thrifty OS mum tips???

Tink_04

Hi,

I have a DH 1yr old DD and im struggling to pay of debt i have never really looked into how we live or how we manager our money and now im really wanting to cut back - ive read some fab tips on cooking and house tips but im struggling with the mum things! like things for my daughter ie shoes, fresh fruit, good quality meat. i was hoping that some OS mums could help me out as my mum never really did things this way so i have no idea but im very willing to learn!

rozmister

I'm not a mum so I'm not good on mum things but I get all my fresh fruit and veg from Aldi. It works out really cheap especially if you plan your meals around what is on the Six for 69p offer and lots of things are permenantly cheap like parsnips and potatoes and mushrooms. I think I must save about £6 or £7 a week by doing this (planning my meals around the veg on offer and not buying in Sainsburys like I used to) and I'm a single person

My mum always paid full price for my shoes from Clarks despite us living on a shoestring when I was little because she said cheap shoes would damage my feet and she's right they did (when I left home and discovered a strong love for cheap skyscraper heels).

We always had a chest freezer growing up and my mum used to pop into the shop on her way home from work to check the reduced bits and then if there was anything we could freeze and eat later (ready meals, meat, fishcakes, etc) she'd bring it home and freeze it straight away then we'd have it another day. She also did it with bread. It also meant when the money ran out at the end of the month we had something in the freezer to keep us going until the next pay cheque came.

cooking-mama

Tink_04 wrote: »

Hi,

I have a DH 1yr old DD and im struggling to pay of debt i have never really looked into how we live or how we manager our money and now im really wanting to cut back - ive read some fab tips on cooking and house tips but im struggling with the mum things! like things for my daughter ie shoes, fresh fruit, good quality meat. i was hoping that some OS mums could help me out as my mum never really did things this way so i have no idea but im very willing to learn!

hello and welcome tink-04...im not realy sure what you mean by "mum things"...personaly i think shoes for my daughters,budgeting etc are both parents responsibilty,and these things work better with teamwork,anyhow that aside,i think if you search any of the tips on this forum you will find good advice posted from people who arent necessarily mums,but are still very good at budgeting,cooking,shopping,household tips etc etc...good luck

missminx007

Tink_04 wrote: »

Hi,

I have a DH 1yr old DD and im struggling to pay of debt i have never really looked into how we live or how we manager our money and now im really wanting to cut back - ive read some fab tips on cooking and house tips but im struggling with the mum things! like things for my daughter ie shoes, fresh fruit, good quality meat. i was hoping that some OS mums could help me out as my mum never really did things this way so i have no idea but im very willing to learn!

hi there, I've got a 20mo dd and I know how expensive clothes can be and how much they get through! I buy all ours from the NCT sales, you can get some real bargains, bags full for the same price as one top and pair of trousers new and a lot of them have never been worn. Also, I'm a sucker for carboot sales, as we are always up early we can get there early to get the good stuff, most of the time they sell for about 20p an item. I cant remember the last time I bought something new for her! Also great for books/toys

missminx007

oh and as for meat and things, I dont ever buy cheap meat, im a bit fussy expecially with chicken so i'll buy the freedom food or free range chicken but thighs and drumsticks and im forever buying things reduced and freezing them.

rachbc

My daughter gets 'proper' shoes - but bought in the sale! Our local indpendant shoe shop has regualr sales selling last seasons clarkes/ start rite etc. TBH though she is bare foot whenever she has the chance, whch is best for their feet anyway.

Our local market is fantastic for cheap fruit and veg - I got more than I could carrry for £8 last week and its lasted us over a week of at least 5 a day!

Meat - well I've started doing one meatfree day a week and we its great so meat all the time really isn't neccessary for kids

cooking-mama

missminx007 wrote: »

oh and as for meat and things, I dont ever buy cheap meat, im a bit fussy expecially with chicken so i'll buy the freedom food or free range chicken but thighs and drumsticks and im forever buying things reduced and freezing them.

Hi missminx007...i have a post about higher welfare,freedom food on the food and groceries shopping forum,im looking for a good supplier,our local Tesco sold it years ago but not now,I can source free range eggs and chickens...or even organic meat(-beef pork),but the organic stuff is way too expensive,but i could afford the fredom food range if i can find it,where do you buy yours?.thanks.

karren

try tk maxx for shoes ive had some brilliant quality shoes there for half the price but i do stick to clarks for the school shoes.
Ebay is brilliant for clothes bundles and often all like new, then i pass on to mates when my 2 finished as pass the good turn on.
A sack of pots goes a long long way in the winter, so I make cheese and pot pie, soups and loads of cheap warming foods etc, and my 2 fit and healthy so im doing something right, the slow cooker is amazing I do all sorts in there and its brilliant when you have little ones as i prepare the next days tea in the night when im preparing that days tea then it goes in fridge and pop it on before going to early shift and its all sorted when i come home with my 2.

I use the steamer all the time as saves fuel and everything done the same time.

dont pay to go to the huge playzone places the park, library and beaches etc are free and my 2 remember those days out more than anything, wish id known at the time! We picnic in all weathers and kids love it as they get more freedom and they help pack the picninc, my friends laugh as i regularly pack soup etc and off we go in the wellies for adventures in the park etc.

kittie2475

Hi

I'm in a similar situation and am embarking on the grocery challenge this month to try and really get on top of our food spend.
My little gets her shoes from Clarks at the Designer Outlet in York, saves about £8 on high street price. I try and buy clothes when Sainsburys etc have sales on and ask for clothes for presents rather than toys.
Nappies I always look for offers on, i use a supermarket comparison thing to check who has my favourite brand on offer when I need them.
I'm also buying meat in bulk this month, a big cost initially but butchers seem to do some really good offers when you buy in decent amounts. Also I believe in high welfare meat and supporting local business as well.

xx

pinkmami

I have 3 kids age 8, 7 & 2 & the best thing I do is a meal planner. Its for 3 weeks & has things like spag bolg, chicken casseroles, chilli con carne & rice, pork chops & chips, lobscouse, chicken curry, cheap & cheerful egg & chips (my fave by far!!) etc. Make a list of the meals you like & make a menu! I have a few night off like a frozen lasagne, curry nuggets for the kids etc.) as we have 4 nihgt out of 7 with some kind of activity (mostly football!). We have a treat once every 4-5 weeks of a chinese takeaway. Roast dinner every Sunday & I make enough to serve as dinner for DH the following evening.

I tend to buy my veg in Tesco but noticed the prices were awful for what I got so now go to Iceland as Broccoli if £1 for a large on & a large cauli for £1.25 - they;re £1.47 for a tiny one in Tesco. Same for fruit - Iceland gets thumbs up from me.

Clotheswise - I buy at Matalan, Tesco & george. My girls live in trainers so also get them in the same places & shoes for DS from Next. Ebay is also a fave for me. DO you have stuff you could sell on it then you can get some £££ in the pot to buy your DD something?

LJM

i would echo the meal planner, so much food can be wasted by not doing this in my opinion especially if you go shopping hungry lol, if you also do a stock list of what you have in your cupboards fridge and freezer then you could see what meals you can make from those. if you can also try to write a list of what your incomings and out goings are least this way you can set yourself a budget. there are lots of fantastic pages on here full of moneysaving ideas which should be able to help you alot xx