new to os money- spending too much on shopping

rjh090384

Heylo

So I had a look at the into threads etca nd have a brief idea of what im doing!!

So heres the deal. Me and the man live together and spend about £100 a month on shopping not including adhoc things. The problem I am finding is that when we go for theses adhoc things (ie milk etc) we come out with £20 worth of stuff and I relaly think we are spending far too much on food. When I lived on my own I was spending less than £10 a week.

So I have several problems that need tackled:

1) I am out of the house working from 6am and dont get home until 8pm. By this stage I am bloody knackered. Though i only do this 4 days a week. I find it very difficult to cook a meal by the time i get home and we always end up with either not eating, takeaway, or ready meal or oven potatoes and frozen flavoured chicken. Sometimes I will do pasta but boyfirend gets sick of it easily.

2)It is obvious I am buying the wrong things cause we have so much yet nothing to eat so any advice is appreciated. I am going to do the cupboard clearout this week before payday so I can get a fresh start.

3) it is the adhoc things that cost us. We are big oj drinkers and get six cartons in tesco 3 for whatever it is ( as this is alll we can fit in fridge.) We can have this finished in two weeks then have to buy expensive stuff from garage cause dont have time to go to tesco then when we go to garage its oh loook at that we should get that!

4)lunches are a major hassle for me. I have recently started a diet and cut our the four rounds of sandwiches I used to have for lunch (and now feel so much better) so its only the oh i have to make sandwiches for but I keep forgetting ad he has to buy lunch. and i dont know what to make myself. I was making pasta salads for a while there but the veg I buy seems to go off really quickly. I buy a whole lettuce and use it as I need it and seal it up every time but its always brown by the third day then i have none left cant get out to buy anymore and end up buying lnch in boots and I know its bad!!!!

5)fresh fruit and veg. I buy it and never use it in time! Potatoes are my worst ever!!! I know they are a great money saving thing cook a lot use them a lot but I am rubbish at cooking them I can never get it right

6) I am not a natural cook, everything has to be exactly according to the recipe with no variations, time changes etc. Un less I have a recipe, it doesnt get cooked.

7) budget going toget majoly cut to say £100 to start wtih including everything!!

any advice appreciated guys.

Smashing

1) Meal planning - sort out what you'll need for a week meals (incl. lunches) and make a list accordingly (loads of ideas/menu planners/recipes etc if you search the forum)

2) Impulse buys - consider shopping online, or only taking correct money with you

3) OJ - buy some cartons of the stuff that doesn't need to be refrigerated - store in garage etc.

4) Meal plan accordingly - if you have veg etc. that will go off, incorporate it into other meals

5) Local produce/markets - often cheaper and better quality than supermarkets

6) Check prices/offers

http://www.madaboutbargains.co.uk/offers/Off_Your_Trolley.htm

7) Check out your local Aldi/Lidl

8) - Freezer! Use it! Make extra portions and freeze for busy days

9) Experiement with own brand/value products

10) Experiement with recipes - plenty on here or get a cookbook from the library - get the family on board.

11) Don't go shopping with the kids (pester power) or when hungry (ooh, that looks nice...)

12) Use what you already have - no point going out buying a whole load of ingredients to make things - plan meals to use up what you have lurking in cupboards before buying more.

Sarahsaver

Your work hours seem to be an issue, or at least the amount of time you need to be out of the house. I only need 30 mins to make dinner but clearly you have every right to be knackered the amount of time you are out of the home!

rjh090384

oh forgot to add i hav eno idea how to cook any dort of meat apart from grilling or stir frying chicken!

rjh090384

Smashing wrote:

1) Meal planning - sort out what you'll need for a week meals (incl. lunches) and make a list accordingly (loads of ideas/menu planners/recipes etc if you search the forum)

2) Impulse buys - consider shopping online, or only taking correct money with you

3) OJ - buy some cartons of the stuff that doesn't need to be refrigerated - store in garage etc.

4) Meal plan accordingly - if you have veg etc. that will go off, incorporate it into other meals

5) Local produce/markets - often cheaper and better quality than supermarkets

7) Check out your local Aldi/Lidl

8) - Freezer! Use it! Make extra portions and freeze for busy days

9) Experiement with own brand/value products

10) Experiement with recipes - plenty on here or get a cookbook from the library - get the family on board.

11) Don't go shopping with the kids (pester power) or when hungry (ooh, that looks nice...)

12) Use what you already have - no point going out buying a whole load of ingredients to make things - plan meals to use up what you have lurking in cupboards before buying more.

1+4+8) deifnately going to do that
2) would love to shop online but they odnt deliver to my area
3)excellent idea. definately going to do that!!!
5) get meat at local market if b/f off on saturday cause he used to work their and we get a ton of veg for like £3!!
7)havent been to lidl in a while but i find it very hit and miss..still worth a try
9)i always by own brands they usually just as good.
11)no kids but b/f always pesters!!!
12) is my plan this week

rjh090384

Sarahsaver wrote:

Your work hours seem to be an issue, or at least the amount of time you need to be out of the house. I only need 30 mins to make dinner but clearly you have every right to be knackered the amount of time you are out of the home!

glad someone thinks i have a right to be knackered!!!!my oh is like is dinner ready yet and im like im going as fast as i can. to top it all off our fan assisted oven is currently broken and i have to use the slow one!!!!!!!!!!!! it takes so long!

inkie

does oh get in first - if so could he make the meal, or start and defrost somthing that you have already cooked? With regard to the veg that you are wasting how about making a huge pan of veg soup - you could then take this along with you to work for lunch.

Addiscomber

What hours is OH out of the house for. He needs to do his share, so if he is in before you does he start food preparation or do any housework? Or is it sit down in front of the Telly God?

Addiscomber

Snap!! Great minds and all that ...

Smashing

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Recipes and cooking tips and hints threads

rjh090384

he is out the same. if he finishes at 7 then he will pick me up and we home the same. if he finishes at 7.30 then i get bus home and am home 20 minutes b4 him. sometimes he works later.it is a rare ocassion when he is home earlier than me and if he is then he picks up the dog and that would be the night we eat at his parents.