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Self-Control Gone Walkies - Overspending in Tesco!

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Hi all,

I was going to post this yesterday at someone's suggestion following on from a post about financial difficulties. I start full-time work next week and because I haven't been on IS for 26wks (am a lone parent) I will not get any run-on and so have hardly anything to live off for the next five weeks until I get my first pay day. In general I've become very slap-dash anyway. I went to post last night but then realised I don't need any pointers on what to actually buy or how to store it - what I need is good sound advice on how best to retain self control over groceries shopping.

In the past I tried writing out an exact list in Excel and even had a running total for my shopping so I knew exactly what I should be paying! But this was very time consuming so I didn't keep it up. I'm also a terrible eater and this can have a big effect on my shopping. I'll buy salad and fruit with the best of intentions but only eat them 1 in 2 or 3 times which is such a waste. So I guess one option is to go back to (realistic) meal planners and a clear and concise shopping list.

Another would be internet shopping but I worry about trying this. Firstly it seems a waste of money paying for delivery in place of 50p petrol. Secondly I have locked gates as my flat is in a courtyard and guarantee they'll struggle to get in. Thirdly I'm concerned having heard the word "replacement" or "out of stock" a lot when people talk about internet shopping because my son has allergies and has to have specific items.

The third option is to keep going whenever I notice we've run out of two things and come home with ten thus bankrupting myself LOL. I guess I always lived within my means because I've always had realistic standards (like buying clothes off ebay etc) but whilst I've always been "poor" I've never been "dirt poor" before. That said, for a bright girl like me this wouldn't be a problem if I just took tighter control of my impulsive expenditure!!! I have enough to exist on if I just pulled in the reins a bit so that's what I need help doing. It's a bit like losing weight, some of us can only do it with the help of a Slimming Club and diet plan whereas others just decide to lose weight and watch the pounds fall off!

So advice and tips would be most welcome please. Anything from "set an amount and take a calculator round" to "only shop on a Monday after you've had dinner". I need a real kick up the bum to get through this first month and a convenient plan to get me back in check and stop Tesco taking all my money thereafter!!! Oh do note I took a drive up to Lidls yesterday afternoon but it isn't suitable for our dietary requirements. I'm veggie, the kid's allergic to milk and eggs etc. Tesco and Sainsburys are the two that stock the foods my son enjoys and needs in his diet to be healthy and grow properly with Tesco being the cheaper and much closer.

Oohh, oohh, one final thing - where do people recommend buying household and clothing items from other than Tesco? I'm going to look again at Primark for my son but my nearest store doesn't stock much in a plus size for me anymore. I find Matalan good on some things for me but not on others. Toiletries I guess maybe look at Savers in the nearest town and buy in bulk to warrant paying the petrol and do so when buying other items like clothes? Suggestions welcome again.
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Comments

  • MRSMCAWBER
    MRSMCAWBER Posts: 5,442 Forumite
    Hi Elle83

    Clothing first :D ...im well upholstered too and hate paying a fortune for basics.... £25 for a bra :eek: ...take a look on www.evans.co.uk... i always found them so expensive, but they have atarted doing some cracking deals.. i have a store card..but only because you get extra discounts/offers...so if you can trust yourself with 1 its worth it..i recently got 20% off my order... but i always pay it off...they have some cracking sales..but you have to be quick..

    I dont know what sort of clothing you are looking for but thet have done tee shirt bras £10..or 2 for £15... buy certain bottoms and a top and save £5... it amazed me how much i was saving....

    Also take a look on www.empirestores.co.uk they go up to a 32:T :T and they have some cracking sales on ...you can get some brilliant bargains... they had some stunning tops from £39 down to £13 and they were quite dressy too:T ..... but be warned - with them they were still selling the tops at £39 it was only if you came across them in the sale section that you got them cheap:rolleyes: -i wish i could shop in primark but its a no go for me im affraid...

    Congratulations on the job by the way:j :j

    Do you have a farm foods near you? only i get relate veggie mince and love it but we dont have a FF here..back home with mum its about £1.25 a bag:mad: .... it must be so difficult when you have a little one with special requirements... have you thought of having a veggie box delivered? that way once you had a stock of your staples...pulses, herbs etc, you would only need to pick up bits n bobs.... and if it was delivered on a Saturday you would hopefully have time to work out what you could make out of it all...
    -6 -8 -3 -1.5 -2.5 -3 -1.5-3.5
  • angelavdavis
    angelavdavis Posts: 4,714 Forumite
    Mortgage-free Glee!
    Hi Elle,

    Well, if you are anything like me, you will have stuff in your cupboards (particularly pulses, etc) that I never seem to use. I would post up a list of what is in your cupboards for suggestions on how to use these up (storecupboard challenge). This will help stretch the money a bit further before you start the job.

    You can do the same with cleaning materials and toiletries too. I did this about a year ago and have only replaced some of the items (many were bottles that I bought to try a product out, but never finished).

    I am surprised you couldn't find more in Lidl's for your shopping. I find their fresh produce very good, but admit you have to get there early. I also find their muesli, fruit juices and bread flour excellent quality and value (I cook my own bread and pizza bases for example). I admit that I do shop once every three months or so with Tesco for stuff that Lidl's simply don't stock and I use a local shop to top up with the odd bit of veg or milk.

