Help reducing my shopping bill

skyvicky123

Hi guys, sorry if this would be better in the meal plan thread but I wasn't sure. I am after a little advice on my weekly shop. Just planning out for next week and want to know if I could cut back on anything anwhere.

I am happy to do a meat free day but the OH won't have it (unless it's seafood pizza which i do make)

This is my meal plan and shopping list for this week. I have some things already in like sausages, ham, potatoes etc. Basically everything in the meal plan but not on my list is in cupboard/fridge/freezer so needs using up.

Tuesdays and Thursday I have to cook for two LO's but tend to have suitable portions in freezer from other meals.

I do all my shopping in Mr T. I am willing to shop around for a good saving to a certain extent, but often find this just leads to me spending even more on "bargains"!

Prices are rough from what I can remember off the top of my head:

nappies (44 tesco brand £5)
Squash £1.50
Cheerios (Tesco brand £1.50)
Pineapple £1
Grapes £2.00
Apples £0.69p (market val)
Satsumas £2.00
Bag salad £1.00
Pancetta £2.00 (use in stew and carbonara)
Whole chicken £5.00
Bacon £2.00 (saturday lunch treat)
Parmesan (my bit has run out but lasts for ages) £2.50
Atora £1.00
Stewing steak £4.00 (tesco val - I make double qty (at least) and freeze)
Red wine £2.00 (for stew)
Carrots £1.00
Brocolli £0.50p
Mushrooms £0.89
Tomatoes £2.00
Cucumber 0.79p
Vegetable Oil (run out) £1.00
6 pt milk £1.80

Friday - Dinner only spag bol (already made in freezer)
Saturday Lunch bacon rolls, Dinner Ham salad, hm garlic bread
Sunday Lunch Boiled eggs, Dinner Roast chicken
Monday Lunch soup (made in frzr) & hm Bread for me Beand on toast OH. Dinner LO chicken salad and jkt potato
Tuesday Lunch me chs on tooast, OH out, kids pasta tom sauce. Dinner Toad in hole.
Wednesday - Lunch ham salad rolls Dinner Pork chops for OH Spaghetti Carbonara for me
Thursday - Lunch cheese on toast, Kids salmon fishcakes, Dinner Beef stew and dumplings

Any help comments or advice appreciated - even if it is blunt!

Raspberry_Swirl

nappies (44 tesco brand £5)
Squash £1.50 What size of squash is this for? I buy the value 1ltr lemon/blackcurrant/orange squash which is around 30p.
Cheerios (Tesco brand £1.50)
Pineapple £1
Grapes £2.00
Apples £0.69p (market val)
Satsumas £2.00 If you can be flexible with the fruit then see what's on offer and you might not spend as much
Bag salad £1.00 This works out to be so expensive for the amount of lettuce you get, and I find it goes brown before I can finish it. Iceburg may not be trendy, but lasts a lot longer and you get far more lettuce for your money.
Pancetta £2.00 (use in stew and carbonara) Bacon bits do the job just as well as fancy pancetta.
Whole chicken £5.00
Bacon £2.00 (saturday lunch treat)
Parmesan (my bit has run out but lasts for ages) £2.50
Atora £1.00
Stewing steak £4.00 (tesco val - I make double qty (at least) and freeze)
Red wine £2.00 (for stew) You could try a bottle of ale for around £1, for a change?
Carrots £1.00
Brocolli £0.50p
Mushrooms £0.89
Tomatoes £2.00
Cucumber 0.79p
Vegetable Oil (run out) £1.00
6 pt milk £1.80

lovebargainshatewaste

I'm confused as to why you and your OH have different dinners? I'm not judging, just curious and it potentially creates more work for you?
If you have an Aldi near you, check out their website as to what fruit and veg is on offer. They always have 6 types for 69p, and the fruit/veg changes twice a week, usually. Also, they do a 1kg pack of minced beef for £2.43 if you use mince. Instead of panchetta, you can use streaky bacon, cut up into small cubes. Same(ish) taste, but much cheaper.
Grapes are expensive at this time of year, so might want to try a different fruit.
If you have time before your shop, you can do a pretend shop online, so you can see what's on special offer.

HTH

skyvicky123

Hi, appreciate you taking time out to reply - I know I am a fuss pot when it comes to things like pancetta as it just tastes better to me for carbonara (don't mind bacon bits in stew). But will try the tesco val red wine. Shld be okay for a stew (its actually beef ragout so red wine based and OH favourite!)

Will defo remember to get value lemon squash as remember it tastes pretty good.

Will take your advice on the lettuce, but hate it soggy, any OS tips for me on how to rinse it and dry it without buying a salad spinner?

Well hey that's a couple of quid so every little helps! Plus you never know I might discover some yellow sticker stuff. It's been like looking for hens teeth the last few weeks and when stuff is reduced it's only by 1/3 or so.

Thanks again!

skyvicky123

Hi lovebargains - we do occasionally have different meals for dinners, as he loves everything roast type with gravy and hates pasta type dishes (my fav) it's more work but don't think it costs more as I won't cook anything which creates waste. I freeze pork chops individually for example. Plus he can often be home after 8pm and I just can't wait that long!

We could say opposites attract! He likes baked beans, I think they're devils food! So it does mean a lot of planning. Add to that my LO and her friend to feed twice a week. They are very UN-FUSSY and eat all sorts both me and OH would never touch but is good for them i.e. fish etc. Wouldn't want them to be limited to eating our diet just because we are fussy!

You're right about the grapes, will drop them and swap for an extra pineapple as they are so tasty at the minute! (alrwady have plums in from the other day)

lovebargainshatewaste

I understand re the different meals. The important thing is that you're all eating a varied and healthy diet and you're happy. You're doing well, so pat yourself on the back

quintwins

err whats seafood pizza?

Pink.

quintwins wrote: »

err whats seafood pizza?

Hi quintwins,

It's pizza topped with any fish or shellfish. I usually make it using mussels, prawns and sometimes tuna, but it can include any fish or seafood. Oooh I really fancy one now!

Pink

JIL

Try doing your shopping at Ald! If there is one near you of course. All the fruit and veg would be cheaper and their bags of salad are 49p to 89p. Go there first, cross things off your list and then pop into Tesco to finish the list. The Ald! pancetta is two tubs for £1.49. Chickens £2.99 or £4.99 for free range. Thier nappies have a good review. Apologies if you do not live near one or have tried it before.

quintwins

Pink-winged wrote: »

Hi quintwins,

It's pizza topped with any fish or shellfish. I usually make it using mussels, prawns and sometimes tuna, but it can include any fish or seafood. Oooh I really fancy one now!

Pink

not really meat free then :rotfl::rotfl:

my hubby isn't keen on meat free days so i do quiche with ham in it, and i do spag bol but with pasta shapes and very little bol:rotfl:

missminx007

have you thought about using a market for fruit and veg, depending on their prices it might work out cheaper. We get our grapes from the local trader and last week we got 1.2kg for £1.50 and because we always go and stock up every week he always chucks a bit extra in or knocks a bit of money off.