FOOD SHOPPING FOR A FAMILY - ISH

System

Peakma welcome to the boards and your input. Every little bit helps.

Dont forget, if you have an electric cooker, it will be cheaper for you to buy a slow cooker to cook in rather than use the oven. The slow cooker uses as much power as a light bulb, and is far more economical to use than heating up an oven. Its also more economical to use a electric toaster, rather than use the grill on the cooker.

If you use a pressure cooker on the hob, you can cook meat/vegs in one go, saves on the washing up and electricity.

I have also converted most of my lot into taking showers, you use a lot less hot water/heating that way.

One more miserly tip i have, when the weather is cold just before i fetch minime from school i go round the upstairs of the house shutting curtains. By 3 pm the sun starts to wane and the temperature drops - so by doing this i preserve as much of the heat as possible. If its bitterly cold. my upstairs curtains are kept closed most of the day.

16011996

hi, peakma. i do most of what judi says, and everything near enough on this thread. thanks for the home made pizza recipe, i'll give that a go.

Sarahsaver

Im surprised and delighted at how little I spend on food nowadays, compared to when I first found this site. We never had loads of expensive food, but its a real inspiration to what is possible. I used to spend maybe £70 or £80 a fortnight at tesco.com on groceries - including trainer pants for the lads at night. Now Its about £50 ;D
We have a plan of what our meals are for the week, but its not the same every week - that would drive us crazy! We dont have crisps or biscuits except as a rare treat. I make my own bread 80% of the time, and my own detergent. If anything can be bought from the 'value' range then I do that. Buy spuds in sacks, and get fresh fruit and veg in the market cos its cheaper. Usually the meat depends on what is on BOGOF at the time I do my shopping order.
We eat really well and dont 'miss out' at all. Heard someone on radio 4 the other day saying that people on low incomes cant afford to eat healthily ::) That really got my back up.
Just wanted to say thanks - this thread and this site are great ;D

Spendless

Do you not have a meat market SSaver? I regularly fill my freezer for month with chicken/pork/steaks/mince and joints for about £40 - £50 depending on what buying.

16011996

what do you mean by a meat market spendless?

Spendless

We have a big market in my town. The outside market has fruit & veg stalls, as well as stalls selling clothes, underwear, handbags all sorts of things.
There is also an indoor market that has fish stalls and meat stalls, don't mean just one stall lots of them. Other stalls sell biscuits, sweets, cake decorations.
Also some stalls do second hand books,crockery, sports wear.

16011996

thanks spendless. know what you mean now. ::)

Sarahsaver

There is a meat market and one of those cheap butchers that i actually trust, in our town (david cheshire) They do loads of offers but it usually ends up being too heavy to carry. I rely on public transport or tesco.com, and im not about to get a wally trolley
I have ordered a xmas meat hamper from a friend whos a hamper agent, because its a great deal, and only paying out £60 for joints of beef, pork, leg of lamb, a turkey, chicken, chicken pieces, bacon, gammon, sausages...etc etc. In other words, i am already clearing out my freezer!!! ;D

16011996

There is a meat market and one of those cheap butchers that i actually trust, in our town (david cheshire) They do loads of offers but it usually ends up being too heavy to carry. I rely on public transport or tesco.com, and im not about to get a wally trolley
I have ordered a xmas meat hamper from a friend whos a hamper agent, because its a great deal, and only paying out £60 for joints of beef, pork, leg of lamb, a turkey, chicken, chicken pieces, bacon, gammon, sausages...etc etc. In other words, i am already clearing out my freezer!!! ;D

i always fancy getting a hamper, but then forget till nearly xmas. yours sounds a good deal though. ::)

Sarahsaver

https://www.familyhampers.co.uk
i have no connection with them at all
you can get one direct from them or via an agent