Meal Plans and Shopping
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Topic: Meal Plans and Shopping
Posted By: WRXnKids
Subject: Meal Plans and Shopping
Date Posted: 29 April 2009 at 12:33pm
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I see quite a few are shocked at how people live off what they spend a week on groceries and im really interested in it also.
Can you post your meal plan for the week, your grocery list and your budget? I am really keen to get some money saving ideas -------------   
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Replies:
Posted By: minik8e
Date Posted: 29 April 2009 at 12:44pm
| I'm really really keen to see this as well!! |
Posted By: kriss
Date Posted: 29 April 2009 at 1:37pm
Me too!  ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
 Little Angel, April 10
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Posted By: cuppatea
Date Posted: 29 April 2009 at 2:03pm
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Me three ------------- 
 
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Posted By: surfergirl
Date Posted: 29 April 2009 at 2:04pm
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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. |
Posted By: SMoody
Date Posted: 29 April 2009 at 2:38pm
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I dont have a meal plan. I just do a basic one on the day before I go shopping. But the other day our friend was shocked that I can spent up to $80 a week on fresh fruit and veg. It is more like $50 each week. Next time I do a shop I can just put on what we ate that week and what I bought. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Daizy
Date Posted: 29 April 2009 at 2:39pm
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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. ------------- 
 
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Posted By: FionaO
Date Posted: 29 April 2009 at 2:45pm
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I am really keen on this, I would love to budget our shopping but DH is so particular about having certain things.
Daizy how do you manage to buy all groceries and nappies for $100? ------------- 
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Posted By: FionaO
Date Posted: 29 April 2009 at 2:46pm
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I am really keen on this, I would love to budget our shopping but DH is so particular about having certain things.
Daizy how do you manage to buy all groceries and nappies for $100? -------------
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Posted By: BessieBear
Date Posted: 29 April 2009 at 3:03pm
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Year I would love to jsut do a set meal plan. But DH is very picky with barnds and stuff. I'm not allowed even allowed to buy budget glad wrap. He is such a snob. ------------- Sarah Mum to, Boy 07/2008, Girl 03/2010, Boy 05/2012, Angel  07/08/2014
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Posted By: kriss
Date Posted: 29 April 2009 at 3:15pm
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Thanks for sharing Surfergirl & Daizy, you girls have some great ideas!
Next time I make spag bol I will try grating carrot to bulk it out. Daizy, which sausies do you buy for $2.50? The ones I get are about $8 and I thought they were cheap 
I shop at New World because it is just down the road, there is a Foodtown 10mins away and soon to be a Pak n Save about 20mins away that I might make an effort to go to, if it really does work out cheap enough to cancel out cost of petrol getting there.. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
Little Angel, April 10
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Posted By: Daizy
Date Posted: 29 April 2009 at 3:48pm
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We get a small packet (usually about 6) and often go for the ones that are reduced. DH likes to buy Hellers pre-cooked ones and they are usually $3.50, I think they are We used to be able to do our groceries for only $40 a week but would only buy the bare essentials. We usually buy 2 packets of homebrand nappies $5 each which lasts about a week and a half. We have found it a lot cheaper now that Maddi is eating with us too. -------------
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Posted By: shelleybean
Date Posted: 29 April 2009 at 4:11pm
Some great tips guys - well done.  ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: MamaT
Date Posted: 29 April 2009 at 4:17pm
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Where do you get your meat from and what weight is it Daizy?? We have a lot of stirfrys which I always thought were a reasonably cheap meal, but the meat alone is generally $10 for 500gms? -------------  
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Posted By: Babe
Date Posted: 29 April 2009 at 4:31pm
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Meal Plan
Breakfast Choices Homemade Fruitbread/Porridge/Scottish Oat Pancakes (I freeze batches)/Weetbix Lunch Homemade Pita/buns w leftover meat or luncheon from our butcher, homegrown lettuce, homemade relish & eggs Snack Choices Homemade muffins/muesli bars/jelly/cinni buns and fresh fruit Dinner plan this week Monday - Vege Quiche (pumpkin, carrot, leek, brocolli, onion) Tuesday - Chilli Beef Bricks (homemade buns stuffed with chilli con carne mince) Wednesday - Chilli Nachos (I cooked up 1kg of mince with beans, tomatoes, etc on Tuesday and I'll have enough after tonight to freeze for another meal) Thursday - Stew w dumplings (We have guests so I'll only freeze enough for 1 more meal but usually I'd be able to freeze enough for another 3 meals) Friday - Vegetable stirfry w homemade pasta Saturday - Meat pie (a frozen stew serving) w homemade pastry and homemade fries Sunday - Roast w veges Fortnightly shopping list (Under $60) Flour Sugar Oats Yeast Baking soda White vinegar Tinned tomatoes/corn kernels Oil Fresh fruit Frozen veges Milk powder We have a vege garden and buy meat in bulk (whole beast at a time). Jakes in disposables and I use a mooncup, and make all our cleaners, shampoos and soaps. ETA forgot dog food - $18 every 2-3 months -------------   
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Posted By: WRXnKids
Date Posted: 29 April 2009 at 5:43pm
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Is a mooncup like a replacement for tampons?
