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Tip Store: Cooking: Take Away
Happy Meals on a Budget
Approximate $ Savings: at least $15
My children often drive me crazy with asking for the Happy Meals at McDonalds. Due to the cost and the unhealthy option they choose I opted to try creating my own version. Each Sunday lunch the girls create their own lunch bags, using paper bags and glitter and craft items whilst I make them a nutritious salad roll, cut up fruit and a toy that usually I purchase cheap from Go-Lo or the Reject shop. My kids love doing this and it is a healthier and cheaper option. We save at least $15 per week.
- Contributed by Angela Hobbins, 20th July 2010
My children often drive me crazy with asking for the Happy Meals at McDonalds. Due to the cost and the unhealthy option they choose I opted to try creating my own version. Each Sunday lunch the girls create their own lunch bags, using paper bags and glitter and craft items whilst I make them a nutritious salad roll, cut up fruit and a toy that usually I purchase cheap from Go-Lo or the Reject shop. My kids love doing this and it is a healthier and cheaper option. We save at least $15 per week.
- Contributed by Angela Hobbins, 20th July 2010
Take Your Own Mug and Save on Your Favourite Coffee
Approximate $ Savings: 50 cents each coffee
I was given an Eco Mug for Christmas. I thought it was a novel idea as I would be helping the environment (as most take away coffee cups are not recyclable) as well as the fact that I had a stylish, handy mug to use which can be microwaved as well. I treat myself about once a week to a Gloria Jeans coffee and have discovered that they give you a 50 cent discount every time you use a mug of your own. I thought this was a fantastic idea as it is good for the environment and once the mug has paid for itself (even though I was given it as a gift), I'll be saving 50 cents on every coffee! It's a great gift idea for the coffee drinker too.
- Contributed by Kylie, Newport, 23rd February 2010
I was given an Eco Mug for Christmas. I thought it was a novel idea as I would be helping the environment (as most take away coffee cups are not recyclable) as well as the fact that I had a stylish, handy mug to use which can be microwaved as well. I treat myself about once a week to a Gloria Jeans coffee and have discovered that they give you a 50 cent discount every time you use a mug of your own. I thought this was a fantastic idea as it is good for the environment and once the mug has paid for itself (even though I was given it as a gift), I'll be saving 50 cents on every coffee! It's a great gift idea for the coffee drinker too.
- Contributed by Kylie, Newport, 23rd February 2010
Having Takeaway Without the Takeaway Price
Approximate $ Savings: $10-$20
Next time you feel the urge for take away or can't muster the energy to cook, consider this. A quick trip to the supermarket and a few minutes microwave time could save you $$. Each family member can choose their favourite frozen meal (e.g. Lean Cuisine, Healthy Choice). There is a large variety to keep everyone happy and most are low fat and reasonably good for you. When on special they can be as little as $4 each. This works out much cheaper than buying the family fish and chips for example and you are not blowing your healthy diet!
- Contributed by Leanne, Onkaparinga Hills, 14th November 2009
Next time you feel the urge for take away or can't muster the energy to cook, consider this. A quick trip to the supermarket and a few minutes microwave time could save you $$. Each family member can choose their favourite frozen meal (e.g. Lean Cuisine, Healthy Choice). There is a large variety to keep everyone happy and most are low fat and reasonably good for you. When on special they can be as little as $4 each. This works out much cheaper than buying the family fish and chips for example and you are not blowing your healthy diet!
- Contributed by Leanne, Onkaparinga Hills, 14th November 2009
Dine Out, at Home!
Approximate $ Savings: $30/week = $1560/yr
Our family enjoys take-away as much as the next. We especially enjoy Thai takeaway, but find once a couple of different stir fries are ordered plus rice, the bill hits $50 very quickly. Now, as our Friday night dinner treat, I will visit our local butcher. They make delicious ready-to-go stir fries, so I choose a couple, and with rice feed the family for under $20. We still get a selection of plates, I get a rest as meal preparation is literally just tossing the stir fry in a pan, and I'm sure it's a lot healthier too. Everyone wins! We have also taken to resisting the temptation to eat out at a restaurant by treating ourselves to a premium steak (or other favourite) from the butcher. By spending a little more on top quality cuts you actually SAVE on not going out. Don't pay over $30 for a steak at a restaurant when you CAN cook one that good yourself if you start with the right meat (usually for under $10).
