The cheapest meal for two???

[tintinthegingertomcat]

I have just made the cheapest meal for two....ever - spaghetti bolognese

500g of steak mince - 18p (purchased from Tesco a couple of weeks ago in their end of day sale and which was in the freezer)

1 onion - 10p (one of ten onions from a value range pack)

1 bolognese sauce packet mix 30p (3 for 90p)

Spaghetti - 6p (one quarter of a packet of value spaghetti that cost 25p)

Total cost of a meal for two 64p plus the cost of cooking

Sometimes it is worth going to the supermarket at the end of the trading day to get really knocked down meat - and putting into the freezer.

Buying their own brand/value range is excellent value for money and in most cases you cant tell the difference

I recommend buying value range in just about everything. One week the whole of my shopping was Tesco value range - I had about 20 bags full of food, household stuff and toiletries for a third of the price of the higher price items.

Can anybody else beat 64p for a meal for two. Any ideas of making meals for less than £1?

[ed_blackadder_1]

I buy a lot of value things, cereals, ginger nuts ( yum yum) rice, pasta, and of course fruit and veg, these are only value because they don't conform to colour or size, peppers are fab though usually green if you don't like green put with a banana in a cool place and wait it will soon change colour.  The only thing I have tried and wouldn't buy again is Value coffee - yuk. I work for a supermarket so I am always on the lookout for bargains when I finish and because I am there 3 - 4 days a week I do get them when I finish, as I work early mornings there arnt any fresh things reduced but you can get tins and packets that are dented or ripped, a good excuse to try something you can't normally afford.

I don't have anything as cheap as that I am afraid well done you, I find that things like herbs (grow your own or living) spices and garlic can transform cheap cuts of meat or veggie dishes.

Also if anyone says would you like some free, apples, runner beans etc, always say yes they can be frozen, and of course there are always blackberries, sloes and damsons in the autumn completely free and delicious, sloes and damsons make the most wicked gin and vodka drinks use value gin and vodka about £7 a bottle and hey presto half the price of the real thing and much tastier. use for pressies.

I make my own jam from freebies and have a fab recipe for sweet chilli jam that I make from the hundreds of peppers and chillis that my father grows but doesn't like, if you had to buy these ingredients it would be very expensive jam.

Hey look at me I should write a book.

Whilst at the moment we manage ok money wise over the years we have had some very lean times and I have learnt to be inventive and I still am careful and don't waste anything.

I would be interested in any other money saving ideas

[right-then-petal]

pancake mix 50p asda

sheperds pie £1 icelands

[****merlin*****]

you cannot rely on getting 18p mince every week or indeed again though

and using a packet of mix would be more expensive for me than using herbs as i always have them in as i grow and dehydrate, or buy in bulk

you should look at this website

a girl called jack? she devises very cheap and tasty recipes

http://agirlcalledjack.com/category/below-the-line-budget-recipes/

we make her 9p carrot, cumin and kidney bean burgers and freeze them

we add chipotle paste to give them a bit of a kick

http://agirlcalledjack.com/2013/04/06/carrot-cumin-kidney-bean-burger-9p/

[tintinthegingertomcat]

Merlin....thanks for the link to a girl called Jack. I have looked at it and loved what I see so I have added her to my favourites list. I may well try those burgers and add chilli flakes. It is just a case of being savvy with the shopping. Much better to try and cook from scratch with fresh ingredients rather than going and buying the £1 ready meals.

[merc1_clocks]

merlin...thanks for that link...

I see her book isn't out till next Feb...but I'll definately be buying it

[****merlin*****]

looking for a cheap, easy and VERY tasty soup?

A big handful of lentils

large onion chopped,

 carton of passata 

 fill the empty carton with water and add that too,

 chicken/veg stock cube 

 Cook till lentils are soft and have sort of burst then cool and liquidise.

 It will be quite thick so add some more water depending on how thick/thin you like it. Season with salt and pepper, add chilli powder to taste.

i know it doesnt sound appetising, try it

and using tesco value passata works very well, its 29p a carton

[****daisy****]

2 slices of toast and marg 6p 

[leoleoleo123]

I tried merlins lentil soup, its really nice..

i have also made lentil shepherds pie, using the lentils instead of meat, and adding celery sticks and its leaves, chopped and other herbs, whateveri have handy, and a bit of marmite (or bovril) in the mix.. delish and cheap!

[ed_blackadder_1]

Another way to make mince go further is too add a little porridge oats makes the mix thicker and stretches the mince mix. Tip from my gran. also when making bolognaise add a tin of baked beans.