weekly shopping !!!

joannemc3

hello all ,

can anybody tell me what are the basics that you should buy everyweek , i am sick of going to tescos every fri spending 40 quid then still having to go every other day and spending prob another 10 a day at the very least , whats the best thing to do ?????

Cazzdevil

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=463975#post463975

Here's a thread similar to your query, shows a few people's storecupboard basics.

newlywed

Go round your house in the evening and write a list of things you are running low on or have run out of.

Take list to the supermarket

Sounds easy but yes I always forget one thing. If we have toilet roll, bread, milk, eggs, bacon, teabags and the food for our meal plan then everything else can wait really.

I say... can we survive till Monday without X (furniture polish, washing powder, cake, etc)? If the answer is well yes we could swap the dinners round, could eat something else that we already have... then it can wait.

lil_me

Best thing to do IMO is meal plan, find out what you have (if you need to write it down do so) make a plan using what you have in and decide what you need to go with them to make these meals, then buy from the list you make. This way you buy what you need, nothing more. Buying items because others do each week will only make you end up with a pile of things you haven't used up.

r.mac_2

i do a meal plan - usually for a two week period which in reality stretches a little further as we often have leftovers to eat up or the odd night where we end up going out etc.

I make a list of everything i need for the meals, then add household items such as bin bags and shampoo and then ask Oh if he requires anything to be added (doesn't mean i always add it though )

I take list with me to the supermarket and go from there. I do find that by the end of the first week we still have lots of cupboard things, but run low on milk and veg so i sometimes do a top up shop. Again though the times i take a list are the times i spend less.

Another trick to try and find alternatives. So for example there are no seet things in the house and you desperately fancy a biscuit. why not bake a cake (most people usually have an egg, flour, sugar and butter hanging around).

I also use this forum a lot to ask things like - i have one corgette, one egg and some cheese what can i make for dinner style questions when i get really stuck!!!!

good luck

joannemc3

thanks to all who have replied , will give the meal plan ago ,seems to make sense

Cuddlebum

This is the problem i have, there is only me a 4 yo and a newborn yet i easiely spend 50/60 a week at the supermarket!! Then never have anything in to eat lol

I have found for me, i have turned shopping into a hobby...we go to either asda or tesco almost every other day. Usually just to get a loaf of bread or something and always end up spending 20/30 each visit!

I am getting there slowly but the hardest thing for me is not going in the first place. I have withdrawal symptons when i dont visit a supermarket....you think im joking! lol

I have said tho i am now only going to go once a week, if i run out of something then tough! I am now writing a meal plan and shopping from it, it has helped with the cost of the main shopping bill....it's just the extra trips im struggling with lol But i am getting there!

redballoon_2

1. find out what is in your cupboard
2. make meals out of what is in your cupboard
3. write down what other ingrediants you need for those meals
4. think of other meals you want to eat for that week and write down every ingrediant you will need.

stick to the list and buy only what you NEED

jcr16

maybe try doing an online shop. u get up until a certain time to edit ur order so if u forget something it is easy to add it on.

i am terrible at popping into supermarket for one thing and coming out with 2 or 3 bags full. way i stopped this was 1) only taking £5 of £10 with me depending on what i needed . 2) writing a list or 3) avoiding going.i think to mself , do ireally need to go. i look at meal planner and see if i can adapt things. or failing that i can ask my mum to pick the odd item up for me , if i know i won't be able to resist temptation.

planning is the key.

HariboJunkie

Cuddlebum wrote:

This is the problem i have, there is only me a 4 yo and a newborn yet i easiely spend 50/60 a week at the supermarket!! Then never have anything in to eat lol

I have found for me, i have turned shopping into a hobby...we go to either asda or tesco almost every other day. Usually just to get a loaf of bread or something and always end up spending 20/30 each visit!

I am getting there slowly but the hardest thing for me is not going in the first place. I have withdrawal symptons when i dont visit a supermarket....you think im joking! lol

I have said tho i am now only going to go once a week, if i run out of something then tough! I am now writing a meal plan and shopping from it, it has helped with the cost of the main shopping bill....it's just the extra trips im struggling with lol But i am getting there!

This could have been writen by me:o

I have tried meal planning and using up things from the freezer and cupboard and it seems to be working. I cannot go to Tesco without buying reduced stuff and usually have to jiggle my meal plans round a bit. Just be firm with yourself and enjoy some creative cooking. Once you start seeing the savings it will spur you on!

dianadors

I think supermarket shopping has become a national pastime for lots of us. It is the reason that I am overdrawn at the end of the month - and my freezer, fridge and cupboards are bulging. I am challenging myself to visit supermarkets less than once per week for February and eat what we have got already. I fall down when I have to go get fresh fruit and veg, but this month I will drive out of my way to use a small green grocers where the prices are higher, but you cant buy anything else - or send hubby as he only comes back with what I send him for. I am going to go for a walk instead of visiting supermarkets when I am bored. And I could always clear the ironong pile!!