Meal Plans and Shopping

I haven't posted in the other thread, but as I get by on approx $80 p/w for groceries (often incl wine!) I thought I'd contribute. This is just a super basic overview- it really does vary from week to week, cos I will change my mind when I get to the supermarket if stuff is cheap...but it's something like:

Mon: Spag Bol - I only use the best mince, allow 100gm per perosn and bulk out with grated carrot etc. Make own sauce with canned tomatoes and stock, left over wine etc. Budget pasta is FINE!

Tues: Thai Green Curry: vegetarian - with the bulk of the veges being root veges (potato, carrot, pumpkin), use a cheap paste form the Asian Food warehouse and a can of budget c. cream or coconut flavoured evap milk.

Wed: Meat and vege - meat is whatever is on special (chops, chicken, frozen fish etc) and seasonal vege.

Thurs: Vege pasta - depends if I want creamy or tomato, but whatever veges I have around mixed with stock and cans of tomatoes or a few tablespoons of sour cream/cream cheese. Whatever pasta shapes were on special.

Fri: Silverside or Roast with seasonal veges. Left over cold meat used for lunches over the weekend.

Sat: whatever is lef tin the fridge/freezer - often Risotto, Frittata, etc.

Sun: always SOUP! Leftover veges from the week, with a roux sauce and stock.

Basically I only by seasonal vege and if there is nothing 'nice' I'll get those frozen pre-mixes on special and use them.

I have a massve chest freezer, so can stock up when I need to. I'll only buy my fav bread etc on special, I'd never pay full price. Buy in bulk and freeze portions (mince, bacon etc)

Think that's all. Hope that helps someone.

Well we usually manage to spend under $100 for the four of us, including nappies etc.

I try to vary our meal plan up quite a bit but this week it is:

Breakfast - weetbix and toast.

Lunch - Sandwiches with cheese, pineapple, salad, tuna or wraps

MON: Chicken Wraps - $4 chicken breast, $4 pack of homebrand wraps (they last all week) and then vegies from the garden, lettuce, tomato etc.

TUE: Penne with Saussages and Peppers - $2.50 packet of saussages, half a can of tinned tomatoes, olives, 1 capsicum, and HomeBrand pasta

WED: Sweet and Sour pork $4 pork with home made sauce carrots pineapple and noodles

THU: Meat and Vegies, $5 pack of marinated Lamb, potatoes and frozen vegies.

FRI: Stirfry $4 beef with frozen vegies and potatoes

SAT: Fried rice, rice with maybe some saussages and vegies or what ever left overs we have in the fridge

SUN: either home made fish and chips or home made pizza (although this is the day we usually give up and just get takeaways....)

We usually aim to spend under $5 a meal on meat and if its on special we stock up.

We dont have to buy too many vegies as we grow a bit, and often just buy the frozen vegies cos its easy.

Most of the things we buy are Homebrand. Some of the stuff is even better than the expensive stuff.

We dont buy much snack food, usually just one packet of biscuits as a treat and a packet of crackers.

Our meals are pretty plain and booring but then thats all the girls like, I think they are still pretty tasty and as long as we are eating healthily and not hungry we are doing ok.