MF - Getting started

Nikfs

I knew people would think we were huge ... we're not at all! Very active so maybe just big appetites??! I have spent this eve going through as many food reciepts I could find, & through bank statements, & have identified a few areas where we can make changes - the rest is going to have to be just brand down-shifting I think ... I really cant see any luxuries. We eat a lot of fresh fruit & veg - which isnt cheap. Not much meat (I'm veggie & one kid doesnt much like it, I cook so OH misses out on meat a lot!!) A fair amount of fish. The main area that can be cut back is kids snacks - I have just made a batch of healthy fruity oaty bar things & am feeling partly good: they cost a fraction of what you pay in the shops & are healthier & partly bad: "why the hell havent I been doing this? - its so quick & easy" (took about 10mins, my 3year old could do it as an activity! - she often makes cakes which dont get eaten coz she just likes the making - if the baby will eat these bars then we're sorted!

I did however work out that I spend around £100 / month JUST on milk, bread & nappies. Milk - 2 under 4's who like their milk. Bread - hubby seems to be a bread monster. Nappies .... self explanatory! I do have some reusables I have been too lazy to use - time to start!

Thanks for all your comments - I am new to this - am a better to start a blog / diary thing or just keep posting here? It's quite good fun & should focus me in onthe task in hand!

N

Nikfs

Oh, & I'm a bit of a clean-freak & that £600 is EVERYTHING, not just food! Pretty good at buying low-price cleaning stuff though ..... !

Nikfs

Must do better ... !

museumworker

Regarding food, have you local markets or a discounter like Lidl nearby? We get lots of fresh, tasty and cheap fruit and veg either from our local market or the local turkish shop. Saves a fortune on supermarket stuff, which often tastes of nothing.

Well done on making kids snacks, they can be really pricey. You could make some little muffins (carrot and raisin are simple and healthy), freeze and just pull one out a few hours before needed.

RenovationMan

Our shop is also pretty expensive, but then we buy a LOT of fresh lean meat (turkey, chicken) & fish and eat low GI carbs such as sweet potatoes instead of normal potatoes and fried parsnips instead of chips. We also cook everything in extra virgin olive oil which is a bit pricey. Still, you are what you eat and I really dont go in for buying cheap crap food to save money. I'd rather have a healthy and long-lived family than make a few more overpayments on the mortgage.

mark5

I dont find your monthly shopping bill high, I would say it was normal when you factor in the cost of nappies,cleaning products, milk for toddlers etc.

The one thing you say which does concern me though is your mortgage amount is going up but your interest rate is coming down so your happy with the commitment.

What happens if interest rates increase 4-5%/ your mortgage deal ends etc?

gerbiljo

Hey good luck! This board is great for tips.

I'd agree that the food planner was a huge eye opener to us, sticking to it makes a huge difference. I thought we wasn't too great with food but maybe I was being too hard on us. We aim to spend £30 on a weeks shop, sometimes it might be £40 sometimes less, tho weve had a bad couple of months! So I actively put aside £150 for food but I aim to do £120. Saying that I think you have to work in moderation, I have become rather eaten up in the mortgage free game, whereas my poor husband is missing his takeaways and he finds it tougher! I honestly used to think food shopping involved getting microwave meals each for most days and throwing a couple of dvds in the trolley too. Even if you can cut back a bit it will make a huge difference. I think if food is your main love tho u have to be a bit generous with yourself and cut back on things that are less important. There are 3 of us (daughter nearly 2) plus that includes 7 cats food, 2 dogs food, tho probably another £25 a month (max) for our 5 chickens, duck and 3 gerbils

OOh I should add I rarely clean!! so cleaning products are something that probably only happens twice a year hehe

OOh and we don't have to buy eggs (which we have to eat a lot of now) haha

SmlSave

Thanks for all your comments - I am new to this - am a better to start a blog / diary thing or just keep posting here? It's quite good fun & should focus me in onthe task in hand!

Keep posting here Nikfs

MFW_DannyG

Yea keep posting on here so we can all keep up with how its going! :beer:
I know you probably already do this but just incase you don't, with nappies we always try and go for the special offers and when tesco/asda do Baby&Toddler events we stock up as sometimes the price is cut right down. Also with milk and bread we buy from farmfoods (bread 2 4 £1 & Milk (4pints) 2 4 £1.50) :T
Hope this helps!

greent

Hi - we're a family of 6, with 2 in nappies/ pullups - and our budget is £450 month - including takeaways, cleaning stuff, nappies, toiletries, pet stuff - it *is* doable - and we only buy free range/ organic eggs/ chicken, lots of steak (mainly sirloin and fillet this month!). I make most things from scratch and use leftovers up. Lots of f&v - but we also grow some stuff too (but it doesn't cut down the f&v bill much) I also don't buy much value/ basics stuff, so probablly could do better.

The Aug grocery challenge is just starting up - you could get lots of ideas from there, even if you don't officially join https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2625941