Grocery shopping advice?

[skidMark]

Okay well i have always been a useless shopper...

Oven doesnt work here and well i can't be arsed fixing it...have hotplates...microwave, toaster and a BBQ...

So instead of the usual takeaways today i thought i would save some money and go to the supermarket....

Spent 43 bucks and i'm not really any better off...

i can stretch this budget to 70 a week... so what have you found works, i pack food in like mad... i just can never seem to buy the components to make proper meals... i find myself spending 70 bucks and still feel im eating peasent food.

anybody got any advice...

here was what i got for my $43.37 today.

<DIR>2 packs diamond macaroni cheese with sauce blah blah.... 2 big ben pies.... 2 pack of garlic bread.... kool fruits lollies... 6 pack pork alpine sausages. blue top milk 1 litre..... microwave watties beef soups (2) ..... 2 loaf's bread.... 4 powerades....



I would have bought more meats but they are frikking pricey... and with no oven i cant do roasts etc...

Any advice appreciated... starting to effect my health.
</DIR>

[R6_kid]

:slap::killingme:corn:

It's not THAT hard Mark. You need to sit down and come up with a plan for what you want to have for dinner. Cooking for one can be a bit of a bitch, but it just means that you need to think forward a bit more as to use of meat etc.

You don't need the kool fruits or powerades for a start.

For that money you could buy a packet of pasta and some dolmio. That's probably four nights worth of dinners if you dont eat like a pig.

At the end of the day you're on the dole. If you don't want to eat crap food, get a job and earn some more money so that you can afford to eat better.

I know for a fact that $70 is enough to feed two people for a week, and that's nice eating too.

[skidMark]

:slap::killingme:corn:

It's not THAT hard Mark. You need to sit down and come up with a plan for what you want to have for dinner. Cooking for one can be a bit of a bitch, but it just means that you need to think forward a bit more as to use of meat etc.

You don't need the kool fruits or powerades for a start.

For that money you could buy a packet of pasta and some dolmio. That's probably four nights worth of dinners if you dont eat like a pig.

At the end of the day you're on the dole. If you don't want to eat crap food, get a job and earn some more money so that you can afford to eat better.

I know for a fact that $70 is enough to feed two people for a week, and that's nice eating too.

I cant find anything in a supermarket to "eat nice" that i can get everything i need for 70 a week.

I don't know how to cook either, use powerades when i go cycling... the kool fruits well.... i had a moment of weakness lol

[Maha]

0800 83 83 83...:Punk:
Five large Pizzas for $45.. pickup, cant beat that!

[R6_kid]

One meal i've made before is enough to feed three or four people TWICE, so if you weren't being picky, you could feed yourself for 4-5 nights on it. Cost $25 for ingredients (most of which have lots leftover) and tastes bloody good. You just need to be creative.

[skidMark]

One meal i've made before is enough to feed three or four people TWICE, so if you weren't being picky, you could feed yourself for 4-5 nights on it. Cost $25 for ingredients (most of which have lots leftover) and tastes bloody good. You just need to be creative.


And these ingredients are.....

[NighthawkNZ]

Never go grocery shopping when you are hungry...

[Trudes]

Try planning meals and make a list of the ingredients before you go to the supermarket.
Only buy what's on the list.
Try and make sure that you buy fresh fruit and veg or even frozen veg is ok, but fresh is usually cheaper (you're not paying for the packaging and someone pissing about preparing it for you).
Try and get to the supermarket at around 10am, they are normally (well at the one I go to) putting out the discounted meat then so buy the stuff on special.
If you're only cooking for yourself, make a full sized meal (ie. lasagna or shepherds pie etc) and cut the left-overs into Mark sized meals and freeze them to be defrosted and microwaved some other time.
You can eat well and on a budget, you just need to put a bit of effort and thought into it and not buy energy drinks/magazines/packet meals that are usually of little nutritional value and often bloody expensive.
Get inventive too, look up some recipes on the net and try and enjoy the making and cooking of a meal that is good for you.
Good luck.

[SARGE]

How bout getting a job so you can afford to eat?


Just a thought

[piston broke]

make your own macaroni,tis real easy.especially with cheese sause in packets.
use a big pot and add a whole caulli,a whole brocolli and a few handfulls of mixed frozen veg.there is 3 meals.
buy some flour and baking powder,you can make scones in a frypan,just cover the pan with a plate and turn over after about 5-7 mins

[piston broke]

or you could always get 6 $10/doz beers,
and 6 litres of milk to suck up the hang over each morning.
then 1 day fasting:beer:

[skidMark]

How bout getting a job so you can afford to eat?


Just a thought


How about you give me one.

[skidMark]

or you could always get 6 $10/doz beers,
and 6 litres of milk to suck up the hang over each morning.
then 1 day fasting:beer:


You got your priorities right.... ;)

[Ixion]

I'll feed anybody for $25 per week and show a handsome profit.

OK. First rule. Buy INGREDIENTS, not prepared food. Fundamental rule, if it comes in a can or packet, pass it by.

Rice is your firend. It's cheap (buy a sack from the Indian stores).
Buy a chicken (raw one). No stove, so joint it out, fry it for Maryland chicken, Oriental chicken, chicken chasseur. . Save the carcase. With $5 worth of split peas lentils and barley , and a few veges , that'll make a huge pot of nutricious chicken soup. Last you a month. Easy as to make . (Add a bacon bone and it's to die for)

Veges are CHEAP. You can get a huge amount for $10. Carrots, cabbage, broccali, onions.

Sausages are good , about the only sensible thing you bought. Bread's cheap if you buy the cheap loaves, but not as cheap as rice.

Invest $10 in spices and herbs. Not only are they good for you (don't stint the garlic!), but they turn ordinary food into a feast.