- Contributed by Kirrily, Port Macquarie, 31st August 2009
Our family enjoys take-away as much as the next. We especially enjoy Thai takeaway, but find once a couple of different stir fries are ordered plus rice, the bill hits $50 very quickly. Now, as our Friday night dinner treat, I will visit our local butcher. They make delicious ready-to-go stir fries, so I choose a couple, and with rice feed the family for under $20. We still get a selection of plates, I get a rest as meal preparation is literally just tossing the stir fry in a pan, and I'm sure it's a lot healthier too. Everyone wins! We have also taken to resisting the temptation to eat out at a restaurant by treating ourselves to a premium steak (or other favourite) from the butcher. By spending a little more on top quality cuts you actually SAVE on not going out. Don't pay over $30 for a steak at a restaurant when you CAN cook one that good yourself if you start with the right meat (usually for under $10).
- Contributed by Kirrily, Port Macquarie, 31st August 2009
Pub Night at Home
Approximate $ Savings: $50
We like to go out for a meal once a week either to a fast food outlet or to a pub. My husband is fond of fish and chips. But for our family of 4 a pub meal ends up costing around $50 and fast food is around $25-$30. To save some money with rising fuel and other costs we decided to scrap the take away night and have it at home instead. What we do is once a week we will have a "pub night" where we all order what we want for our meal and then I will prepare the meals. We also get out the good cutlery and crockery and have a special tablecloth for "pub night". Another thing we do is buy frozen fish and chips from the supermarket with our fortnightly shop and have a take away night at home or we make our own chicken burgers from chicken breast fillets, one chicken breast fillet can be cut into 4 pieces to fit into 4 burgers, then we just add our own salad and sauces. The benefit of doing all this is that it works out it would save us around $50/fortnight plus we know what is going into our food and it is a much healthier option. It takes about the same time to prepare a "take away" meal as it would to travel to the store, wait in line and then bring it home!
- Contributed by Emma, Waverley, 7th July 2008
We like to go out for a meal once a week either to a fast food outlet or to a pub. My husband is fond of fish and chips. But for our family of 4 a pub meal ends up costing around $50 and fast food is around $25-$30. To save some money with rising fuel and other costs we decided to scrap the take away night and have it at home instead. What we do is once a week we will have a "pub night" where we all order what we want for our meal and then I will prepare the meals. We also get out the good cutlery and crockery and have a special tablecloth for "pub night". Another thing we do is buy frozen fish and chips from the supermarket with our fortnightly shop and have a take away night at home or we make our own chicken burgers from chicken breast fillets, one chicken breast fillet can be cut into 4 pieces to fit into 4 burgers, then we just add our own salad and sauces. The benefit of doing all this is that it works out it would save us around $50/fortnight plus we know what is going into our food and it is a much healthier option. It takes about the same time to prepare a "take away" meal as it would to travel to the store, wait in line and then bring it home!
- Contributed by Emma, Waverley, 7th July 2008
Subway the Cheapskates Way
Approximate $ Savings: $23+ for a family of five children Make your own steak and avocado wraps instead of buying at Subway or similar stores. Our local Subway in O'Connor, WA charges $35.55 for one footlong and four six inch shaved steak and avocado rolls which is what it takes to feed our family of five (one teenager whose appetite requires the footlong!) So instead, I buy minute steak/schnitzel steak on special (this week $12.95/kg at Woolworths stores in Perth and suburbs) and ask the butcher to slice it a little finer so that each side cooks in just 30 seconds. (In certain Woolworths stores in WA they have a newish product called Sizzle Steak which is finely sliced pieces of topside steak, sliced more thinly than minute or schnitzel steak). Preparing at home means that our meal is on the table faster than the time it takes me to drive to and from our closest Subway store, I have less stress (no driving in peak hour, waiting in line etc.) and it's so much tastier, as well as saving us $23 or more which we put into our Family Holiday Fund. I use 80gms of steak per person as opposed to Subway's 64 gm per person for a six inch sub. I look out for reduced priced minute steak late on a Saturday afternoon and freeze it which further reduces the cost so I'm paying anywhere between $3.50-5.20 max. for the steak; add in the avocado at $1-2 each, rolls, salad and our total cost is $10-13. Our rolls are also more filling than the Subway so less money spent on desert or snack foods later in the evening. The trick to tender tasty juicy steak is getting your pan/bbq hot, cooking in batches if you are serving more than 2 or 3 people at a time, cooking the first side for just 30 seconds and looking for moisture to appear on the top of the uncooked side of steak. As soon as that happens, turn the steak over and cook for just 30 seconds. It's now ready to serve in a wrap (or warm in a refreshing summer salad, or even in your favourite pasta recipe; or slice the steaks into thin strips and use for a quick, easy, tasty stir fry. Our local Woolies store has a brochure, called Pan to Plate in 60 seconds with Sizzle Steak with 4 different recipe ideas. I like to spray the steak slices with Canola oil and season with a little pepper and salt. You might like to marinade first in your family's favourite marinade, but we're after quick in our house (kids walk through the door, "I'm starving") so I usually don't bother. After cooking I add the steak, lettuce, tomato, onion, avocado and capsicum (or whatever vegies are in season) onto a tortilla wrap or mountain bread wrap (see Cheapskates link to yummy great mountain bread at cheap prices); sometimes I'll add bbq sauce to the steak and voila. A yummy, healthy meal that the kids love. This would be even cheaper if you sliced the steak from meat bought in bulk yourself.
