newbie advice

mrsspendalot

I am a newbie to MSE, having joined a few days ago on the DFW board. I have been recommended to come on here and get some tips on reducing my shopping bill ... and I really will need the help.

My family is:

Me & Hubby (works 12hr shifts - takes large pack-up)
Meggy Moo (nearly 7, has pack-up for school)
Josh (3 and a half) - eats more than me
Harry (1 on 19th March) - just managed to get him off jarred baby food

I spend currently between £65 - £80 a week on shopping. This includes food, cleaning products, washing/ laundry products, nappies, wipes, sanitary products, haircare, toiletries, etc etc. (basically everything).

We have no cheapy supermarkets like Aldi/ Lidl/ Netto.

I shop in either Tesco or Morrisons, sometimes Sainsburys as it is close for walking (at times when hubby has car at work). I haven't really noticed any difference in price between the 3 to be honest.

I will not buy anything heavily processed or cheap juice etc. for the kids as it turns them into satan's little helpers :mad: , so buying decent food is important. I am a full time mum and am not frightened of homecooking. I do not have a massive freezer though, so batch cooking is hard.

I am open to tips on how I can feed my hungry brood for less than I currently do

kscour

Would it be possible to post a list of your last shop?
But my first suggestion would be white vinegar fabric conditioner - I use it because of DD's skin allergy but it doesn't half work out cheap. A 568ml bottle of vinegar (47p in Asda) makes the equivilant of 3 times that in concentrated type fabric conditioner.

mrsspendalot

I shall dig into my purse and see if I have the receipt .... I am due to shop this weekend

mrsspendalot

OK, this is last weeks shop, which wasn't a particularly big one as we were using up freezer supplies so this probably isn't a good representation of what I normally buy.

orange barley water £1.49
lemon barley water £1.49
milk £1.62
squash £1.05 (hubby)
milk £1.11
vinegar 17p
ketchup 29p
salad cream £1.35
loo roll £1.32
bread £1.03
skips 99p
bread £1.03
bread £1.03
bananas £1.19
eggs £2.09
apples £1.47
apples £1.47
crisps 99p
wipes £1.24
wipes £1.24
wipes £1.24
wipes £1.24
- 98p wipes offer
- 98p wipes offer
pitta bread 34p
toilet wipes 99p
toilet wipes 99p
- 98 toilet wipes 2 for £1 offer
pitta bread 34p
pitta bread 34p
pitta bread 34p
- 8p pitta offer
- 8p pitta offer
chips £1.39
yoghurt 14p
yoghurt 14p
yoghurt 14p
yoghurt 35p
fromage frais £1.48
fromage frais £1.48
fromage frais £1.48
fromage frais £1.48
-£1.48 fromage offer
-£1.48 fromage offer
choc mousse 35p
choc mousse 35p
biscuit bars 95p
pure apple cartons 64p
pure orange cartons 75p
lasagne 49p
sausages 99p
marg £1.62
cheese £1.71
bacon (special big pack) £4.99
baby rice cakes 89p
ham £2.49
ham £2.49
mince £1.10
flour 49p

total £51.80

mrsspendalot

there were no nappies on there, no cleaning products, no laundry products etc. as we didn't need them last week

airforce_beret

https://www.fixtureferrets.co.uk is a site that will give you all the deals that are on in supermarkets. Can't suggest anything other than seeing what your guna need to buy and then checking the prices out alittle

sianb84

have you looked into using your local market for fruit and veg? If your market is anything like my local you can often get a bowls full of fruit for £1 and the same with veg. It might be worth checking out - also means a trip out for the kids.

airforce_beret

ye we find that the local is cheaper for veg....but don't have any kiddy mouthes to feed! just my huge appetite, fixtureferrets is good for hunting the beer offers out too hehe

mrsspendalot

wish we could afford to buy beer

mrsspendalot

Thanks for all your comments - will give the local veggie shop another try and see if it works out better. Hubby and kids eat loads of fruit.

sianb84

have found my local veg shops can be expensive for some things compared to a market. I think with the market you need to try different days of the week to find the best day. Once you have found the best day it become much cheaper for example on thursday the stall i go to had 5lb fair trade bananas for £1