Any suggestions?

frenchconnection200

:wave: :wave:
On a similar theme how do I cut back monthly food shop from approx £400 for 2 adults, 2 children? I do 't think I'm extravagent but I do think I am spending too much. Plus I'm rubbish with my own money and in debt, anything I can save will be thrown at debt.

Egg loan £7821
Amazon credit card £450

Light bulb moment....every day but still crap with money!!!

L_D_N

We've been cutting back on shopping too - it just gets out of control doesn't it? I did an inventory of what we actually had (in date!) in the cupboards and freezer. Have managed to reduce shopping bill by around £30 - £40 a week.

Buying bigger bags of things like rice instead of the handy microwave smaller bags saves quite a bit too.

Do you have Makro store near you? Know anyone with a card? Self employed or works for a large organisation bound to have one. Ideal for by household cleaning stuff, washing up liquid, soap powders etc. in bulk - saves shedloads.

david_hellier

Go round to the Agents with the first month's rent in your hand; cash, readies. Tell him you haven't got the deposit. If his greedy mits stay away, offer him an extra £5 in rent. He'll bite.

lady_fuschia

Last I checked I couldn't claim working tax credits because I'm under 25 (24 actually - grr!) Mind you, that's just what I read in the leaflet.

lady_fuschia

Posting advice in my own thread here, but having cut our shopping to the least we possibly can, some advice for ellimo:
- buy catering size packs of things like coffee, cheapest from cash and carry, but only around £4 even from the supermarket- much better value than smaller jars.
-using baking soda and white vinegar for cleaning (takes more scrubbing but a lot cheaper)
-being vegetarian, or part vegetarian- meat is the world's biggest rip-off. Well boiled brown or puy lentils make just as good a bolognese or shepherds pie for a fraction of the price (if you mash them with a potato masher your kids may not even be able to tell the difference)
- buying veg from the Saturday market just before it closes- they slash the prices on everything because they don't like taking it back with them.
- buying tinned stuff from Lidl or Aldi (remember to take bags and a pound for the trolley though!)
- Re-using teabags- sounds desperate, but a bag is usually good for two cups unless you have it very strong.
-porridge for breakfast- much cheaper than cereal and you can flavour it with honey and stir in raisins, nuts and fruit for variety.