It is tough NOW. So how are we coping

Rummer

kidcat wrote: »

Aldi too I have halved my weekly shopping bills by using Aldi and Lidl, I visit both to get their bargains and special offers (Aldi - mainly fruit and veg and Lidl - mainly meat, pet food etc) Then nip to either Tesco or Asda to get anything I havent bought from the other two!! I worked out that I am saving about £50 per week this way and I am getting way more fruit and veg than I was able to before!

Sadly I do not have an Aldi near me or I would be popping in their too!

sammy_kaye18

Hi All

Didn't actually manage to get to Tesco yesterday - got outside to see all the grass being cut and did nothing but sneeze, cough, and eyes were streaming so went and hid in the centre instead and got some bits and pieces for my hospital bags sorted - figured I've 11 weeks left - better make a start on something!

Should be going today and I have OH off today as there is no work on for him :eek: but that means he can give me a lift in to Tesco and help me bring it home. Only problem is if I go with a budget of £40 Ill spend about £60 by the time I'm out of there with him!

Apart from that, I have the usual boring housework to do today but hoping boyfriend is popping out later so might tag along to Halfords with him so I can have a look at bikes for Ben's birthday. Apart form that more boring bill paying and phone calls to chase up my SMP form and my MAT B1 - the coop have had it about 3 weeks now and no letters back or nothing! also got to make sure my payment details have been paid for my wages.

esmf73

HI all, I've looked at the title of this thread in the past and thought - no I'm OK it's not that tough. But then over the Easter Hols I've looked at my shopping bill a few times and been totally horrified. We've been out of the UK for a while - and I remember buying Mr T X Value Tinned Toms for 9p. They are now 31p and you can't get any bread (unless its the Xvalue stuff) for under £1.

I'm amazed that I didn't think of this before. So now I am doing all my shopping at Aldi / Lidl and then poping into Mr T to get anything I couldn't. I need to get more savvy with my shopping and with the contents of my cupboards and freezer. So I'm turning over a new leaf - not necessarily to save money - but what is more important I think - not to waste it. Either by throwing away food, not being bothered to cook or not planning ahead enough. My two youngsters eat me out of house and home (and they're both under 6) so I've a long way to go! Will read through this board later on and see what hints and tips I can pick out of it. Thank you X

rolo-polo1965

I have been buying my bread from farm foods for the past couple of weeks. 2 loaves for a pound and its not cheep bread its hovis and kings mill. They also do 2 lost of 2 litre bottles of milk for £1.50, skimmed, semi and normal. Worth a look!

elizabunny

Afternoon everyone and hugs to those who need them. Been AWOL for a few weeks due to being away and also being ill. I had a quick read through the posts and Frugalista sorry to hear of yet another redundancy. My DH had this happen to him twice and it does take some getting over, but you will do it:) Pagangirl sorry to read about your accidents, hope you're ok now. Just noticed some of you have been posting about the atrocious price of bread. Here is a link to a Soda Bread recipe which is very cheap and easy and doesn't need a bread maker. My DH loves it and it is very filling. http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/database/irishsodabread_67445.shtml
I don't use buttermilk because I don't really know where to buy it, but I add 1tbsp of lemon juice to half pint milk and leave it for about 10 minutes. The bread still tastes nice.

westcoastscot

Thanks for the soda bread recipe - perfect for when we've run out of the usual stuff! love that you don't have to wait for it to rise, so perfect with lunchtime soup. I shall use soy milk plus lemon juice in place of buttermilk, as I do in my gingercake recipe.

sammy_kaye18

elizabunny wrote: »

Here is a link to a Soda Bread recipe which is very cheap and easy and doesn't need a bread maker. My DH loves it and it is very filling. http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/database/irishsodabread_67445.shtml
I don't use buttermilk because I don't really know where to buy it, but I add 1tbsp of lemon juice to half pint milk and leave it for about 10 minutes. The bread still tastes nice.

I watched the hairy bikers make this on TV this morning so might give it a go, they also made potato bread/cakes too whcih looked yummy - they were in Antrim making a Fry.

also have a bread recipe you can make by hand from fellow MSEr Kethry which I love using - very theraputic but you do need to wait for it to rise.

westcoastscot

Hi Sammy-Kaye I rarely buy bread, preferring to make it by hand, but recently had to as I'd run out and was shocked at the price. Hadn't thought of sodabread. Potatocakes are lovely if you have left over mash to use - really filling with bacon and eggs
WCS

UnluckyT

ive tried to make bread by hand and it turned out crap, although theirs only me and i tend to cut uncut bread into huge slices - even when im carefull.
probably too heavy handed on the whole and inexperienced as i dont doo much in the way of homebaking unless it something i can do for sure okay.
i tend to buy it in when it reduced when i can and freeze it.

Toomuchdebt

I can't make bread either-my bread maker is shoved at the back of a cupboard-the bread is always heavy and you can't cut it in slices less than an inch thick