What's a reasonable amount for shopping?

odds-n-sods

I also find that these threads degenerate into ' I spend less then you do, so I'm better at this than you are' type arguments. It isn't a contest to see who can spend the absolute least on the cheapest (and often the lowest quality) food you can find!

That's one reason I have never posted on here how much we spend on groceries. You lot would faint, but I wont' compromise on quality. That to me is more important than spending pennies on a meal.

Op, an idea for your son who doesn't eat a whole apple etc. - if you cut in pieces and sprinkle some lemon juice on it, it wont' go as brown and he may eat it in 2 sittings instead of throwing it out. Or you could freeze the pieces he doesn't eat and make applecause or a dessert out of them when you have enough, same with the beetroot etc.

pavlovs_dog

Elle would a lakeland 'half of one' work for you? they are available in a LARGE size (for letture, melon etc) and HALF size for apples etc

Noah'strolly

stefejb wrote: »

I have a choice between asda and tesco so will sometimes virtually shop on mysupermarket.com (I'm too old a dog to learn the trick of doing proper links sorry) which will compare my basket between those two. It will also suggest ways of swapping items in your basket for own brands and multisavers that you may not have been aware of so you can revise your list - i then really try to stick to the list when i get to the shop. at the checkout pause and make sure tht you really do want everything that's in your troley - if it's an impulse buy then put it back

As you are veggie, and with a veggie dd i know that this can take some extra planning if you are going to avoid expensive meat substitutes like quorn, it is a good idea to buy packets of pulses and then soak and cook them and freeze in meal size portions

stef

What a brilliant site, stef! I've just had great fun trying it out. Online shopping can save you money if you find a good code on the codes and discounts thread and I find it makes me think about what I need and keeps track of the total.

halia

Elle83 wrote: »

As an example, four desserts for DS costs £1.59 as opposed to 6 value fromaige frais costing 49p. Same as we have to buy Pure soya spread at over £1 per tub rather than cheap margerine at 50p per tub.

would people stop ramming aldi and lidl down the throats of those of us who have chosen to shop at another supermarket. I took a walk round lidls the other week and was disgusted. Not only were the prices THE SAME as in Tescos for the minimal produce they offered but the products were mostly imported, there was hardly any variety on offer and no vegetarian or vegan range available. I shop at Tesco because they are the cheapest supermarket that cater for my family's needs thanks.

DS has bad lactose intolerance too and I am tired of being told I can 'easily' save money on my grocery bill. His stuff costs a fortune!

I totally agree with you about Lidl and Aldi, I have tried both - and Netto and Kwiksave, the range was appalling and alot of the things were the same price as tesco. No vegan/dairy free things on offer and the only nappies were MORE expensive than the tesco own brand bulk buy ones I get. Add into that the fact that I use tesco clubcard vouchers to pay for trips out we wouldn't do otherwise and I think I SAVE money by doing a big shop at Tesco.

I am interested to hear how you feed 2 adults on £5 a day however. Ideas and tips would be gratefully received:

how could I have reduced todays budget:
Breakfast:
DH and me - porridge (10p) + fruit compote (20p) (bought a large tub reduced to £1 and it lasts us a week)
DS - 2 boiled eggs, (35p) homemade bread toasted and (expensive) soya spread, (25p), smoothie

Made Fruit Smoothie: 1 banana, can of strawberries, handful of berries, Orange Juice (£2)

Lunch:
DH homemade bread+cheese sarnie (50p)
smoothie (see above)
Fruit and nut mix (50p)

Me homemade bread and cheese with watercress salad £1
smoothie
2xslice of fruit cake 30p

12 cups of tea (5p a cup = 60p)

Tea
DS: fishfingers and veg 50p
Veg and chicken curry - total cost about £5 (made 4 portions so there's another meal in there)
yogurt and sultana's for pudding £1

shared a bottle of beer £1.50

DS soya milk - 2 drinks 25p
DS juice 2 drinks 30p
DS 6x disposable nappies
toothpaste/bog roll/buying new toothbrushes/painkillers for my wrenched shoulder = £3

total cost of day = £14.85

I dont think we are extravegant?

meanmarie

Elle 83,

You did ask a civil question and to be fair I think that most people were trying to answer that question...soy products I know are often much more expensive than ordinary milk products and vary greatly from area to area. However, the only advice people can give is from their own experience and it may sometimes feel as if they are 'preaching'....my advice would be take note of what helps you and ignore what doesn't...

My DGS2 who lives with us is dairy intolerant so it has been a search since he was born to find things he can eat without trouble. He had soy formula and that is still used for milk for drinking and cereals, but his real love is cheese and we have found a very nice goats cheese which can spread like butter...but costs more than three times as much weight for weight.

