New OS money saver - a bit nervous

ppolly

Hello, very new at posting, although I have been lurking for a while. I need a bit of advice - I've read alot on this great forum and am trying out various things. Our household income will be cut by 1/3 in two weeks time as my contract ends. We will go from being fairly comfortable to quite tight for money. I'm using this last month as a kind of dummy run for money saving. I've already made some mistakes - my homemade pizza was rubbish and the pick your own fruit was outrageously expensive.
We've done all the sensible large money saving things eg overpayment on the mortgage, which we can borrow back if necessary. I'm trying to keep within a budget, and we are writing down every single thing we spend. I'm home baking, freezing portions and shopping around for stuff (food is our biggest outgoing after the mortgage). I don't have a great deal of free time as my dd is just rising 3 and needs alot of attention. What are the best OS money saving techniques that could maybe save some time too?

balmaiden

Hello ppolly and welcome,

My advice,

Take it slowly or you may feel overwhelmed.

Keep reading all the threads on here

Do not ever be afraid to ask any question even if you think it may be silly.

sounds like you have made a really positive start, good luck.

Pink.

Hi ppolly,

Welcome to Old Style. :hello:

Im sorry to hear that your contract is coming to an end but hopefully you'll be able to enjoy the time with your little one.

The biggest difference that I was able to make to my housekeeping budget was by menu planning....no more wasted food! If you have a read through the threads on The Complete Menu Plans Collection that should help.

It's also worth taking a look at the Grocery Challenge for hints and tips on reducing your shopping bills.

If you have a chance to 'batch cook' that should not only save a bit of money but free up your time.

Just remember not to expect too much of yourself. Try to cut back a little at a time and don't be too hard on yourself if some things (like pick your own fruit) don't work out as well as you'd planned.

Good luck with it.

Pink

meanmarie

Welcome PPolly,

You are certainly in the right place for advice on money saving...

Read all the threads that appeal to you, and take advice as needed...mine would be to:

Do an inventory of all the food you have in cupboard, fridge and freezer;

Do a menu plan for a week, using as many of the things you already have;

When you go shopping, take a list of the things you need, and do not deviate from it;

If there is food leftover from a meal, freeze it in portion sized containers;

Get ready to use blackberries, elderberries and anything else you can get for free foodwise...you can make jam, jellies and pies to save money in the winter.

There are lots of people who can be more helpful than me, I think that Balmaiden's advice never to be afraid to ask questions is 100% right, no question is too stupid!

Best of luck, you can do it,

Marie

Gingham_Ribbon

I agree about menu planning. I do it on Tuesday mornings when my fruit and veg delivery arrives. Then I make a detailed shopping list of only things we really need and I go to Morrisons and stick to the list. I don't shop the rest of the week and try to use up what we have in if the menu plan changes (eg if my toddler/baby is particularly demanding and there's no chance of me making pastry that week!)

The best piece of advice I got was someone who said that they only learned to cook one new dish a week. She pointed out that in a year that's 52 dishes. I learned a lot and can now turn my hand fairly easily to plenty of different types of cooking which I simply didn't have the skills for a couple of years ago. At first we were eating lentil bolognaise/lentil cottage pie/chickpea curry etc often until I added new things to my list and gained confidence.

No such thing as a daft question on here. Jump in and have fun with it. Good luck.

ppolly

Thank you for your nice replies. yes, I am meal planning, and I do need to get a bit braver with trying new things out - I've no idea how to cook lentils in ordinary dishes like spaghetti bolognase, which I will look up. Even so, with just a plan its alot easier to shop. I'm doing it online at the moment - minus the toddler - and I can keep an eye on the budget as I'm doing it.
I tried out the Hobnob biscuits and it was fantastic-full family approval.
I think it is alot about mindset as well as what you do. Not going shopping as a leisure activity, for example, not automatically picking up a magazine, and veiwing an invitation to Sunday lunch as one less meal to budget for!

borderlakland

welcome ppolly:hello:
it is hard to start with and i totally agree with what everyone has said about starting slowly. my first steps are to stop buying buscuits and cakes and make them hobnobs are going down well here to:D
i am also trying to use up everything in the pantry and freezer.i find it very hard not to keep shopping every few days as both me and oh work for te##o so its all to easy to finish work and whizz round store for something quick for tea.but i am starting to get the hang of it.using both my slow cooker and bm far more.
everyone on this board is very friendly and helpful(my only complaint is i spend far too much time on here:o it gets very addictive)