Newbie on Board

Jellybaby

Hi everyone, discovered this site by accident last week when looking for some money saving tips and I'm addicted! Desparately need to start looking at ways of saving money and as I spend an absolute fortune on food (well I think so, around £120 per week for two adults and two kids (14 and 11)) and that doesn't include topping up during the week which is probably another £20-30 I thought I'd start here. Picked up loads of tips already from scrolling through the threads but if anyone has ideas on the best way to start please let me know.

Sorry if I've posted this in the wrong place, I'm new!!

tru

Hello :hello:

I think the easiest place to start is in The MEGA Indexed Thread, cleaning section. Or you could jump in and try everything at once like I did, I wouldn't recommend it though, I ended up totally confused The list was a lot shorter then, too

toria27

Hi, jellybaby. I am fairly new and also addicted I can't seem to go a day without looking on here at least morning and night. I don't want to miss any tips!
Good luck trying to cut down I'm trying to do my food shop for £160 a month thats for 2 adults and a toddler, might be a bit tight this month as only have £11 left until October.

tawnyowls

Might be worth your while posting a statement of affairs (SOA) on the Debt Free Wannabe board (also for people who aren't actually in debt), which will get you loads of advice from people on how to cut down your bills, not just food.

My tips:
Cook loads from scratch .
Freeze everything freezable, particularly single portions of 'traybakes' such as lasagne, corned beef hash, moussaka etc, for instant ready meals to prevent you spending money on those or on takeaways.
Shop late in the day and look out for cheap deals everywhere you shop (I picked up 3 big tubs of cream for 29p each yesterday in Morrisons).
Try Aldi or Lidl if you have one near you.
Find your nearest pound shop!
See if you have a farm shop nearby or a vegetable box scheme.
Get a cheap whiteboard (often in pound shops) and do a meal planner.
Use that to make your shopping list, and try not to buy stuff that isn't on the list (unless it really is a clearance bargain and you will, definitely, use it)
Don't shop when you're hungry.

Lillibet_2

Welcoem Jellybaby:hello:

We love a new [STRIKE]victim[/STRIKE] newbie:o

There will be pleanty of hel;p & suggestions & pointers to other threads soon.. First off though, remmerb BABY STEPS:D Don't try & do everythign or too much of one thing at once or you'll get disheatened & fail. It's a bit like losing weight, quick fixes don't work:rolleyes:

To start with, do you make a meal plan of what you are going to cook each week? This is a good place to start, plan 7 days worth of dinners/lunches, breakfasts even if everyoen has thed same everyday (helps you plan how much of it you need to buy) then factor in snacks, drinks etc. This will be yoru basis for yoru shopping list. I'm willing to bet that just by doing this alone (if you don't already) you'll spend lesss beacsue you will have a plan & not be buying randomley or letting things go off!

I'd suggest just try doing this for a couple of weeks & keep your reciepts, once you are used to making & sticking to a mael plan & menu & shoppping list, then you can look at ways of streatching the meals further or cutting back. Keep commin gback for inspritation, we don't mind;)

Good luck & don't be afraid to ask, there's no such thing as a stupid question here!:D

tinselfairy

Welcome Jellybaby!
I haven't been here long either and agree it's very addictive.

Have a sort through your kitchen cupboards and freezer and see what meals could be created from they things you have already.
Then menu plan.
I started by writing a list of all the meals we liked. Then allocating the ones which take longer to cook to the nights I have more time and the quick and easy ones to the nights where we get in later because of work and after school clubs.
I've found impulse purchases when going out for top ups like bread/milkveg are less likely this way.

catznine

Hello! :hello: and welcome to ol style

We try to have a leftovers night on the night before we do the weeks shopping. Gather up the leftover veg etc and make up a big pot of soup or a curry. 1 days free food a week is a good start.

Make a spending diary, be brave you will be surprised to see where all the money is going and you will be able to look at ways to save more. I agree though baby steps is best at first.

Good luck

Catz x

squeaky

There's a whole bunch of threads specifically about getting started on Old Style here:-

mrs_mix

welcome jellybaby
I'm a relative newbie to but everyone here is great

pam

kscour

Agree with baby steps!
Try not to waste anything - bread thats going dry I wallop in food processor and freeze the breadcrumbs (that also saves when I'm having to make stuffing in a hurry)
Any left over casserole etc gets frozen straight away.
veg thats starting to get past its best or left on shopping day gets thrown in a pan, cooked and blended into veg soup which is then frozen.
I think the biggest saving comes from cooking from scratch but if you haven't been doing that up to now then do it one at a time or else it will seem much harder work than it really is - the first time I made parsley sauce many moons ago it was a long winded nightmare now I know the measurements off by heart and it's a 5 mins don't think twice job!
Meal planner saves so much time in the long run as well and if you're like me you could probably live out of your cupboards/fridge/freezer for a month!!
Good luck and welcome aboard - this site is really addictive because of all the great advice and the really wonderful :grouphug: people - I don't know where I'd be without it!!:D

FrugalJo

Hi Jelly
Welcome !
My biggest timesaver on my first tentative steps into OS was the menu planner, takes so much stress out the week if you know whats what each day.
Have fun