Where do we go from basics?

donnajt

rosie383 wrote: »

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.

I'd forgotten about scoop shops!!! When we lived in London we had so many wonderful shops - our favs were the super cheap Turkish Supermarket and Asian Supermarket and the scoop shop, oh happy days...

donnajt

bluebag wrote: »

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.

Freecycle - I always freecycle our clothes once we are finished with them esp the kids who grow out of them so flippin quick

I was watching a programme (have just had an op so watching lots of daytime tv!!!) and they organised a swap shop, everybody bought clothes, a couple of people arranged them all into sex, size etc and then each contributor was given 10 tokens for ten items to take home

rachbc

For us its not just about what brands but WHAT we buy that has saved money - we don't buy biscuits, cakes/ snack/ cereal/ bars, crisps, squash, sliced ham, puddings, flavoured yoghurts (ex for kids lunches), boxed cereal etc etc at all anymore - I either make or do without...

Asian shops are great for meat, grains, spices and bulk bags of onions etc

Homebargains and B&M are great of stocking up when they have soemtime you know you will use...still owking my way through 29p noodles and tortillas!

donnajt

the_cat wrote: »

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

Hi the_cat, yes Barleylands in Basildon, if you are on facebook, add it as a friend (Barleylands Billericay), whereabouts do you live?

We personally couldn't eat so much fresh fruit and veg if it wasn't for Barleylands ... if the quantities are too much, I prepare and put in freezer

ps its small so go alone and make sure you pick a trolley up on the way in

HTH x

mardatha

rachbc wrote: »

For us its not just about what brands but WHAT we buy that has saved money - we don't buy biscuits, cakes/ snack/ cereal/ bars, crisps, squash, sliced ham, puddings, flavoured yoghurts (ex for kids lunches), boxed cereal etc etc at all anymore - I either make or do without...

*****************************

Rachb, these are things my daughter spends a fortune on! Can you tell me what kind of things you use for the kids packed lunches in place of all this (rubbish) stuff ?:D

donnajt

threemuttleys wrote: »

well, for us as a family. we are struggling. food prices are mental, and as for petrol, well what is there to say?

We are a family of three, and I really dont know how much further I can make our budget stretch. I am eating less and less (skipping meals at times) to ensure that my son has enough to eat, I am walking everywhere I can, and I am dreading July when I have to return to work (Nursery/Childminders, transport to work/cm/nursery)

We are lucky, we have our own home, charity shops are getting too expensive (£3 for a t shirt...thats the same as Primarche!) Most of my sons things have come from car boots, and I cant remember the last time my hair was cut

Don;t mention petrol...and as for Childcare I find myself in that boat also...have you got a hairdressing college nearby? our one does haircuts (and colours etc) on a friday for £5, which is a great bargain

threemuttleys

thanks guys..I do try...but things are getting so tight, and if its a choice between having enough money to keep him happy and fed, then Im happy to just drink tea...could do with losing my baby weight anyway.

I will check the benefits site and see what that suggests. thank you

threemuttleys

donnajt wrote: »

Don;t mention petrol...and as for Childcare I find myself in that boat also...have you got a hairdressing college nearby? our one does haircuts (and colours etc) on a friday for £5, which is a great bargain

its insane isnt it. how people are supposed to get to work when fuel is so expensive is beyond me. public transport is equally expensive (or sometimes even more!)

I dont know if there is a hairdressing college...really must find out

donnajt

Thankfully i work locally so walk kids to school and then walk into work

Is there a thread anywhere that you can list bargain shops, hairdressing colleges in your area? that would be so useful to so many of us!

rachbc

mardatha wrote: »

rachbc wrote: »

For us its not just about what brands but WHAT we buy that has saved money - we don't buy biscuits, cakes/ snack/ cereal/ bars, crisps, squash, sliced ham, puddings, flavoured yoghurts (ex for kids lunches), boxed cereal etc etc at all anymore - I either make or do without...

*****************************

Rachb, these are things my daughter spends a fortune on! Can you tell me what kind of things you use for the kids packed lunches in place of all this (rubbish) stuff ?:D

My daughter has a roll (hm or whoopsie) with aldi cream cheese or home roasted ham, carrot sticks/ cucumber, yog tube and some fruit, occassionally dried fruit/ apricots/ cashews (I put them in a dinky pink tub rather than buy small boxes/ bags). Occassionally a hm muffin or twink!

Son takes a big roll filled with roast ham/ beef or lo chicken, pnb and a piece of fruit. He woudl rather play at lunch than eat then stuffs himslef with toast/ yog/ fruit when he gets in at 3! Don't totally appove but better than binning it which he was doing!!

Snacks are breadsticks/ crackers/ toast with jam, pnb or marmite and usually a box of soemthing hm like tealoaf, twinks, flapjack...