Food shopping - are we missing anything ?

richardvc

We have gone to great lengths to cut down our food bills without compromising on quality or quantity but I wonder if we have missed any tips.

1. We shop at Lidl and only use Tesco for the bits we can't get in Lidl (In our opinion we feel that Lidl is better quality and cheaper than Tesco)
2. We plan our meals in advance so know exactly what we are eating and when we are eating it.
3. We are very disciplined when it comes to shopping and don't buy a load of desserts / chocolate just because it's there ! We have a list and stick to it !
4. We eat a healhty and balanced diet with plenty of fruit and veg and little or no processed food
5. We don't keep too much in the freezer and anything that goes in there does not hang around for long !!!

Any tips/advice would be welcome.

whatatwit

Yellow sticker/reduced shopping can be fun.

Pink.

Hi Richard,

Martin's article on Supermarket Shopping: Halve your weekly bill by beating the system has lots of hints and tips.

It's also worth joining the monthly Grocery Challenge where other Old Stylers will give you lots of suggestions and support in cutting down your grocery bills. The September challenge will begin on Friday.

Pink

jinky67

yep I have only recently got into the yellow sticker club

hardpressed

As you plan your meal in advance do you stick to the plan ? If you can be flexible and make the most of any offers you might save a little bit. Look our for BOGOF's,only buy them if it's something you would normally use.

maman

5. We don't keep too much in the freezer and anything that goes in there does not hang around for long !!!

I think you should keep lots in the freezer.

Firstly because a full freezer more efficient to run. Secondly because you can buy lots of reduced items that can be frozen and plan your meals around them. Thirdly (for now!) cook things for the freezer that can be frozen in portions then you'll have your own HM ready-meals for when you're feeling lazy!

piglet6

I second the yellow sticker shopping. In particular, meat and bread are things that I rarely pay full price for. I also bulk buy yellow stickered veggies and "do things" with them - my freezer has bubble & squeak, mashed potato, and all manner of blanched veggies ready to eat in a minimum of prep time!

Also, I find that its worth spending 10 minutes on the net just before you go shopping each week, checking out the offers in each major supermarket. I meal plan in order to keep a tighter rein on the purse strings, but quite often find that I can substitute purchases with alternatives which are on offer in a different shop and save money that way. That might mean swapping the meat for a Sunday roast, deciding to eat rice/couscous instead of pasta, or just buying a different make of loo roll, but the savings are there to be made if you can keep a flexible attitude (and reading the list of things you already do, I suspect you are the type of family who can be a little flexible if the opportunity arises!).

Piglet

[Deleted User]

I also only take enough cash to cover what I buy then I don't over spend

crockpot

Cash is the answer, I have £50 a week for 2 adults and 2 boys 6 and 9. I have a seperate shopping purse with my £50 in and when its gone its gone!

Have even been managing on less than this and have used some of the excess for treats in the school hols.

I shop at lidl and pop into a big supermarket if i need something special.

Meal planning also, saves time and money.

I work part time so just 1 look at the fridge tells me to get mince out of freezer for a chilli in slow cooker,pop in before work=ready when i get home.

howskint?

I do a weeks shopping but try to make it last 8 days. On the last day it's often pasta bake using leftovers from another meal or we have different portions of leftovers from the freezer but it does ensure that I never have to shop more than 4 times a month and often manage to only go 3 times.
howskint?

poppyoscar_3

Mr S is doing a load of stuff (basics fruit and veg) at 40p until tuesday - went yesterday and picked up onions, carrots, apples, pears and a melon for £2.00. Going to go back and check because they have more in the range than that - ours is a small Sains though.