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This Week's Question: Meal Planning on a Single Pension

11/1/2018

4 Comments

 


Pauline writes
"I am now on a single disability pension and have no money left after his cremation etc. After I pay my bills I'm left with approximately $100 per fortnight for food. I do the majority of my shopping at Aldi,  but I'm finding it hard to work out a meal plan to get me through. I don't have a computer and really don't know where to begin. I was hoping for your help.

OK folks, here's your chance to help a new member. If you have some advice for Julia, or a suggestion about what you love most about Cheapskates, share it below. Then keep an eye open, you may see your answer in next week's newsletter.
4 Comments
Meryll Williams
28/3/2019 01:23:44 pm

Hi Julia
I am in the same position and I find it too hard to cook for one so I cook for 2 or 3 and freeze some in meal sizes. Other than that the meal plan is so easy as you only have to choose what YOU like. If it's pasta have it every night, no fussy eaters and no leftovers. The meal plan is the basis for meeting the grocery challenge.

Reply
Deborah Murthwaite
28/3/2019 08:47:10 pm

Hi Julia
I make all my own cleaning and laundry products which saves a fortune. The big plus is that you know exactly what’s in them! Cheapskates have great recipes for them. Good luck.

Reply
Lynette link
29/3/2019 01:24:29 pm

Hi Julia,
I also am on a single pension and live in a small country town that things are dearer to buy, so I have really tightened the belt but I have food and never run out through shopping wiser and making my meals stretch. I go into a big town and do most of my shopping around 4 or 5 weeks and might go to the local shop if I want say bread but that is rare.
Like today I am doing a great big mince curry and I put in cut up extra vegies so it is a great chance to have all vegetables in one meal, today it has sweet potato ordinary potatoes carrots and I had a half packet of frozen broccoli and cauliflower that I had in freezer for a while you just add what you have and like and I added a can of diced tomatoes but sometimes I put in tomatoes that are just soft. This makes me quite a lot of meals and I make rice for most of my containers and just enough curry on top for a meal and some with smaller portions as I love it on toast for a change and if I have any puff pastry I can put some in the pastry to make curry puffs.Now if you don't like curry make a stew using the same ingredients except the curry. I also make soups more in the colder months and again they are very filling and you don't have to have the same meal every time I mix mine up and you can live quite well by doing this and I also give meals away to people who are sick or elderly.
You can go to most libraries and use a computer and a lot of the times you can get free lessons.
You can do it and after a while it is just habit now for me stretching meals and getting bargains.
All the best.

Reply
Suzanne Astill
8/7/2019 11:36:26 am

Sometimes just start the old fashioned way with a piece of paper and write down all the meals you enjoy, then decide if meals are using similar ingredients like mince can make spaghetti bolognese cottage pie, meatballs , then you can buy bulk sizes which is always cheaper then you divide and freeze or have a cook up and make into small meal sizes and then freeze in portions for easy meals. This also means you are not having mince day after day but can put it in once or twice a week in a different way so all meals are not the same. Also never waste any veggies by making up a soup with whats left at the end of week or fortnight and change it up by using different stock chicken or beef adding beans or cheep cuts of meat. once you have some of these ideas you can make 2 fortnight lists and rotate them adding and changing things as you go.

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