Groceries account for a big chunk of the average family's expenditure. With food prices rising faster than wages, it doesn't look like that's set to change any time soon. If you want to start saving money on your weekly shop, it's a good idea to decide on a budget: and stick to it! You can do just that using our free Money Dashboard budgeting software - it automatically tags every single outgoing so you know exactly where your money is going, giving you a clear view of your finances.
Despite growing bills at the supermarket, you don't need to spend a fortune to keep your family well fed and happy. In fact, these three recipes will help you to feed your family for £5 or less. Each one of these recipes serves four people.
1) Classic cottage pie
This British favourite is a great one to trot out on chilly days. You'll need:
- 500g beef mince
- 100g frozen peas
- 2 small onions, minced
- 2 large baking potatoes, diced
- 2 x tins of tomatoes
- 3 cloves of garlic
- 1 x beef stock cubes, dissolved in 500 ml of boiling water
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 8 tbsp semi-skimmed milk
Total cost: £4.30
Pre-heat the oven to 200°C, put a pot of water on the hob to boil, and heat the oil in a frying pan. Fry the onion until see-through and add the garlic and beef. Cook until brown and add the tomatoes and beef stock. Simmer for ten minutes. While your sauce is reducing, tip your potatoes into the boiling water. Once soft, drain and mash with the milk. Pop your meaty mixture into an ovenproof dish and top with the mash. Cook for half an hour.
2) Cheap and cheerful chicken curry
If you're wondering how to save money and still enjoy exotic cuisine, wonder no more. This fruity curry recipe will have you chucking out your takeaway menus. You'll need:
- 4 chicken breasts, diced
- 1 small onion
- 2 garlic cloves
- 3 tbsp curry powder
- 1 small apple, chopped
- 75g sultanas
- 1 x chicken stock cube, dissolved in 500ml boiling water
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 150g rice (to serve)
Total cost: £4.94
Heat the oil in a heavy frying pan. Brown the chicken breast. Move it onto a plate and fry the onion and garlic for three minutes. Put the chicken back in the pan and add the curry powder. Add the stock, apple and sultanas. Simmer until the sauce thickens: this should take about 10 minutes, so now is a good time to cook your rice.
3) Chilli non-carne
Removing the meat from this dish is a good way to save money, so try this vegetarian classic. You'll need:
- 1 x tin kidney beans
- 1 x tin cannellini beans
- 1 x tin chickpeas
- 2 x tins chopped tomatoes
- 1 x green pepper
- 2 x small onions, diced
- 4 x garlic cloves
- 1 x vegetable stock cube, dissolved in 500ml boiling water
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp mild chilli powder
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 100g grated cheddar (to serve)
Total price: £4.36
Heat the oil in a heavy saucepan and fry the onion and garlic for three minutes, until translucent. Drain the beans and add them to the pan, along with the chopped pepper, tinned tomatoes, and stock. Add the spices and then simmer until the sauce has thickened. Serve in a bowl, topped with a sprinkling of grated cheddar.
If you've got any of your own cheap recipes, let us know in the comments below! We'll share the best on Twitter and Facebook.
Posted by Money Dashboard
