Xmas Savings 12 November 2008 at 11:29AM in How much have you saved? 2 replies 905 views

full-time-mum

The mince pie taste test got me thinking about Xmas food savings.

After Xmas last year, I brought jars of mincemeat for less than half price. The sell by date was early 2009 and I knew I would use them up this Xmas. I got jars of chestnuts which I froze too.

At the time, I could have also brought Xmas Cakes and Puds with sell-by dates after Xmas 2008. I make my own - much nicer, cheaper and I can be sure they are nut/wheat-free. However, I did buy a couple of reduced Puds from the FreeFrom Range which we had at Easter.

I make my Xmas Puds in bulk and this year I gave thought to the number of gas rings that I use - usually one per pud. I don't have a stove top steamer and found that all the ones in the shops were too shallow to accomodate the height of my puddings so I improvised by using my preserving pan - I got three smaller ones in there saving me 2 rings burning for the 6 hours necessary to steam them. I don't know how much I saved but every little helps.

ThinkingOfLinking

I am saving lots of money, maximising what little I have, and getting lots of freebies as well as discounts and trying to win stuff.

raggydoll_2

We have halved our food shopping bill for one thing. Still have pleanty of debt to shift but we are working on that. Christmas this year has been hunting for bargains too! I think we will see the benefits of the changes in the longer term once the debts have gone but this site has helped me to change the way i think about money and shopping which for a recovering shopaholic is a huge achievement! I've lost count of the time i have found myself in shops lately drawn in by the must have top in the window, my size in hand i stop and think do i really need it?? no, can i really afford it?? no. I have been known to abandon a whole basket of things in the shop before when i remember this!!!