I think that you are doing very well and would certainly not feel able to offer you any advice on how to cut your outgoings beyond taking careful note of what is in everything you buy...I have found that the desserts on offer in Ireland for dairy intolerant people are full of sugar so we made custard etc from DGS's formula, adding different stewed fruit for variety.

Please don't stop posting, I am sure that nobody offended you intentionally

Marie

Fivenations

Soya milk is a killer! The best tasting are the most expensive!

I am lactose intollerant but find that I can eat certain dairy products in moderation without any problems. Aged and lactic chesses, plain bio yoghurts and even lactic butter! Some people can even have milk in small doses. I was told none of this by my doctor and went without for years before a friend set me straight. So if anyone here is LI please check with a health professional as you ay be able to tolerate more lactose than you think. Apparently, it can vary according to how much lactase your body can produce.

SO ture about the sugar in soy products. I have recently discovered that I cannot digest fructose - this is even worse than being LI as it is found everywhere, including yoghurts. Still, I should start to lose weight!

borderlakland

elle is it worth looking at dried fruit for your ds as there is no waste things like raisins are not too expensive and do count in the 5 a day thing.they keep for ages.my dd2 loves fruit and will eat as much as i have in the house but she loves raisins dried apricots the lot.
was also going to suggest smothies but lots peeps have. you can either freeze the fruit then make up as required or make up the smoothie then freeze in suitable size containers.these can be done with either fruit jusice or milk-presuming soya milk can be frozen same as cows milk?
my mums friend has same probs as your ds and for treats she eats flapjacks(my mum makes them for her)with dried fruit in them cheap and easy to make(value oats value syrup etc)
why not try to make a small fruit salad 1 apple few grapes etc add fruit juice to stop it going brown will keep for couple days in fridge.you might find ds will eat more at a time as its different and in bite size bits
hope this might help

thriftmonster

DS1 and I are both lactose intolerant and I can't bear soya milk......So we buy the lacto free milk at £1.24 a litre (same price long life as fresh). I also use the Pure sunflower spread - although I have got a Sainsburys free from one to try (cheaper). Basically I have to make all our biccies, cakes, pastry etc.

However I also rely for emergencies on: Tesco value digestives (only the value ones are lactose free), also most gingernuts seem to be ok.

I also can recommend the half of things from Lakeland. We also can tolerate small amounts of goat and sheep things - sheep is better - so for example I buy Pecorino instead of Parmesan - a good size chunk is about £1.75 in Tesco.

I try to make most treats as the cost of specialist ones is horrendous. If you have fruit leftover, how about setting it little pots of jelly for your ds. Myds1 takes these to school.

Hope this helps.

jcr16

it a really difficult question who have asked in my opinion as it varys so much family to family. based on diets and incomes etc.

Why don't u set urself an amount u feel comfy with. lets say £50. and then see how that goes. if it goes well , then maybe a month later try £45 a week.

i have some weeks spent £100 and then other have only needed to spend a fiver.

Hope this helps.

halia

re lactose intoleran/ milk allergies
We make custard with his soya milk too. - that on top of homemade jelly is a good 'treat' and cheaper than other things.

I find he is okay with cheese (thank god) as long as it isnt' every day, he eats alot of eggs too as they are a favourite.

I buy fruit and nut chocolate to give him as a treat - I get it in large bars whenever they are doing a special offer at my local sainsburies or tesco. Much cheaper than buying a small bar every week.

I've given up on wipes they all bring DS out in a rash. I just have a collection of cloth wipes and use plain water, its a bit more faff but it saves cash and he doesn't get a nappy rash so I save on cream too!
I am budgeting £250 for this months groceries (down from £350) then I will try and reduce it to £200 (ie £50 a week). Thats all food, baby stuff, toilet rolls etc. I havn't made big changes to cleaning habits yet - I need to work my way up to things!

Do you want to start a 'club' for anyone with a kid with lactose/dairy problem and see if we can stick to £50 a week (with £50 extra a month emergancy kitty).

on fruit I actually find that grapes can work out suprisingly good value as he can eat 3 or 4 and the rest dont' go off! lemon juice on apples works well too. My investment is in a juicer, I can juice down 2 apples 1 lemon and a kiwi and make a 'superpower' vitamin drink for me and DS. (You can also throw a small amount of veg in without being able to taste it).
Less waste - the juice keeps for 24 -36 hrs in a bottle in the fridge and its sometimes easier to get DS to slurp a bit of that than to get him to eat some fruit.