    As far as online shopping is concerned, I have used Tesco's delivery. I mainly do it because my time is precious and it also stops me overspending. You can elect not to have substituted goods if you wish, or select a substitute product if necessary. I would give it a go - I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

    If you are keen to shop around for the cheapest prices, Martin has an article about online shopping comparison sites for groceries, etc.

    http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/shopping/cheap-online-shopping-shopbots

    Hope that helps.
    :D Thanks to MSE, I am mortgage free!:D
  • halia
    halia Posts: 450 Forumite
    I find delivery does work well - they do get out of stock on some items but it gives me a basic 'store cupboard' to work from and reduces the risk of overspending when you are in the shop in person and just see something you like the look of.
    DEBT: £500 credit card £800 Bank overdraft
    £14 Weekly food budget



  • newlywed
    newlywed Posts: 8,255 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Here's my tips, hope they help a little:-

    1. Yes try and meal plan as much as you can and then buy just what you need.

    2. Try and only go shopping once a week. If you run out of something, try and stretch it and make do for as many days as you can so as not to have to make an extra shopping trip. If you do need that and can't wait, go to a corner shop or smaller shop that will sell that one thing and not much else. (eg I have gone further to health shops for rice milk to avoid Sainsbury as I know I will end up spending more in Sainsbury). Although you may pay more for that one thing, you will have less things to distract you and tempt you ;)

    3. Only ever take a basket. For me getting a trolley is asking for trouble as I throw stuff in without thinking. With a basket, you can only carry that much and anything extra has to be put back to fit your "proper" shopping in ;) This nearly halved my shopping bill as if I have to get washing powder it means I'm not going to buy that bottle of wine, pack of biscuits etc because it's TOO HEAVY!! ;)
    working on clearing the clutterDo I want the stuff or the space?
  • newlywed
    newlywed Posts: 8,255 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    For clothes, have you tried ebay? You can get some new stuff on there as well as used. I bought a brand new skirt, never worn, from someone who put too much weight on over Xmas and couldn't take it back as it was too late.

    You can also get some good kids clothes on there as the kids often grow out of clothes before they wear out. ;)
    working on clearing the clutterDo I want the stuff or the space?
  • Bargain_Rzl
    Bargain_Rzl Posts: 6,254 Forumite
    A couple of other tips:

    Keep your store cupboard and fridge well-stocked with basics - and when I say basics, I mean things you can make a whole filling meal out of. Beans, cheese, spuds and so on.

    Because this means that if you run out of the more interesting things earlier than your meal plan thinks you should (IYSWIM) you can keep going longer on your emergency rations.
    :)Operation Get in Shape :)
    MURPHY'S NO MORE PIES CLUB MEMBER #124
  • angie_loves_veg
    angie_loves_veg Posts: 1,484 Forumite
    for what its worth.....

    Firstly, I would advise you create a meal plan, a three meals a day meal plan, planning breakfast, lunch, tea, snacks, puddings and a treat. This first week, I would make it completely realistic (as opposed to ambitious) - you will have to eat it after all! That way you cannot justify *anything* that isn't on your planned list - when would you eat it!!??

    Separate clothes shopping from the weekly shop. If I need/want clothes, I shop for clothes. I do not allow myself to buy anything other than groceries/cleaning from a supermarket - that's not to say that they are good places to buy clothes, but I cannot control the spend once I have started 'just adding' things in. Once you have given yourself permission to divert from your list you will do it again and again :)

    Last thought - I sit down once a week, same time (sun pm as it happens) and create the meal plan (top of the sheet) and the list (underneath). It goes into my handbag. That way, if I pass any shop and fancy a browse, I have my list, know what I need both for today and for later in the week. If I pass a bargain shop, I can see what I can cross off - leaving the harder to get items from the supermarket when I get there..... if indeed I need to at all some weeks.

    hth
  • juliapenguin
    juliapenguin Posts: 763 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker Mortgage-free Glee!
    Hello Elle

    Congratulations on your new job!

    There's been some great suggestions already mentioned - I would agree with all of them, particularly planning every meal and including HM treats like puddings and cakes. It really helps not to feel too deprived (the s** it I'm phoning Dominos syndrome) if you know you've got choccie pudding and custard after your bean and lentil chilli!

    And of course you can leave your cards at home and just take the cash you can afford to spend... I don't do that myself but it's a great idea.

    Good luck!
  • 5dogs
    5dogs Posts: 215 Forumite
    Hi Elle

    Just thought I'd mention - if you look at the discounts and codes you should find a code for at least £5 off your online shopping at Tesco : )
  • lil_me
    lil_me Posts: 13,186 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Internet concerns - I have done internet shopping before many times (great for impulsive spenders) and have only ever had a couple of substitutions and they were all a very similar product. Like has been mentioned you don't have to accept them. Also I know you say about petrol costs but it's time aswell, I always see my time as money in that way, so many other things I can be doing rather then spending 2 hours shopping etc.

    Aswell as the 3 meals a day plans, add any snacks, then you know exactly what you will need.

    Plus size clothes, got to agree with ebay, £5.90 for brand new Evans jeans with the tags on which would have cost me £30 ish was my last buy.

    I would start with a stock list of everything, from pantry, freezer, fridge even toiletries etc. Work out what you need to buy and what you don't to go with meal plans and daily needs etc. Same with clothing, I kept just buying my sons tshirts thinking they needed them, when I counted DS1 had 30+!!! Now banned myself from buying them. I only buy stuff for me when something becomes beyond repair like my jeans did.

    If I go store shopping I take limited cash, nothing else, no cash card etc. Never ever shop when hungry.

    Home Bargains I find are as good if not better than Savers for toiletries, cleaning etc. Wilkinsons aswell but unfortunately don't have one near me.

    Well done on the new jobs and best of luck :)
    One day I might be more organised...........:confused:
    GC: £200
    Slinkies target 2018 - another 70lb off (half way to what the NHS says) so far 25lb
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