I was on such a roll with the budget- got the meat (minus steak, some chicken and mince in the freezer) for $60...thinking how awesome I was until we got to 3.05pm this arvo and had 6 kids wanting Friday Night Treats (yes, even the 18 year old- and NO- he didnt want booze, that was on MY list..) $25!! TWENTY FIVE DOLLARS on lollies! FOR ONE NIGHT!  Everyone gets their choice of a sweet- they all chose something on special..BUT I never realised!!! Hmmm This will make the rest of the week interesting...I do have apricots in the freezer.....

I did my dry goods (including bag of flour), dairy and some fruit/veg shop tonight- $110 including a big bag of cat food, so will say $100...will be interesting to see if I can get meat for under $100- I think its a go.  Is it okay to use up stuff in freezer first?  Halex- Do you have to include that cost in budget? (fingers crossed you say no to included in budget!!!)
Is everyone going to post menus?  Would love to see the food choices!
Ready to start tomorrow!! It will be a REAL challenge to stick to a menu because I get kinda random at times...but- it would be good to have things planned and hopefully cook ahead!
I'm so excited I'm going to post my menu- havent picked days for things, because I know what I am like- but will only have correct food for what is planned!!!
Breakfast- we have chooks so EGGS!!! Cereal, CADA, toast. School lunches are; focaccia, mini quiches, pizza, sangas...snacks; cakes, muffins etc desserts- choc custard, sorbet.  Adults lunch- soup/bread (or same as kids)
Tuna Mornay with vegies on rice
Cheesy Pasta Bake with lots of vegies and sausages
Steak, salad and potato bake
Chilli con Carne with cornchips/sour cream etc
No fried rice with steamed garlic chicken
BBQ chicken pizzas and ham/cheese pizza with garlic bread
Pasta cabornara with bacon and mushroom, spinach & parsley

Well, after a round of night shift, a few days off and some R'n'R- DH (the Dear-sort this week) has had a review of what he does actually like and it DOES include TM food, just not rice and curry!  Of course the children- the little darlings, heard him say it was slop and take GREAT delight in asking what slop is for tea!  That was beaten out of them rapidly (kidding!!); bribery of chocolate custard seemed to fix everything!!
Cocoa adds a delightful element to chili- it gives it a really yummy flavour! Just dont use too much or you will have chocolate meat!! Chocolate and chilli are being used more often, I actually heard a chef on the radio talking about it- you get the smoothness of the chocolate/cocoa and the warmth of the chilli...mmmMMMM
I've put a huge amount of recearch into what meals will be acceptable for the dear man, so hopefully he will be much happier with the choices!!  I will feed the children and myself the meals he doesn't like and be the perfect '50's domestic goddess and feed my man his meat and 3 veg (TM style!)

LOVE this idea!!  There's 8 in my family- me and DH, 18,17,16, 15, 12 and 10 year olds..this will be a stretch!! - I'm going to give $220 a go- we live in a rural area and everything costs a fortune, but I really want to SAVE!! Cleaning/washing/pets and (thank the stars!) booze isn't included, right? I'm excited!  Now...off to menu plan...

 
Thanks everyone- LOVE the links, judydawn- and steamed steak-  :-*AWESOME!!  I use the varoma for vegies quite often, but I hate cooking the 'other' way and rarely use my stovetop, thus the lack of suitable 'man' fried/cooked food!!  I just love the flavours of food now- the fresh herbs and spices, the blends and textures...I guess I need to occassionally remember the simple fellow and his mild and moderate tastes!
I did spend a moment asking him, from the safety of a telephone-his safety that is- what he did enjoy- so, I can add to my DH (whichever version of the abbreviation you would like to use) list- He did say my spag bog. was ok (he still doesnt know how many vegies I can pack into it!) and my '2 Alarm Chili' is excellent...so he is slightly forgiven!  Thanks for your help!!
I will post my Chili recipe...first time I've ever shared it, so hope others may like it!! 
Ingredients:
•   600g mince
•   1 heaped tablespoon tomato paste
•   2 cups water
•   4 teaspoons paprika (sweet, not hot!!)
•   4 teaspoons cumin
•   1 chopped onion
•   2 cloves garlic
•   1-2 teaspoon ground cayenne (add more if you like it super spicy at stage 4- taste and see first!)
•   2 heaped teaspoons of cocoa powder
•   2 heaped teaspoons oregano
•   2 teaspoons salt
•   2 teaspoons cornflour (in 1/4 cup cold water, make a paste and add near end of cooking time)
•   2 tins of drained/ rinsed kidney beans
Directions:
1. Add onion and garlic, 1 tin of beans to  *:TM bowl and chop  speed 5, 5 seconds.    . 
2. Add mince and ½ cup water and cook for 5 minutes,  ^^soft spoon, 100 degrees.
3. Add all ingredients, except cornflour. On reverse,  ^^soft speed cook on 90 for 30 minutes.
4. Taste and add anything you think it may need- eg extra cayenne. Add cornflour mixture to chili.
5. Cook for 15-20 minutes, minimum- at 90 degrees, reverse, soft spoon- the longer its slowly simmers the more flavour you get.
Serve with melted cheese on top, corn chips and sour cream.

Hope everyone is having a lovely and peaceful Easter!  Hi- I'm from the EP- had Thermie since June last year- became a consultant in Feb this year- nearly done my 60 days....LOVING my Thermomix!   Dont know if I could ever be without it!!  THANKS to everyone for their awesome receipes on here- they are inspirational!!
J