Forum Thermomix
Welcoming Center, Management and General Chat => Chit Chat => Topic started by: melam76 on September 20, 2014, 05:32:10 am
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Hi thermomix owners, i am fairly new here and stumbled across the site when i was considering buying a thermi and i'm glad i did so i didnt get caught up in the kaffufle of old vs new anyway i have ordered my tm5 and patiently awaiting its delivery ... now this may have already been discussed but I am just wondering if there are any cost comparisons on store bought food vs thermomix made food? Like 500g store bought mayo $5.00 but in thermo $4.50 etc (those prices I just made up in my head btw lol) would love to hear what your thoughts are ?
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Hi and welcome melam :)
I've got to be honest and say that I don't really compare prices on store vs thermy food anymore. I just know that if I make it from scratch - like mayo - then it is going to be a lot better for me regardless of the cost. (plus my kids tell me off if I do buy mayo and they refuse to eat it!!)
There are a couple of exceptions for me...butter. I just can't be bothered and I do use a fair bit when I am baking. That is one I find easier to buy.
Strawberry jam - we don't eat a lot of it and no-one likes the home made version, so I buy it.
I have seen a cost comparison somewhere, so there'll be one out there that someone has done.
Enjoy your new Thermomix when it comes and have a good look around in here, loads of recipes :)
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I would say that on the whole, any home made food is going to be cheaper than store bought. The important thing for me is that you know what goes into what you cook. A good example of store bought v TMX made food would be soup. I have just made Cauliflower and leek soup. $1 cauliflower( 1/3 of a cauli) 1 leek, $2 and chicken stock made with bones of roast chicken cooked in TMX. 1 onion and 2 cloves garlic, 50 cents. . so $2.50 for 4 generous serves.
Naan is another good example and so is bread.
Hope this helps.
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Welcome to the forum, if you want to get serious with your food preparation, you will not be buying anything much that is commercially made, you will save heaps, mayo in the TMX would cost under a $1 , biggest outlay there 1 egg and a cup of oil. You can make almost anything if you like playing with food. Visitors called saying was I home they were About 6 mins away and dropping in, I turn on the oven and had scones ready to go go in as they pulled up, easy ,peasy, washed the TMX after they left hardly any mess, ( make sure you get into the habit of putting some water in the bowl for a little soak a quick wizz and the clean up is easy, ) We all love our machines as you can probably tell ;D
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Cost isn't a consideration for me so I guess I don't really have a lot to say on the subject other than if you decide to make everything, your mayo, sauces, jams etc you will get more savings out of bulk pantry buying and growing your own. For us we cook to seasons. You get conscious of what's in season. Ie if tomatoes are fruitful well then that's the time to make passata, tomato paste, sauce etc. The benefit in health, provided you are using the machine for good not bad ;) far outweighs the economic side of it.
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I haven't broken down individual meals/recipes for cost, but I do know that when I got my tmx my average grocery bill went from $200 per week to under $150 (except the first week when I went a bit crazy buying whole spices etc). On top of that, DH now takes homemade lunch to work every day, which he would previously have only done occasionally, so that saves us another $50+ a week.
Plus like others have mentioned I like knowing exactly what has gone into everything we eat.
I have found my grocery bills a bit higher just recently but I think that is more a reflection of our kids eating more, plus changing food prices - sounds like I am not alone in noticing an increase, so I think I am still better off.
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I haven't done a cost comparison but I agree with the above that it's knowing what is in your food that is important for me. I don't notice the cost of bought stuff until I go out and I think I could've made eg. a whole batch of muffins for the price of one (and mine would be much nicer). Same as going out for a meal we can feed the whole table at home with the cost of just 1-2 people. I never buy frozen boxed food and I just make things from scratch (except tomato sauce cos I can't be bothered, plus a couple of other things that I can't think of)
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I never buy anything I can make in my thermies...
everything is made from scratch, but cheaper in the thermies..
bread, sauces, jams, soups so cheap..
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Welcome Melam 76.
Yes I make from scratch too and lots of things are much cheaper but beware....you may start buying products you didn't know existed. A lot of these aren't cheap, quinoa flakes for example and hemps seeds - yum.
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Welcome Melam 76.
Yes I make from scratch too and lots of things are much cheaper but beware....you may start buying products you didn't know existed. A lot of these aren't cheap, quinoa flakes for example and hemps seeds - yum.
Ain't that the truth. Amen
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I'm still awaiting the arrival of my 1st TM but did have a much cheaper imitation thermo cooker but when I am organised I make most of our food from scratch along with cleaning & skincare products as easy save $50 plus a week. For us its not so much saving money but being self sufficient in providing what we need food wise & knowing what is in the food. You only need to read any blog or info on cutting your food bill & cooking from scratch is high on the list
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Welcome Melam 76.
Yes I make from scratch too and lots of things are much cheaper but beware....you may start buying products you didn't know existed. A lot of these aren't cheap, quinoa flakes for example and hemps seeds - yum.
Ain't that the truth. Amen
Here too. I now have several types of flour, several of rice, several of sugar and quinoa, freekah, seeds for bread etc. but I know what goes into all my food and I have the fun and satisfaction of preparing it.
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I smiled at your post because I was thinking about this just this past week. Yes, food costs have certainly gone down, but certain costs have also gone up; that is, buying better quaity basic foodstuffs and (previously thought of as 'exotic') ingredients that I would never have purchased before, has gone up. Having said that, food quality has gone up, appreciation of food has gone up and, overall, costs have dropped right down.
I really realised how much my taste had changed recently when a grateful client came in with her favourite biscuits purchased from her local bakery - the ingredient list was full of chemical numbers and they smelled so bad I gagged and had to put them straight into the bin (DH tasted one and spat it out!).
So, you will find some costs may go up, lots of costs will go down but your overall nutritional well being will far outweigh all other considerations.
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Cuilidh - isn't it amazing that you can now smell/taste all those nasties!?
If we are ever given a bought cake/bikkie/something, the girls can sniff out additives a mile off. They are funny though, they will eat one piece in front of the person, rave and say "oh yummy" and then say "no more thank you I'm in training and have to watch what I eat" (the occasional white lie doesn't hurt does it ??) Then later they'll both be saying to me "oh gross Mum, all I could smell was chemicals!"
So yes - our tastes have certainly changed!!
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There is also the speed at which things are mixed/ cut/ and cooked. This has saved us a lot on gas and electricity. It is also good to be able to control the temp that food is cooked at.
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Hi and welcome. 8)
I too make alot at home, and definitely have been able to spend less, rather the money in my pocket than the supermarkets!!
trtlmt blog has cost comparisons on some of her recipes, I found them really interesting!!
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There's also a small list near the bottom of this page (http://www.trtlmt.com.au/category/hints/) with some savings too.
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I agree with all comments about saving on shopping and the added health benefits.
One of the biggest savings is making your own yoghurt. I make 4 Litres per week.
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I think with a thermie (here anyway) there is alot less waste of produce - if fruit gets a bit past it, it gets pureed up (along with the fruit that comes home in school lunchboxes untouched :-)) ) and mixed into the girls porridge - or put into a squeezy pouch and they drink it like that. Veg get frozen then added to the next batch of vege stock concentrate... :D :)
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I don't know about food costs now either. Now that I have a thermomix my pantry and freezer are full of different things. I buy a lot of things in bulk (flour, nuts, dried fruits, seeds, rice) and everything gets used.
It is interesting how much your tastes change. Was a bit relieved to read Cuilid's and Nikkit's comments :D Was feeling a bit like Goldilocks as I think most packaged and even cafe/restaurant foods are too salty, too sweet or have that awful "processed' taste.