How much should we be spending ?

PipneyJane

creditcard123 wrote: »

Hi
We also buy a full lamb every year which we freeze - loads of sunday dinners mid week chops ribs for soup and did give the liver to my dad dont think I could stomach it.:o

Do you like pate? You've just given it away to your dad. :eek: Toss the lamb's liver in a little seasoned flour (just grind salt and pepper over the flour) and gently fry it in butter with some onions and crushed garlic. When it's cooked, whizz it in the food processor with a couple of hard boiled eggs. Add a little sherry or brandy and, maybe, some cream until you get the texture you like for spreading.

creditcard123 wrote: »

Hi
I am considering joining Costco as I have been told they sell really large packs of meat for really reasonable prices but not sure if its anymore economical than Tesco 4 for £12 meat packs

Costco has some excellent offers but you might not find that you recover the cost of your membership. I don't think I do (but there are only two of us). I justify mine because of the coffee.

In my experience, good value Costco items are filleted sides of salmon (I portion up and freeze), frozen tuna steaks, houmous, washing powder, coffee beans, tins of chopped tomatoes (cheaper than Tesco Value), cheese and sliced meats. They also do huge oven-trays of pizza for around £6 which, while more expensive than frozen, are much better value than a comparable restaurant pizza.

Their meat is good, much better than supermarket standard. However, I normally buy mine from a specialist butcher so I find the beef a bit bloody by comparison. (I only buy Costco meat if we're having a BBQ.) I can't comment about the prices for the same reason.

- Pam

Katie-Kat-Kins

The other thing to do is to think about how much of things you use and try to train the family into good habits.

Someone earlier in the thread said that their kids use three squirts of handwash each time they wash their hands. This is totally excessive and wasteful, you should be able to wash your hands entirely adequately with just one squirt (in fact you don't really always need a full squirt). Using one squirt instead of three reduces your usage by a third.

Someone joked about rationing loo roll, now I'm not suggesting you stand at the bathroom door saying "One peice or two" but some people use a ridiculous amount of loo roll, wrapping it round their hand multiple times etc. Some even put clean toilet roll down the loo to umm reduce the noise. This is frankly barking mad. You shouldn't need to pull more than a couple of sheets off the roll at a time.

Then there is the snacking, train your kids not to help themselves to food. They have to ask if they want a snack. Then you can have some control over what they have and when. If it is nearly dinnertime make them wait, feeling hungry doesn't damage them. In between meals make them have a glass of water and then ask again if they are still hungry ten minutes later. If they do need a snack rather than allowing them crisps or biscuits make them have fruit, carrott sticks, yoghurt, some cereal or a slice of toast. If they aren't getting junk food they may be less keen on a snack, and if they do still really want a snack then at least they are getting something good for them. This is not being mean, it is setting good eating habits and helping you plan your food shopping. You can't plan properly if things you have bought for a purpose disappear.

Use a sponge or !!!!!! in the shower to make shower gel go further. Cut down on the amount of shampoo you use. Cut open containers to get out the last of any creams, toiletries, cleaning products or toothpaste. Do not open a new one until the last one is empty.

Use less than the recommended amount of cleaning products.

Don't run your washing machine or dishwasher unless it is 100% full, and think about when you are washing things. I'm not saying be unhygenic but clothing if not marked can be worn more than once before washing and the less regularly you wash the less wash powder you use.

Make full use of your freezer to avoid wasting things. Eat reheated leftovers for lunch.

Hope some of those things help you cut your shopping bill.

mardatha

I love Costco, buy all my meat there. There's only the two of us as well but it is worth it, the 6pts of milk carton is £1.45 and we drink a lot of milk so the membership is saved on that alone. I buy the big trays of lamb mince which is excellent and about £11. I cling film it into meal-sized dollops and bung in the freezer. The cheese is good, the sugar is cheap, the soap powder and conditioner when they are on offer are good buys.

YORKSHIRELASS

Someone was telling me yesterday that Aldi's own brand non-bio powder is good and OK for sensitive skin if that helps anyone.

I buy washing powder when its on offer and dont use much. I also buy Tesco's own brand liquid for things that just need a freshen up and try and make everyone wear things until they need washing. I use Tesco own dishwasher tablets too.

As for cleaning products I buy big bottles of Stardrops from the market for £1 and it lasts ages. Other than bleach for the loo thats the only cleaning product I buy except spray furniture polish.

My spend on toiletries is minimal, whatever is cheap! I like Boots essentials range of handwash and shower gel. I actually quite like getting "smellies" for Christmas because I only buy the cheapest stuff normally.