Single shopping
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Lots more than I should because I really enjoy food. When I’m cooking just for me I tend to do stuff that can then freeze leftover portions so curry’s, chilli, pasta sauces, casseroles and stews etc so that nights in the week are quick and easy defrost and serve with rice, pasta etc
At the weekends I usually cook at least one night night for friends and that can literally be anything
What sort of meals do you like? Many of us have shared lots of recipes on here over the years
At the weekends I usually cook at least one night night for friends and that can literally be anything
What sort of meals do you like? Many of us have shared lots of recipes on here over the years
Fresh filled pasta is cheap and cooks easily. Can be eaten as is, or with olive oil, pasta sauce, or parmesan, or a splash of chilli sauce.
For ready meals, I found any meat is usually terrible, so go for the veggie options. Waitrose ones being the exception.
Microwave rice is quick and cheap and in assorted types, just add a few extra bits of your choice.
Frozen pizzas, cheap and always there.
For ready meals, I found any meat is usually terrible, so go for the veggie options. Waitrose ones being the exception.
Microwave rice is quick and cheap and in assorted types, just add a few extra bits of your choice.
Frozen pizzas, cheap and always there.
Thanks everyone!
I forgot to add I spend between £40 and £50 a week in supermarkets, this includes things like cleaning stuff, bleach, Pepsi, I used to spend a lot on takeaways and pub meals but most weeks it is now around £15
I forgot to add I spend between £40 and £50 a week in supermarkets, this includes things like cleaning stuff, bleach, Pepsi, I used to spend a lot on takeaways and pub meals but most weeks it is now around £15
craigjm said:
What sort of meals do you like? Many of us have shared lots of recipes on here over the years
I am quite open to meals, nothing to spicy, try having fish on Fridays.My typical weekly supermarket shopping totals about £25, though that will often include stuff that covers quite a while, for example last week included a big bag of tea bags that'll last me three or four months, and a couple of bags of oven chips that will probably do six weeks. I don't really eat out very much, maybe once a month. I very rarely drink at home, so there's only the odd tenner just to have a few bottles in preparation for the weather being too bad to go to the pub, which given my tolerance for getting rained on has to be pretty bad. I do have a bag of chips from the local chippy once a week with a supermarket pie, just for a change from oven chips.
As for meals, I don't really "cook" as such, I mostly "heat up". Microwave meals for a few days (spread out over the week), interspersed with either a fish or chicken piece and some oven chips done in the air fryer, or a pizza done in the oven because the air fryer is too small to fit a pizza in. I can't get any enthusiasm for spending an hour preparing and cooking some food that I'll eat in five minutes, even though it might look nice when someone on Masterchef does it.
My microwave meals are the lowest of the low - the 85p "range" in Tesco which is now usually down to a choice of two, and I've recently been buying the £1 Lasagne from Asda which is OK. I used to get the hotpot from the Iceland £1 box, but they don't have it any more - it was mainly sliced potato with about three pieces of beef or chicken, but it was quite nice for it. They're not massive meals, but they're OK.
I do like a nice clearance shelf, though, so another thing that pumps the weekly shopping price up is finding stuff reduced to a price where I'm just about prepared to pay it, and will go in the freezer. I've been trying to have a purge of stuff in there, though, because I've been much better at buying it than eating it, and the freezer is getting quite full.
ETA - I realise the above ( and a few more recent posts ) do make me sound like a cheapskate. I call it "careful", but I'm sort-of getting used to the whole supermarket shopping lark, so I'm starting at the bottom, price-wise. I was intending to test the water gradually with more expensive ranges in case they were noticeably better, but recently the bottom-of-the-market stuff is rising in price quite enough for me.
As for meals, I don't really "cook" as such, I mostly "heat up". Microwave meals for a few days (spread out over the week), interspersed with either a fish or chicken piece and some oven chips done in the air fryer, or a pizza done in the oven because the air fryer is too small to fit a pizza in. I can't get any enthusiasm for spending an hour preparing and cooking some food that I'll eat in five minutes, even though it might look nice when someone on Masterchef does it.
My microwave meals are the lowest of the low - the 85p "range" in Tesco which is now usually down to a choice of two, and I've recently been buying the £1 Lasagne from Asda which is OK. I used to get the hotpot from the Iceland £1 box, but they don't have it any more - it was mainly sliced potato with about three pieces of beef or chicken, but it was quite nice for it. They're not massive meals, but they're OK.
I do like a nice clearance shelf, though, so another thing that pumps the weekly shopping price up is finding stuff reduced to a price where I'm just about prepared to pay it, and will go in the freezer. I've been trying to have a purge of stuff in there, though, because I've been much better at buying it than eating it, and the freezer is getting quite full.
ETA - I realise the above ( and a few more recent posts ) do make me sound like a cheapskate. I call it "careful", but I'm sort-of getting used to the whole supermarket shopping lark, so I'm starting at the bottom, price-wise. I was intending to test the water gradually with more expensive ranges in case they were noticeably better, but recently the bottom-of-the-market stuff is rising in price quite enough for me.
Edited by droopsnoot on Tuesday 18th July 09:18
Oliver Hardy said:
Asked this a while ago thought I do a new one
If your single, how much do you spend on shopping, eating out and what do you cook?