Look around the butcher (or supermarket , but butcher is better). Find a cheap cut of meat (mutton flaps work well). Cut up and trim. Fry in a little oil until brown. Put it into a casserole pot. Add carrots, potato cut up, lotsa onion, lotsa garlic (no, more garlic, that's not a lot . More , More , LOTSA garlic) . Add worchester sauce , soy sauce, spices and herbs, a sprinkle of brown sugar, a cup of vinegar. Top up with water. Put in the over - bugger you aint got one , OK, make it an Irish stew just simmer it VERY GENTLY AND SLOWLY on the hotplate. Should take about 6 hours to cook. My casserole feeds two of us for 6 meals. Costs about $6 . Dollar a meal. Easy as falling off y' bike.

Wots wornga with peasant food anyway. They eats bloody well does the peasants.

[SARGE]

How about you give me one.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

no fucking way in hell..



McDonald's is hiring though

[Jeaves]

2 packs of pasta , 5 x dolmios , 2 cloves of garlic, 2 onions , jar of sundried tomatoes, cheese.

Bag of potatoes , ham , cheese , capsicum , onion , that jar of sundried tomotoes. Nuke potatoes whole with skin on , gut em out , stuff em full of above , quick nuke to melt the cheese.

get some salad/lettuce/colesaw and add to side of each meal.

[Scouse]

5 x dolmiosFuck the 5 Dolmios thats about $20 five tins of Watties Tomatoes is a better and cheaper investment would only cost $7.50

[Mom]

I cant find anything in a supermarket to "eat nice" that i can get everything i need for 70 a week.
I don't know how to cook either, use powerades when i go cycling... the kool fruits well.... i had a moment of weakness lol

Mince. BOM (boring old mince). Mince. Oh, tube steak :sick:

Schnitzel (absolutely the cheapest meat to feed a family) and it looks like it cost heaps and tastes good too!

I hear you about not knowing how to cook Mark, and it really does make it very, very tough to make ends meet. All very well for us that have the skills to make a cheap meal, if you dont know how to, you dont.

You need some basic "store cupboard" things to cook. Salt, pepper, flour (suggest you buy cornflour) soy sauce, tom sauce, lea and perrins. Then you need basic veg, spuds, carrots, onions, heaven help you, frozen peas. Rice is even better than spuds sometimes, it does not go off if you leave it mouldering in the cupboard.

Before I go too much further, do you have pots? Have you got a microwave? Do you have any cooking vessels at all?

[BMWST?]

the landlord should fix the oven

[R6_kid]

the landlord should fix the oven

Thats what I said, but he came up with some lame-o excuse.

[Choco]

Potatoes are usually pretty cheap if you buy in bulk!
slice em, mash em, puttem inna stew etc.

[fire eyes]

I'll feed anybody for $25 per week and show a handsome profit.

OK. First rule. Buy INGREDIENTS, not prepared food. Fundamental rule, if it comes in a can or packet, pass it by.

Rice is your firend. It's cheap (buy a sack from the Indian stores).
Buy a chicken (raw one). No stove, so joint it out, fry it for Maryland chicken, Oriental chicken, chicken chasseur. . Save the carcase. With $5 worth of split peas lentils and barley , and a few veges , that'll make a huge pot of nutricious chicken soup. Last you a month. Easy as to make . (Add a bacon bone and it's to die for)

Veges are CHEAP. You can get a huge amount for $10. Carrots, cabbage, broccali, onions.

Sausages are good , about the only sensible thing you bought. Bread's cheap if you buy the cheap loaves, but not as cheap as rice.

Invest $10 in spices and herbs. Not only are they good for you (don't stint the garlic!), but they turn ordinary food into a feast.

Look around the butcher (or supermarket , but butcher is better). Find a cheap cut of meat (mutton flaps work well). Cut up and trim. Fry in a little oil until brown. Put it into a casserole pot. Add carrots, potato cut up, lotsa onion, lotsa garlic (no, more garlic, that's not a lot . More , More , LOTSA garlic) . Add worchester sauce , soy sauce, spices and herbs, a sprinkle of brown sugar, a cup of vinegar. Top up with water. Put in the over - bugger you aint got one , OK, make it an Irish stew just simmer it VERY GENTLY AND SLOWLY on the hotplate. Should take about 6 hours to cook. My casserole feeds two of us for 6 meals. Costs about $6 . Dollar a meal. Easy as falling off y' bike.

Wots wornga with peasant food anyway. They eats bloody well does the peasants.

Thanks for posting this Ixion!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :2thumbsup I have written it down lol :hug:

It's nice to write an actual recipe down .. Iv been kind of winging it by throwing everything in a pot and hoping for the best! Kids give me some strange looks sometimes.

[Mom]

Thanks for posting this Ixion!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :2thumbsup I have written it down lol :hug:

It's nice to write an actual recipe down .. Iv been kind of winging it by throwing everything in a pot and hoping for the best! Kids give me some strange looks sometimes.

Right, head to food porn social group, I will post some easy peasy, cheap meals, all of you that want to know how.

[fire eyes]

Right, head to food porn social group, I will post some easy peasy, cheap meals, all of you that want to know how.

Yes Ma'am!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[sparky.scott]

Iv been kind of winging it by throwing everything in a pot and hoping for the best!...

Oh? :shit: isnt that how were supposed to cook???? :blink::scratch:

[Maha]

What you will need..
Chicken Breasts....(they come in pairs so freeze one)
Sweet Chilli Sauce
Soy Sauce
Honey
Sour creme.....(2x small containers, same size as yoghurt)
Lettuce
Tomato
Cheese
Burrito wraps...(pack of 6, you can eat three)

Step 1...dice 1 chicken breast
Step 2..Sweet Chilli/Soy/Honey (about two table spoons of each)
into a microwave safe jug...on high for 20 seconds.
Step 3...add sauce to chicken and it let sit for an hour.
Step 4...cook chicken (on moderate heat) in a fry pan until it looks golden...about 20-30 mins (meat should white all the way through.
Step 5...while chicken is cooking, dice 1 tomato, grate a handfull of cheese and tear a bit of lettuce.
Step 6....heat buritos in mircowave as per instuctions.
Step 7...when buritos are done, add some chicken/tomato/lettuce/sour creme and cheese..wrap and eat...make three.