This is awesome im so going to steal some of these meal plans deciding what to cook is by biggest problem so i definitely need to use meal plans. The place we brought has a massive vege garden (although most will be lost to the garage we need to build) so come spring i will try work out how growing veges works and use the tunnel house in the mean time as is is jam packed with tomato plants and i guess as its warmer in there i might be able to put in a few other plants to help a little in winter. -------------
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Posted By: Lexidore
Date Posted: 29 April 2009 at 7:41pm
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Does anyone have a mealplan over a fortnight? so 14 different meals?? Sorry if thats a stupid thing to ask for just curious. ------------- 
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Posted By: Babe
Date Posted: 29 April 2009 at 8:12pm
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To post bex??
Monday - Vege Quiche (pumpkin, carrot, leek, brocolli, onion) Tuesday - Chilli Beef Bricks (homemade buns stuffed with chilli con carne mince) Wednesday - Chilli Nachos (I cooked up 1kg of mince with beans, tomatoes, etc on Tuesday and I'll have enough after tonight to freeze for another meal) Thursday - Stew w dumplings (We have guests so I'll only freeze enough for 1 more meal but usually I'd be able to freeze enough for another 3 meals) Friday - Vegetable stirfry w homemade pasta Saturday - Meat pie (a frozen stew serving) w homemade pastry and homemade fries Sunday - Roast w veges Monday - Leek & Beef Risotto (using leftover roast meat) Tuesday - Meat and gravy on mash with side of vege (using leftover roast meat) Wednesday - Meatball Stroganoff w homemade pasta (will freeze excess meatballs) Thursday - Vege fried rice Friday - Steaks w cauli & broc in a cheese sauce and braised leeks Saturday - Pumpkin soup w homemade bread Sunday - Hamburgers w homemade fries Maybe TMI... Mooncups came out at same time as tampons but tampons took off coz they had applicators and in those days it was considered dirty to touch yourself. They last for like 10 years, cost under $60 and are so comfy!!! I've had bad cramps with AF since Jake was born and as soon as I got my mooncup no cramping, light AF and did I mention its so comfy??? -------------
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Posted By: Shezamumof3
Date Posted: 29 April 2009 at 8:22pm
This is a good thread, I've got some great idea's from this
I managed to keep the grocery's to $75 today! yay! We didn't need a lot, and I didn't get meat as I'm going to get it from the mad butcher tomorrow. I had to buy cat food today and we buy a decent brand cos our cat is fussy lol so that was $10(on special), and I got a tub or yoghurt and milk etc, I already have lots of sauces in the pantry that I plan on using up before I buy anything else like that. Thats where the meal plans are great, so you only buy what you need, and you don't end up buying stuff you don't use for ages. ------------- |
Posted By: Bizzy
Date Posted: 29 April 2009 at 9:10pm
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check out this website... you can do a sample meal plan and it will give a gorcery list... someone posted it on another board following a similar discussion.
