Everyday Value Curry

One of our favourite treats is Chinese but unfortunately we can't always afford the £20 or so it costs to get it for the whole family. This is a very cheap alternative. We manage to feed 3 adults and a toddler all for under a fiver. Tonight's dinner however was just 2 adults and one toddler and here is how it totalled:

500g chicken (frozen 1kg used half) £1.98
Everyday value curry sauce (2 jars)  £0.40
Tesco boil in the bag rice (99p a box of 4 used 2) 0.50p
Fridge leftovers peppers and mushrooms (I consider these a free optional extra as already had in fridge and you don't need it)

Total £2.88

Just defrost chicken night before then brown off in pan. Add any optional extras to it such as onions, peppers, mushrooms, peas, etc. Add sauce and simmer for about 20mins. Boil rice for about 20mins in hot water. Serve. It really is simple and it's delicious. The sauce itself contains raisins which I love in a curry. We only ever add what is in the fridge as it's delicious without any extras but I love a chunky curry and it's an easy way to get some veg into my toddler. So tonight's add ons were mushroom and peppers. Here is how it looked all cooked and ready to it. 

There we have it folks. A full meal for 3 for less than £3.

Disclaimer: I am not in any way shape or form affiliated with Tesco. I just love their products. I buy these products myself and am not paid for featuring them.

Clean Hair for just Pennies

I warn you this is not a detailed description of the no poo movement just a quick insight into how you can save money on your hair routine. If you need more information there is a link below, I strongly suggest you research no poo for yourself before jumping in also.

In the spirit of saving money it would be wrong of me to not mention the way we wash our hair here at EV Mansion. Ok, so its a 2 bedroom flat but you get the drift... If you want to know more about no poo or about my journey then click here

Shampoo:
Baking Soda 1TBS
Water 1CUP

Conditioner:
Distilled White Vinegar 1TBS
Water 1CUP

Use pretty much the same as you would use shampoo and conditioner but you MUST leave at least 4 days between washing. It gets easier, I am now on 10 days in between and loving it. You must be dedicated to going through a nasty transition period where your hair will hate you and be a greasy horrible mess but it really is worth it. If you want to know more detailed accounts of no poo please click the link above and if you are on Facebook there is a fantastic group called No Poo/ Low Poo.

But yes, thats the gist of the money saving shampoo and conditioner. You can pick up a pot of BS for just over a pound in supermarkets and Tesco sells DWV for 44p a jar.

Good luck guys :)

Homemade Deodorant for Pennies!

Since embarking on my no poo journey (see here) I have also been looking at other thrifty ways of saving money and going harsh chemical free. One of my favourite discoveries has got to be homemade deodorant. See here for a detailed account of how to make it and some other harsh chemical free tips.

This deodorant really works. It really does. Before going chemical free I used various antiperspirants up to twice a day. If I didn't my pits would have a full on stink party. Sorry. Now however I can go two to three days without even wearing any and get no smell at all. It really is amazing. Here is the recipe:

• 1/4 cup cornflour (cornstarch) or arrow root powder
• 1/4 cup baking soda (bicarb) 
• 5 TBS of coconut oil
• 4-6 drops of essential oils (I use rose)

Just mix all of these ingredients together and put into either an empty deodorant stick or into a plastic bpa free container to scoop out and smear on. I love it. It is so creamy and soft and makes my armpits feel nourished.

Please please please try this recipe and let me know what you think I would love to know.

Water (and Money!) Saving

Seeings as we live in the most expensive area in the UK for water rates we have picked up a tip or two on how to save water, and money in the process. Some of these ideas may be slightly out of your own means or comfort zone and that's fine. Using just one of these methods can cut your water bill significantly.
So here goes:

• Do not pull the flush on your toilet unless its a number 2. If its yellow let it mellow, if its brown flush it down.
• When running the tap to get hot water (thanks crappy boiler) you can keep that water and use it for cooking, drinking, or washing your hair with.
• Save rain water in barrels and use it to either wash your hair (ultimate soft water) or use it to flush the loo. Its not recommended to eat or drink this water.
• Go onto your local water provider website. Most offer water saving packs such as Hippo Bags, shower timers and tap pressure changers for free. 
• Start a no poo journey (see No Poo Wiki) and wash your hair once a week or less!
• Water your plants with used dish water. 