You will love it, its easy. You will have enough ingredients left over to do it all again some other time.

[Tink]

Ok I might sit on a bike ... pillion like friggen fantastic...and I WANT ONE OF MY OWN THAT GOES FAST.... but I don't cook!!!

soooooooooooooooo.... mow with vege is great... pasta with cheese (melted is great)...cheap steak slow..kids love... and when I was flatting CHEESE ON TOAST ROCKED... ERM:clap:

[Solly]

Fark!!!!........everyone's a Chef Ramsey or Jamie Oliver......I am impressed :blink:

[Tink]

I didn't notice any f***en (GR) :msn-wink:great recipes... wired chickens... but yr right about the great food ... how about a food thread for men on the "RIDE".. healthy and filling.. that requires a bbq and lots of hungry bikers.

[gatch]

Okay well i have always been a useless shopper...

Oven doesnt work here and well i can't be arsed fixing it...have hotplates...microwave, toaster and a BBQ...

i can stretch this budget to 70 a week... so what have you found works, i pack food in like mad... i just can never seem to buy the components to make proper meals... i find myself spending 70 bucks and still feel im eating peasent food.

anybody got any advice...

here was what i got for my $43.37 today.
2 packs diamond macaroni cheese with sauce blah blah.... 2 big ben pies.... 2 pack of garlic bread.... kool fruits lollies... 6 pack pork alpine sausages. blue top milk 1 litre..... microwave watties beef soups (2) ..... 2 loaf's bread.... 4 powerades....

Any advice appreciated... starting to effect my health.

I can guarantee you I eat alot more than you man and if I do it right 70 buck is loads.. Rice, onions and potatoes are your friends.. buy milk in the 2 or 3l bottles as they are usually cheaper, get your fuckin oven fixed too cause frozen chickens are the goods, those microwave soups are shit value, a pack of 2 min noodles and some chili sauce will make any left overs twice as nice, forget the powerades - DRINK WATER, those powerades equal a kilo of mince, lentils and the like are good for bulking up alot of meals, carrots for snacks...

yaddy yada, if it says "prepare in minutes" on the front or whatever, chances are it costs about 3x as much as you should be paying.

good luck

[LBD]

Or shop in the right places....




....like Kyrgyzstan. We (two) live very well on USD150 per fortnight...Not much help there, but we endorse an earlier comment...by basics not pre prepared. Oats a great way to start the day, and cheep.

A few basic spices liven up the most bland food....experiment

Fresh not frozen vegies and big fruits, apples bananas etc a bag of past best Bananas make great smooties.

Minimize waste, like earlier mentioned jacket potatoes

Pasta with basic home made sauces,, little bacon, 1/2 small onion, clove Garlic, S&P, brown and add a chopped tomato....simple and tasty.

[Solly]

Chinese takeaway is always good........but be careful of the kidnapping charge :whistle:

[kevfromcoro]

Got a 128 pairs of cheap shoes if you want

[Solly]

Got a 128 pairs of cheap shoes if you want

:Offtopic:....but yes, that little hawking shit has been dealt with!!!!

[Maha]

Those 'Food in a minute' things would be an idea if you have no clue in cooking. My mum always said to me ''if you can read, you can cook''.

I had to ring mum once and ask '' how the hell do you get mashed potatos to stick''?.... all I had seen her do for years was to mash with a masher. Didnt know about adding milk and butter. Now, when I mash potatos I use an electric beater....more whipped than mashed......no lumps...primo!

[fatzx10r]

just get beer:apint:

[Choco]

Now, when I mash potatos I use an electric beater....more whipped than mashed......no lumps...primo!

:niceone:
Why didnt i think of that?
Bangers and Mash FTW!!!

[Maha]

:niceone:
Why didnt i think of that?
Bangers and Mash FTW!!!

The evolution of a master chef?......:whistle:

[Choco]

The evolution of a master chef?......:whistle:

:not:
I bow down to a more masterful masher than myself.

[Nasty]

Okay well i have always been a useless shopper...

Oven doesnt work here and well i can't be arsed fixing it...have hotplates...microwave, toaster and a BBQ...

....

Any advice appreciated... starting to effect my health.[/COLOR][/SIZE]

The oven is the responsibility of your landlord as it was provided with the property. Ask them to repair it URGENTLY.

As far as shopping etc ... get your arse down to the budgeting services people up there and get proper help.

Nasty

[rphenix]

Those 'Food in a minute' things would be an idea if you have no clue in cooking. My mum always said to me ''if you can read, you can cook''.

I had to ring mum once and ask '' how the hell do you get mashed potatos to stick''?.... all I had seen her do for years was to mash with a masher. Didnt know about adding milk and butter. Now, when I mash potatos I use an electric beater....more whipped than mashed......no lumps...primo!

Too much effort to clean the beater though. Instead do as before in the pot and if you want it creamier then use a regular old fork to whisk it the last bit that's the secret :)

[rphenix]

Those 'Food in a minute' things would be an idea if you have no clue in cooking. My mum always said to me ''if you can read, you can cook''.

Except I always laugh at the expensive as hell ingredients. Yes lets use potato pom poms at $5 because we cant peel 50cents worth of potato.

[hospitalfood]

try searching " food in a minute " or even " cooking " should bring something up.

i suggest you try to find a partner that can cook. as you are unemployed and can be a bit of an arse sometimes i think you should try not to be to picky.

there are plenty of single guys out there who are lacking that someone special in their lives, all you need to do is love and adore them and take care of them. you would also need to do the dishes, maybe the laundry and keep the grass down.

