Cheap Meals

Frozennova

Frozennova

Frozennova

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Northampton
I may be moving into a house share in a few months time due to a new job around 50 miles away so I'm going to need to start thinking about cutting living costs so I need ideas for cheap meals.

Jonny69 did a thread a while back but I can't seem to find it.

Any ideas much appreciated
 
I'm making my own potato wedges as potatoes (red skinned ones) by the kg are dirt cheap and can be oven baked with some spices and oil.

Pasta based meals
Plenty of vegetables (frozen and fresh)

Cooking up batches of bolagnese and then freezing it. I usually do a 800g beef bolagnese and will do dinner for 2, plus 3 lunches usually.

Looking for half price or 2 for 1 offers on chicken etc is usually good idea too.
 
Cooking from fresh, buying in bulk or freezing close to sell buy meats if you have the luxury of time and storage.

100s of dishes im sure the chefs here will provide. Rice and XXXX, Pasta and XXXX, Potatoes and XXXX.
 
Putting larger meals together with your house share people will save on costs, rather than cooking as an individual.

Carbs do tend to be cheaper than proteins and veg in the main, however do not provide anywhere near the same nutritional benefit. You wouldn't put cr** fuel in your car so why put it in yourself as one person once said to me.

Personally I would say look to cut cost elsewhere before food as health is all important and can't be replaced.
 
I'd forgotten about my thread. My challenge was £25 to feed two for a week, using only free range meat and no 'economy' products like cheap sausages or 'basics' chicken. Here it is:

http://91.151.218.11/showthread.php?t=18274033

Almost a year ago today and I've just recovered from another virus. Happy days :D

I should resurrect that with some new recipes.
 
i would go with noodles haha there dirt cheap also growing your own saves a fair bit but might not be so easy for you in shared accommodation. that and just value food haha
 
Tell ya what a great snack is.

French stick, cut in half. Tomato puree and grated cheese and then toasted for 7 mins.

Cheap and tasty snack for ya!
 
Cheap cuts of meat can be cooked low and slow for some mega tasty meals. I've got a 2.5kg pork shoulder in the oven as i speak for some pulled pork. Will take 8 hours at 120 degrees but only cost £6 for a huge lump of meat. Would easily feed 6 people.
 
Cheap cuts of beef and pork slow cooked are great.
Use more vegetables and less meat in general, don't add loads of carbs just because they are cheap.
Cheap minced beef is also often fine for things like chili. If you fry the meat you can drain some of the additional fat off but I keep it as that has the flavour.

Vegetables like carrots are very cheap, healthy and can be used in lots of dishes and contain enough carbs on their own without having to make a pile of pasta. You an bulk buy a mass of carrots very cheap.


Many of the value brand stuff is just as good as the named brand products. As a student I much preferred Tesco value baked beans to Heinz, and the price difference was huge.


I also bulk buy from Costco, getting a large tray of chopped tomatoes etc.
 
Jonny69 said:
I'd forgotten about my thread. My challenge was £25 to feed two for a week, using only free range meat and no 'economy' products like cheap sausages or 'basics' chicken. Here it is:

http://91.151.218.11/showthread.php?t=18274033

Almost a year ago today and I've just recovered from another virus. Happy days :D

I should resurrect that with some new recipes.
Click to expand...

Please do, i need to start using less money for food
 
Pasta is cheap and can be made with pretty much anything.

Pasta with

Tuna / Mayo / Sweetcorn
Tinned Mackerel (Jerk / Tomato / Sunflower Oil / Sauce)
Mozzarella / Cherry Tomatoes / Pesto / Peppers
Pesto / Jalapenos / Tomatoes

Sandwiches can be cheap as well

Egg Mayo
Ham
Chicken (Buy a whole one and cut it up)
Cheese
 
Penne Arrabiatta. You'll need :-

Penne Pasta
1 tin of Chopped Tomatoes
1 tbsp Olive Oil
2 Cloves of finely chopped garlic
A healthy smattering of dried chilli flakes
Salt
Pepper

1.> Put a pan of water on for your pasta, bring to the boil. Add plenty of salt to stop your pasta sticking together. Once boiling, add the pasta.

2.> Pour a tbsp Olive Oil into a cold pan, add your chopped garlic and dried chilli flakes. Cook on a gentle heat until garlic is translucent, don't use a high heat as you don't want to add colour to the garlic, this step mainly is to flavour the oil.

3.> Add your chopped tomatoes to your garlic and dried chilli flakes, season well with plenty of salt (Tomatoes love salt) and pepper to taste, stir occasionally. Allow the sauce to reduce and thicken up.

4.> Drain your cooked pasta when it's done to your liking. Add this pasta to your sauce and stir in well so it all comes together. I usually add a herb at this point. Basil or Parsley in particular work well. If using dried herbs use less than fresh.

5.> Serve in a bowl and eat. Get some bread to mop up the delicious spicy sauce!

Very cheap and filling. A great meal on a budget.
 
Buy a big bag of Spuds. Separate the ones that are big enough for baked tattys & use the rest for Chip buttys/Mash & Beans etc
Get a fair few tins of beans, Loafs of bread, Marge & a chunk of cheese.

Should last you for ages.
 
Some healthy alternatives to the usual pasta/rice/potato route is to use pulses

Chickpeas
Cous Cous
Quinua
Mixed Beans etc

Lots of lovely cheap vegetarian meals can be achieved using the above as a base.
 
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