Regular readers will know that I left my job last week! I am more determined than ever to keep a tight hold of the purse strings and that means creating a meal plan for a tight budget. It is really important to me to keep our expenses as low as possible whilst I get up and running with my plans for self employment.
I am also still on Slimming World and was delighted to lose 3lbs in my first week. However, I haven’t been as strict this week. Leaving work has meant a few celebrations. I have tried to make good, low fat food choices overall, so hopefully I will still lose some weight.
This week’s meal plan for a tight budget
Saturday
A friend gave me some left over African chicken curry, so Mr S will eat that with some rice. It does smell lovely. I am going to make chick pea curry for myself. I can easily make this Slimming World friendly by using Frylight instead of oil. I will need to hold off on my usual poppadoms though. Too many syns – and I am saving them for tomorrow…
Sunday
We are going out for dinner with my old team to a Gurkha restaurant. I am not even going to attempt to count the syns and will be having a glass of wine or two as well!
This isn’t particularly frugal, but you only leave work after a decade once in a while. Having said that, I always have the vegetable thali, which is only £11.50. Bargain!
Monday
Tuna fish cakes with chilli sauce and salad. This is a Slimming World recipe with canned tuna, potatoes and some herbs, so is extremely budget friendly.
Tuesday
Seafood paella because I found half a pack of prawns and a small amount of a mixed seafood pack in the freezer. I will do something a bit like this recipe.
Wednesday
Salmon with new potatoes, broccoli and carrots.
Thursday
I am going to try these syn-free Slimming World friendly pizzas from Cass at Diary of a Frugal Family. They look nice and really easy. I will do air fried chips, cooked with a spray of Frylight.
Friday
I am allowing myself the odd tipple, but going for gin and slimline instead of my usual glass of white wine. It is so much lower in calories. I also have low fat chocolate mousses in the fridge for when I need something sweet.
Slimming World encourages you to eat loads of fruit and vegetables, as well as wholemeal bread and pasta. It is a really healthy regime I think. No wonder it is so popular! I will let you know if I manage to lose any weight this week. It isn’t expensive either. I have bought pretty much everything I need from Aldi and Lidl, making it easy to do a meal plan for a tight budget.
What are you eating this week?
As ever, I am joining Katy Kicker in her weekly meal plan link up. Head over for more ideas about eating on a budget.
julie says
i just wanted to say how much i enjoy your blog, i have used a few of your recipes, veg curry and stir fry were particularly tasty, i am pleased to have found everything 5£ after reading about it here and have bought a few things which have all been good, i wish you every success in your new lines of work and look forward to reading about them here, king regards, julie king
Chrissie says
My friend joined slimming world a few weeks ago , I can’t commit to attending a group so last monday I joined online , being impatient I weighed this morning and whoopee, I have lost 7 pounds, I am so pleased. Being plant based I find this a perfect diet for me and really easy to do on a budget in fact because of having to buy a new fridge freezer and change our car I challenged myself to reduce our grocery bill and was pleased to get it down to around £35 a week. I love chick peas and use them a lot have you tried the chick pea tuna recipe,we have lentils quite a lot too, this week I am hoping to get the shopping down to £30 and am finding that getting the money in cash and not using my card really helps.Not started exercising yet but I did run past the pasty shop twice this week does that count !!!
shoestringjane@outlook.com says
Wow! 7lbs! That’s good going
Margie from Toronto says
I’m back on my low carb eating program (Dr.’s orders) so there will be even more fruit & veg in my future (although I generally manage my 7 to 10 a day – our govt. food guide recommends even more than the UK one does). I have to get some of this winter weight gain off so chicken, fish & more vegetarian meals are in order.
I’m going to have steamed broccoli with grape tomatoes, chickpeas, an oil & vinegar dressing and a bit of crumbled feta for dinner a couple of nights this week – need to use up the broccoli. Then I think a couple of salads with some frozen shrimp from the freezer for another couple. I am having lunch out with friends on Friday so supper will probably just be yogurt & fruit. Breakfasts will be cottage cheese & fruit each day and lunches will mostly be hard boiled eggs, a bit of cheese and lots of raw veggies – a few days I tend to just have two meals and a snack and find that works just fine.
shoestringjane@outlook.com says
Sounds super healthy
Kim says
Good luck with the self employment and bugheting.
The Tuna fish cakes sound so good. x
Charlotte says
For sure you have an amazing meal plan this week. You deserve to treat yourself it is not everyday you do leave your job. Good look with the self employment.