[Mom]

keep the grass down.


Though there is always this option.

[Maha]

Too much effort to clean the beater though. Instead do as before in the pot and if you want it creamier then use a regular old fork to whisk it the last bit that's the secret :)

Perhaps...but to much effort in the fork movement, while with the beater, you just stand there....;)

[fire eyes]

Oh? :shit: isnt that how were supposed to cook???? :blink::scratch:

In an ideal world mate! :laugh::Punk:

[Robbo]

Hey Mark, you can eat both well and inexpensively with a little knowledge. I would suggest that you offer to do some exchange work for some of the KB girls for some handy cooking lessons. eg, lawnmowing, painting, gardening, odd jobs etc. I'm sure that with a little help they will have you up and running on a budget in no time. You won't be a Gordon Ramsey but you will do ok.
Cheers

[bikerboy011]

For breakfast you need some milk, toast, chop chop lol, oats, extra virgine olive oil and cheese. say you have eggs with cheese and toast some days or oats or chop chop on toast other days. And for lunch like a piece of steak, 1/2 cup of rice and lil bit of salad, or you can buy a bag of potatoes maybe some chicken breast and have that instead, you can either grill or frie, grilled is better i reckon. Hmmm for dinner pasta? some pasta, pasta souce, baked beans and some lamb.

[bikerboy011]

oh ya get some mayo and bbq souce

[skidMark]

For breakfast you need some milk, toast, chop chop lol, oats, extra virgine olive oil and cheese. say you have eggs with cheese and toast some days or oats or chop chop on toast other days. And for lunch like a piece of steak, 1/2 cup of rice and lil bit of salad, or you can buy a bag of potatoes maybe some chicken breast and have that instead, you can either grill or frie, grilled is better i reckon. Hmmm for dinner pasta? some pasta, pasta souce, baked beans and some lamb.

Mmmm Chop Chop Chicken.

[CookMySock]

Don't buy "nothing" food. Pasta and lollies isn't food - its just carb/filler.

Buy meat and veg. Small bag of washed spuds (dont have to peel them - just chuck them in the pot), washed carrots, punkin, kumara, parsnip. Will last you all week, fills you up fast, costs fuck all, and LOADS of critical vitamins and minerals.

Look for meat on special. Buy large $20 packs of rump steak, and some plastic bags and break it up into meal-sized portions and boof it in the freezer. DONT leave it in fridge! If your fridge doesnt have a good size freezer compartment then get one that does. Buy any of this when its on special - lamb chops, pork chops, BBQ steak, rump steak. You MUST MUST MUST freeze it without delay. Break up large packs so they freeze properly.

When you get home, pull out what meat you want and warm it carefully in the microwave, and then fry it up. Put a pot on a chuck a carrot, spud, piece of kumara, piece of punkin etc in the pot, and then fry yer steak up.

Tricks ;

Put a BIG knob of butter and a shake of salt and white pepper in the veges. Only use 20-30mm of water in the pot of veges or they taste like shit. Don't boil it really hard - get it really fizzing off then turn it down so its barely bubbling. Don't overcook it or it will turn to vege soup, and a not very nice soup at that.

Add some flavour to your meat - buy <a href="http://www.bananablue.com.au/productdetails_nonie.php?id=8059">this</a> stuff, and sprinkle in on your meat before you fry it. Get the pan smoking hot, add knob of butter, drop steak in, turn ONCE only.

Pork chops are best under the griller or over a flame, coz the edge goes nice and crispy.

Don't buy cheap chicken drumsticks. They are more like old rooster than chicken. Yuck.

Don't buy kebabs and pre-packaged stuff. It's double the price for half the contents.

Try the bottled sauces. "Chicken tonight" and stuff like that. Read the instructions on the jar. Its easy. Cook veges with this, not rice. Rice does nothing for you.

Buy bags of mixed veg, and microwave what you need in a plastic cup, or plastic conflakes bowl.

Don't be afraid to ask anyone "what can I do with this food?"

Steve

[Usarka]

Of your $43 you spend around $12 on Powerade!!!! Instead of using powerade try using 1/4 juice 3/4 water and some salt.

Or if you *really* need a sport drink buy a tub of Horleys replace. 670g for $17 or 2kg for $44.

Yep it's expensive but it's just under half the price of the same amount of bottled powerage.

[Usarka]

i find myself spending 70 bucks and still feel im eating peasent food.

anybody got any advice...


BTW I hate to break it to you - you don't have a job, you are a peasant.

[FROSTY]

STEW --goood old fashioned stew. Its bloody good for ya . You use the cheapest cuts of meat. Then lots of FRESH veggies.
The great thing about stew is you just wait for the pot to cool down then bung the leftovers in the fridge. --Reheat the next night.
Then the next night throw a touch of curry powder in and it tastes different.
Stew - Buy about 1.0kg of gravy beef or chuck steak
carrots x4
spuds.-4 good sized
onion x1
tomatoes x2
Add other veggies
salt and pepper
Dice the meat and toss it into a good sized pot.with water in it chop the spuds into 1/4's -toss them in. cook for about 20 minutes at 180
Now add the other veggies chopped as you like em. cook untill the spuds are soft

Another one is shepards pie.
all that takes is mince,spuds,a bit of butter n milk half an onion and a handfull of mixed diced veggies.
Easy to make and actually looks bloody nice if you wanna impress a lady.
Once again you can reheat the stuff you dont eat

Ixion has it nailed really. FRESH is the way to go for most foods. -best bang for buck.
Inbcidently you will be blown away how bloody nice the cheaper cuts of meat taste.

[Disco Dan]

All those commercial supermarkets are too expensive dude... go for the tired and tested "Parents freezer" shop. Never fails. Especially when they are not home.

[geoffm]

See if you can get a cheap second hand crockpot - it's the biz for cheap stews that taste good.