http://www.menumade.co.nz/ - link i dont plan all my meals per shopping period (hubby gets paid montly so sometimes i shop for the whole month other times fortnightly) but i dont buy any meat unless i have a plan for it... and i always have pastry for B&E pie, pasta, canned tomatoes, baked beans in my cupboards. I buy budget brands for some things, but i check now if they are made in china... budget baked beans dont taste as nice as watties on their own but when mixed with other stuff (like cassies sausage casserole yummmmm) it is fine. sometimes i think that buying the more expensive product is better tho, the quality is better and therefore more filling and better for you... so i always buy premium mince, i hate flavoured sausages, prefer the real thing, and buy an expensive brand of bacon that actually tastes like bacon so i find i use less of it! ------------- http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker"> 
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Posted By: AandCsmum
Date Posted: 29 April 2009 at 10:55pm
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Bizzy, with bacon we definitely agree, DH has bacon for breakfast & we buy one dry cured 400gm pack & that lasts him a week, used to get a kilo of the stuff with water which would also last a week. Similar price
I have done meal planning & it's definitely cheaper. I get my cling film in the bulk catering rolls. Cheaper for sure. Clings far better too. Unfortunately DH has to have less b*stardised ingredients so shopping isn't overly cheap but we never buy biscuits & usually only get chippies on special occasions. I am meaning wholemeal type or organic here lol We also get 1/2 a beast in & our meat from Sirloin steak to sausages all costs us about $5.00 a kilo. Can't beat that!. I just did a big shop & it cost us $84.00. Also I find I spend more if DH & Alia comes with me. ------------- Kel http://lilypie.com"> 
A = 01.02.04 & C = 16.01.09 & G = 30.03.12 |
Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 30 April 2009 at 1:36pm
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Our grocery budget is currently $200/week, for one adult, one adult who can't eat gluten, and three kids. (Kaela doesn't cost us anything yet except an increased appetite for mum!) I'm struggling to keep it under $200 though and I'm curious to know how other allergy people get on with their budgets.
Also, do you find Countdown or Pak n Save cheaper for your groceries? I'm just trialling a few weeks at Countdown to see if it makes any difference. ------------- |
Posted By: sally belly
Date Posted: 30 April 2009 at 1:49pm
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I thought that Pak n Save generally came out cheaper when supermarket prices have been compared (in Consumer mag for e.g.). I shop at New World simply because it's the closest supermarket to us.
Here are some of the things I cook regularly for some more ideas: Homemade pizza - I make the base myself & add tinned spaghetti, ham/bacon, tinned pineapple, mushroom, pepper, cheese - anything we have lying around really. Chicken & mushrooms on rice - cook sliced chicken & mushrooms, add tin of mushroom soup & sour cream. Can also add any other veges to bulk out. Beef casserole - brown chuck steak & onions in pan before adding to casserole dish. Add tomato puree & water & cook long & slow. Could also add spud etc. Hamburgers - make own patties from mince. Tomato, lettuce, beetroot etc. Beef stroganoff - beef schnitzel, mushrooms, tomato paste & sour cream. Hedgehog meatballs - mince and rice made into meatballs cooked in a tomato sauce. Bacon & mushroom risotto - with peas, chicken stock & grated cheese. Chicken/beef stirfry - I usually use a packet sauce mix or make my own using soy sauce, ginger, garlic, honey etc. Curried sausage pie - with a cheesy potato topping. Pretty tasty & 6 sausages goes a long way. Edited to add: We spend about $150 a week & I'm happy with that. I could defintiely cut it down a little if I *really* wanted to. We do buy 2kg of yoghurt and 8L of milk a week which adds up  -------------    
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Posted By: GuestGuest
Date Posted: 30 April 2009 at 2:30pm
Busymum, I am gluten intolerant but I don't find it increases the grocery bill much as the only things "gluten free" I buy are Dovedale bread (about $5 per week), g/f pasta (about $5 per month), rice flour (lasts forever so not really noticeable) and g/f pizza bases ($5 per month). All meals we make from scratch so that they don't contain gluten but we would do that anyway just because it is so much nicer and fresher and I think processed food is 
We don't have any kids and our grocery bill is $170 per week. It used to be more but since we started shopping to a weekly menu it stops me from popping into the supermarket after work which meant I used to spend heaps more! I have found that Pak n Save is the cheapest but I think Countdown is a good option now they take the One Card because you get vouchers in the mail if you spend over a certain amount. |
Posted By: Bizzy
Date Posted: 30 April 2009 at 3:45pm
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sally belly can you post your hedgehog meatball recipe in the recipe section, i like the sound of that! ------------- http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker">
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Posted By: T_Rex
Date Posted: 30 April 2009 at 4:36pm
Busymum, I started trialling countdown as well to see if it was cheaper than paknsave. I only did a couple of shops before morning sickness scared me away from any supermarket (I'm sending DH at the moment) but those shops did seem to be a bit more expensive than at paknsave. It could be different depending on what you buy tho  ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Snappy
Date Posted: 30 April 2009 at 6:20pm
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Daizy - how do you find the homebrand nappies overnight? are they ok??
