Grocery Shopping budget thread

BitterAndTwisted

Angel, £150 a month for grocery-shopping and household essentials really is plenty. It's just going to take a bit of planning. You could do worse than checking the Approved Foods and the Food Bargains websites for VERY heavily reduced discontinued and after "best before" bargains. Not an essential purchase by any means but just using this as an example: one of those two sites are offering A CASE of Walker's Sweet Chili crisps for less than £2! Approved Foods delivery charges are very, very reasonable: something like up to 30 kilos of stuff delivered to your door for about a fiver. They get new stock in often so it might be worth checking those sites a couple of times a week to see what they have and what's worth stocking up on.

As soon as I've finished off that bottle of laundry detergent in the cupboard under the sink I'm going to have a shot at making the famous laundry gloop

Penelope_Penguin

You could also take a look at this thread on how to start being OS

Good luck, Penny. x

halojones

I bought my last TV in the sale on buy now and pay in a year.....and then I saved all year and paid it in time, so it didnt cost me an extra penny, but you have to make you pay early (or on time at least) otherwise they charge you interest on the whole time.

I did this on a push bike too. Ebay is great for selling a few bits and bobs, and with the extra time you can shop cheaply ....I wish I had more time...

But most of all, dont let it get you down.

Justamum

cuddles123 wrote: »

Stir the soap each time you use it (will gel but will take approx 48hrs).

I've got mine in old fabric softener and liquid wash bottles. I don't fill them to the top so that there is space for it to be shaken vigorously before I use it.

Also, I would make sure the soda crystals are dissolved well before putting the borax in as the borax makes it instantly thicker.

phizzimum

Hi katylou

I know you weren't asking for help regarding food but if you have a look on the "how much have you saved" board there is a thread about feeding a family of 4 (healthily!) for £100. come over and have a look as there are lots of great recipes and ideas.

redlady_1

Cuddles, can you use any kind of soap in that washing liquid please?

anguk

I've only ever had one brand new washing machine and that was bought over 20 years ago when we got our first house, every one since then has been second hand. The same with the cooker, when ours broke I bought a second hand one, often people get rid of perfectly good items just because they want a different colour or they're getting a new fitted kitchen.

I get my TV's and computer monitors from Ebay, they're just the older CRT type but they work perfectly well and you can pick them up really cheap because people want the new lcd flat screen type. My last TV cost £10 2 years ago and I got my monitor for the princely sum of 99p, but I gave them £1 because I didn't want them to think I was mean! :rotfl:

It's worth having a look at Asda, Tesco etc if something breaks down. I bought a Bissell hoover from Asda last week for £30 that sells on the Bissell website for £50. It's not the best all singing all dancing model but it cleans my floors much better than other more expensive hoovers I've had.

And I'd echo what others have said, save what you can when you can, even if it's just the odd 50p or £1. Empty your purse each night and put all the coins under 50p in a pot, you'll be surprised how it adds up, you can either save it for birthdays/treats or it comes in handy for odd loaves of bread & milk at the end of the month if things are tight.

ladykath

Hi Katylou,
Just a couple more ideas. Take a look on Freecycle in your area to see if there is someone wanting to get rid of something you could make good use of.
Also, when the weather improves there will be lots of people out there wanting gardening work done but who, for whatever reason, are unable to do it themselves. If you have the knowhow and are fit enough, the work could be financially rewarding, therapeutic, and also save on gym membership.

Looby_Lou

Does that £150 take into account that some costs will be lower if you are not working? You may find that your fuel costs / transport costs will fall, also you won't be asked to contribute to leaving / maternity/ birthday presents. You may also save some money on lunches / coffee. One thing I would advise would be finding some warm jumpers as if you are at home during the day your heating costs could rise. You could also check out if you are entitles to any benefits now your income has reduced (I think the website is entitledto.co.uk)

Mrs_Thrify

I am going to start writing in the free note book I got with a rarely bought Prima magazine to store useful tips, idea's recipies and verses. Just something on every page. I want to decorate with stickers on the lilac cover and personalise it.

Usefull tip for today - cook using the slow cooker and save electric by not putting the cooker on. In mine yesterday was beef casserole with herb dumplings. Today vegetable soup, tomorrow gammon.
My SC is only a £10 Tesco's one but has earned its right to stay out on the kitchen work top:).