So How Do You Guys Do It?

Wood.Justin

Hi Folks,

I've been directed to you for advice on money saving where groceries are concerned.

At present, we spend approx £300 a month for two adults on food shopping. Which is quite an alarming rate considering some suggest we could do this for much much less.

Where do I start? Your help is appreciated.

Many thanks.

phizzimum

Hi WJ!

Can you tell us what you would typically eat in a week - breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks? Does yr budget include toiletries and cleaning products too?

eleanor73

Also it might be helpful to find out your current shopping habits for example-do you do 4 big shops a month or just go to the supermarket when you need a few bits etc?

anniemf2508

Also extra info... do you work fulltime (so need packed lunches, easy meals etc), either of you have special diets?

Wood.Justin

Hi there!

Thanks for your reply.

Breakfasts: Bran Flakes, Special K, Crumpets, Porridge.

Lunch: Wholemeal Pitas, Fruits such as Apples, 'Nanas, Grapes, Oranges, Veggies such as Cucumber, Celery, Tomatoes, Activia Yoghurts, Tuna, Sandwich Meats, Soups.

Dinners: Pastas, Homemade Sauces, Pork Steaks, Lamb Steaks, Chicken Breasts, Meatballs, Stews, Roasts, Homemade Chips, Fish Fingers, Potato Croquettes, Baked Beans.

I've started to plan each meal based on what we've got left over but we're just working through our stocks left over from the past few weeks. In addition to that, we do buy toiletries and cleaning products but again we were given a bumper load as part of a moving in gift to our new home.

Any advice/help is welcome!

Wood.Justin

Both work full time so always a home made lunch, never eat at the convenience places. No dietary requirements.

We try and do one big shop per month (meat/dried foods) and then a few weekly for fresh items.

FlacosFloozie

Hi there WJ! Welcome on board.

Until very recently we were quite similar to you. We are starting to get things down slowly and steadily. There's a few things that have really helped. Firstly, setting a target budget. I joined the grocery challenge and posting up there what we were spending made me really determined to stick to it.

Second, meal plan. Work out what you will be eating that week and stick to it as much as possible. This stopped us having to throw out food at the end of the week because it had gone out of date.

Batch cooking is great. I'm taking one day every 2-3 weeks and making really large pots of stew/chilli/curry etc and freezing them in small portions. This means I can take them out and microwave them in a hurry. Far cheaper than the supermarket ready meals and, hopefully, healthier to. There are lots of great receipes on here. Cooking in general is good. I worked out I can make 12 cupcakes for around 40p which is an awful lot cheaper than the biscuits/chocolate/etc I used to snack on.

Make a list of what you need before you go shopping and know what's in your cuboards. The number of times I've bought something to dicover we have 3 already.... grr

Try dropping a brand. I have to admit some things don't taste as good but we havent had anything inedible yet and its amazing how saving 30p on each item you buy adds up.

Look in the reduced section. This involves getting the timing right. I've found about 2pm seems to work best for getting meat. Its often still got 1-2d before it goes out of date so I buy it and freeze it if it can't be used immediately.

DO NOT get sucked into special offers. If you don't need it or use it often or there's a cheaper option then it isn't saving you money.

Check out the cheaper supermarkets- they can be a lot less for basics. We don't have much choice where we live but I know a lot of other folks have got some really good savings.

That's all I can think of for now but I'd guess we knocked £100 off last month's grocery bill without really noticing it. Its amazing how all those little bits add up. Good luck, I'm sure you can do it

eleanor73

Wood.Justin wrote: »

Hi there!

Thanks for your reply.

Breakfasts: Bran Flakes, Special K, Crumpets, Porridge.

Lunch: Wholemeal Pitas, Fruits such as Apples, 'Nanas, Grapes, Oranges, Veggies such as Cucumber, Celery, Tomatoes, Activia Yoghurts, Tuna, Sandwich Meats, Soups.

Dinners: Pastas, Homemade Sauces, Pork Steaks, Lamb Steaks, Chicken Breasts, Meatballs, Stews, Roasts, Homemade Chips, Fish Fingers, Potato Croquettes, Baked Beans.

I've started to plan each meal based on what we've got left over but we're just working through our stocks left over from the past few weeks. In addition to that, we do buy toiletries and cleaning products but again we were given a bumper load as part of a moving in gift to our new home.

Any advice/help is welcome!

I'm surprised the above comes to £300 but maybe I'm not thinking about it properly.

Right-I'm far from brilliant at all the Old Style stuff but my food budget is very small and I eat well. So here are a few ideas (you may be doing some of this already)

-If you have time shop around-different supermarkets are good for different things and have different deals on.

-Don't dismiss Lidl and Aldi-IMO they are brilliant-great quality for much cheaper.

-When you see offers (2 for £1.40 etc) actually really think carefully if they are worth it. Sometimes it's only 11p off!

-Shop later in the day and get whoopsies/yellow labels and freeze them especially as it appears you like meat!

-Try a meat free day or a soup and pudding day instead of a meaty main to keep costs down.

-if you have a garden or some space for pots try growing your own.

-Make soup out of cheap veggies etc

-Never ever let things go off/or throw them away!

-Look at some of the other threads for recipe ideas.

-Batch cook!


Good luck :beer:

seraphina

A few quick things:

Downsize your brands - are you eating Kellogg's SPecial K etc? Shop own brand are just as good. Also the yoghurts - try own brand or make your own.

Meat - chicken breasts, pork steaks etc are all expensive ways of eating meat - try cheaper cuts (chicken thighs etc, using mince and bulking it out with veggies). Also it can be cheaper to buy a gammon and cook and slice it yourself rather than buying sandwich meat - it will almost certainly be better quality meat.

I don't actually think £300/month is that bad if you're eating a lot of expensive meat and if it includes cleaning/house stuff, but at the same time I don't like spending money unnecessarily. Good luck!

Ninno820

Also - look at the labels on the shelves where they give the price per 100g / per packet etc. Often the multibuys / special offer packs are not much cheaper / can be much more expensive. Buying fruit and veg loose, for example can really save you money -as can buying sm basics (carrots which have grown on the same farms but aren't as straight etc).

You say that you have got some stock in - why not try and go "cold turkey" for a week and use what you have in - it focusses your mind as to what you really do. I found that I planned well etc - but then popped to the local shop for a ltreat and had little change form £5. It all soon mounts up.

DundeeDoll

All good advice above. I'd add try out different ideas on the forums (fora?) and see what suits you. e.g. I know from my own lifestyle and personality going to different supermarkets to find the cheapest items would not work. This does not mean it's a bad idea, it means for me it would not work. What is working really well for me is planning the menu, writing the shopping list and going to Lidl. btw don't be alarmed at my GC - this includes eating out and take-aways, cleaning stuff, light bulbs etc. This month it'll include a toaster and an under-sheet. Today's Lidl was £66.66 and that will last the whole week, including rump steaks and alcohol (we have a friend staying this weekend). I am forcing myself, if I run out of something during the week, to find an alternative in the house. I know if I go into the SM for a french stick i'll come out with enough to feed a french army! Don't try to downsize too quickly, post your successes (and failures) and most of all enjoy