Shopping-Monthly vs Weekly or daily (merged)

Olliebeak

I'm a monthly ASDA shopper. I buy the 2lb trays of minced beef (the normal one NOT value or premium stuff) and then divide them up into halfpound bags before freezing (using 'butty bags') - better than having to use too much as there's only 2 of us here most of the time. Chicken breast fillets/chicken portions get divided up as well - 2 to a bag - wish I could get FR though. I also buy the small trays of 'stewing beef' (which is actually 'shin beef') and use that for making scouse in the slow cooker - any left overs get frozen in containers and labelled. I get the bargain bags of veggies (couple of pound of carrots, couple of parsnips, small swede, onions for £1.28) for my scouse but don't use all of them - way too many. but the remainders either get put in the fridge till I can use them OR blanched and then frozen (makes sure that they don't accidentally go off before I can use them up). I've also been buying the bags of dried mixed beans (brilliant for bulking out a chilli) and soup and broth mix (bulks out stews, scouse and home made soups).

Buy things like soap powder, fabric conditioner, toilet cleaner (SP), cat litter, cat food, toilet rolls, kitchen rolls, teabags, coffee on a monthly basis. Trying to get the cat to cut down on the amount of kitty litter that gets used - he gets kicked out every evening for half an hour now before being locked in for the night (won't stay out all night cos he hates the cold!) - as he will only use the CatSan (the expensive stuff!).

I don't exactly 'mealplan' as such but always shop with meal ideas in mind, but try to keep it flexible. I keep a check on the whoopsie shelves (reduced price stuff) and pick up anything that I know we'll use and freeze it as soon as I get it home. Also get bread this way as well. OH gets sent out each week (on his payday) to check out the bargains as well now - finally got him trained as to what we can/can't use! Just have to cure him of his jaffa cake/yummy biscuit habit now - though he does use HomeBargains for those, so not too expensive.

ASDA often have the very large pizzas on their whoopsie shelves at the end of the day. These are way too big for my oven - BUT I cut them in half (or quarters) including cutting through the cardboard , wrap in clingfilm and then they go in the freezer.

The deli-counter chinese/indian meals are often whoopsied - and they freeze very well indeed - like having a 'cheapie' takeaway evening.

I buy fresh milk and longlife skimmed (keeps for ages in a cupboard without taking up valuable fridge/freezer space AND its cheap!).

maypole

I use to do a monthly shop years ago but now it is fortnightly, in a supermarket and if we are in the area we get bulk things at Costco. Because I am not now always nipping to the shops for things, apart from perishables, I don't waste money. You know what it's like, you go for milk and then you find your basket is full at the checkout, not anymore!

emma_lewis84

minibudgetgal wrote: »

Just done my first monthly plan for March! Used to spend in around 500 quid a month at Tesco, and looking to halve it over the next three months. Have a huge backlog of food all over the place, freezer, cpboards etc! I have got a list of nonperishable stuff that I am going to order through Tesco online, and then I am going to allocate £25 each week for fruit, veg, dairy from the market and the milkman.
Will let you know if it works.

could I see your monthly plan?!?
Sorry to be cheeky, I can plan for a week - but once I've thought of 7 meals my mind goes blank!!

MrsE_2

keren29 wrote: »

Well, the order is placed! Delivery is next Thursday evening and came in at £109 including delivery and with the £15 off code used. I'll update my sig when it arrives and see how the month goes!

£109 - I used to spend more than that in a week in the bad old pre MSE days!

:T :T :T Well done you, I spent £125 on this weeks shopping, so I bow down to you:A

Its probably a good idea to do one big shop per month (on pay day) & then smaller weekly shops for fresh stuff.

Maybe I should do this, I might spend less!:o

debbiedebt

Hi

I have a delivery of organic veg weekly and meat monthly which comes to about £80. I then spend about £70 in aldi/lidl for other items to last the month. O I nearly forgot I also have my milk delivered.

This is my way of keeping out of the shops and saving time which I then spend on this site!!!

DD xx

Mrs._Irwin

This is my plan, that I hope to have fully under way in the next two months (before arrival of baby no.1) :-
Once a month delivery from Asda
Once a week veg box delivery
Once or twice a week leisurely trip to town/market for any little bits we might need

I've got my breadmaker up and running now, so I'll be able to bulk buy bread ingredients, and not have to worry about using freezer space on 30p loaves of plastic bread like we used to.
Using the online shop will, I think, make shopping more economic, as I get a little overwhelmed when confronted with shelves and shelves of similar products, and DH hates shopping. I don't drive, so he always has to come to Asda with me.
I do enjoy shopping, so wandering round the market without the pressure of having to do a big shop, or how will I carry everything home, will be a real treat.

Mrs. Irwin

MrsE_2

Mrs._Irwin wrote: »

I've got my breadmaker up and running now, so I'll be able to bulk buy bread ingredients, and not have to worry about using freezer space on 30p loaves of plastic bread like we used to.


Mrs. Irwin

I don't buy the 30p cheap loafs, I buy loafs that cost about £1 & want a fresh one every other day at least.
I would love the breadmaker.
But we are all trying to loose weight & those thin slices that comes with the prepacked & sliced bread are better for weight watching.
Also the smell of fresh bread cooking would drive me insane:o , I would be down the shop for a pack of clover before it had cooled:rolleyes: , no will power:mad:

I do buy the loafs I like & put some in the freezer, but I can never spare the space for more than one.

Good luck with your breadmaker:D

lilac_lady

I'd try to buy for a month but I'm afraid I might end up making bigger portions. I shop weekly within my budget and concentrate on food one week then toiletries, loo rolls etc the other one. I don't have a food budget but draw a weekly cash sum to cover everything so it makes me careful not to spend too much on food.

pink.1970

We do a big shop every month at Morrison's and Lidl's. Dont buy bread or cake and definately no ready meals.
If we run out of things I nip to local very small Tesco and local veg shop but we do try and limit budget to £100 (including any pet supplies) on big shop.
I do alot of baking, bread, cakes, biscuits, soups and pies.
Morrison's is a round trip of about 50 miles.

Fern_Merkin

I monthly shop but this is genuinely out of laziness and a wish not to feel guilty, I never run out of cat food:D

Keep a running list and start it at least 1 week before pay day. Mark down all that is running low and money saving ideas from here and elsewhere. Spend an hour checking the cupboards and rewriting the list in the general order it appears at the supermarket. (if you are not having it delivered) This sounds a bit sad but it really helps to get all that you want without dithering and seeing temptation on every shelf :eek:

I shop for milk etc in the week approx £5

I live alone but have 2 cats with expensive tastes and my average monthly bill is about £75. This month I've managed to get it down to £55 as I have enough loo rolls to lag the loft and will not need any cleaning things for at least another month due to 2 4 1 offers etc over last few months.

This really works. :j