We usually spend $250 for the fornight and that includes all the bits and pieces to top up during the non-pay week. We buy: A large pack of steak for $15 (Has a $23 sticker on it), a large chicken meat pack for $15 (down from $22) and a packet of bacon, sausages and 2x $5 mince packs. When I get home I break all the packs up and place them into glad bags. This usually makes at least 16 or so meals for $48 worth of meat. Mon: Home made mac cheese. I use 3 slices of the large packet of bacon, and use the budget macaroni. Tues: Beef casserole - I use some steak, potatoes, carrots, onion, mushrooms, worcester sauce and a maggi rich beef casserole gravy mix. Sometimes I just use beef stock and cornflour instead. Weds: Cottage Pie - Beef mince, Can of budget tomatoes, mashed potatoe and a maggi cottage pie mix ($1.24 for maggi mix, 77c tomatoes, $5 mince) Thurs: Home made Pizzas - I make the base in the Breadmaker, and just put tomato paste, spagetti and some bacon and grated cheese in the oven. Fri - Beef stir fry - Steak, garlic, soy sauce and veges served with noodles. So cheap! Sat - Chicken pasta bake - Can of condensed chicken soup, penne pasta, mixed veges, milk and chicken. Throw it all together and bake slowly in the oven. Yum! Sun - Devilled sausages served with Mashed Potatoe. DH just has peanut butter sandwiches for lunch, with 2x fruit and yoghurt. I buy a big bag of budget sultanas and from this I make home made muesli bars, sultana bread in the Breadmaker, and give them to jackson and janaya instead of buying the little boxed raisins. For breakfast we always have porridge or weetbix with toast and fruit. ------------- Mummy to two beauties... Formerly Kaiz. |
Posted By: Daizy
Date Posted: 30 April 2009 at 6:22pm
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I shop at Woolworths, only because I always have and I know exactly what I am getting and where to go. I know Pack'n' save often have things cheaper but I find that I am too tempted to buy more because I can. Aslong as I stick to HomeBrand which doesnt even compare to pack'n'saves budget brand (IMO) we always end up spending less at woolworths. I much prefer their meat there too. -------------
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Posted By: BuzzyBee
Date Posted: 30 April 2009 at 6:50pm
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Kaiz I'm going to borrow a few of your meal ideas, they sound soo good!
I second homebrand naps ...have been using them on my boy for about 8 months now - never had any leaks whatsoever and hes a heavy wetter at night. We were having lots of leaks in treasures and huggies leading up to the change in brands. They are way better and far more absorbent IMHO. Can someone tell me if theres an alternative for worcestor sauce in beef casseroles? I've invested in a slow cooker ...I have no real idea how to cook or use the darn thing but Im determined to become a whiz in the kitchen once i leave my parents nest! I'm allergic to fish/anchovies - hence needing an alternative ingredient. Also anyone got any good (fail proof) recipes? Once the boys in bed i'll read back and post more |
Posted By: cuppatea
Date Posted: 30 April 2009 at 7:00pm
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Well I did a meal planner, went to the supermarket and still spent $205, I was very restrained and didn't even buy anything on impulse just the things on my list. I did spend $30 on nappies but they will last a month + as he is only in them at night and I had to buy oil and I buy good stuff so that was another $12 but again will last a good while. So perhaps slightly better than normal but still not great.
