I keep trying but....

elantan

scaredy_cat wrote: »

i buy washing up liquid 2 for £1.50 as it's cheaper

you know thats something i didnt add to the cleaning stuff earlier, i had forgotten all about it, we tend to buy the own brand stuff, like morrisons or asda etc, and tend also to stock up on it , some weeks i can spend a fortune on shopping as it has many bargains on it, maybe a load of cheese, or butter, or coffee etc, i recently bought a load of tea bags as they were less than £3 for 240, so bought a years supply, to try and save some money

so i have sometimes large purchases then i have the regular things if that makes sense ?

FairyPrincessk

A recent poster asked what people's highest priced items were---perhaps a look at that might help? Cheese was a big one for people, as were cooking fats. Perhaps it might work if you varied where you shopped--say futher afield once a month for items you could stock up on that were cheaper there and then closer by for fruit, veg etc. This would cut your petrol costs, eliminate the problem of not being able to get things you like at the further away supermarket, but might help you get your budget down.

I think if we were shopping in a supermarket other than Aldi your price would be in line with what we would spend. Our local A has spinach--and we find the veg is better quality, BUT that said, I think it very much varies from location to location. OH's sister is adamant that the veg in theirs is terrible. It did take us awhile to adjust to things that they have at Aldi, and to remember which things they didn't have--and there are still the odd things we get elsewhere, but petrol cost isn't an issue for us since we walk.

theoretica

Have a look at the type of veggies you are buying and the proportions of each - carrots and other root vegetables are much cheaper than tomotoes and sweet peppers for instance. You might want to see if any of the veg boxes which deliver in your area would save you money.

elantan

thats a very good idea princess .. might try that, i do try and price watch ... but maybe i need to maybe go to aldi's once a month for the things like coconut cream etc, maybe fit that in with the week we go to the asian supermarket or something, maybe i am also just expecting too much, maybe what we are spending isnt too much ( although it does feel it to me) maybe i just need to look at it differently

thanks xx

elantan

theoretica wrote: »

Have a look at the type of veggies you are buying and the proportions of each - carrots and other root vegetables are much cheaper than tomotoes and sweet peppers for instance. You might want to see if any of the veg boxes which deliver in your area would save you money.

we tend to buy a mix of both tbh, carrots, turnip,and cabbage, but also we buy chilli's, garlic, onions, tomatoes,celery and spring onions,avacado's etc, so yes we do buy some more expensive things, the veg takes a huge chunk of our spending ... maybe need to re look at that thanks

. i did look into delivery boxes a few years ago but it was £10 a week and it wasnt enough to do us ( i love to eat 7 portions per day atleast ...although i dont eat fruit )

Onetwothreefour

Hiya..I recently posted a similar thread in the last couple of weeks on here, as we struggle to reduce the monthly shop!! (sorry don't know how to link the thread but it is titled "Need help/advice on how to reduce monthly shop"), and people where really helpful, and you may find some additional tips on there too....do you have a Ho*mebargains shop (or depending on location it may be called qu*lity save..they stock the Nicky toilet rolls ( I changed after seeing the posts on here)..the Nicky elite loo rolls are the ones we've tried and tested, and tbh I've found better than other leading brands!!

elantan

Hey acj you are so right the people here are great .. I knew straight where to come to when it came to sorting the shopping out lol

I haven't tried the Nicky ones yet as I am still using the Costco ones but I will in the next few weeks be making a purchase and trying them out ... Will ensure I get the elite ones thanks

We have a farm foods here that do them so that should help ( I hope. )

Glad you've got help as I know I can make a difference with all the other bills going up

Pips_Mum

Not suggesting you do this drastic a cut but have I have found the feed 4 people for a week for £20 thread really useful, it has some good menu ideas.
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4148389

Theres also a feed 2 for £7 a week thread that also has tonnes of ideas and recipes
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4084527

Edit - Nicky loo rolls are really nice, I get mine from Farmfoods as they are often 2 packs (8 rolls) for 2£2

elantan

I tried the feed the family I four for £100 challenge, and whilst some of it was ok we found that it made us feel sick after a few days, to heavy on the carbs etc , not knocking it at all ... It's a great great help for a lot of people it just wasn't for us

Will check those links out though as even changing a few meals a week will make a substantial change

Thanks


Edited to add : ohhh that looks good

fothers365

Hi,

I think part of the problem is probably the trying to keep the carbs low. I try to do the same (for me anyway, less so for the sproglets/oh) and it does mean you are eating more protein and less bulky fillers. Protein is a lot more expensive than carbs.

When I try and stick to lower carbs I would generally eat a lot more veg but these tend to be roasted 'mediterranean' veg as I often do a big batch at a time in the oven and do a butternut squash into roast chips or chunks. I often would have scrambled eggs at breakfast with some of the leftover veg. It is a lot better for me and makes me feel better but must end up more expensive as I am having 2 eggs and veg where a bowl of value porridge would be pennies.

Eating a big bowl of pasta with a little portion of sauce is a lot cheaper than a chicken breast and a load of low carb veg.

I was doing great on a healthy eating plan eating fairly low carb/healthy carb last spring and summer but during the winter I have been hopeless because we have been trying to really cut back on the budget and it is more expensive, no doubt for us anyway. Also I was thin, small size 8 at that point, and we were trying to keep the heating low through the winter. I was permanently freezing! I ended up eating a load more carbs again, cheaper for the budget, less good for the waistline in my case. I have no self control once I start on nice bread:mad:

We are lucky though as have a Lidl a few minutes from the house so do the bulk of our shop there now and I live in a fantastic market town so get all our veg there every couple of days. I only buy the odd thing in tesco these days- their value porridge oats are by far the cheapest for us etc.