I would especially be grateful for any ready meals or quick meal recommendations?
I use either Sainsbury's or Ocado to deliver - I would never willingly enter a supermarket! Ocado have a better range and a better app than Sainsbury's - but it feels more expensive. If your single, how much do you spend on shopping, eating out and what do you cook?
I would especially be grateful for any ready meals or quick meal recommendations?
Charlie Bigham's do a great range of meals from cottage pie to chicken in white wine sauce + mash... in the oven for 25 minutes and perfect. I also cook steaks/chips, pork chops, lamb chops etc. I rarely use the microwave...
I eat out once a week I should think.... around £100 for two I guess.
Shopping for one has risen from around £40 to around £90 these days - buying more expensive items is probably the reason.
Oliver Hardy said:
I am quite open to meals, nothing to spicy, try having fish on Fridays.
Most of what I eat is spicy like chilli, curry, jabalaya etc but I suppose you can reduce the heat levels.Tablespoon of Pataks curry paste, tin of chopped tomatoes, 2/3 chicken thighs, an onion and a couple of peppers does a reasonable curry.
To make things easier I often do one pot meals, cuts down on washing up.
https://www.goodto.com/search?searchTerm=one+pot
Oliver Hardy said:
Thanks everyone!
I forgot to add I spend between £40 and £50 a week in supermarkets, this includes things like cleaning stuff, bleach, Pepsi, I used to spend a lot on takeaways and pub meals but most weeks it is now around £15
Mine is around the same, generally just above £40 including beer and wine, normally gets me around 12 meals of whatever I have cooked in bulk.I forgot to add I spend between £40 and £50 a week in supermarkets, this includes things like cleaning stuff, bleach, Pepsi, I used to spend a lot on takeaways and pub meals but most weeks it is now around £15
craigjm said:
What sort of meals do you like? Many of us have shared lots of recipes on here over the years
I am quite open to meals, nothing to spicy, try having fish on Fridays.If no meat or alcohol is needed then it's normally just under £30
Not single but Mrs Loto is often on a diet so I tend to cook for myself - I can eat well for £35 a week, not including booze.
I tend to make stir fries and fajitas so usually get a load of peppers, onions and chicken breast fillets and a big bag of cashews and some saucses from Aldi. Never tire of it - all tasty and quick to cook and fairly healthy.
I often make a bolognaise sauce using beef and pork mince, passata and loads of finely chopped carrot and celery - usually cook it for 3 hours then portion it up and freeze it. Very handy for spag bolls or even as a base for a lasagne.
I'm also very partial to good sausage (Cumberland from a proper butcher) which I will have with unpasteurised sauerkraut and creamed mash (like ze Germans).
It really is very affordable to eat well despite what the narrative says, provided you are willing to cook.
I tend to make stir fries and fajitas so usually get a load of peppers, onions and chicken breast fillets and a big bag of cashews and some saucses from Aldi. Never tire of it - all tasty and quick to cook and fairly healthy.
I often make a bolognaise sauce using beef and pork mince, passata and loads of finely chopped carrot and celery - usually cook it for 3 hours then portion it up and freeze it. Very handy for spag bolls or even as a base for a lasagne.
I'm also very partial to good sausage (Cumberland from a proper butcher) which I will have with unpasteurised sauerkraut and creamed mash (like ze Germans).
It really is very affordable to eat well despite what the narrative says, provided you are willing to cook.
Most ready meals are quite disappointing, however, I'm partial to getting a ready made vegetable Indian side dish, like saag paneer. These are usually much cheaper than the full meals. Microwave some frozen ready cooked diced chicken, then add to the side dish. Serve with parathas (fry pre-made frozen ones), or rice.
I also like the pre-prepared salads you can get for around £1.20. Add half an avocado and/or cheese (I get the individually wrapped mini-portions or cheese to avoid wastage) + meat/fish/boiled egg + beetroot/olives from a jar + dressing.
There are a couple of quite tasty meals Tesco do in their 3 for £7.50 range. Chicken in mustard sauce with potatoes, and Chicken hotpot with dumplings.
I also like the pre-prepared salads you can get for around £1.20. Add half an avocado and/or cheese (I get the individually wrapped mini-portions or cheese to avoid wastage) + meat/fish/boiled egg + beetroot/olives from a jar + dressing.
There are a couple of quite tasty meals Tesco do in their 3 for £7.50 range. Chicken in mustard sauce with potatoes, and Chicken hotpot with dumplings.
I often buy Skirt Steak from Sainsburys its usually about £5 for a pack and can make 4 or 5 portions of something. So I will make a Beef Rendang with one, Chilli with another, Railway Mutton Curry (but with beef as I prefer it) then freeze in individual portions.
Same goes with Dhal will make a big pot and freeze in individual portions, then have either as a side to the above or as a main with some chicken pakora (from the shops.)
Then I will have a couple of veggie ish days, so maybe some noodles with veg, maybe a cashew curry and rice.
Same goes with Dhal will make a big pot and freeze in individual portions, then have either as a side to the above or as a main with some chicken pakora (from the shops.)
Then I will have a couple of veggie ish days, so maybe some noodles with veg, maybe a cashew curry and rice.
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