The problem with living alone is it ai hassle to cook - if you have flatties then you have to...
I put on so much weight when I was in Christchurch for this reason - living on junk food.

Recipes - google is your friend
http://homecooking.about.com/od/cookingforone1/Cooking_For_One_Or_Two_Recipes.htm
http://www.recipes.co.nz/one-pan-mince?pid=f7d9d9fb-3ac5-4c6b-85b8-e25b4a36da18
http://allrecipes.co.uk/recipes/searchresults.aspx?tag=cooking+for+one
http://www.betterliving.co.nz/content/love/foods-and-aphrodisia/recipes-for-one-or-two.aspx

[Tank]

You ask for help on so many so many very basic life skills.

But - as mentioned - all things like flats, bikes and food come easier when you have a job.

[Ixion]

Thanks for posting this Ixion!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :2thumbsup I have written it down lol :hug:

It's nice to write an actual recipe down .. Iv been kind of winging it by throwing everything in a pot and hoping for the best! Kids give me some strange looks sometimes.

You're welcome. The best thing about a stew is that it can be extended indefinately. Just add more water, meat and veges and keep on cooking. My great-great-grandmother used to have a perpetual stew on the range, pot was never empty. You can throw in any other veges you have of course. And any meat doesn't just have to be beef. I never measure though, just throw in whatever I can find.

Top up with water to about a centimetre over the top of the meat and vege. I like my stews thick, so when it's cooked, mix a couple of teaspoons of cornflour into quarter of a cup of COLD water and add SLOWLY to the stew while stirring. Nice thick gravy.

Other good thing about a stew is you can fancify it. Add some paprika and a dollop of sour cream , and voila, Goulash Magyar. Add some mushrooms and a cup of white wine just before serving and call it Boeuf Borgnogne.

[Swoop]

Veges are CHEAP. You can get a huge amount for $10.

Sausages are good , about the only sensible thing you bought. Wots wornga with peasant food anyway. They eats bloody well does the peasants.
Vege's rule #1: Do NOT purchase at the supermarket! Grossly overpriced. Try your local vege shop.
Sausages? Good for increasing the cholesterol... according to my doctor. *mental note to change doctor*
The peasant food will also be much better for a person's health!!

Potatoes are usually pretty cheap if you buy in bulk!
slice em, mash em, puttem inna stew etc.
Precisely! Good old spuds. Guess what, they will even grow in the back garden!!

[MsKABC]

You have plenty of time on your hands, so why not grow your own vegies? It's easy, cheap & pesticide-free. Carrots, potatoes, lettuce, brocolli, silverbeet, tomatoes, courgettes & beans are all relatively easy to grow and will provide almost all your vegetable needs. Google is your friend on all matters regarding budgetting, cooking, gardening & generally being more self-sufficient. ;) Do let us know how you get on :)

[Tank]

You have plenty of time on your hands, so why not grow your own vegies? It's easy, cheap & pesticide-free.

yes, It's easy, cheap & pesticide-free - but it also involves work.

You can see where your idea falls down for Mark ?

[MsKABC]

You have plenty of time on your hands, so why not grow your own vegies? It's easy, cheap & pesticide-free.

yes, It's easy, cheap & pesticide-free - but it also involves work.

You can see where your idea falls down for Mark ?

Let's just say I was laying down a challenge. Or stirring. One of the two ;) It's a good idea though, you have to admit :D
Be interesting to see what excuse he comes up with.

[davebullet]

I'll feed anybody for $25 per week and show a handsome profit.

OK. First rule. Buy INGREDIENTS, not prepared food. Fundamental rule, if it comes in a can or packet, pass it by.

Rice is your firend. It's cheap (buy a sack from the Indian stores).
Buy a chicken (raw one). No stove, so joint it out, fry it for Maryland chicken, Oriental chicken, chicken chasseur. . Save the carcase. With $5 worth of split peas lentils and barley , and a few veges , that'll make a huge pot of nutricious chicken soup. Last you a month. Easy as to make . (Add a bacon bone and it's to die for)

Veges are CHEAP. You can get a huge amount for $10. Carrots, cabbage, broccali, onions.

Sausages are good , about the only sensible thing you bought. Bread's cheap if you buy the cheap loaves, but not as cheap as rice.

Invest $10 in spices and herbs. Not only are they good for you (don't stint the garlic!), but they turn ordinary food into a feast.

Look around the butcher (or supermarket , but butcher is better). Find a cheap cut of meat (mutton flaps work well). Cut up and trim. Fry in a little oil until brown. Put it into a casserole pot. Add carrots, potato cut up, lotsa onion, lotsa garlic (no, more garlic, that's not a lot . More , More , LOTSA garlic) . Add worchester sauce , soy sauce, spices and herbs, a sprinkle of brown sugar, a cup of vinegar. Top up with water. Put in the over - bugger you aint got one , OK, make it an Irish stew just simmer it VERY GENTLY AND SLOWLY on the hotplate. Should take about 6 hours to cook. My casserole feeds two of us for 6 meals. Costs about $6 . Dollar a meal. Easy as falling off y' bike.

Wots wornga with peasant food anyway. They eats bloody well does the peasants.

+1. Also add Homebrand Weetbix (cheaper and the same as Sanitarium Weetbix)

The key is - don't buy any "ready made / sauce in a box" you pay for packaging, advertising and convenience - not any quantity (and quality is dubious too).

When I was on my own - cooking for 1 - 3 makes little difference to the time.... so cook for 3 - split and freeze it then you have heat and eat meals on the cheap when you need it.

[NOMIS]

if you had transport, there lots of national parks with chickens running around a few turkeys to..- not nice eating most of the year, learn how to swim go up to wenderholme get some kina, take a pole spear - $20 or make one. and learn how to catch fish ... im not kidding by the way,

Or if you where nice id let you borrow my flippers and spear gun. if you dont beleive me it's what i been eaiting all weekend , my food this weekend besides lunch after church cost me $0.00 and maybe about $15 in petrol. and a hell of alot of fun doing it, oh and I think i have enough to feed me and a mate until next weekend, mix it up with some veges that growen in mates bag yard and its a beatuifull meal every day of the week, what ever still in the freezer by tues night will go in the smoker.. - can make a smoker for less than $10 and wil last you for agggggeeeessss. or byt a wharehouse jobby for $20 - there ok. - can even smoke on you bbq. manuka bark from the bush near by is free and tastes great.

now the down side - if you eat that kinda food (seafood) everyday you are at greater risk of gout and obesity.. aparntly.

oh and it takes effort. - come on skid you dont mind effort>?

[Tank]

Live off the land


Pfft Why live off the land when you can live off the taxpayer. (from the book of skidmark)

[Beemer]

I got sent this pdf that has recipes for OAMC - Once A Month Cooking - it's a cheap way to have meals on tap all the time. Do you have a freezer? If so, cook in bulk and freeze in meal-size portions. If you don't, cook enough to feed you for a couple of meals and eat the same thing for two nights in a row.

There is just me and my husband at home and so when I cook something it's enough to feed four so I either freeze one meal or we have the same thing the following night. Those jar sauces are great - we use the butter chicken or creamy chicken and mushroom ones (use the Chicken Tonight ones as the Select ones aren't that nice). You can cook veges to go with them as well as rice - beans are lovely with the mushroom one.

You could pick up a cheap crockpot too, then leave the food cooking all day and come home to a lovely casserole - not that it's all you can cook in them, you can cook chicken, beef, sausages, etc.

I second the home brand comment too - most of the home brand stuff is as good as, if not better, than the branded products.

And here's a good microwave curry recipe:

The curry cooks in about 20 minutes in the microwave, freezes really well and makes enough for four servings.

400g rump steak, cut into cubes
1-2 onions (240g), sliced
1 clove garlic (I use minced garlic)
1 tsp grated fresh ginger (I use the minced stuff)
2 tsp brown vinegar
2 tsp light soya sauce
1/4 tsp chilli powder (or flakes)
2 tsp curry powder (I used two heaped spoons)
1 tbsp tomato paste
1 cup water
1 beef stock cube (or tsp of powdered stock)
2 tsp cornflour

Combine all except cornflour in microwave container (I use my Tupperware stack cooker with the lid on). Cook on 100% power for 15 minutes - I stir after every five minutes. Blend cornflour with a little hot liquid (from curry) and stir into curry to combine well. Cook for a further three minutes on high. Leave to cool then freeze.

You can also cook this on the stovetop (I haven't so can't say what it's like). Place all ingredients except cornflour in pot, bring to boil and simmer uncovered for 45 minutes or until steak is tender. Do same with cornflour and stir constantly until mixture boils and thickens.

[skidMark]

Well some of you may have seen my grocery shopping advice thread... i wasn't happy with how i was eating and well i was impulse buying more than a kid in a candy store.

Got alot of tips advice etc from those on here, and they should approve of what i have bought this week, and hopefully my health will pick up again also.

Brown mushrooms $4.97

Crushed garlic 380 gram jar $3.29

Sealord tuna 185gram (2 cans) $2.89 each ($5.79 total)

Macaroni and cheese (hey it turned out the same as buying pasta anyways lol) 4 packs $2.59 each ($10.36 total)

Ground black pepper $1.59

Red onions 750 grams $3.85

Hellers sausages $3.55

Capsicums 3 pack $1.75

4 pack marinated steak $7.23

Raro 4 packs of 3, $1.09 per 3 pack.

Total... $46

Hi five.

Thanks for the help guys, now all i need is a women to cook it for me lol

Skid.

[bikerboy011]

Good shit, buy some banana's, milk and oates.

[jaymzw]

Ka Pai Solly Mai!!!:2thumbsup

[Indiana_Jones]

<img src="http://citizenx.org/wp-content/retard.jpg">

-Indy

[P38]

That'll cover lunch.

What did ya buy for Dinner? :drool:

[Trudes]

That's a great start, keep up the good work! Keep going for fresh!!:)

[HungusMaximist]

By now you've probably realised that the best food you can eat is the food that you cook and make yourself. It will seem hard at first but keep at it. Go for the easy meals that you can cook with no fuss, and in a good portion which you can freeze or warm up the next day.

Get chopping and cutting mate, fucken therapeutic I tell ya, when I am cutting and chopping shit up I go off into a daze and a world of my own.

How about getting a g/f and let her cook for you?

[Beemer]

Just remember, a man who cooks (AND cleans up after himself when he does!) is very attractive to most women, so don't be in a rush to pass the cooking duties on to a female. Learn how to do it yourself and you could actually find some mad woman who finds you attractive!

[XxKiTtiExX]

Used to manage feeding 2 of us plus our 2 dogs and 3 cats on $80.00 a week. (that said I would put aside an extra $20.00 in case we ran short of bread or milk during the week). I did feel we did reasonably well, we never went hungry and we managed to eat relatively healthily. It was all about buying cheaply (whats on special at the time which means ALOT of browsing while shopping and picking out the best deals and ensuring you put your needs before your wants eg: forget about those bags of lollies or packets of biscuits and opt for something else), cooking larger portions and making something out of leftovers (remember nothing goes to waste, the biggest issue is waste where people throw food out that could have been eaten a second night or turned into something a little more exciting).
Bolagnaise and spaghetti one night and bolagnaise toasties the next. Haha but it was yum. (what I would do for a bolagnaise toastie right now actually).
Couldn't send Daniel shopping (he's useless) $150.00 in one shop and he would just bring home absolute crap so you'd mow through 2 packets of toffee pops (easily $5.00 there) and still be hungry. He knows he has a hard time sticking to a budget and I quickly ended up with the shopping duties.
I think the hardest part is setting up a decent cupboard full of the basics that come in handy when preparing meals. But once your set you'll be right. Even if each week from now on you set aside $5.00 that goes on those little basics (that you have like forever but they come in handy when preparing different meals). Remember with peanut butter, soy sauce, and a bit of honey you can make your own marinate for meat, and the stuff lasts forever.
Mince is a cheaper alternative and you could make things exciting for yourself with one pack of mince eg: make up a mix of mince, onion, 1 egg, bit of salt and pepper and bread crumbs wallah you have enough to make a couple of meat paddys for ham burgers (get buns but freeze them and only use what you need when you need it) and whats left you could turn into spaghetti and meatballs. :pinch:
You'll get there.

