Healthy Eating at a Reasonable Price

Frugal Friday

When you have a family to feed, the food bill can be the one most expensive outlay each month. If you decide to add on top of that a complicated diet that requires numerous expensive items then your food bills can spiral.

We have been following Tosca Reno's Eat Clean diet as much as we can. I find this a healthy way of eating , not a diet as such, although my husband is losing weight by following the principles.

I haven't found it is any more expensive than any other healthy way of eating. Although we could eat  meat and fish daily on this diet, I don't, as feeding five of us would make that a very expensive choice. We find alternative sources of protein or actually use cheaper cuts of meat. See here for some of the principles I am following to keep my budget down at the moment.

This is one of my favourite meat based recipes that all the family love;

Beef and Walnut Stir Fry

1 tsp Olive Oil
1 tsp Coconut Butter ( or olive oil )
1Ib of lean beef cut into thin strips ( in recipe it says 1 inch chunks - I found it is nicer in strips with the kids)
(1 bunch of asparagus - optional )
1 green bell pepper
1 red bell pepper
1 cup green beans
1 clove garlic
1/2 cup of toasted walnuts
1 tsp sea salt
pepper
Juice of one orange
1 tbsp soy sauce

Heat Oil and coconut butter in a pan
Add beef and cook until done on both sides
Add veg and garlic and stir fry until just tender.
Add walnuts and heat through.
Decant mixture to another dish.
Add juice of orange to the pan and heat/stir. 
Add soy sauce and stir.
Cook on low heat until mixture is reduced by half.
Pour this mixture over the meat mixture and serve on brown rice.

This is not a picture of the one I made . Mine was not quite as pretty as this and it had been half eaten by the time I'd remembered to take a picture. 

Tosca Renos Beef and Walnut Stir Fry

Design ©2012 Another New Day

www.takingachanceinlife.blogspot.uk 2012 - 2013

All personal images are owned by Another New Day

unless stated otherwise.

Images may not be downloaded,manipulated or reproduced without prior written permission. All rights are reserved.

Commercial or Private use without explicit written consent is prohibited and action will be taken through UK and worldwide copyright laws.

Questions of Frugality

Frugal Friday

We probably would all confess to liking a good deal.

Spending money and shopping is not frowned upon in our house,quite the opposite, but doing so without getting the best deal is looked upon as a waste of hard earned cash. 

However, eventually the questions do begin to arise about where we draw the line between getting a good deal and keeping what we value intact.

 I think the majority of us over recent years have learnt to make the most of our money, whatever financial situation we find ourselves in.

I do find I have this constant struggle in me of the tensions that arise between getting a good deal and keeping my values intact. Life with kids is expensive and if I can cut costs I will, but there are lines I won't cross. However, sometimes I find I have compromised what I value all for saving a few pounds.

Consequently there are times when I choose to pay more.

Do you find that? 

These are the questions I find I wrestle with.

I know for us , and this will be different for everyone, I resent overspending on food items, children's clothing and branded homewear.

Groceries

Groceries have been in the news constantly lately with the arrival of 'the horse' in many products. I must confess to wondering if our constant need to have all our shopping in one place at a cheap price has driven a part of this . I almost always get our beef and now chicken from a local farm shop as I know it is a superior quality and is the same price or in the case of the mince cheaper. The chickens are free range and I can get two for £10.99 when they have an offer on. 

Sometimes we need to be clearer with ourselves about what we really want. 

What is the most important. 

Is is cost?

 Is it quality?

 Is it both? 

Do we have to have our groceries all in one place?

 Do we buy it cheap because it is cheap or would we drive further, pay more for better quality meat, from a British supplier? I know I went to my usual butcher to buy my usual bulk order of mince and he had sold out as so many people had been switching to buying from them since this "horse" scare. People are changing the way they shop. The only meat left was way out of my price range, but as I am a regular he knocked £10 ( yes I did say £10) off a £23 pack of mince for me. I also got pork and apple , beef steak and 2 free range chickens for £10. I have been known to be drawn into paying less for chicken that is not free range even though I place importance on happy chickens , sometimes this value slips.

 Children's clothing 

 How often do I pick up a cheap pair of jeans and then find two weeks later they have gone through at the knee? However when the same happens for the pair of £20 jeans I realise my money is better spent on one nice outfit for best and cheaper outfits for play. The dilema that then rattles around my head is - how do they make them so cheap? 

Are children making my children's clothes?

 I hate spending loads of money on kid's clothes, especially for my boys, as they get wrecked, but also want to check where they are made. If we pay more are we ensuring good working conditions? Not always. It is good to check your source if this is important to you. I constantly slip on this through busyness and tiredness and needing to find an item quickly.  

 Branded Home wear 

This is a no brainer for me. I resent paying for a product with a name when I can create a cheaper copy that is unique. However, quality items that are more expensive because of their workmanship I can understand. It is an item by item approach for me here. I will not buy a product simply because it has a "brand" name, but neither do I immediately discount it. I find it is sometimes more practical to spend that bit more of a solid item that simply lasts longer with kids around - branded or not!

Having said all this, one of the reasons I shop at Lidls is because I find if you keep an eye on what offers they have coming up you can pick up your favourite "branded" goods for so much less than you pay at other supermarkets. Yes, you have to be flexible, but I would bulk buy when I can to make a saving on a favourite product. This applies to toiletries too. Today there were Simple face products, Lynx shower gels and sprays ( which my 12 year old has developed a liking to), branded tampons, Nivea, Sure, Dove - all at heavily discounted prices. It is definitely worth a look on their website. 

It just takes a little planning. 

What are the questions you wrestle with when trying to keep to a budget?

What is your most important value when shopping- cost, quality, availability etc?

Design ©2012 Another New Day

www.takingachanceinlife.blogspot.uk 2012 - 2013

All personal images are owned by Another New Day

unless stated otherwise.

Images may not be downloaded,manipulated or reproduced without prior written permission. All rights are reserved.

Commercial or Private use without explicit written consent is prohibited and action will be taken through UK and worldwide copyright laws.

Eating My Words.

Humble pie can be tasty.....

Ok I admit it....if you keep at it at some point you will have success and I did. I stuck with it.... and I am finally, actually, really, quite completely, delighted with my purchases......from Primark.

I set off to town to start my Christmas shopping with a list in my hand and a budget in mind. First on the agenda was Primark - for

• P.Js for Christmas Eve - adults and kids
• Stocking Fillers
• Presents for my sister's girls who a.d.o.r.e Primark
• Leggings - for moi
• A coat, if available, for around £30
• A berry skirt or dress to brighten up the abundance of grey and black in my wardrobe.

How did I do?

I managed to get the 3 children a pair of pjs each for Christmas for a grand total of around £17. We have a little tradition that they open a present on Christmas eve in a new pair of snugly pjs to drink hot chocolate in before going to bed. I also managed find an adorable pair of p.js that were long enough for me! Cuffed ankles is the way to go lanky legged ladies!

Firstly to make it clear. I do not intend, ever , not even in the comfort of my own home to wear a babygrow, aka onesie, but what does appeal is the soft fleece that they are often made from. So my compromise was these cuffed owl fleece pj bottoms. So gorgeous I went back for a second pair and overnight they had sold out every size UK 8 to 10 in every colour bar one in the owl print again. My lucky day. I snapped that baby up! Not too hot, not too cold, sooooo soft and comfy . I couldn't wait to put them back on again at the end of the day! Cost ? £5 a pair!

I got some black, long leggings with heel holes as well.These are gloriously fitted, no baggy knees and almost too long - perfect. They were the bargain price of £4. I am not ashamed to admit that I went back to try and get some more in grey and blue, but not to be - sold out in my size again. I shall keep looking for these as it isn't often I find reasonable leggings I am happy with.
I did well with a berry colour skirt which, although short, is perfect with leggings and a lovely deep colour - nowhere near as bright as in the second, overexposed picture! I have since seen they have this as a dress which would be a much better option as the skirt has a rather bulky waistband. Happy all the same.

My boot crush this year has been the Ash Jalouse Boots, but I couldn't bring myself to splurge on boots again this year. So when I saw these bargainlicious tan, stud boots from Peacocks for only £25, I didn't hesitate! Totally head over heels! So comfy and not too big at the ankle. Always a complaint I have!

But that's not it. I also decided to act a little on impulse and buy the pleather sleeves Khaki coat that seems to be back in stock. Ive been looking for a jacket that was a bit warmer than my blazers and leather jackets and this certainly is. I am really delighted with it. The only 'cheap' bit of the coat is the belt which is flimsy and awkward, but I realised this before buying it and decided it was worth it anyway!

Boots - Primark
Leggings - Primark
Skirt - Primark
Coat - Primark

I am all Primarked out and just look at my smile - almost hysterical!
The bag was a gift from my husband in the summer from Troop in London and the snood is from Dorothy Perkins. 

In the top picture I am wearing a black lace T shirt from Zenana  Outfitters  at T K Maxx and a black cardigan from H and M. The necklace was a thrifted gift.

I also managed to get other bits and pieces and gifts which I can't share here for fear of giving the game away!! 

So I will eat humble pie and declare Primark a resounding success this time. I feel like    I have not been shopping for clothes apart from at the occasional charity shop for quite a while, so this small splurge was a welcome treat! 

I do tend to take the approach with clothing that it is preferable to have in your wardrobe a selection of different brands, but the best is to mix more expensive, investment pieces with interchangeable cheaper pieces (that you will probably have more of). I will save for an item that I really want from a certain designer or brand and look after it well so it lasts and lasts. I will often buy it in the sale or when I can get hold of a voucher or money off code too! There are ways to get the standard of wardrobe you want for the budget you have. It just takes time and patience!

To live a careful life with your money is a good and wise trait, but to be able to enjoy your hard earned pennies is also a great blessing to be enjoyed when you are able!

Linking up with " Not Dead Yet Style"