Where do we go from basics?

Softstuff

I was debating the same thing looking at clothes in the charity shops, where the prices had gone sky high, and wondering if people can't afford charity shop clothes, what next?

bluebag

Softstuff wrote: »

I was debating the same thing looking at clothes in the charity shops, where the prices had gone sky high, and wondering if people can't afford charity shop clothes, what next?

I find charity shops have gone very expensive, so I don't buy much there anymore. We have a local jumble sale each month with clothes item selling for 30p. Have had some good stuff.

Flea markets and car boots are good too.

donnajt

Have you got a farm shop nearby? we have one called barleylands you can buy 10kg of potatoes for £2.50, 5kg red onions £1.95, bags of apples, oranges, pears etc £1, 24 eggs £2.50, they also sells groceries ie 3 jars red pesto £1, 10 packs noodles £1, biscuits 3 for £1, dried herbs 4 jars for £1, i find this really cuts our food bill

rosie383

That farm shop sounds good. I wish we had something like that near us. We have a couple of farm shops around but they are very expensive. They import the fruit and veg that is out of season, and then, when it is in season, we are growing our own anyway.
I would also love it if there was a 'scoop' shop here too. I know they still exist......you know, the ones where all the food is in big bins, and you just bag up as much as you need. Great if you just need a very small quantity of a particular thing.

rosie383

BTW, just googled scoop shop locator uk and was very excited to get a long list!!! Until I saw that they were Ben&Jerry's ice cream scoop shops..... not very MSE I think! If anyone knows of one in the 3 counties (Beds/ Herts/ Bucks) area I would appreciate. Or a good value farm shop. We were able to get a 25kg bag of spuds last year at a farm shop for 4.50, they have now gone up more than 50% to 7.50!!

the_cat

donnajt

Is that farm shop the one is Essex? I live not too far from there so it might possibly be worth the petrol for a stock up

the_cat

Unfortunately I think it does get to a point where you are unable to cut down any further:(

Tricks I use include whoopsies (obviously!:p) Aldi supersix and Lidl weekend deals, growing a few bits in the garden, Farmfoods (good offers on meat/bacon amongst others and at times all the out of date food sites online. Might have now found a farm shop:o thanks to donnajt and think there was a scoop shop in nearby town at one point. will be looking to see if its still there - storage/turnover/hygiene bothers me a bit though......

Of course there is always cutting out/back on stuff, wine for example:eek::eek::eek: if you are a drinker, biscuits etc, use water not soft drinks, making a flask of tea with 1 or 2 tbags first thing and keeping it for the day in a thermos.

I would personally rather cut back on something else first if at all possible and keep the food quality/quantity the same though

chanie

I too was going to suggest grow your own. I grow mine in pots on the patio. Once you have planted them, they don't need too much work.

At the moment, I'm growing potatoes,spring onions, purple sprouting brocolli, tomatoes and lettuce, parsley, thyme and basil (which I will turn into pesto and freeze).

If you are unable to cut back further, how about trying to up your income e.g. car boot sales, ebay etc.

OR, how about making things for birthday/christmas presents. You could knit a scarf for £1, if you grow your own, make jams and chutneys etc.

gillian62

This is a great concern of mine. I have never struggled to feed my family as I do now.

There is very little in my shopping trolley that isn't basic or on offer, or reduced items. We go out with flasks and bottles of drinks now.

I bake my own bread, and also bake cakes, biscuits and puds, and make meals from scratch.

I have an allotment which I got part way through the season last year. I am making very good use of the plot this year, as we need the vegetables rather than them being extras. I have made the garden at home into a veg and herb garden, and the top of the garden houses my chickens (which I started doing last year). Although chicken feed etc has gone up in price it is still cheaper and better than the supermarket eggs. In fact some weeks we have relied on the eggs as the main part of most meals when we are very hard up.

But it is a daily struggle and I can't see it getting any better soon.

xrjtg

mojoman wrote: »

So as I say in the title where do we go from here. All advice seems to be to go down a level. HOW?

This obviously depends hugely on what you buy now, but can you go sideways? When you can no longer pay any less for what you'd like to buy the next option is to buy different things.