Where do we go from basics?

calleyw

I am lucky I have a local sainsburys that marks down between 4-5pm each day pop in on my way home, the other day I managed to pick up taste the difference 6 pack of sausages for 60p each:j

And SA said to me rather than hang around waiting, choose what you want and I will mark it down now.:T

I don't buy a lot of full price food now. I try get things at least 50% off if not more.

I also just shop around different stores to get the best deals and offers.

I also buy frozen veg no waste.

It all helps to keep with in my budget.

Yours

Calley

taplady

havent been to Tesco for ages but went in at 5.30 pm and got a few good bargains
9 big bananas 29p and a carton of muchrooms 25p to name a few! was suprised as all the reduced stuff was still in prime condition!:T so its obviously a good time to go. Shop was really quiet too.

EstherH

Our supermarkets don't mark down much any more. Mr M's used to have cooked chickens, pies and bread really cheap about seven o'clock but not these days. Mr T don't Mark down enough. Have seen items two for two pounds individually marked down to £1.35 in Mr M yesterday. Prices just seem to go up and up and something has to give but I don't know what because there isn't anything left to give.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

I will happily liberate something I could use out of skips and will try and bodge something together to solve a problem rather than spend out on a brand new, custom made version.

I rarely use the supermarket now, as I tired of last minute reductions of an overpriced piece of meat comprising 30p off a £12 lump that is going to be destroyed out the back after closing. And reminding myself that it isn't a bargain if I wouldn't have bought it at full price.

Which reminds me - why on earth would I want BOGOF? I would prefer to have one for half price. Stupid. [/grumble]



I use the market for fruit & veg - much cheaper, the halal butchers for meat (cheaper, better quality and you can buy 3 chicken thighs or 5oz of mince which consists of meat, not water), the fishmonger for fish (obviously) as they will sell you a small thick piece of fish (not one fat and one scrawny hidden under the label) or trimmings for pie and the ethnic stores for spices, herbs, tomatoes, cucumbers and bread.

I'm growing veggies, herbs and hopefully some fruit for the first time - the expensive stuff and the stuff we use loads of - so beans and squashes, tomatoes, potatoes, raspberries, strawberries, etc.



But most of all - which may sound simple to some and terrible to others - is that I am having to eat less.

I overate habitually after experiencing a few years in my early twenties where I didn't have enough to pay my rent, council tax, feed myself and keep my DD in food, clothes and warmth. I believe that subconsciously I built up fat reserves on the offchance that I would have to make that choice again in the future. Which is now.

Now I know that I don't have the money to throw around, but I have things I won't compromise on (music lessons for DD, for example, or food she likes and is good for her), I cut out what I can, one of which is my food - although this was initially started off by a combination off illness and medication, I am seeing the financial benefits and can do this for quite some time yet.

Although, then I have the issue of needing smaller size clothing.



Bah, lose-lose here!

patchwork_cat

life_in_termoil wrote: »

At the secondary school my children attend they have a cookery evening once a week where you can go with your children to learn to cook. All ingredients are provided and you only need to take in casserole dishes or something to bring the items home in. So far this year we have made....spag bol, lasagne, macaroni cheese, vegi burgers, meat balls, pizza, chicken casserole, beef stew, fish cakes, chicken curry, apple crumble, double chocolate cookies, rhubarb pie, eves pudding, bread and butter pudding...the list goes on. If your a family of 2 u cook for 2, if your a family of 4 u cook for 4, their is even a family of 9 who attend each week and some of the kids are only 5 or 6. Its great fun and its saving you money!

That is great, but who is paying for it because someone is.

[Deleted User]

well I for one wouldn`t mind my taxes going to pay for something like the cookery evening. Children and parents need to know how to cook from scratch. It`ll eventually save money on the nhs if people know how to use food properly

bargainhunterss

life_in_termoil wrote: »

At the secondary school my children attend they have a cookery evening once a week where you can go with your children to learn to cook. All ingredients are provided and you only need to take in casserole dishes or something to bring the items home in. So far this year we have made....spag bol, lasagne, macaroni cheese, vegi burgers, meat balls, pizza, chicken casserole, beef stew, fish cakes, chicken curry, apple crumble, double chocolate cookies, rhubarb pie, eves pudding, bread and butter pudding...the list goes on. If your a family of 2 u cook for 2, if your a family of 4 u cook for 4, their is even a family of 9 who attend each week and some of the kids are only 5 or 6. Its great fun and its saving you money!

such a good idea. I mean I personally dont have kids, but I can imagine its really fun for kids (and big kids!) I wish we'd had something like that when I was at school (which wasn't a million years ago!)

bargainhunterss

EstherH wrote: »

Our supermarkets don't mark down much any more. Mr M's used to have cooked chickens, pies and bread really cheap about seven o'clock but not these days. Mr T don't Mark down enough. Have seen items two for two pounds individually marked down to £1.35 in Mr M yesterday. Prices just seem to go up and up and something has to give but I don't know what because there isn't anything left to give.

Mr. M tends to be open a lot later now, and I guess it depends on the person reducing items. The guy who sometimes does it in the Derby store tends to reduce stuff down quite quickly once it gets past 8pm esp on the bakery stuff!:T

mrsmortenharket

patchwork_cat wrote: »

That is great, but who is paying for it because someone is.

god forbid your precious taxes might go towards some families improving what they eat. :huh:

PasturesNew

mrsmortenharket wrote: »

god forbid your precious taxes might go towards some families improving what they eat. :huh:

Well yes...

When I was at school we didn't get the ingredients for cookery provided. If you didn't have them they'd provide them and you'd cook the dish - then it was snatched away and flogged off in the staff room to pay to replace the ingredients.

Somebody always has to pay.... so who is it?