Right! Its about time I got Old Style! Help please xx

mon1o

Ok, so ive been on here before, contributed a few times (mainly on the slow cooker thread), but mainly lurk. Currently im a regular on the DFW board having just entered into a DMP with CCCS. Ive undertaken the challenge of dividing all extra cash (after dd's) into envelopes and have allocated £200 (eek!) for a months worth of shopping for a family of 5. Is this too much? Not enough? Any hints/tips to keep my shopping bill low (ish)?

I have a slow cooker and a bread maker (but buy the mixes as i have no idea how to make my own ).

Any hints/tips to help a lady take herself from living beyond her means to well within would be great! i have tried in the past but always fallen back on the credit card when ive failed, however, now i have no choice.

Many thanks!

Linz4383

hi for help with your shopping you could try the grocery challenge! theres some great tips on there and theres also loads of recipes (includin bread) at the beginning of the thread!
good luck

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3763583
this is the grocery challenge link

flowertotmum

Hi there..i agree with above poster..the grocery challenge thread is fab..also meal planning is brill way to stretch the pennies..going to l*dl and a*di will help cut down food bill...as for your breadmaker have you got a manual for it..you should get recipes in the back of it..if not google the make and see what comes up...also batch baking and filling freezer with it that helps me no end..good luck
ftm

camNolliesMUMMY

make your meal plan based on how often you shop? i do a fortnightly meal plan as i shop every fortnight.

i then go through my cupboards and see what i have already in to make those items and add to the list what i need or need more of?

i then think about lunches what i need or running low on and add them to the list.

Then i think about cereal etc?

After foods are sorted i think about toiletries and any other things i may have ran down on, but i dont hardly ever by cleaning products as i mix my own and they are better than commercial cleaners like flash.

For my ds1 age 4 packed lunch i though about what he enjoys to eat so far he has....

Sandwhiches -various fillings Jam/cheese spread/ham?
i also cut up 1cm sticks of cheese for him to munch on

Jelly made into little pots for him to take or he will take a yoghurt in every other day

Ritz- and i cut squares of thin slices of cheese and ham up for him to make them stackable dairylea things but mummys much cheaper version lol

maman

camNolliesMUMMY wrote: »

make your meal plan based on how often you shop? i do a fortnightly meal plan as i shop every fortnight.

i then go through my cupboards and see what i have already in to make those items and add to the list what i need or need more of?

i then think about lunches what i need or running low on and add them to the list.

Then i think about cereal etc?

After foods are sorted i think about toiletries and any other things i may have ran down on, but i dont hardly ever by cleaning products as i mix my own and they are better than commercial cleaners like flash.

For my ds1 age 4 packed lunch i though about what he enjoys to eat so far he has....

Sandwhiches -various fillings Jam/cheese spread/ham?
i also cut up 1cm sticks of cheese for him to munch on

Jelly made into little pots for him to take or he will take a yoghurt in every other day

Ritz- and i cut squares of thin slices of cheese and ham up for him to make them stackable dairylea things but mummys much cheaper version lol

I don't know how old your children are as that will depend on how manageable the £200 is (i.e. size of appetites). Planning is definitely the way forward. Whether you prefer weekly or fortnightly shoppping is up to you but NEVER shop without a list or just call in at the local shops for a few bits. It's amazing how a pint of milk can end up costing £20:eek:.

mon1o

Wow! Thanks so much for your replies!! My children are 7,4 and nearly 2. I have the manual for the breadmaker somewhere ill have a look and see what recipes there are. Also will take a look at the slow cooker thread (not been on for ages!) and the grocery challenge thread. I do shop for odd bits at l-dl and a-di when i can, but could go more often for sure! And i can certainly start meal planning.

Once again thanks so much for your help - real food for thought (scuse the pun!)

squeaky

Hi,

Have a good browse of all the threads listed in the first post of the Grocery Challenge too - they're all aimed to help.

mon1o

ive popped myself on the grocery challenge for March ive had a look at the threads at the beginning they are great! lots of lovely recipes including bread, biscuits and cakes which will keep the kids and oh happy, plus my purse will feel the benefit too! brilliant!