Bigger shop = bigger spend?

Eyeore

I have just swapped to online shopping and have found that I spend a good third less per week as I only order what I need and have to plan ahead! Because I work long hours I used to end up popping into a supermarket on the way home and end up spending lots on things I didn't really need. It has also decreased my stress levels enormously and OH knows what we are having so can help if he gets home before me which is another bonus! I pay a small monthly delivery fee and can have as many deliveries per week which is great if I need extra - no temptations!

MrsAtobe

How on earth do you lot manage with a monthly main shop, with just top ups for milk, etc once a fortnight?

I really must get round to buying that bigger fridge freezer, :rotfl:.

I currently have a tiny fridge freezer, suitable only for one and there's now two of us. I have to go food shopping twice a week, otherwise we run out of milk and fresh veg. I'm good at living out of the freezer, but an entire month in one shop? Just could not do it!

rising_from_the_ashes

Eyeore wrote: »

I have just swapped to online shopping and have found that I spend a good third less per week as I only order what I need and have to plan ahead! Because I work long hours I used to end up popping into a supermarket on the way home and end up spending lots on things I didn't really need.

That's what I'm really hoping for - I'm a nightmare for popping into get something on the way home and spending at least £10 each time.

MrsAtobe wrote: »

How on earth do you lot manage with a monthly main shop, with just top ups for milk, etc once a fortnight?

I think you need a bigger f/f ..... it would cost me a fortune very quickly as only 2 shops, which are both 18 mile round trips from the house (& none where I work), sell "my" milk so I'd spend a fortune in fuel if I had to go more often.

pigpen

Oh definitely leave OH and children at home.. I spend roughly 25% MORE when OH comes shopping.. and if he goes alone he comes back with all sorts of stuff we dont really need.

I dont deny myself the yummy offers but my shopping lists are basic.. I am allowed treats too!

Budgets...

Groceries £600 per month food, cleaning stuff, pets... everything really. 99% at tesco and the rest at the ilttle sainsbugs round the corner.. milk and bread on a daily basis pretty much. The budget has been completely blown this month though as I have been in hospital, had a baby then been in with DS3 so there have been a lot of freezer meals.. oven chips, dippers etc .. and hospital canteen dinners :eek:

I spend next to nothing on the garden.. it is grass.. it gets minced a few times a year when we lose small children in it.

anguk

MrsAtobe wrote: »

How on earth do you lot manage with a monthly main shop, with just top ups for milk, etc once a fortnight?

I really must get round to buying that bigger fridge freezer, :rotfl:.

I currently have a tiny fridge freezer, suitable only for one and there's now two of us. I have to go food shopping twice a week, otherwise we run out of milk and fresh veg. I'm good at living out of the freezer, but an entire month in one shop? Just could not do it!

I tried monthly shopping and it just didn't work for us and we have a large fridge and a chest freezer. I found I was still popping out once or twice a week for fresh fruit & veg, eggs etc so it seemed pointless doing a monthly shop, I might as well just pick up the things I need when I'm getting the fresh stuff.

Pigpen - congratulations on having the baby, I hadn't realised. Sorry to hear your DS has been ill, diabetes is an awful disease (my OH is diabetic) but it can be managed and soon just becomes "normal" life.

[Deleted User]

I shop as and when I need to as there is only me to shop for.I have a small list by the kettle and on it I put the things I have run out of and essentials only I manage to live on around just under £100 per month Sometimes less if I am, as at the moment, running down my freezer to defrost it
I have a friend coming for lunch on Saturday and emailed her with a choice of three things for lunch all of which are in the freezer .She picked what she fancied and job sorted and I don't need to trail around the shops looking for inspiration I had a bag of apples gived to me so I shall sort out a pudding from them and my shopping list at the moment reads
Flour
Stork block (for cookies)
Orange Juice
Tomato's
1 x carton double cream
all of which I shall buy on Friday and so far thats my shopping done for this week.less than a fiver should cover it

valk_scot

anguk wrote: »

Unfortunately that's not an option. Firstly I can't drive so I need him & the car and secondly he absolutely loves food shopping!

You might actually find it cheaper if you left him at home to watch the kids and you got a taxi home with the groceries. I know quite a lot of women round here that do that and there's a free phone line in our shop just for this, plus the local taxis do cheap shopping trip rates in the quiet times of day. Alternatively do what my non-driving neighbour does...she comes with me once a week and I drive us both home, or she rings her OH to come and pick her up once she's finished.

I do try to restrict my supermarket trips to three times per week. Twice a week to tesco at Whoopsie time when DD is at swimming, plus one trip to Lidl. The rest of the time I use the local greengrocers who also stock milk at the same price as tesc (£1 for 4 pints) and whose fruit and veg are better and cheaper. I would suggest btw that Lidl has all the benefits of M&S as to less choice but nicer products, plus of course it's much cheaper than M&S!

Justamum

pigpen wrote: »

The budget has been completely blown this month though as I have been in hospital, had a baby then been in with DS3 so there have been a lot of freezer meals.. oven chips, dippers etc .. and hospital canteen dinners :eek:

Congratulations Pigpen! I haven't been on Flylady for ages so didn't know you were pregnant. So that's 9 now :eek: You must be superwoman - three is plenty for me to cope with Did you have a boy or a girl?

Hope DS3 is ok.

rachbc

I can see your point. My nearest shop is a huge ASda and next door is an M&S food hall - sometimes I can't face asda so just pop into M&S knowing that even if the item is more I'll spend less overall - but thats probably because I balk at most the prices they change and so won't buy stuff impulsively. I do shop there when i get vouchers/ they have 3 for 2 on freezer stuff/ 3 for £10 offers on meat but again am strict with myslef.

p-pincher

I agree. If I pop into Tescos or Asda i can spend £20 to £30 a couple of times a week on things I never knew I needed. Its those bloody BOGOFS and all those I cant possibly do without, even though i've managed for months not to need/use them. I''ve found that on my way home from work outside my bus stop theres a small Sainsburys (not a local or suchlike) and I can spend alot less in there as its not a big store selling 15 types of baked beans of chicken breasts all priced completely differently.

If you think your plan will work for you i'd at least give it a try for a month, probably next time you get paid so you can keep a track of everything. Have you got any other small shops around as well as the M & S that might be cheaper. Saying that though I love M & S and always buy my bananas there because its on my way work.

I do a big shop when DH gets paid, pasta, rice, toilet rolls etc. I always get enough to last at least a month. Then I try to spend £30 - £40 a week on tops ups but like you on these weeks i try to stay out of the big superstores. Last time i went to Asda mid month it cost me about £70.