little road trip. I’ll make a few meals for my son to have something to eat but he’s not picky at all. I’d be willing to take bread, lunch meat and snacks on our trip to cut costs as well, I’m just desperate to get a break from home and work, and relax for a little bit. JoAnn
ReplyDeleteYou deserve a bit of a break. I never mind bringing along some food because I get tired of restaurants. I hit my limit last week so it'll be good to take a couple weeks off.
DeleteM is traveling for work, so we're keeping it really simple. I made a Trader Joes dinner last night, after a long day at the soccer field. M is grilling burgers tonight. We'll be eating random freezer leftovers & other assorted things during the week. M doesn't love a freezer cleanout week, so I'm having one while he's gone. ;-)
ReplyDeleteThat's a smart plan. Use up it all and have variety. I'm sure that's more on your plate though with M gone.
DeleteIt’s nice that you won’t have to shop for very much to make meals this week. I love having enough food to do that here too. I said I was going to grocery shop this weekend, but it looks like I can push it off a little bit further. I’m making a burrito/enchilada casserole to use up some leftovers for dinner tonight.
ReplyDeleteAnd I don't feel like it'll be odd meals either. That's usually my use it up weeks.
DeleteI just made my menu and went to Aldi and home in 20 minutes- I spent $24- no meat but 3 cans of soup and a package of their ‘Velveeta’ cheese for a client. He’s broke and no SNAP. I made out my menu for next week- finish potato soup today, roast whole chicken tomorrow with carrots and serve with rice, leftovers including chicken salad from the chicken, chili from the freezer and oatmeal for breakfast. I’ve been only using oat or almond milk. I have cukes and zuchinni from my farm share. I’m contemplating baking some carrot cupcakes soon and maybe some hand apple pies. I just feel a bit lazy! Nan
ReplyDeleteThat's very kind of you- he'll get a few filling meals. I don't understand why it's so hard for the US to ensure at least all our neighbors are fed. Too many rules for individuals who may have issues keeping employed, or employed enough to be fed.
DeleteI'm going to roast a lot of peppers on the grill today to freeze for the winter so after that I'm going to make chicken kabobs and grilled summer squash for dinner tonight.
ReplyDeleteI roasted two sweet potatoes last night to make a sweet potato pie for the big guy today. It's been a while since he's had one and he pretty much begged. lol
Enjoy your Sunday.
Your peppers in January will be a welcome addition to a meal. I remember a volunteer from the community action program I worked at 30 years ago. She had an incredible sweet potato pie.
DeleteWho knows! Yesterday was a "three-peat" lunch of leftover cottage pie, made from Sunday's-Roast-on-Monday. Last night's dinner was risotto. Tonight's dinner is a slow cooked pot roast, with perhaps a pumpkin pie for dessert, although we have plenty of blackberry cobbler left. I'll make a baked fish dinner at some point during the week. Leftovers for lunches include spaghetti with meat sauce, and two stuffed cabbages. Would-Be-College-Boy (and there's potential good news on that front, but we shall see) requested Peruvian chicken again, but I can't find cilantro in our grocery stores, and I'm on a low-spend September, heading into a Stoptober. Have a great week. Keep those work/home boundaries firm! xoxo
ReplyDeletePot roast sounds great. I just remembered I have some petite fillets. That might be added.
DeleteYou've inspired me to make a menu for the week ahead. I used to do this all the time when my kids were little.
ReplyDeleteEven if changed, it's good ideas.
DeleteSounds like you have a pretty good plan in place. I'm not sure how our week is going to be. I do have leftover beef stir fry that we will eat today. On the weekends, I make a bigger breakfast, usually, and then we only eat one more meal later in the afternoon. I'm thinking about making potato soup, the cooler weather yesterday made me think about comfort foods, so that might happen. I also haven't made goulash or tuna fish hotdish for quite awhile, so one or the other might work. I have a couple of dented cans of water chestnuts so maybe will make faux chow mein. I feel like I make the same things over and over and over again. I need to see if I have 12 tortillas left to make enchiladas. It's been a while. You do get me thinking. Have a good week and good luck with the budget plan. Ranee
ReplyDeleteI'm already changing things in my head, but with something down, I'm not stressed figuring out what to make. It was warmer than I thought it was going to be, so not sure if that plays into my fickleness. Goulash, Tina hotdish, faux chow mein all sound terrific to me.
DeleteMy menus at this point are whatever falls out the fridge first. Trouble is, my freezers are also full so I'm going to have to be really mindful of what needs to go first!
ReplyDeleteMaybe have your kids over for smorgasbord dinner, and whittle down some space? I like Hawaii Plans idea with her hubs gone.
DeleteLots of chicken is thawing. I want to make a chicken, soup, broccoli, rice casserole. Sweet potato and corn is cooked. I have potatoes and a parsnip to cook. Rhubarb and a package of blueberries are ready for cobblers. Salad greens and tomatoes mean a salad somewhere. I need broccoli. Bananas, apples, halos, grapes are here for fruits.
ReplyDeleteWhat time can I come? You know I love a chicken, rice, and broccoli dish. The rest sounds good too.
Deletewe have two meal kits to do, and the rest if up for grabs.
ReplyDeleteWhat's the recipes; new to you dishes? I like the idea of the meal kits, and they are great for some families and households. With you and Someone working long and varied hours, and trying to eat healthy and proportionally, I can seem them for your family.
DeleteIsn't it fun to be able to eat on what you have ? I love just not going to the store.
ReplyDelete