where do you shop??

floss2

We shop at Tesco, purely because it's convenient (right next to my offices!).

However, when on a tight budget, I used to shop at Asda / Morrisons / market / local bakers / Aldi / Lidl / Tesco, buying only what was on my list cheapest in each place. It took time but it made a difference when stretching the housekeeping.

Paparika wrote: »

Can you not get housing benefit?

£35 a week rent may be on top of HB - if it is a private rental (LA rents are usually fully covered by HB if on full benefits)...the Council will usually only pay what the pre-tenancy determination sets & the tenant has to top-up any extra that is due...for example, in 2000-01, I was in private rented 3-bed semi, rent was £400 pcm, £92.30 pw. HB calculated that they would pay £74 of that so I had to top up the difference.

bravobeastie

I would also save on the baby wipes and use flannels. With 3 little ones that age i'm guessing you use the washing machine a lot (like me and neither of mine are babies anymore lol) a flannel is easily popped into the washine machine and will save a load over time on wipes (which the cheapest i found was 99p a pack and even then weren't that great.

As the OP has said, invest in a blender (quite cheap now or ask on freecycle) and get your little ones used to eating the same food as you (although don't add salt to the food, add it to your own when its on your plate)

Nappies, buy Tesco own at just over a pound for during the day and if your little ones wee a lot at night keep one decent pack like Pampers (or whatever you use) for the night.

As for shopping, i'm terrible, i don't do a weekly shop, i buy as and when (slaps own hand) lol

bravobeastie

Oh and with regard to the bread, if you go to your supermarket, go about half an hour before its due to close when all the breads are reduced, buy enough for the week and if you have space in your freezer then freeze them and take one out the night before you will need to use it.

Kaz2904

It sounds like you need to come over to the old style board and join in with us on the grocery challenge. You may find ideas of how to cut your costs, often people are posting about what bargains the supermarkets have got in. Hope to see you over there!

rach29

I'm with Chameleon, go to Aldi,

I used to be a bit of a snob & thought Aldi was cheap & down market. Now I'm converted & I do my shopping there every week at almost half what I was paying at Tesco.

ancasta_2

I used to think Aldi was nice and cheap but since they ramped up on their tv adverts ive found for what we buy, their prices are just as expensive as the same stuff in sainsburys. Dont get me wrong i know there is still alot of bargains to be had, it just doest seem as much anymore.

Im liking lidl for this at the minute, everythings a bargain - especially their humungous jars of olives for £1.49. I usually get a little pot of them from botos for £1 for with a meal deal (free on points) but i got a small 24p tupper ware pot from asda and decant the olives in to the pot, i could probably fill up about 10-15 pots from the one jar (if i didnt keep eating them all!)

pepsicola_2

i think you need to post on the benefits board to see what benefits you could claim as it seems you are living on very little with all the problems of your partner being paralised are you claiming carers allowance for looking for after him?

with your own health problems, double mastectomy with cancer and depression you should be able to get help for yourself and most of all need to stop eating crap and eating more healthily for both of you especially your partner being stuck in a wheelchair.

Rachie_B

we shop @ tesco 99% of the time

using points coupons and MOCS where possible
go around 7pm and get good reductions!

i also go to aldi and lidl for F&V and some other items

co op ( usually mega expensive!!) has good reductions in the evening so i sometimes pop in after work

good luck

make a meal plan and shopping list

x

kynky_kyta_23

pepsicola wrote: »

i think you need to post on the benefits board to see what benefits you could claim as it seems you are living on very little with all the problems of your partner being paralised are you claiming carers allowance for looking for after him?

with your own health problems, double mastectomy with cancer and depression you should be able to get help for yourself and most of all need to stop eating crap and eating more healthily for both of you especially your partner being stuck in a wheelchair.

hiya

i do not claim carerrs i did not think i coul, as we are a couple and i look after him as i love him, i will look in too that, my cancer and mastecteomy is not a issue i was 20 when that happened and now its in remision (thank god) and i plan for it too stay that way.
my deppressin is controlled, as it was mostly due to the situation a the time, its just hard trying too get buy on next to nothing

kynky_kyta_23

floss2 wrote: »

We shop at Tesco, purely because it's convenient (right next to my offices!).

However, when on a tight budget, I used to shop at Asda / Morrisons / market / local bakers / Aldi / Lidl / Tesco, buying only what was on my list cheapest in each place. It took time but it made a difference when stretching the housekeeping.




£35 a week rent may be on top of HB - if it is a private rental (LA rents are usually fully covered by HB if on full benefits)...the Council will usually only pay what the pre-tenancy determination sets & the tenant has to top-up any extra that is due...for example, in 2000-01, I was in private rented 3-bed semi, rent was £400 pcm, £92.30 pw. HB calculated that they would pay £74 of that so I had to top up the difference.

yep thats right, i could not get anywhere through the council, as i was working a while back, so we went private rent, hoping to get a morgage soon, then after his accident and the kids etc we got benefit, but it only covers a percent of it, so i have too pay for the rest.

LIDEL seems too be the top choice, so i will have too see where one is near by
i was looking in too buying re-usuable nappies but they seem very expensive in one go, i know it saves overall but its like £100! lol

thanks for everyone aswring, its really kind.
also whats freecycle????