Now and Then: 7 - 13 March

tiff

This isnt just in the last week but a noticeable different for us.

Now, buy chicken, large whole turkey, pork, beef, lamb, gammon joints
Then, ready meals, chicken, minced beef, expensive chicken breasts

I never used to buy joints thinking they were so expensive, but now that I have a different shopping strategy, I buy large joints cook them and slice them up to freeze or make different meals. Also leave some for sandwiches. Buying a joint on top of my other rubbish was expensive, but now I see that its more economical to do this and also much easier to cook now I have the slow cooker. In fact I dont think I've cooked any joint in the oven since buying my slow cooker in January

Curry_Queen

SnowyOwl wrote:

Then: considered energy efficient bulbs but they were too expensive
Now: have changed all possible bulbs to energy efficient - and it didn't cost a penny as they were all FREE thanks to postings on this site!!! NB have kept the old bulbs - when I move the energy efficient ones will be moving too

I bought two of these to try out via an energy efficient promotion at the kids' primary school (think they were about £2 each) around 10 years ago, and they are still going strong despite moving around several properties, so don't leave them behind whatever you do

Have since got another couple free with the warmfront grant and bought some more when they were on special at tescos a few months ago. Just hope they last as long as the others!

tiff

I bought one for our bathroom as we leave the light on all night. My 4 year old tends to get up in the night to go to toilet and its much cheaper to have one of these low energy lightbulbs.

halloweenqueen_2

Well I've managed to do all my shopping this week for £25. I've been using stuff from the freezer so the only meat i have bought for a spag bol tomorrow, trying homemade spahetti, give the kids something to laugh at! Luckily I popped into Waitrose and they had reduced nearly all their veg so I snapped it up.We've had some really nice dinners this week, found stuff in the freezer I'd forgotton about!
So altogether I've spent £57 this month and I'm really pleased with that.

halloweenqueen_2

Think I was in wrong thread - March grocery challenge was what I should have been in!

greenlogo

I've only been making the changes for a wee while, but I've already done some things I'm proud of

Now: Have bought weekly bus ticket and am planning weekend shopping trip round busses (much cheapness from Aldi and Iceland )
Then: got taxis EVERYWHERE to the tune of >£300 a month


Now: Made a delish spag bol for tea and two extra portions waiting to go in the freezer. yumee!
Then: Bought an expensive takeaway and threw away perfectly good food because I "couldn't be bothered" to cook


Now:Cancelled gym membership and instead walk at least 30minutes a day to and from the work bus
Then: never walked and felt guilty about not going to the expensive gym

only more and better to come

zarazara

This seems an interesting thread related to the Good Life type thread. Theres a good recipe for HM laundry powder on page 1 . I am going to try it.

[Deleted User]

I wonder how the prices today would compare with the prices then I think we would be very suprised at how much food has actually risin in cost over the past 5 years

ceridwen

JackieO wrote: »

I wonder how the prices today would compare with the prices then I think we would be very suprised at how much food has actually risin in cost over the past 5 years

I doubt it - think Mardatha has been in best disguise mode leading the throng through supermarkets in her disguise pith helmet exploring the depths of the "supermarket jungle" - looking for her must-have sweeties in her case :rotfl::rotfl: