Help with lowering grocery budget.

MrsSippi · 22 November 2016 at 1:47PM

I currently have £2,500 to pay on my credit card. I am saving every penny I can and I am on target to clear it within the next 6 months however I think I could do better with my grocery budget (primarily with a view to clearing this debt quicker but also as a general thing afterwards). We are a family of 4: 2 adults, 1 6yo and 1 18m old. Our monthly budget is £260 though this always comes in under (normally around £230). My 18m old is still in nappies (I have started potty training but I think it will be a while before she masters it yet!) though we only use aldi nappies and pull ups so not a big expense. I cook all meals from scratch and I spend £20 pm on meat. We are not big meat eaters and I would happily eat less but am always stuck for ideas (we do eat cauli cheese, pasta, baked pots etc etc). I always stretch meat to a minimum of 3 meals but we always seem to be having the same meals month after month. This budget does include absolutely everything for the month inc weekly top ups of fruit and veg etc (I shop monthly as I've found this saves me time and money), toiletries, a few treats but this is only a couple of bars of chocolate for the month. We don't drink alcohol. Can anyone make any suggestions for improvements or more meat free meals, really cheap meals etc. As long as they are healthy I am open to anything!

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suki1964 · 22 November 2016 at 2:12PM

That budget doesn't sound majorly huge tbh

Things I'd suggest is downgrade and try lidls and aldi. I can't vouch for Aldi as we don't have them here, but lidl products are very good.

I also cook Chinese and Indian dishes a lot. Chicken thighs and belly pork go a long long way. I also turn mince into curry and I've even done the same with meat balls ( when they are 99 p for 12 in lidl, I stock up ). Best about these two styles of cooking is they are brilliant for meat free nights, so many lovely veggie dishes which don't make you think you are missing out

I shop weekly. This way I can take advantage of what the specials are on the meat/fish/ vegetables then plan around them

I also yellow sticker shop in the main supermarkets before I look at anything else

For meal ideas, the ' what's for dinner tonight ' thread is great

For recipes I use the BBC good food site plus the recipe index here in the shopping challenge thread

The one thing that really does help cut the food bill, it to have a zero waste policy. If you buy it, it's got to be eaten. You become pretty clever at turning nothing into something

[Deleted User] · 22 November 2016 at 3:51PM

I have just pm'd you a quick email

JackieO xx

BB15 · 22 November 2016 at 8:21PM

How about using eggs instead of meat. There are loads of recipes around and of course they are a very good source of protein.

determined_new_ms · 22 November 2016 at 9:03PM

Dried beans are great, tasty, cheap full of protein. We've just had almost veggie chilli. Kidney beds, chickpeas, baked beans (sauce washed off) onion & garlic, 3 slices of bacon (for flavour), 1/2 a leek knocking around in the fridge, a splash of red wine (1/2 an undrinkable glass that I froze in ice cube tray) and a beef stock cube. Worked out less than 50ppp.

Theres a good group on Feb called "feed your family for £1 pd" I've recently been following loads of good ideas, recipes, tricks, tips on there.

Btw sainsburys nappies are more economical than aldis

Spendless · 22 November 2016 at 10:33PM

Where are you shopping and what sort of meals are you eating for breakfast and lunch?

Porridge is a cheap breakfast (if you like it). Cooked meat is expensive compared to buying a chicken/joint and cooking and slicing it yourself to go in sandwiches.

MrsSippi · 23 November 2016 at 12:42AM

Thanks for all the replies everyone. To answer a couple of questions - we do our monthly shop at aldi and do weekly top ups at lidl (aldi further to travel but we find has more choice and I don't mind doing it once a month but lidl easier for fruit and veg etc and much better quality imo). The only exception to this is that I shop at either asda or pound shop for toiletries as lidl/aldi don't stock much. If there is a really good deal at lidl on meat etc then this will come out of my weekly budget so i am not spending extra so to speak. I will look more closely at the eggs idea, thanks for the suggestion and I'll definitely give the veg chilli a go - we only have a slow cooker (well 2 actually) and a hob as our oven has broken and we can't afford a new one. Other than missing being able to have the occasional pizza we are managing fine and it has saved on our electric bill. Breakfast tends to be either porridge or toast, lunch is packed for DH and scrambled egg or beans on toast for me and DD2. DD1 has free school meals as she is in Year 1 so that saves us money. I always buy joints of meat to pop in the slow cooker then divide up once cooked as much more economical than the smaller packs.

suki1964 · 23 November 2016 at 12:47AM

You can make pizza in a frying pan and finish under the grill. In fact you actually get a better base that way - really crispy. Search for the Gordon Ramsey recipe

prosaver · 23 November 2016 at 12:49AM

Mince is cheap ...see if you can to a farmers mart and buy veg in bulk.. they sell some at Sedgefield carboot sale just before you pay to get in.

Spendless · 23 November 2016 at 11:10PM

Do you live near a Home Bargains or B&M? Both these can be cheap for toiletries compared to the supermarkets, with a wider range than in Aldi/Lidl

SpekySquarehead · 24 November 2016 at 5:53PM

Porridge or own brand cereal for breakie. You could get by with own brand toast if you wish.

Allow me to use my lunches for this week as an example. On Sunday I bought 5 pieces of chicken, a packed of salad leaves and 5 pitta breads. Every night I would cook a breast of chicken in some spices I had lying around and stuff it in a pitta with some salad leaves. Must cost me about £1.50 per meal and it’s healthy!

I tend to stock up on any deals I see and stuff them in the freezer. I’ve a friend who does a monthly shop in a Costco and gets a HUGE amount of meat and fires it in the fridge. You can always cook meals in advance and freeze portions to save time and money.

Oh! And soup is always a great idea – particularly on this wintery nights. Can be very healthy, cost effective and filling.

Lastly, yellow sticker deals are an ideal way to keep costs down and shopping in Lidl/Aldi.

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Help with lowering grocery budget.

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