[Slyer]

Useful stuff guys thanks. :)

[Finn]

if you had transport, there lots of national parks with chickens running around a few turkeys to..- not nice eating most of the year, learn how to swim go up to wenderholme get some kina, take a pole spear - $20 or make one. and learn how to catch fish ... im not kidding by the way,

Or if you where nice id let you borrow my flippers and spear gun. if you dont beleive me it's what i been eaiting all weekend , my food this weekend besides lunch after church cost me $0.00 and maybe about $15 in petrol. and a hell of alot of fun doing it, oh and I think i have enough to feed me and a mate until next weekend, mix it up with some veges that growen in mates bag yard and its a beatuifull meal every day of the week, what ever still in the freezer by tues night will go in the smoker.. - can make a smoker for less than $10 and wil last you for agggggeeeessss. or byt a wharehouse jobby for $20 - there ok. - can even smoke on you bbq. manuka bark from the bush near by is free and tastes great.

now the down side - if you eat that kinda food (seafood) everyday you are at greater risk of gout and obesity.. aparntly.

oh and it takes effort. - come on skid you dont mind effort>?

But how much did church cost?

[skidMark]

But how much did church cost?


I dunno about that...

But finn...

When you go shopping do you get picked up by security guards thinking you are a lost child?:baby:

[Finn]

I dunno about that...

But finn...

When you go shopping do you get picked up by security guards thinking you are a lost child?:baby:

No, I do my shopping online so I don't have to mix with stupid people.

Hey Mark, don't you find it strange that whenever you're in the shopping carpark, people give you their empty trolleys all the time?

[MisterD]

Add some mushrooms and a cup of white wine just before serving and call it Boeuf Borgnogne.

Whaat? Beef Bourguignon is literally beef in burgundy...so at least make it red, eh?

I like your thinking otherwise, a pub local to my Dad (back in the old country) has a soup pot which is only (and can only be) described by the colour it happens to be on the day...

[Usarka]

Hey Mark, don't you find it strange that whenever you're in the shopping carpark, people give you their empty trolleys all the time?

That's just stupid and unnecessary Finn. Do you really think people mistake him for some one who's working?

[R6_kid]

Thanks for the help guys, now all i need is a woman to cook it for me lol

Skid.

Your mum says hi. :yes:

[skidMark]

No, I do my shopping online so I don't have to mix with stupid people.

Hey Mark, don't you find it strange that whenever you're in the shopping carpark, people give you their empty trolleys all the time?


Because im threatining them with a knife because i cant afford food. and they have just loaded it all into thier car for me....:yes:

[skidMark]

That's just stupid and unnecessary Finn. Do you really think people mistake him for some one who's working?


LOL fucking...

u love the wack back as much as i do. n shit.

[NSR-Dan]

How about you give me one.

Sarge, chuck mark in the back of your truck and go round a a round-a-bout really fast.

[marty]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

no fucking way in hell..



McDonald's is hiring though

Dominos is looking for 500 staff at the moment: http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/2318916/Dominos-goes-on-recruitment-drive

http://www.dominospizza.co.nz/corporate/team/jobopportunities.aspx

http://www.dominospizza.co.nz/corporate/team/application.aspx

[marty]

Let's just say I was laying down a challenge. Or stirring. One of the two ;) It's a good idea though, you have to admit :D
Be interesting to see what excuse he comes up with.

Mark has had multiple challenges laid down. He's too much of a masochist to actually follow through with anything - he seems to enjoy being an epic failure.

[NOMIS]

But how much did church cost?

Church costs me nothing for what i get from it. and i give from my heart so the $$ really doesnt matter - pd?

[SARGE]

dominos is looking for 500 staff at the moment: http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/2318916/dominos-goes-on-recruitment-drive

http://www.dominospizza.co.nz/corporate/team/jobopportunities.aspx

http://www.dominospizza.co.nz/corporate/team/application.aspx

hold the phone sunshine .. I eat dominos ...

[skidMark]

Dominos is looking for 500 staff at the moment: http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/2318916/Dominos-goes-on-recruitment-drive

http://www.dominospizza.co.nz/corporate/team/jobopportunities.aspx

http://www.dominospizza.co.nz/corporate/team/application.aspx


My bike would use more gas to get there and back than what they were paying for the entire shift.

[SARGE]

My bike would use more gas to get there and back than what they were paying for the entire shift.

sorry princess .. let me get you a job as CEO somewhere .. with a CV like yours it shouldnt be hard


BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH


sorry .. i think i just wee'd a little

[marty]

you'd earn more in 2 days than you do in a week on the dole you muppet.

you're such a fucking loser.

[skidMark]

you'd earn more in 2 days than you do in a week on the dole you muppet.

you're such a fucking loser.


I'm the loser...you have to work.... to get money...

So whose really the one losing?

[Indiana_Jones]

Now come on people, we shouldn't laugh at Mark ok, his kind have problems with everyday tasks like shopping


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:laugh:

-Indy

[NSR-Dan]

I think the fact that you have to live off the tax payer makes you a loser.'