Have I missed anything that you would like me to add? Let me know in the comments :)

Family day's out for less

As parent's of a small, 2ft tall dictator who doesn't speak English very well (or any language other than what sounds like very broken dutch) we often find ourselves on days out. Being that Mr Grump only gets 1 day off on one week and then 3 days off the next, we like to make the most of his time off. So here are our very fun and very cheap ideas to get out of the house. Bare in mind we are very fortunate to live right on the sea front and a half an hour drive from Dartmoor...

• Plymouth National Marine Aquarium is one of our favourites. Get a Day Plus pass, this means you pay for one days entry and you get an entire year free of charge. We often go there to just sit and have a picnic in front of the big tank or the sharks on a rainy day. 
• Jump. Our toddlers paradise. We have loyalty cards up to our elbows and that means when you pay an entry you get one stamp. 4 stamps equal a free adult drink, 5 stamps equal a free meal and 6 stamps equal a free admission and you can redeem all of these at once. Entry for a 1 year old is £3.75 and adults go free.
• Swimming. We are fortunate enough to live by a tidal pool which is completely free. In the hot summer it is a refreshing change from the chlorine environment most are used to. We also live near another open air pool which is free. If it's cold we go to our local swimming pool. Because Mr Grump has Military discount, its £4 for a family of 3 to swim! 
• Dog Walks. We frequent local dog walking areas as our toddler loves to feed the dogs treats (with owners permission) and for him, that's like paradise.
• Plymouth Museum is free and on a Saturday morning they have cinema showings for free. Check your local What's on guide for local attractions and events.
• Duck Pond. We have a local duck pond where we take Mini Saver. He loves feeding the ducks and its also surrounded by a gorgeous green area where he can run safely.
• Local Children's Groups. Our Church holds a parent and child messy play on a Wednesday morning for just a pound. Check your local area.
• Play parks. We have known to have traveled miles to attend new and exciting play parks but luckily on our doorstep we have one at the bottom of the road.
• Boat Trips. We are extremely lucky to live on a water taxi route and also a ferry route, if we are at a loss of what to do its always a huge treat for Mini Saver, he loves it!
• Feeding the Horses. Because we aren't far from the moors we are able to get a bag of cheap carrots from Tesco (89p 1.5kg) and off we go to feed the horses.
• there are so many other ways you can cheaply occupy yours and your family's outdoor time. Check the whats on guides for your areas.

Any ideas to add? Let me know!

Cheap and Great Nappies

Our favourite brand of nappies might not be glamorous or endorsed by celebrities but we have found they are the best. Yes we have used Pampers, we have used Huggies and we have also used other cheap brands but for us, out on top, is Mamia Aldi's own brand.
Our toddler has used them on his bottom now pretty much since he was born after a brief stint trialing others. He no longer has nappy rash and they only leak if he drink 2ltrs of juice in the day...which happens often I'm afraid. This is not the nappies fault though, its the toddlers.

Totalling in at £4.49 for 40 size 5 they hugely out pocket the Pampers brand which charge £9.99 for 39...

Not being crude but for something your toddler vents his bowel and bladder into that is an awful lot of money. Mamia is soft, it boasts a cute design with different zoo animals on and its comfy for our toddlers bottom. They have also won the Mother and Baby gold star award, best baby and toddler award, Prima baby award and the Loved by Parents award.

Here is what he has to say on the matter:

feferogjtrkljreg
rfkgrelkjdvv               jkrlgjerlgjrkljioe vfi


So that seals it. Mamia FTW. Have you tried Mamia? Love it? Hate it? Let us know!

Pocket Warming Slow Cooker Casserole

This is ideal for the Autumn coming up, I have already made it twice this month ;)

One of our favourite money saving meals which is filling and delicious is a chicken casserole made with you guessed it, everyday value and a bit of love. Here is how you do it:

• 1KG frozen chicken £3.99 (use half)
• 1KG frozen casserole veg £1
• Colmans casserole mix 75p
• Tesco dumpling mix 50p

Total= £4.33

Defrost the chicken overnight. In the morning put into slow cooker diced. Add frozen veg. Mix the casserole mix with water stated on pack and pour into slow cooker. Cook for 8hrs on low or 5 hours on high. In the last hour make up the dumpling mix and put dumplings into slow cooker on the top of the casserole and leave lid off. Cook on high for an hour. Serve.

A cheap and easy dinner for 3. Happy slow cooking :)

Disclaimer: I am not in any way shape or form affiliated with Tesco. I just love their products. I buy these products myself and am not paid for featuring them. 

2 Meals in one!

A fantastic way of saving money on your weekly shop is to utilize the meat to make two meals. When I make a Sunday roast I find it cheaper to use a large chicken or even a 1KG frozen bag of chicken. What we do is make the roast on the Sunday and then use the leftover meat to make a curry the following day. Two meals out of one piece of meat. Here goes:

• Leftover chicken
• 2 tins of EV Curry Sauce
• Boil in the bag rice 

This will cost you just pennies. Around £1 actually as the boil in the bag rice in Tesco is 99p for 4 bags of rice. We usually do 2 bags of rice for 3 of us. The curry sauce is 20p a jar. That's 88p without the meat and considering its leftover from yesterday, its free ;)

If you want to jazz it up a bit you can add a couple Naan bread (49p for 2) or some more expensive accompaniments.

And that's it guys, 2 meals for the price of one (practically).

Happy shopping :)


Disclaimer: I am not in any way shape or form affiliated with Tesco. I just love their products. I buy these products myself and am not paid for featuring them.

A clean house for just PENNIES!

This is a product I talk about alot guys and I'm sorry if anyone who has come over from my other blog My Take are fed up of hearing about them but here goes...Soapnuts.

For a more detailed use and a review of Soapnuts click here

These little gems are a fruit from India that grows on trees. Because they aren't at all palatable and can give you a tummy ache if ingested they used them for cleaning. FYI they contain Saponin, a natural soap. You can use them in their raw form as nuts in the washing machine, you can crush them and blend into a fine powder and use as an abrasive or you can make it into a liquid and use for EVERYTHING CLEANABLE. Here are some uses:

• Laundry detergent (liquid, ground shells, shells whole)
• Shampoo (liquid)
• Body wash (whisk liquid into a foam)
• Household cleaner (liquid)
• Window cleaner (liquid)
• Car cleaner (liquid)
• Dish soap (liquid)
• Shaving foam (whisk liquid to a foam)
• and there are so many more...!

Personally I didn't like using them as a Shampoo as I prefer Baking Soda and Distilled White Vinegar. More on that later. I do however use them exclusively right now for laundry. I love them. You need to either use 6 shells in a muslin bag and just throw into drum, or you can use a few cubes of the liquid. I will explain that in a second. If you are using the shells you can use them for about 6 loads, or until they are looking pale in colour. Once used up they are fully compostable too.

So how to make the liquid:

• 6 nuts
• 2 cups water
• Boil in a saucepan for around 40 minutes or until tea coloured. Mind the foam though guys as you get alot and it will boil over if you don't watch it.

and that's it! You can use the same nuts until they pale, I get around 10 cups of liquid per 6 nuts. Bare in mind though that the liquid doesn't have a long shelf life (around a week in the fridge) what I do is freeze it in little ice cubes ready to be used in the wash. Use 2 cubes per load of washing....You also don't need softener as it makes the clothes very soft. If you find they aren't doing too good at lifting stains then just add a TBS of white vinegar in the detergent tray.

The best news? You can get 1KG for about £9 online and they will last a very very long time. Thousands of washes if using just for laundry. Seriously. Give it a go. 

Meal for 3 for under £3

It's quick, it's easy and it's yummy. I am very blessed to not have a fussy family. For my mini saver, this is his favourite meal. Mr Grump loves it too. So here goes...

Lazy Everyday Spaghetti and Meatballs

• 12 EV beef meatballs (get a pack of 24 for £4 and freeze half) £2
• EV Spaghetti around 19p
• 2 jars EV spaghetti sauce around 40p each 

Total= £2.99

Cook the meatballs in the oven in a dish gas mark 5 20mins. Take them out and put them in the sauce then heat up sauce. Spaghetti boil for about 20mins. Done. Add cheese if you wish or even chunky veg. I'm partial to adding a bit of carrot, don't tell Mr Grump.

Happy cheap seats :) Have you tried these products and liked them? Hate them? Let me know!

Disclaimer: I am not in any way shape or form affiliated with Tesco. I just love their products. I buy these products myself and am not paid for featuring them.

The Weekly Shop

Time and time again I hear families say that their weekly shop hits the £70 mark every single week. Ours, for a family of three is always under £50 including treats and not just bare essentials. Our bare essential shop is usually around £37 a month... How? It's really simple.

We choose each week to do our shop with Tesco, other supermarkets are available ;) but the reason is pretty simple... We do it online. When  shopping online there is a lower chance of impulse buying. Here is how the Weekly shop method works for us:

• Every month I do a meal planner. I very rarely deviate from it and that means I can shop in bulk and in advance for freezing. 
• Go online and type in Tesco Voucher Codes, loads will come up. See if you can use any. 
• Minced beef at Tesco (Edv) is around £3 for 700g. OK so it's not lean steak but come on, drain the fat out before continuing and it's gone... 
• Chicken, get frozen. £1kg of frozen chicken is £3.99 and will do 2 meals. 
• Unless it's on offer, I use frozen veg. Or we go to Tesco 24hr at 3am and get free cabbage and carrots ... That's right guys. Free. 
• I sit down on shopping day, I get my meal planner and I make a list of what I need for the week. If something is on offer for 2 for 1 I will check how many I need for the month and freeze it. 
• Everything we can possibly buy EV is EV. 
• EV washing powder. OK so it's not non bio but it is around £3.50 for 40 washes... But I will talk in another post of an EVEN CHEAPER way of doing your laundry so tune in guys... Soapnuts. 
• Tesco do £1 delivery slots. Choose that option. No matter what time of the day or night, it's a £1 so just get up at 6am if you need to.

Also, if you have the time and patience there is another cheaper way of doing your weekly shop. The my supermarket app. You can write a shopping list and they will tell you where each item is cheapest. Or where the entire list will be cheapest if you like. It's not that inconvenient to write three lists out and go to three different supermarkets if you are going to get your entire weekly shop for £30 is it?

Disclaimer: I am not in any way shape or form affiliated with Tesco. I just love their products. I buy these products myself and am not paid for featuring them. 

Any questions? Comments.  ;) 

Introduction

This is my new blog detailing how a low income family like us manage to utilise what we have every month. Alot of what we use are Tesco Everyday Value products which I will be shamelessly plugging throughout the life of this blog as I find the products fantastic. I do not work or affiliate myself with Tesco other than my weekly shop, just to clarify.

Among other things, we also save money by hardly throwing anything away and everything has a place. Jars we use to store homemade concoctions, cardboard is used for arts and crafts with our toddler and leftovers usually get packed off with Mr Grump for his work lunch for instance.

We will be talking about our crunchy ideas to save money including soapnuts and an extremely cheap alternative to shampoo and conditioner.

I will be talking about how to mend clothes instead of throwing them away and discussing how into knit socks and baby shoes for instance. It's a no holds barred anything goes blog on saving money with hopefully a little humour and some harsh truths along the way.

I hope you join me on this journey and feel free to leave comments or questions below.

Happy saving folks!