It is tough NOW. So how are we coping

Hippeechiq

Jo_Rourke wrote: »

Hippeechiq - I think this has been one of the things that's made a really big difference to how much I spend on my groceries, by dropping brands I have saved so much money. Combining this with planning out my meals has seen our grocery bill plummet by around £35 :eek: each WEEK!

Ooh yes! You're right Jo, I'd forgotten about meal planning I do that too now. It's surprising how much that saves, especially in the terms of wastage too - so a double saving really.

I started with a weeks menu, then after a month, upped it to fortnightly, and then my current menu planner is for 4 weeks. Trying not to have meals with the same meat in 2 days in a row, the same kind of flavour 2 days in a row, the same veg, pasta or rice two days in a row, introducing a curry once a week, trying to incorporate a vegetarian meal each week (hoping to up that to 2 days a week once I've tested enough recipes) and experimenting with a 'new' recipe each weekend, so that if it's a disaster - and some are - it doesn't matter too much That way, my choice of meals will also be constantly expanding. It took me most of the day to plan mind! :rotfl: but I ended up with 28 days without repeating a meal, and I've been able to budget so much better for it.

It's all a bit mind boggling when you start, but it's all about getting in the right mind set and then that mind set becoming your natural routine.

Well done you on such a fab weekly saving :T

Wee_Jo

Hippeechiq wrote: »

Ooh yes! You're right Jo, I'd forgotten about meal planning I do that too now. It's surprising how much that saves, especially in the terms of wastage too - so a double saving really.

I started with a weeks menu, then after a month, upped it to fortnightly, and then my current menu planner is for 4 weeks. Trying not to have meals with the same meat in 2 days in a row, the same kind of flavour 2 days in a row, the same veg, pasta or rice two days in a row, introducing a curry once a week, trying to incorporate a vegetarian meal each week (hoping to up that to 2 days a week once I've tested enough recipes) and experimenting with a 'new' recipe each weekend, so that if it's a disaster - and some are - it doesn't matter too much That way, my choice of meals will also be constantly expanding. It took me most of the day to plan mind! :rotfl: but I ended up with 28 days without repeating a meal, and I've been able to budget so much better for it.

It's all a bit mind boggling when you start, but it's all about getting in the right mind set and then that mind set becoming your natural routine.

Well done you on such a fab weekly saving :T

Wow!!! 28 days without repeating a meal!!! That is amazing! Ok you have inspired me, I am going to try and have next 2 weeks without repeating a meal. I love cooking challenges!! :j

My Mum bought me a fab cookbook that she always used when I was wee, it's really old but they have released a new version (or maybe they have been re-issuing it for years and Mum just saw it recently) - anyway, it's called The Dairy Book of Home Cookery and it's a fab source of old favourites and new challenges....going to have a look at it today - in between card and pressie making :T

Thanks Hippeechiq!

Lulubells

mardatha wrote: »

Has anybody else noticed food rising steeply in the last week ? Today it was Sainsburys and things have ALL gone up.

I definitely agree with you !! I don't set a budget on food - I get what I need / want, but now all of sudden my money is running out mid month :eek:- things seem to be getting more and more expensive each week - obviously I need to have a shopping makeover and take a lesson in OS moneysaving that I regularly read !! things can't continue to rise like this can they ?????

The other problem I have is that I keep a '"stock level" as we live very rural and I have this inbuilt need to ensure if we had to we could survive a while on what we have .... definitely holds back the moneysaving......:( x

mcjordi

wow such a great read.. has inspired me to actually get my !!!! in gear and sort myself out lol

well done all

mardatha

I'm the same Lulu, and this winter past proved that its worthwhile. We had lying snow for 5 weeks solid. But if you get a stock in of something you LIKE...then wee mice/invisible friends seem to nibble it when you're sleeping and it all vanishes...

Hippeechiq

Lulubells wrote: »

I definitely agree with you !! I don't set a budget on food - I get what I need / want, but now all of sudden my money is running out mid month :eek:- things seem to be getting more and more expensive each week - obviously I need to have a shopping makeover and take a lesson in OS moneysaving that I regularly read !! things can't continue to rise like this can they ?????

You would hope not, wouldn't you? But Cameron keeps reiterating that things are going to get a lot worse before they get better

Lulubells wrote: »

The other problem I have is that I keep a '"stock level" as we live very rural and I have this inbuilt need to ensure if we had to we could survive a while on what we have .... definitely holds back the moneysaving......:( x

I now live in a town, but having grown up and spent the majority of my adult life living 20 minutes from the nearest town, I can relate to that Lulubells. And when you're that rural, it's a necessity as well as common sense I think, so don't be too hard on yourself there

Wow!!! 28 days without repeating a meal!!! That is amazing! Ok you have inspired me, I am going to try and have next 2 weeks without repeating a meal. I love cooking challenges!!

Wow! I'm not sure I've ever inspired anyone before, lol, so thank you for that :j

Tell you what - it's been absolute bliss getting up every day for the last month - well, 3 weeks, as it's still got another week to run - knowing exactly what we're having for tea

toll_collector

I find writing down everything I spend in my phone helps me keep track. It's so easy to think ah that's only £2 here and £3 there, but it soon adds up. That can easily turn into £20 a week which is £80 a month.

Wee_Jo

toll_collector wrote: »

I find writing down everything I spend in my phone helps me keep track. It's so easy to think ah that's only £2 here and £3 there, but it soon adds up. That can easily turn into £20 a week which is £80 a month.

Hi toll collector! :hello:

I am with you on the spending log (though I am not as high tec as you! I just write it in a wee notebook!) I have been doing that for over a month now and as a consequence I don't have that mystified feeling that I used to get when I looked at my bank account and wondered where it had all gone (wrong!) :eek:

I would also put it down to the fact that I now withdraw cash at the start of my spending week (which for the past 2 months has been Friday just because that's when I've got paid those months) and I just use that. I leave my debit card at home (too much temptation!) I also usually withdraw the money at the bank in branch, and get my £70 out in smaller notes and coins, that way I really see where my money goes. Another benefit I have noticed is that it stops though "Well I have to break this £20 note anyway, I may as well buy this magazine / drink / whatever"

Small changes have made big differences for me

Jo

mardatha

I think cards are fatal. Thank god I'm too old to have ever got used to them LOL - I get the housekeeping out and that's IT until next week. If I canny afford something then we do without & wait.

ginnyknit

Just remember Mardatha the great sweetie shortage that you suffered during the snowed in period and stock up ready. Everytime I munched on a jely bean I felt guilty cos you had none.

I tend to shop as we need it, but Im lucky I can walk to Mr T's if necessary. However the family now has an emergency stock in the cupboard in my office and have picked up a few bargains today to add to it. Went to Poundland but there wasn't much we needed. I am scared to spend a penny we don't need nowadays, which is good, but flipping boring! However we made it a family outing as the kids had some stuff to get too. Otherwise it would have cost me 3.50 in bus fare. Took a flask and some biccies with us to avoid the temptaion of blowing loads of cash on coffee and cakes, thats a habit we have honed to perfection Some years ago we stopped on a motorway and had coffee and cake and it was about a fiver, I swore then i would never fall for it again and I have stuck to it