So ... I set off with £3.04 in my pocket and a shopping list that read ...
cheese
lemon.
They had no vegan cheese whatsoever!!
Well it's only a little Sainsbury's I suppose, but I was disappointed. I had to think on my feet as I wandered the aisles for inspiration for something that would replace cheese in the meals I had planned. I decided that the thing I needed it most in was the two days of cheese and salad sandwiches, so I then thought 'aha ...hummus'.
I was about to pick up a tub of hummus for £1.40 ... then I came to my senses, put it back and instead went to the tinned food aisle and got myself another tin of chickpeas for 55p, much more sensible. I mean I already have oil and seasonings in the larder and garlic in my shop from home food. I can make my own hummus ... and a lot more of it for almost a third of the money.
The dairy free spread was on offer at just £1 as were the little cracker thins. I thought the spread would go nicely with the jacket potato I had planned, and on toast if I got peckish and the crackers, also reduced to £1 a box, would be ideal to have with a little bit of the hummus as a snack.
So I went out for two things and came home with four that actually could give me better options for my meals and definitely give me a bit more food for my money.
Receipt
As you can see from the receipt above I came in under budget with change to spare. So my weeks worth of food has been bought with just £19.01. I'll be back tomorrow with a complete look at the food I have for the next seven days and a properly written out menu for the week. This will get me one day ahead so that I will be able to photograph my meals and write out the recipes after I have had them and then compose a blog post.
And if I'm out and about at all I'll definitely be looking for something I can invest my 24p in!! What would you spend 24p on?
Sue xx
It really does focus the mind when you deal in cash. Seeing it dwindle is a real reality check, most youngsters have missed out on
ReplyDeleteDefinitely, I literally had £3.04 in my pocket to spend, no purse, no cards just my Nectar card app on my phone to pick up Nectar points ... so there was no ability to cheat or bend the rules 😬
DeleteNo cheese? Aarrgghh! Home made hummus is a brilliant alternative though and such a money saver.
ReplyDeletexx
I know!! I looped round the fridges about five times in case they had hidden it ... but no, no cheese ☹️
DeleteI love hummus, I acutally think homemade is nicer, I have made it using dried chickpeas before, but that is more costly and time consuming although I do have to say I thought it was nicer. x
ReplyDeleteIt really is, isn't it, I don't know why I even picked up the ready made stuff at first. I'm glad I didn't buy it, I think I would have regretted it almost immediately!!
DeleteAnd money to spare. Good for you. I am looking forward to your menus.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Not a lot left over, but enough for another potato or banana from Aldi, if I need them :-)
DeleteI think I would go to a market stall that does dried herbs and buy a dried chilli or two .Maybe you have same or similar on hand .
ReplyDeleteGood suggestion, but I doubt here there would be single chillies available to buy on our market ... and it's not until Thursday unfortunately! But there's no need to worry I already have dried chilli flakes and dried mixed herbs in my store cupboard five items.
DeleteTINNED chick peas!! You will get far better value for money if you buy a large bag of dried chick peas. It will cost a fraction of the price. They are a perfect store cupboard ingredient and can form the basis of many tasty meals. (Yorkshire/Scottish parentage - can you tell?!)
ReplyDeleteYes, but this Challenge is all about me eating for one week and buying as much food as I need for the week. A bag of dried chickpeas, although better value in the long term, is more outlay upfront and would give me many more servings than I actually need. Buying a tin left me with enough money to buy something to go with my planned hummus, rather than enough potential hummus to feed an army!!
DeleteA curly wurly!
ReplyDeleteI can't eat them unfortunately as they are covered in milk chocolate ... are they around 24p then ... that's still good value if they are 😃
DeleteI made a batch of hommus yesterday...delicious! You could buy a lemon for your hommus, mine has
ReplyDeleteDried chickpeas (soaked and cooked), garlic, olive oil, Tahini paste, lemon juice,S&P ,I serve with sweet Paprika and chopped Parsley...yummm
You use the same recipe as me, but this week it's tinned chickpeas and no tahini. I have a lemon already, but I rarely add any to hummus, I did add some to my chickpea tuna though. 🙂
DeleteI love the little tang of lemon juice, my half cup of dried peas probably makes about a cup of cooked, give it a try next time you make a batch...extra vit C is good .
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