I have come to the conclusion that you lot just eat less food than us, I blame our high metabolisms. My DH might only weigh 68kg but he eats like he weighs 680kg and Spencer seems to eat as much as an adult. I am going to split the meat up that I have bought though and attempt to bulk meals out with veges and see if DH doesn't notice -------------
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Posted By: Daizy
Date Posted: 30 April 2009 at 7:21pm
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I found the first week I switched to a meal plan I spent more, but then I found a few good recipies that needed just a few extra ingredients and the last for a while when you do the meal often.
Kaiz, have never had a problem with the HomeBrand nappy. I love them - slightly panic when they are out of stock as they seem quite popular. For our stirfrys we Premium Beef Schnitzel, about 300g from Woolies when ever it is on special and that is uaually around $4. Makes heaps in a stirfry. -------------
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Posted By: WRXnKids
Date Posted: 30 April 2009 at 7:49pm
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I thought that homebrand nappies were produced by huggies or a subsidiary of them. At least thats what i think they said when they did the tests on target. My mate highly recommends them but she use to use them during the day only and get huggies for at night which i was thinking i would switch too if i dont get a few cloth naps for day time.
Im loving the meal plans i should really write them down -------------
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Posted By: Natalie_G
Date Posted: 30 April 2009 at 8:27pm
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Hint: Womans Day is doing healthy meal plans every week...with all the food on the list we got $160, lots of fruit and vege, and its yummy.
Tonight was homemade pizza's. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  
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Posted By: Babe
Date Posted: 30 April 2009 at 9:19pm
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BuzzyBee I use soy sauce.
I shop in Levin and theres only NW, Write Price and Countdown. I have a regualr shopping list so I just have the normal prices from the supermarkets and keep an eye out for specials. -------------
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Posted By: sally belly
Date Posted: 01 May 2009 at 9:56am
Will do so tonight -------------
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Bizzy wrote:Posted By: Snappy
Date Posted: 01 May 2009 at 10:01am
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Ohhhh yes I make the hedgehog meatballs too, is that the Maggi one?
Right, I will switch to homebrand naps! I tried them out a week or two ago and they were really good, I have been using huggies at night so this should save some money! Buzzybee, I didnt always use worcestshire sauce. My mum uses mint sauce and a dob of garlic margarine in her slow cooker, as well as a can of budget sweetcorn! Its sooooo good. ------------- Mummy to two beauties... Formerly Kaiz. |
Posted By: sally belly
Date Posted: 01 May 2009 at 10:05am
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The recipe I use is an Alison Holst one with a tin of tomato soup. All this thinking of food is making me hungry!!
Cuppatea, my DH is the same in that he eats a LOT but doesn't have much to show for it (he is pretty active though). Sometimes when I serve up a meal I just know it won't be enough for him & sure enough he's in the kitchen making toast an hour later or asking me what's for main course  -------------
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Posted By: Babe
Date Posted: 01 May 2009 at 11:17am
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Good grief some of the grocery budgets on here are huge I'm so jealous!!!!!!!! If I can make it from scratch we don't buy it and since I can make pretty much everything from scratch I have a boring time shopping *sigh* I'd love to go out and just spend a few hundy on food... LOL weird aye -------------
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Posted By: Shezamumof3
Date Posted: 01 May 2009 at 1:22pm
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Mmm home made pizza, I'm gonna do that once a week! That could be our Friday night treat!!
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Posted By: queenb
Date Posted: 02 May 2009 at 10:34am
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someone posted a link to menumade.co.nz, very cool site! 14 day trial, creates a meal plan based on your likes, and then a shopping list going shopping on tues with it and will make the yummy meals created for me.
Since we typically spend $200+ I'm aiming to bring it down to $120. wish me luck lol ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Bizzy
Date Posted: 02 May 2009 at 2:58pm
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glad the site helped... LUCK!! ------------- http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker">
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