How can I reduce my food bill?

catkins

Hi, do you like things like chickpeas, lentils, beans etc? If you buy them dried (not tinned) they work out really cheap. You can make so many meals with them such as lentil bolognaise, lentil shepherds pie etc. Or you could use them to bulk out meals using meat such as mince.

There are a lot of lovely recipes on the net using pulses if you do not want to buy a new cookery book. Or of course there is always the library. Gingham Ribbon has a really good thread on this board for vegetarian meals. Of course you may not like foods like this but it is just a thought as it so much cheaper not to eat meat (or eat less). Not trying to preach vegetarianism in any way just thinking of how to cut down moneywise

overlykeensaver

One thing I have found very recently is that toiletries in a supermarket can be expensive. Have a look at superdrug, wilkinson's or other places. I am saving £1 on DH's deoderant by getting it at superdrug instead of sainsbury's (I kid you not there is a whole £1 difference in the price!)

MrsTinks

Or get what you can from Boots with free vouchers from pigsback OH and I both have accounts and so far this year I have collected £50 worth of vouchers (ok so I chose clothes shops vouchers but last year I chose Boots vouchers...) that was a lot of our toiletries sorted for free last year

dianadors

I include an omlette meal, a jacket potato meal, a pasta meal, and a beans or cheese on toast meal into every week. The meat I would have used for 1 meal, I now pad out to last 2 meals ie in stews etc with mushrooms and spuds etc. I also love value tins of chopped tomato's.

skyepark

perhaps cut down on meat and eat more fish, chicken, turkey which is quite cheap. make your own burgers using mince but get the mince from a butchers so you can pick your own cut. buy cheap veg, carrots, onions and pad out dishes with these.

you can buy 10kg bag o rice which works out a lot cheaper. eat more pulses and peas, couscous. you dont want to skimp on everything though, always use a good oil

Daisies

Don't buy squash or bottled water - tap water is a heck of a lot cheaper and I can't taste the difference. Save a glass bottle and fill it with tap water and keep in the fridge - great in the summer. And water's better for you than squash!

Some of the environmentally friendly brands (like Ecover and Clear Spring) can be bought in bulk - I buy 5 litres of washing up liquid in one go, which works out cheaper and lasts forever. Local farm shop also does refills of Ecover laundry products which is cheaper than buying new bottles.

I get a veg box delivery once a fortnight - costs £6 for a massive box of fruit and veg, which pretty much keeps me going for the whole fortnight. I plan meals around that, but really only need tinned tomatoes, ddried pulses and rice/pasta/couscous/quinoa etc to add to it for meals. It works out cheaper than buying fruit and veg at the supermarket.

balmaiden

How I agree with you Daisies, regarding buying bottled water"why?" maybe we are just lucky and have good tasting tap water.Someone explain the difference please ( apart from cost!!)

skyepark

even if you don't trust tap water you can buy a water filter for the tap.

JillD_2

sorry to hijack but DAISIES, who supplies your veg box ? that price is very good

Little_Miss_Saver

Afternoon :j

Thank you for all your advice, I'm really inspired and more determined to try and find ways to find cheaper products. Anyway here is this weeks meal planner and receipt. Please feel free to point out where I am going wrong.

Sat - On my own had egg on Toast
Sun - Chicken from freezer, Pots & Veg (used left over chicken for 2 casseroles and sandwiches/salad)
Mon - Pork Chops, Pots & Veg
Tues - DS at friends will probably have an omelette & salad
Weds - HM Chicken nuggets & HM Wedges with salad
Thurs - Pie, Pots & Veg
Fri - Oven Chips n "something"

Breakfasts this week are fruit smoothies, cereal for DS and Lunches are sandwiches and Salads.

Now the receipt!!

Orange Squash 2 x 3litre £2.90
Vinegar .31
Olive Oil £1.18 (lasts forever tend to use this in my spag bol sauces, I mainly use sunflower oil for frying)
Cajun Seasoning £1.48 (this is in a jar so should last some time)
Value Frozen Peas £.95
Frozen raspberries x 2 £2.00 (one for next weeks smoothies)
Frozen tropical fruit £1.75 (I found it cheaper to buy this than fresh fruit for the smoothies)
Value Plain flour £0.31
Croissants £0.59 (DS was with me this week and snuck into trolley - don't normally buy)
Value Ginger nuts £0.25
Bread £0.88
Chewy Bars £1.27
Cereal £1.72
Spaghetti £0.27
Chocolates (mum b-day) £3.28
Pasta £0.37
Rice £3.00
Jammie Dodgers BOGOF £0.69
Casserole mix x 2 £1.28 (I should learn to make my own I know!!)
Rim block refills £1.98
Wrapping paper £0.57
Shampoo & Cond BOGOF £1.94
Chicken Slices £0.59
Value Cheese £2.30
Pork £1.61
Lamb (reduced) £2.75 (in freezer for next week)
Value Chicken Breasts £2.18
Value food bags £0.45
strawberries x2 £2.50 (one in freezer fro next weeks smoothies)
Spring onions £0.49
Oranges £1.49
Kiwi Fruit £0.98
Bananas £1.22
Lettuce Leaves £1.39
Onions £0.34
Tomatoes £0.69
Cauliflower £0.58 (leftovers in freezer)
Apples £1.32
Cucumber £0.84
Potatoes £0.95
Brocolli £0.29
Carrots £0.23
Peppers £1.29

Total: £53.45


I know frozen veg is cheaper than fresh but I steam my veg and find that it doesn't taste the same as fresh. I hope this helps you and look forward to your advice/opinions.

Thanks for your support so far

LMS xx