Redundancy - groceries reduction help needed!

newlywed

Gigervamp wrote: »

I agree with the idea of keeping the receipts for a month to see exactly what you're buying and paying for it.

I always find sainsburys expensive. For instance, last night I noticed that they were selling coconut milk for £1.59! :eek: Whereas, Tescos had two brands of coconut milk, one was 59p and the other 79p. That's a heck of a difference!

Perhaps try to do most of your shopping in Aldi and Lidl (and Asda too!).

Thanks. I will check mysupermarket again. I did this some time back and it worked out pretty much the same and easier to get to sainsbugs, but things change and so I'll start comparing to tesco etc again.

maman

Personally, I'd stick clear of Somerfield. I find it a really expensive shop and only go there to pick up the free magazine (for recipes but I haven't seen one this month) and check for any whoopsies.

If you hate going into Asda then try online shopping instead. Perhaps try a 'virtual' shop to compare proces with Sainsbury's. Do you have farmfoods near you? They're good for milk, bread, fish and various other things.

I think your way forward is a spending diary & keeping receipts then if you want to share that perhaps the thread can help.

Oh and perhaps boys(s) could get involved in making flapjacks/cereal bars for breakfast. Value oats are cheap enough instead of buying muesli bars.

Bitsy_Beans

I can recommend a lot of the Sainsbury's basics - it's what I mostly buy. Their Basic tea is very good and Fairtrade too.
I do second the suggestions about looking through past receipts to see where other things are creeping in and pushing up the bill.

Reverbe - I think you were thinking of the poster called Leilia??? She and her H were into their weight training........

Penelope_Penguin

newlywed wrote: »

Hi all, I am facing redundancy and OH has lost his main source of work so I need to seriously reduce the budget. I can never seem to stick to the grocery challenge (guess I don`t try hard enough ).

So where does the money go (other than on biscuits)? I currently spend approx £400 a month

Sorry to hear of your troubles Really, the Grocery Challenge is THE way to go Make a note of everything you spend, and then you'll be able to see exactly where the money goes. You can then see which areas you can save on, and aim for a realistic reduction in your budget.

The GC has loads of tasty, nutritious and frugal meals in, too :T

Penny. x

SunnyGirl

I can second the Grocery Challenge for saving on the grocery spend. This time last year I was spending £450+ per month and now I average £80 a week. My DH lost his job before Christmas so I've been extra glad of the skills that I have learned. We eat healthy, home cooked meals every day and everyone looks great on it :T The boys are full up most of the time too which is a miracle in itself :rotfl:

The list of recipes starting at post 3 are amazing and there is everything from quick snacks to dinner party dishes.

Good luck. You'll manage it fine there's lots of help on this board :A and lots of us have been in the position of needing to save money - and fast.

newlywed

We don't have a farmfoods.
I will keep my receipts and be more honest in a spending diary.

Penelope_Penguin wrote: »

Sorry to hear of your troubles Really, the Grocery Challenge is THE way to go Make a note of everything you spend, and then you'll be able to see exactly where the money goes. You can then see which areas you can save on, and aim for a realistic reduction in your budget.

Yeah ok, I'll be in for February's.

SunnyGirl wrote: »

Good luck. You'll manage it fine there's lots of help on this board :A and lots of us have been in the position of needing to save money - and fast.

I know there's lots of help on here , that's why I'm here asking

I've never before needed to save as much money as possible as fast as possible! Just helping OH fill out job applications.

Butterfly_Brain

Do you have an Aldi near to you they always have good deals on fruit and veg
This week it is potatoes 59p, grapes 69p, blueberries, 69p, carrots 29p, brussels 39p and red apples 59p - that should help with your 5 a day.
xxxx

jexygirl

when I began online shopping, I saved a fortune, you dont get sucked into the bogof or the oooooo look at that bargain that I dont need, dont want, isnt on the list, but its such a bargin!
I did however forget basics like salt!
the cheaper supermarkets like lidl and nettos are diamonds, and often the same quality if not better than the big guys.
I think being honest counts for alot. Looking realistically at what you spend is initially aq bit of a shock, but also, gives food for thought, literally.
Since we closed for 3 weeks, I have managed to feed 3 of us, 2 cats and a dog, for very little, using menu plans, and reusing bolognaise, that became lasagne, that became chilli etc. I never did it when open, as i feed staff what i need to use up, but it has become apparent how much I wasted, even tho I thought I wasted virtually nothing, and how much over the years, prior to pub owning, I had wasted despite being what we thought was frugal.
Use the resources here, the GC and the menu planning are amazing tools, coupled with a wealth of advice which is human and priceless imo.
I have never eaten so well since I found this site, and I dont want to re-open next week as I have more meals planned for us than days!
Jex

newlywed

I've lost my thanks button!! Will thank you when it reappears

We have an Aldi near work but it only had sprouts, carrots, red grapes and apples. Must go back if there's meant to be blueberries


I've been online shopping recently due to being ill but like you said, I find I miss things and need to go out anyway :undecided Plus you don't get yellow stickered stuff that way either.

We don't have netto here, but I will be doing more lidl/aldi where I can. I gave up shopping in 5 different supermarkets as some time back I decided I'd rather have the extra time than the few quid it saved. However as soon as my job is finished I'll be having lots more time for shopping and price comparison :rolleyes:

I think you're right, I need to look more carefully and be more honest. I'm more frugal than I was, waste less than I used to.... but perhaps that's what is blinding me :think:

Anyway when OH and me get stressed, the biscuit consumption increases so I'll be off to Aldi later to top up on the cheaper biscuits (as they tasate nicer than the value/basic ones) and will check out the other bits there too.

Think I need to dig out my price comparison notebook and start it again and turn into a nerd

Boodle

I'm very sorry to hear about your possible redundancy, Newlywed.

Reading your post the things that came to mind are:

• Would making flapjacks or Twink's hobnobs in bars with added value fruit be cheaper, and an acceptable alternative to cereal bars? Toast or cereal being cheaper I guess depends on whether it's penny-slice HM bread or bought, and which cereal. I would go with HM bread and/or value cereal or porridge/muesli/granola made with value oats, and value fruit added.
• The lunches seem pretty frugal. Would a cheaper fish should as tinned mackerel or sardines be as high in protein for the OH?
• The only thing I can suggest for the dinners is to have a few more veggie nights a week. To keep a decent protein element, you could look at Weezl's 50p thread and keep it up with beans. lentils and nuts. I know you like your fish but perhaps trout instead of salmon for example. Do I remember rightly you used river cobbler once before? That's rather reasonably priced, isn't it?
• Try sticking to more basic veg, such as onions, carrots, cabbage etc as they are substantially cheaper than Mediterranean-type veg right now.
• If you have to have biscuits (and I do unserstand ) either make a batch each week or you could go for the value range as the supermarkets seem to have quite a lot of choice there
• I second the online shop, even if just to check before you go. And perhaps go shopping alone so there isn't any devil's advocate in the shape of OH or kids!

Good luck Newlywed, I hope everything sorts out for you soon x