Marks CV would look something like this. (if he was being honest of course)

Im good at.......(thinking)............................... ...........
......................................(thinking).. .......................
.............(thinking)........................... .......................
.................................................. .....(thinking)........
...........<<< Brain cell bursts here.

[Indiana_Jones]

I think the fact that you have to live off the tax payer makes you a loser.

wtf do you mean have to?!

He's there by choice

-Indy

[325rocket]

I think the fact that you have to live off the tax payer makes you a loser.

i think the fact that your proud about it makes you a loser

[fire eyes]

I think we should all hold hands and sing happy songs.

And btw .. hows the shopping going????

[Beemer]

(great advice here...) wallah you have enough to make a couple of meat paddys for ham burgers (get buns but freeze them and only use what you need when you need it) and whats left you could turn into spaghetti and meatballs. :pinch:
You'll get there.

Where's Hitcher when you need him? Not wanting to be pedantic (okay, so I LIE), but I'm assuming you mean the French word 'voila', which literally means 'look here!' rather than the Sanskrit word 'wallah', which means a person involved with or in charge of [a specified thing]?

And I know meat patties are thick, but it's usually Irishmen who are referred to as paddys - or they're what children throw.

Don't get me started on 'ham burgers' either...

[fire eyes]

Where's Hitcher when you need him? Not wanting to be pedantic (okay, so I LIE), but I'm assuming you mean the French word 'voila', which literally means 'look here!' rather than the Sanskrit word 'wallah', which means a person involved with or in charge of [a specified thing]?

And I know meat patties are thick, but it's usually Irishmen who are referred to as paddys - or they're what children throw.

Don't get me started on 'ham burgers' either...

awww mate! hitcher the 2nd :laugh:

[marty]

You know I never feel like a loser when I'm at the servo filling up whatever mode of transport I'm using at the time, not having to think - 'hmm gas or food this week?'

Or having dinner and drinks with mates and settling the bill for all of us no matter what it costs.

Or buying airline tickets to wherever just to watch an All Blacks/Silver Ferns/whatever and buggering off for the weekend

Or buying my kids top line sport gear so they can excel at their chosen sport

Or dancing around the sky in the weekend

I'm sure the dole though is allowing you to pursue that dream of racing in Moto GP

[rosie631]

Where's Hitcher when you need him? Not wanting to be pedantic (okay, so I LIE), but I'm assuming you mean the French word 'voila', which literally means 'look here!' rather than the Sanskrit word 'wallah', which means a person involved with or in charge of [a specified thing]?

And I know meat patties are thick, but it's usually Irishmen who are referred to as paddys - or they're what children throw.

Don't get me started on 'ham burgers' either...

I shouldn't laugh really BUT LMAO, well said.

[Finn]

Church costs me nothing for what i get from it. and i give from my heart so the $$ really doesnt matter - pd?

Yes but spending money to save your soul still comes out of your budget. Please add what it cost for church otherwise you're fudging the figures.

[James Deuce]

Now come on people, we shouldn't laugh at Mark ok, his kind have problems with everyday tasks like shopping</EMBED>

:laugh:

-Indy

How dare you compare that self interested loser with people who had no choice in the challenges that they have to face in life.

Each and every one of those people in that video have worked 50 times harder to get to the point you see them at in that video than Mark ever did to simply crash yet another bike, piss off yet another employer.

If you want to use video of people with no fucking brains at all then use something like this in future

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x22kqx_ross-kemp-on-gangs-new-zealand-1-of_politics

[White trash]

Now come on people, we shouldn't laugh at Mark ok, his kind have problems with everyday tasks like shopping


:laugh:

-Indy


Very fucken uncool Indy.

Grow a brain, MArk chooses to have problems with simple tasks for everyday folks and like the world to know how useless he is.

The people in the video you insulted by comparing them to the worlds dickheads get to make no such decision yet strive everyday to get along in a world that mostly doesn't care how they get on.

Rant over

Edit: What Mr Deuce said actually makes more sense.

[Indiana_Jones]

How dare you compare that self interested loser with people who had no choice in the challenges that they have to face in life.

Each and every one of those people in that video have worked 50 times harder to get to the point you see them at in that video than Mark ever did to simply crash yet another bike, piss off yet another employer.

If you want to use video of people with no fucking brains at all then use something like this in future

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x22kqx_ross-kemp-on-gangs-new-zealand-1-of_politics


Very fucken uncool Indy.

Grow a brain, MArk chooses to have problems with simple tasks for everyday folks and like the world to know how useless he is.

The people in the video you insulted by comparing them to the worlds dickheads get to make no such decision yet strive everyday to get along in a world that mostly doesn't care how they get on.

Rant over

Edit: What Mr Deuce said actually makes more sense.

I apologize.

You're both fucking right :niceone:

At least those cunts try in life.

-Indy

[James Deuce]

Awesome Indy, thank you.

[XxKiTtiExX]

Where's Hitcher when you need him? Not wanting to be pedantic (okay, so I LIE), but I'm assuming you mean the French word 'voila', which literally means 'look here!' rather than the Sanskrit word 'wallah', which means a person involved with or in charge of [a specified thing]?

And I know meat patties are thick, but it's usually Irishmen who are referred to as paddys - or they're what children throw.

Don't get me started on 'ham burgers' either...


Wow :love:

[SARGE]

this guy has a job .....


http://www.ccabh.com/image_display.php?ID=10


he's REALLY handicapped

[NOMIS]

Yes but spending money to save your soul still comes out of your budget. Please add what it cost for church otherwise you're fudging the figures.


a tithe is 10% work it out to your own sallary - god doesnt just bless in the way your thinking he blesses in finances to. reap what you sowe - you may call it karama.

figures enough? or are you wanting to know my salary as well - if so answer is "no"

[skidMark]

this guy has a job .....


he's REALLY handicapped


So thats what you look like.:wari: