Grocery Bills

valentina

Have a browse on Weezl's site

http://www.cheap-family-recipes.org.uk/

Desperate_Housewife_2-2

I'm surprised no-one has mentioned porrige! I buy a big bag and make 1 oz and 1/4 pt water per person, in a jug in the micro takes a few mins, you can add a spoonful of milk powder to make it more creamy so thats breakfasts sorted.

Could you make a big batch of bread rolls and do loads while the ovens on then thats lunches sorted, especially if you make a big pan of soup to go with it.

Pasta, rice, pulses are my staple when I'm skint.

Good luck

Pee

Pancakes are a cheap treat.

I think on-line shopping is good for sticking to a budget and easier to do it when just eaten and less tempted and to really calculate what your spend is. Although you can get great deals on reduced items, I often find I buy things I wouldn't usually buy cheaper but not as cheap as I could buy the basic version of that food.

mum2twinsx2

thank you for all the ideas.

love all the tips... bit weary of lentils, never really used them before.

Ive got my brothers gf will be coming to babysit for an hour while i go to tescos tonight its just resisting the temptation to buy things off the list.

Meat i stick to basics, i tend buy frozen chicken breasts, sausages and mince beef. Odd occassion i buy pork chops/joint and gammon my brother works on the meat counter in tescos so will get the odd bit now and again.

Im lucky there not fussy the children love pasta based dishes.

I will let you know how i get on

After re looking at my budget, i do have a bit more than i anticipated but im on mission to keep the bill down down down.

mum2twinsx2

bb69 wrote: »

Edit - And wow two sets of twins Amazing! congrats xx

Thanks:) First time was a shock, second time was nearly a fainting moment!

pullenuk

Be careful buying online as it can go a bit funny! Obviously unless you take an offer or something, you will pay for delivery. Not a good idea when you got limited funds. However if you are lucky enough to get a free delivery, don't allow them to swap products not in stock. Some supermarkets, eg Sainsburys to pick one will charge the new item, which sometimes can cost more.

The obvious tip is have you got a waitrose near you? Usually they do deep discounts on reduced items an hour before closing. I got one 2 minutes walk from me, I go in serveral times a week and often walk out with £20 worth of shopping for around £5. Guess I get lucky! Obviously most products dates are on their last days, but seriously most items will last an extra and of course you can freeze meat. If you are worried about meat with expiry of todays date, cook it, wait for it to cool down, put it in the fridge covered then have it for lunch or dinner the next day. Chicken good for this, put it in with pasta and tomatoes, simple and fills you up.

There are websites - i do not know the addresses, I'm sure someone on here will know that you can enter what you got in the cupboards and it will suggest a meal out of it. Try it, someone give the address if you know it.

pullenuk

Try your local butcher for meat if you got one nearby! You might be suprised on the price, sometimes cheaper than the supermarket!

Farm shops are sometimes cheaper or same price, but more food.

valentina

Do you mean this website?
http://www.recipematcher.com/

jobbingmusician

Two things

1. Chicken breasts? Most expensive chicken going! Either buy a whole chicken, hack off the breasts yourself and use the other bits in other recipes, or buy thighs

2. You mentioned a bank charge. If you're having problems with money generally, head over to the lovely folk on the debtfreewannabee board to see if they can help, especially if there are debts involved. If it was just a one off, it is worth pleading with them - they do sometimes remove unwarranted bank charges, and you have nothing to lose!

Have a lovely Christmas - sounds like your twins are lucky to have you

pullenuk

valentina wrote: »

Do you mean this website?
http://www.recipematcher.com/

Yup - thats one of them!