making a start

tryinghard40

Well after spending some time on here reading posts have made a start on saving money.

have talked with the kids and managed to save £5 on dinner money, i know they should take lunch but i thought it was a start.

have squashed all my loo rolls!

diluted my full fat milk and no one has noticed yet!

started to make some meal plans and i mostly cook from scratch, have got out my slow cooker from the back of the cupboard.

going to drop to some cheaper alternatives in the supermarket,will probably stick to some branded stuff because i find its better value but will do the rest a bit at a time and maybe no one will notice! will have to start putting things in oxes so they cant read the label!

i already do a fair bit of home baking for cakes etc

what i want to know now

is bread cheaper to make in a bread machine?
is buying in bulk cheaper?

Leopardlady

Welcome to the band wagon! I am sorry i cannot help with the cost of bread, i think the stuff i make by hand is cheaper than buying it, but when i used my bread maker it worked out more expensive. I think someone more experienced will be along soon to help out though.

Good luck, it is fun and does make a huge difference.

Pink.

Hi tryinghard,

Welcome :hello: and well done on the changes you've made so far.

These threads should help with your questions:

Bread Maker - worth it?

Buying in bulk....is it really worth it?

Pink

juliapenguin

Hi there and welcome.

Don't be put off trying unbranded stuff again - lots of it is perfectly good and some things are better than the familiar brands. I'm sure there's been lots of threads here (help!) which list good 'value' or 'basics' products and report ones that aren't so good. It's definitely worth trying. For example, I'm very fussy about chocolate, but I positively like the Sainsburys value chocolate. Other people might not agree with that one, but I'm always keen to try things once.

lazy_daisy

Yes, Sainsbury's basics are v. v. good! I haven't tried the chocolate like julia above but the chocolate digestives are the best I've tried.
My OH does the supermarket shopping and said that, last time he went, the conveyer belt was a sea of orange and white labels. He's become evangelical about it and now sidles up to other customers about to buy a brand name item and tries to convince them to try the basics version. One of the many reasons I don't go shopping with him any longer.
One of the other reasons being the broccolli wrestling - he thinks you shouldn't have to pay for the broccoli stalk as he never eats it so he wrestles the stalk off the broccolli then weighs it, sticks the resultant price label on it and leaves it by the scales to act as a lesson to us all.......his record is 34 pence!
As for home made bread, it may be cheaper but we just eat more - so no net saving here I'm afraid!
Good luck and well done so far!
xx

zippychick

juliapenguin wrote: »

Hi there and welcome.
. I'm sure there's been lots of threads here (help!) which list good 'value' or 'basics' products and report ones that aren't so good. It's definitely worth trying. For example, I'm very fussy about chocolate, but I positively like the Sainsburys value chocolate. Other people might not agree with that one, but I'm always keen to try things once.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=405198

that's the one you want.

slummymummyof3

I totally agree with your OH, Lazy Daisy about the broccolli!

OP get yourself lots of dried lentils for bulking out chilli/spag bol etc.
Bulk buying - I buy 8-10 of each of the things I use if they are on offer - although expensive at the time, you end up saving loads.

Just an idea but if you join your school pta, they may have a cash and carry card you may be able to use. Go with 2-3 friends and split the large packs of things.

tryinghard40

thanks for the comments folks, i do buy a fair amount of own brands, including biscuits asda choc digestive are pretty good! i do how ever buy dax washing powder as i find the cheaper brand does not get as many stains out and hubby does like his heinz beans but i buy cheaper brand for kids! i also buy fairy washin up liquid as i find it does last longer and try to get it when its on offer. have stopped buying mini corner yoghurts as they were expensive and have discovered the value range 'angel delight' at about 13p make a good pudding!

of to check out he coupons page now.

Reverbe

juliapenguin wrote: »

Hi there and welcome.

, but I positively like the Sainsburys value chocolate. Other people might not agree with that one, but I'm always keen to try things once.

Welcome. I agree with Julia don't be scared of trying value stuff. I have only been let down so far once with Sainsburys chicken soup at 17p - watery and tastefree IMO but some of the value stuff is lovely. Value teabags from Sainsburys are lovely and my flatmate couldnt tell the difference and their verdict on the milk chocolate was that it was like Easter egg stuff.Havew yet to try the dark or white choc tho

Mellika

Am I the only one who saves the brocoli stalks for soup?

Lazy Daisy, this comedy act is for you:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55Av31NO-Hw

I'm afraid you'll have to skip the first minute
My brothers used to sing this to me when I was a toddler

billieboy_2

No, I save the stalks for soup also and cauliflower stalks and leaves:eek: .