- Contributed by Julie, North Lakes, 14thMarch 2008
- Contributed by Julie, North Lakes, 14thMarch 2008
DIY Takeaway with a Difference
Approximate $ Savings: $10
Our local Turkish restaurant sells takeaway shish kebab wraps for close to $7 each, costing us ( a family of 4) around $28 once a week. So lately I've only been buying one of their breads at $3 and a tub of their cooked and sliced lamb for $15 and we add our own shredded lettuce and tomatoes at home to make our own wraps at a savings of just under $10 per week.
-Contributed by Jodie, Regent, 18th April 2008
Our local Turkish restaurant sells takeaway shish kebab wraps for close to $7 each, costing us ( a family of 4) around $28 once a week. So lately I've only been buying one of their breads at $3 and a tub of their cooked and sliced lamb for $15 and we add our own shredded lettuce and tomatoes at home to make our own wraps at a savings of just under $10 per week.
-Contributed by Jodie, Regent, 18th April 2008
KFC Coating
Am new to this site and love it already. Hours have gone by and I am still reading great tips and ideas. This is for Kaye and your KFC loving husband. Years ago I was watching Donahue on TV and they gave copy cat recipes for fast food favourites. Guess what I have in my little book - KFC 11 herbs and spices chicken coating copy! Never tried it so can't comment on taste. Ingredients are American but hopefully you can find similar products in Australia. Good luck. 2 cups self raising flour 2 packets Knoxx tomato and basil soup pinch salt 2 packets Italian dressing mix powder (=11 herbs and spices taste) 125g butter/margarine in pan to cook Toss chicken in flour mixture and cook for 1 hour
- Contributed by Gillian, 21st January 2006
- Contributed by Gillian, 21st January 2006
Make at Home Takeaway Substitutes
A few months ago my husband would rather eat 3 takeaway meals a day than anything I cooked for him. Nowadays its not so bad. I buy the Super Food Ideas magazine and I leave it out for my husband every month and get him to suggest stuff from the magazine that I can make for him. I have never been much of a cook so Super Food Ideas is cheap, easy and also the recipes use everyday ingredients that are either in the cupboard or popular at the supermarket. Maggi also has a great range of packet meals (Maggi Cook In The Pot I think they are called). My husband adores their devilled sausages, tuna and potato pie, chicken chasseur and heaps of others. I don't think we have had one we don't like yet. they are about $1 a packet and don't take long to make at all.The other ingredients in it are really basic and cheap to buy as well. For those that like KFC chicken... there is a packet seasoning mix out, I'm not sure of the brand but its in the same aisle at a supermarket as herbs and spices in a yellow and green packet. Its a coating for chicken (and other meat too) called Southern Fried Chicken Flavouring. All you need to do with that is put it into a bag along with pieces of chicken (I dice chicken breast fillets and use them) and shake to coat chicken. Then you can either bake, shallow fry or deep fry the chick and it tastes really nice.
- Contributed by Sandra, 29th September 2005
- Contributed by Sandra, 29th September 2005
Dominos Internet Specials Vouchers
Approximate $ Savings: up to $3.00 per individual pizza
I always check the back of my grocery dockets for pizza shop-a-dockets. You can get family sized pizzas (pick up) from Dominos for as little as $4.95 with an unlimited number of pizzas ordered. This is a very inexpensive way to cater for a children's party, especially if you ask them to leave it whole and then cut the pizza up into squares rather than slices (especially good for smaller children). Alternatively, check on their website for their current special offers, www.dominos.com.au. These special offers can either be for pizzas only or can include meal deals, it just depends on what their current special offer consists of.
