In dire need of help... or a kick up the bum

pigpen wrote: »

I'd look at reducing it a little bit at a time so it is not everything changing at once.. the first place I'd start is brands... start at the cheapest item.. if you don't like it up to the next cheapest and so on until you find a version you do like.

See I dont buy ALL branded stuff - but the brands we HAVE to have are Heinz beans and Cola - I use moneysupermarket too to compare

Where is your waste? What do you throw in the bin?.. Recently it was Bread, Potatoes, Mushroms and various bits of Veg that had all gone furry! weather isnt helping!

The lettuce was "saved" - Well, the rabbits had it! don't buy it! or buy it as you need it.. it is salad for me.. I don't eat it so a lot goes to waste as I do dinner.. I buy on the day I want to use it or it gets binned.

cut down on treats We dont have a lot of "treats" - The girls get "barny bears" (£1) and I have popcorn (£1) but we dont really eat crisps etc or buy cheaper versions and have smaller portions.. you don't NEED to eat a whole tub of ice cream in one sitting That said ^^ I did buy some ice cream and cones (Girls were forever asking for one from ice cream van!) but its lastine a while (Ice cream is tesco value, cones are askeys but were on offer)... she tells herself !! Many cheaper versions are just as nice or even better!

Forage.. blackberry picking, mushroom gathering etc is a good place to start. We do go blackberry picking, I darent do mushrooms, I'd kill us!


Making your own desserts are often cheaper and much tastier. Again, rarely have dessert, if we do its on a sunday and we usually make cupcakes using ingredients already in the store cupboard


scavenge the reduced sections.. if you don't buy it then it is binned.. don't be shy! We do this already but i think they have changed the timings of when they reduce because havent got anything good recently!

reducing the amount of expensive stuff you buy, meat, organic etc.. it depends how far you are willing to go!

Linda32 wrote: »

Its buying more where you are going wrong I'll explain, this being a money saving site. First off don't spend a penny. Instead when you make your shopping list, first off, list the days of the week that you need dinners for.

Be realistic, if everyone goes to 3 different places on a Wednesday and has to be there for 6.30pm don't think you are going to cook a dinner. This is where that meal could go to waste. Plan a bacon and cheese sandwich for instance.

Then look what you already have in the cupboards and see what meals you can make with what you have and what fits in with existing plans. << Do this bit already

Then, lets say you have narrowed it down to needing 3 dinners. So then go to the supermarket and see what is on offer. Write on your shopping list "3 dinners" rather than X Y Z ingredients which as you say goes to waste. See but surely that contridicts the food shopping list and meal planning?

If you don't mind me asking as other people will too, how old are your children, Only little - 7 and 3 sorry I know you said about free school meals Law changed, all years up to year 2 get free school dinners from Sept but me not having children, well that means nothing to me The only reason I ask is a 3 year old eats less than a 14 year old with hollow legs. I know that much!

If lunch boxes are involved forget 'snack pack' things. No lunchboxes, just my 3 meals at work My OH takes dried fruit and nuts for his afternoon snack. I buy a bag of plain nuts and a bag of mixed fruit. Mix them up and put an handfull in a food bag each day.

As for cutting down, as Pigpen said try the downshift challenge, if you buy brands try the one below. As for cutting down lets say this week you spent £70 try to eek it out this week to £65 and see how you get on. If you go to £68 then try to come in at £67 the next week.

Hope that helps.

pigpen wrote: »

take cash when shopping.. leave the cards at home.. and voucher hunt.. it adds a whole new perspective!


shopping online helps me.. none of those impulse buys..


and sites like approved foods.. love that site

hoglet121 wrote: »

See I dont buy ALL branded stuff - but the brands we HAVE to have are Heinz beans and Cola - I use moneysupermarket too to compare

That's a big part of the problem - cola isn't a have to have at all, elt alone branded, regardless of whether you're comparing prices. Value beans, or shop's own brand beans are absolutely fine - if you want to cut your shopping bill, this is the reality of it.

Freeze fruit or veg on the turn, I put bread in the fridge if I think it'll turn mouldy and use it for toast from there.

I make homemade soups for lunch - costs very little and feeds us well, or we take leftovers.