HELP! Grocery Budget Shock!

Aril

Hi Lillibet
Have you tried the NCT sales for clothing. Clarks usually have their sales during December and June and I have often picked up trainers in the next size up and the correct width and put them away. I must admit when the small person was 18 months or so and only just walking but not enough to warrant proper measured shoes I kept him in wellies [they're surprisingly cheap in Wilkos and in Mothercare] for when we were out in the pushchair in the colder months.
I did read on one thread on the DFW board that microfibre cloths are good in a nappy for extra absorbency....can't comment as haven't tried it.
Wilkinsons have started doing some groceries...not organic but 4 pint milk is 91p rather than Mr T £1.11. Have you got a Savers near you? They can have some very good offers on loo paper etc.
If you need to buy frontline etc for your hound I've recently found it for my cat for £9.50 online [inc p&p] unlike the £18.99 our local petshop! The site I use doesn't do food but it does non prescription medication. If you want details let me know.
Hope this is of help
Aril

earwig

iknow how you feel i keep trying to get my food bill dowm from 400 a month to three but i can never do it i guess we just have to keep on trying untill we crack it

Irisheyes648

Blimey.....why are you buying shoes every 2 months???? I get my little ones feet measured at clarkes then go on ebay for shoes......they are hardly worn at that age. I also get dog food for my dogs at pet city a 15kg bag (working dog variety) cost £9.00 and that last about 2 months.........this food is fine for them. As for nappies before my little boy was potty trained I used to use the economy nappies during the day and save the more expensive ones for night time.............you can save a fortune doing this. Bulk stews out with pulses, and make mince go further by adding lentils etc. As for the picky 18 month old......my little boy is 2 and if he doesnt eat what is put in fornt of him he goes without until the next meal.....I know it sounds harsh but I can't afford to cook him seperate meals and it never did me any harm!!!

jennynoo

You are doing much better than me, I spend £60 a week just on me and my partner.:eek:

Why buy organic? As far as I know organic food is not better for you than non-organic. Organic may be better for wildlife (although not sure to what extent) and obviously free range means the animals have better lives but if you are concerned about health then there is no proven difference.

I think the organic thing has been taken too far.

I started buying more fish recently in a bid to be more healthy then decided it was too expensive until my sister told me to get the fish from the frozen department :rolleyes:

Good luck with your mission.

Lillibet_2

Thanks everyone:T

This weekend I am on a mission to source the Working Dog Food or something else that suits. He is a working breed (springer) & is a working dog (hubby is a countryside ranger & dog is out in the field with him 8 hours+ a day) & so does need a high protien diet, we went through all the usual possabilities with the vets when we first got him & found many many foods to be unsuitable (including the super expensive prescription stuff) & he has happily been on Bakers for about 7 years now with no ill effects & is otherwise healthy. However, the price rises are getting silly:rolleyes:

Clothing isn't too much of a problem, I dress Spud & myself out of my "pocket money" from charity shops, car boot sales, hand me downs etc. Shoes I do like to buy new especially for a child with developing feet, and below 5 years old their feet are expected to grow half a size every 6-12 weeks (:eek:) so they do need new ones very regulary if you aren't going to cramp their toes etc. During their after Christmas sale my branch of clarks didn't have ANY toddler shoes reduced, only school shoes & wellies so no good to me. I have bookmarked the shoes4kids site & will def try this route next time:D.

I'm using boots own brand nappies, 116 for £13 plus boots points, I find these work out chaper than tesco value ones as they leak much less & don't need changing so often. I use at least 1 & often 2 more nappies a day of the value/basic brands than boots ones so at the mo these are the best of whats available to me. I would happily try Aldi or Lidls if they were around here as I have heard very good reports of them, but the nearest one is almost 20 miles away.

Afraid I'm not swayed on the non-organic argument, we just can't agree that eating chemicals grown into food is good for you. I know it's debatable, but we're going to have to agree to disagree on this one;)

Thanks everyone:A:T:A:T:A:T:A:A:T:A:T

patchwork_cat

HI
I second Gusto and Autarky, just tried them an they are much cheaper. You can buy them from manufacturers here I ring my order through.

On the shoes front - this won't continue at this rate. I do buy my kids shoes every size, but a friend pointed out that as they fit them with 1/2 size growing room they should only need changing every other size.Be vague when you go to get the shoes checked as to how long it has been since last fitting.

jennyjelly

How about mystery shopping? There is loads of info on this site about it, and links to all the companies. It's generally about £10 a job, so you'd only need to do a couple a week to make a real difference. And of course you could take Spud with you so no childminding costs!

lynzpower

jst a quickie- have a lok on the jobcentre website theres a finacnial org recruiting in Esher, not sure how far that is from walkton? And flexi hours too

finc

Just a quick mention about the shoesforkids website, if you register with them for emails, they send regular emails with their latest offers and usually have extra discount or promotions for subscribers only. Often just £1-2 off P&P but every bit helps.

benbenandme

There is an Aldi and a Lidl in Feltham if that helps ...