- Contributed by Karen, Kirwan, 22nd July 2007
I always check the back of my grocery dockets for pizza shop-a-dockets. You can get family sized pizzas (pick up) from Dominos for as little as $4.95 with an unlimited number of pizzas ordered. This is a very inexpensive way to cater for a children's party, especially if you ask them to leave it whole and then cut the pizza up into squares rather than slices (especially good for smaller children). Alternatively, check on their website for their current special offers, www.dominos.com.au. These special offers can either be for pizzas only or can include meal deals, it just depends on what their current special offer consists of.
- Contributed by Karen, Kirwan, 22nd July 2007
Takeaway Pizza at Home
Approximate $ Savings: $8.00+
Buy a McCain's pizza when on special in the supermarket and keep frozen. Keep some diced ham or bacon, capsicum and mushrooms etc. in zip lock bags in freezer. When you need a 'special' pizza in a hurry, sprinkle all your extras on, add some grated cheese, and bake in oven and voila! Your family will think you sent out for pizza!
- Contributed by Sue, Newborough, 2nd September 2007
Buy a McCain's pizza when on special in the supermarket and keep frozen. Keep some diced ham or bacon, capsicum and mushrooms etc. in zip lock bags in freezer. When you need a 'special' pizza in a hurry, sprinkle all your extras on, add some grated cheese, and bake in oven and voila! Your family will think you sent out for pizza!
- Contributed by Sue, Newborough, 2nd September 2007
Cheaper Pizza
At the end of the week not many people feel like cooking dinner, so takeaways are usually the go. I have found that you can save money by buying your Pizza's before 4pm at Pizza Hut and save. Before 4pm they are $4.95 pick up as many as you like. Just place in the fridge until you are ready to reheat. Yum.
- Contributed by Sharon, Wishart, April 22nd 2005
- Contributed by Sharon, Wishart, April 22nd 2005
Cheap Wholesome Fast Food
I just watched Supersize Me (a movie about eating too much McDonalds) and it made me sick. I've found a way to still have take-away, but get really healthy food that doesn't cost a fortune. Visit areas dominated by a particular ethnic group. E.g.. El Manara in the main street of Lakemba. I have their take away menu, and phoned ahead to order hummus, tabouli, babaganoush, sausages and kefta. Not only did I get all these healthy delicious delights, but also the meal came with free garlic sauce, yoghurt sauce, pickles, chillies, olives, fresh mint and Lebanese bread! All this cost $31. My husband and I had a lovely banquet at home, with enough left to make sandwiches the next day. Next time I'm getting the falafels too!
- Contributed by Kerrie, Burwood, October 21st 2006
- Contributed by Kerrie, Burwood, October 21st 2006
Coffee
Being a single mum, my mornings are chaotic getting the kids up and off to crèche and before school care. I can't do without my morning coffee and the instant coffee at work was horrible, so I was spending $3.40 each morning buying myself a coffee on the way to work. When you consider over a 5 day week this adds up to $17 (or $884 per year) I realised I had to stop wasting my money on coffee. You can buy Robert Timms coffee bags from Bi Lo or Coles and these make a great cup of percolated coffee and only cost around $5 for 18 bags. Now I take in a coffee bag each morning and make my own coffee. It still has that great 'real' coffee taste at a fraction of the cost.
- Contributed by Amanda, Hillside, August 22nd 2006
- Contributed by Amanda, Hillside, August 22nd 2006
Cheap Takeaways
Our local Chinese takeaway has cheap lunches for $5.50, but did you know you can also ask for these at night for a low $6.50. One meal is large enough to share between two people in the comfort of their own home. Why not check and see if your local takeaway has the same deals.
- Contributed by Karen, Dubbo, August 26th 2006
- Contributed by Karen, Dubbo, August 26th 2006
Coffee Solution
I have found a great way to save money is to invest in a vacuum flask and take your own coffee. At $3 plus for a cup that is half froth, coffee is a bit of a rip off, and can be very expensive if you buy even only one cup per day.
- Contributed by Hilary, August 5th, 2006
- Contributed by Hilary, August 5th, 2006