Living alone for the first time, tips needed!

Get yourself a page-a-day diary and write everything down.
Until you put things in black & white, you do not release how much you are spending.
Look out for all the offers in the supermarkets, the grabbit while you can board is good at giving all the offers.
Before you go shopping make a list and stick to it and don't shop when you are hungry because you will always be tempted to buy something to fill the gap.

Don't buy things just because they are on offer. Only buy them if you would anyway, you will use them before they go off & you have the storage space for them.

My sister and I both live alone and when we shop together we make use of BOGOF offers. Do you have a friend or family member you can do that with?

I second batch cooking/freezing things. It saves you money, especially if you can buy things in season or when on offer.

I had a friend in need so I spent Friday night shopping, and saturday cooking. Spent £50 and managed to fill his freezer with enough food for over 2 months. He only had to add rice/pasta or potatoes and fresh veg if he wanted too.

Try to eat vegetarian a couple of days a week - pasta and sauce, baked potato and cheese/beans. It makes a real difference to your shopping costs.

Meal planning also helps you to stick to a shopping list.

FrugleRock wrote: »

Thank you, all great tips :-)

Anyone else?

x

When you get settled.
Invite us all to your house warming.
I'll bring a bottle you just bake the cakes.

Hi FrugleRock,

I think with the way prices are rising at the moment that it isn't going to be easy, but I'm sure that you will manage.

For lots of tips and ideas on cutting back your grocery bill have a look at Martin's article on Supermarket Shopping and we also have a board where grocery offers are posted regularly: Food Shopping & Groceries Also the Discount Codes 'n Vouchers board has vouchers and codes that should help with online shopping.

Meal planning is a good way of managing your grocery spending. It takes a bit of getting used to but once you do it's a great way to save money by making sure you don't buy unnecessary things. Perhaps try it for one week to see how you get on by making a list of what you have at home and trying to build your meals around that. To get some help with mealplanning have a look in The Complete Menu Plans Collection.

For cheaper meal ideas have a look here: Cheap recipe threads

It might be worth joining in with this thread. July 2011 Grocery Challenge You can set a reduced amount that you feel comfortable with and if you manage that then try to reduce it a little the following month. In that thread, everyone sets themselves a personal grocery budget and try to encourage and support each other throughout the month to stick to their own budget. What you include in your budget is entirely up to you. I'll add your thread to that one later.

This thread may also help: Single Money Saver living on my own

I'm sorry to have bombarded you with so many links but if you take the time to read through them it should help you to save some money. Good luck with moving into your first home.

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