Recession shopping
Discussion
apparently at the moment we're in the midst of economic disaster and everyone is poor! This fact had escaped me until recently, however, never one to miss a trend I went 'poverty shopping' today. Honestly, I've never had so much fun shopping, had a budget of £70 for 2 for a week.
You know what shocked me? It was genuinely a piece of piss, all I had to do was stop being a knob, free range chicken? No thanks, cruelty speck 2 breasts for £2 please old boy etc.
As a result of this self enforced prudence I had a revelation tonight. Made pizza from scratch for the boys watching the ufc replay, pizza is my all time favourite food and this may have been the best I've ever had. Complemented it with koftas.
Gentlemen, step away from the foie gras, put down the rib roast, cancel the booking for the fat duck. Embrace the recession! (and seeing as this is PH, spend the money on tuning parts instead
You know what shocked me? It was genuinely a piece of piss, all I had to do was stop being a knob, free range chicken? No thanks, cruelty speck 2 breasts for £2 please old boy etc.
As a result of this self enforced prudence I had a revelation tonight. Made pizza from scratch for the boys watching the ufc replay, pizza is my all time favourite food and this may have been the best I've ever had. Complemented it with koftas.
Gentlemen, step away from the foie gras, put down the rib roast, cancel the booking for the fat duck. Embrace the recession! (and seeing as this is PH, spend the money on tuning parts instead
I reckon I can get by on £20 for one weeks food. I cook up large pots of grub and freeze individual portions using whatever is on special offer. I managed to get half a dozen 1lb packs of mince for twenty-odd pence each (made a shed load of chili), tomorrow I'll cook up some Moroccan style lamb meatballs which should work out about £1 per portion.
I got a £9 crackling joint from Waitrose the other week reduced to £1.62.
Obviously that was eaten in one go with my house mate but then he returned the favour with some lovely fajitas.
It's a hell of a lot cheaper than pizza/ready meals.
I got a £9 crackling joint from Waitrose the other week reduced to £1.62.
Obviously that was eaten in one go with my house mate but then he returned the favour with some lovely fajitas.
It's a hell of a lot cheaper than pizza/ready meals.
No wonder you found it easy. £70 is a huge amount for a food budget. Try £30, and then the challenge starts.
Grow some of your own veggies, that has helped us hugely having an alotment this year (potatoes and onions are easy to start with). Then you can spend a few quid extra on free range chickens etc.
Grow some of your own veggies, that has helped us hugely having an alotment this year (potatoes and onions are easy to start with). Then you can spend a few quid extra on free range chickens etc.
Also try finding your own.
The wild fungi season is about to kick off, and any fungi finds can either be eaten immediately or dried to use as 'taste adders' to soups, casseroles, risotto etc.
Daft to buy dried mushrooms at £5 for 100g when I can find my own, and paradoxically be more certain of the contents - shop bought often have inferior species sneaked in under the guise of 'cep'.
The wild fungi season is about to kick off, and any fungi finds can either be eaten immediately or dried to use as 'taste adders' to soups, casseroles, risotto etc.
Daft to buy dried mushrooms at £5 for 100g when I can find my own, and paradoxically be more certain of the contents - shop bought often have inferior species sneaked in under the guise of 'cep'.
You consider £70 cheap?
My normal shop for a week - 10 days for 2 (in Waitrose) and buying the good stuff (free range meat etc) if probably about the same if not less. That include 3 meals a day as well (sarnie for lunch, cereal for breakfast).
I think you need to look at what you buy!
My normal shop for a week - 10 days for 2 (in Waitrose) and buying the good stuff (free range meat etc) if probably about the same if not less. That include 3 meals a day as well (sarnie for lunch, cereal for breakfast).
I think you need to look at what you buy!
To make a home cost saving, I have been using Makro's for the last few months and making some quite good savings. I got a card through our firm and have really noticed some good savings.
Food is zero vat, the branch we use also has its own on site butchers so tend to bulk buy pork belly, rib eye steaks, lamb cuts etc. and freeze and use as needed.
We have also noticed good savings by buying our washing powder, comfort, dishwasher tablets, toilet roll and kitchen towel, butter, cheese on a bulk basis. For example, 84 dishwasher tablets for £7.00!!
They tend to have a lot of bulk buy deals as well, like Negra Isla Sauvingnon Blanc, £37.00 for a case of 12.
Food is zero vat, the branch we use also has its own on site butchers so tend to bulk buy pork belly, rib eye steaks, lamb cuts etc. and freeze and use as needed.
We have also noticed good savings by buying our washing powder, comfort, dishwasher tablets, toilet roll and kitchen towel, butter, cheese on a bulk basis. For example, 84 dishwasher tablets for £7.00!!
They tend to have a lot of bulk buy deals as well, like Negra Isla Sauvingnon Blanc, £37.00 for a case of 12.
Jesus TF Christ said:
I cook up large pots of grub and freeze individual portions using whatever is on special offer.
This is very good for that. I have made it many times, well about four times. http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/pork-recipes/sp...
Mobile Chicane said:
Also try finding your own.
The wild fungi season is about to kick off, and any fungi finds can either be eaten immediately or dried to use as 'taste adders' to soups, casseroles, risotto etc.
Daft to buy dried mushrooms at £5 for 100g when I can find my own, and paradoxically be more certain of the contents - shop bought often have inferior species sneaked in under the guise of 'cep'.
I would always be worried whether what I was picking was safe. The wild fungi season is about to kick off, and any fungi finds can either be eaten immediately or dried to use as 'taste adders' to soups, casseroles, risotto etc.
Daft to buy dried mushrooms at £5 for 100g when I can find my own, and paradoxically be more certain of the contents - shop bought often have inferior species sneaked in under the guise of 'cep'.
Cotty said:
Menguin said:
£70 is insane for 2 for a week, that is £5 a day each!
I spend about £5 (or maybe a bit more) every day at work for breakfast and lunch. I just have a snack in the evening. 
Edited by soprano on Wednesday 12th August 00:04
I assure you, I thought £70 was ridiculous too, but I have a s
tload of time on my hands and am a trained chef, so I can make something out of not much, work with cheap cuts etc. I decided to embark on this adventure after watching that shorty economy gastronomy show where two patronizing s persuade people on council estates to eat shepards pie rather than takeaway Chinese. I felt I could do better and wanted to prove it to my gf. She's not sure about oxtail etc, but I'm loving it.
This saved cas should pay for the trip to Spain to stock up on Jamon iberico, hmmm
tload of time on my hands and am a trained chef, so I can make something out of not much, work with cheap cuts etc. I decided to embark on this adventure after watching that shorty economy gastronomy show where two patronizing s persuade people on council estates to eat shepards pie rather than takeaway Chinese. I felt I could do better and wanted to prove it to my gf. She's not sure about oxtail etc, but I'm loving it.This saved cas should pay for the trip to Spain to stock up on Jamon iberico, hmmm
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