Stressed - Help needed :-(

Imastu

If I can put a little bit of the 'lazy sod' side of saving money on shopping, and focus more on non-fresh food:

It's all about purchasing, as others say, buy in bulk for non-perishables. Think of the 80:20 rule - save 80% of the money for 20% of the effort at first, don't go for every theoretical saving. What do you buy that is quite expensive and could be bought cheaper, rather than just 'what can be bought cheaper?' And think of all family members and what they buy.

Some specifics:

Toiletries:

Razors - offers come by every few months from supermarkets, personally I have bought 3 years' worth of Gillette Fusions from ebay, although others doubt the quality.
Shampoo - buy loads when half price or BOGOF - right now Tesco have 'Wash and Go' on BOGOF. I mean loads - get a year's worth. Why not?
Deodorants - been some excellent glitches, including four for the price one recently in Tesco, and before that six for the price of one in Boots. Again, get all you can store.
Sun Lotion - buy at end of season for next season - it will keep for a year, and you can get it dirt cheap - £1 a bottle rather than £10+

Cereals/staples:
Carry on with cereal - as long as you buy it half price or bogof. They come on with most supermarkets every 6 months or so, so get 7-8 month's supply. Sugar Puffs a personal favourtie - why pay £3 a box when you can pay £1.50?
Pet Food - again wait for a deal, buy in bulk. Always 3 for 2 or BOGOF every 6 months with (e.g.) PetsAtHome, free delivery.

Booze:
Wine - look for glitches and buy in bulk - recent Tesco glitch on small bottles gave equivalent of £2.50 a normal bottle instead of £6+. Look out for other glitches here - there is serious money to saved, as relatively high cost in first place.
Lager - again, every 6 months or so there is a promotion - wait for it and get it for half usual price.
Alcohol purchases are useful, 'cos they're a fraction of the pub/restaurant costs, and with kids: 1) you need alcohol and 2) you can't go out without spending a fortune.

Soft drinks - if you drink anything in particular, be it Coke, apple juice, Lucozade sport etc - same tip, wait for offer of half price or bogof, buy in bulk, get 6 month's worth or more. Today, Morrisons have just launched Ribena at £1.00 a litre instead of usual £2.80-odd. Last for a year, so get a year's worth?

Washing tabs, powder - glitches are good, keep an eye out. Tesco did a £2.30 box for 35p a while back - got 40 of them. Why not? Ditto dishwasher tabs - last indefinitely, why pay full price?
Cleaning stuff - as somebody mentioned, use the pound shops - they're much cheaper.


You will notice the savings in your weekly shopping costs of not having these things in your regular shopping - I suspect your quoted costs include a lot of non-fresh food stuff such as the items above. So it's only after a while that you will notice a real saving on buying non perishables in quantity - but they are definitely savings and easily sustainable.

Good luck!

BoroPhil

Do you have an Asda near you? Go there instead of Tesco, it's loads cheaper.

Plan meals ahead, make menus a couple of weeks in advance.

Plan your food shop in advance (and try and go no more than once a week) using mysupermarket.co.uk

myrtleturtle

plenty of money to be saved using coupons too
abit of time used checking prices( mysupermarket is good for this) can result in stuff for virtually free or with a good discount.especially if you use the coupons when the stuff is on offer
heres the coupon thread with list of currently available coupons
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/45299010#Comment_45299010

bottom

I also find that if I do my shopping online from tesco I spend a lot less than when I go in and shop. You can make a favourites list on the website and just go for that each week. I normally spend about £110 a week for 3 adults and 1 child and a baby but today i went into the store and managed to spend £160!! Personally i wouldnt but the value brands for food but those brands for kitchen towels etc are fine. Also dont always go for the offers. If you dont want 2 of something then dont get them just cos it works out slightly cheaper. One is still cheaper! Lots of luck!

suzybloo

Just a thought, as all the other replies are spot on, but do you have a garden - doesnt matter what size. I dont have a veg garden as such but do have lots of pots sitting about. This year I havent bought lettuce, spring onions, radish and I am just waiting on cucumbers, tomatoes, sweetcorn green beans and courgettes ripening. I also have a lovely selection of herbs., parsley, sage, thyme etc and dry these and keep them in tight fitting jam jars for the winter. Have a look on the greenfinger thread they will give you advice and at the moment the likes of Dobies etc have all their seeds half price. I have just planted Curly Kale, beetroot and potatoes for the autumn, along with a second planting of green beans, and salad things. Hope that helps.

cheerfulness4

m0nkeymrs01 -I'm so glad that in you post you said that you were excited about working with this new smaller budget because it can be great fun finding ways to save money.

I've become lax over time and now am pulling my socks up so your post was excellent timing as all these helpful posters have given me masses to think about. You think you've heard it all over years on here and then a sudden gems hits you from someone.

One thing I'd do now, make a coffee, settle yourself in a corner with you lappy, and enjoy either looking through your collection of cookery books or online fav recipe site (I LOVE bbcgoodfood) and plan, plan, plan some lovely meals, treats and entertaining foods for the big lift off in August.

You are going to have so much fun and even when you have bad months where you wonder how you'll make it to pay day food-wise, there will be places on here and in the Recipe Collection that will show you that you can make meals out of virtually nothing.

Best advice I can give is, as others have said, shop around rather than be loyal (or lazy ) because the deals can be found for all the big brands as well as great little finds in the 'value' lines. As they're so cheap try them out.

Expensive doesn't always mean more nutritiousl. Read all the labels, weezl74 taught me that. I'd strongly advise you read her threads as she's very health conscious on a budget. Was so impressed at her research which she generously shared.

This is the first of her threads and the others radiate from it. Make very interesting reading, I thought.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/826653

motherkitty

Sit down with a cup of tea and have a good read of the Old Style board.
Meal planning, dropping to a supermarket brand or value brand and home cooking will definitely help you save some money.

skintbint_2

be aware of price per 100grms etc. as its amazing sugar being one, little pack 1kg 82p 2kg pack £1.22 a difference of 20p a kg. if you dont use a lot you would automatically pick up a little bag. stock up on tubs/containers for leftovers for wee mans lunches, bulk out as much as possible if i have any mince left i add a tin of baked beans then top with mashed potato serve with carrots and peas, start collecting jars now for making the odd jar of jam - brambles cost nothing and no doubt the wee one will enjoy walks to pick them. at least no additives, colourings etc and dont use special sugars etc good old granulated and a squeeze of lemon juice is enough. make pancakes and a little splattering of jam cheap but tasty and no e numbers!
remember that your electricity/gas etc will go up as you will be in the house more often, buy stamps for shopping December/January/February even if you have enough for one weeks "free" shop when your bills will be higher. fix your rate now if you can
have you thought about doing a little job - avon etc make the odd £30-£40 every three weeks for a couple of hours work over 3 weeks (DD does this but just for family and friends) doesnt sound a lot but that could pay for treats-put away for a holiday, unexpected bill etc or every 6 wks thats your shopping money but keep a separate bank acc. so it isnt eaten up
have you looked at tax credits?
start putting any £2 coins you get in a pot or even 50p's but pledge not to spend a specific coin because you are saving it! get a cheap sealed tin out of a pound shop, even if you have to open it every 5/6 week you would be surprised how much you could put away without noticing.