Jumping on board

blackangeluk

:hello:

Ok, I'm officially on board here, been looking around on the board but not really posted. I am trying to get rid of my debt and this has resulted in drastic cutbacks at home etc.

I am trying really really hard to try and get food down to £200 a month (me, DH, 2 kids, 2 cats and 1 dog). I fail miserably each week and at the moment I am managing £300 but I want to get it down.

I am also working full time, tired and trying to convince DH (who works from home) that he could fit some daily housework into his schedule, so I think I shall be looking at your tips. I am just feeling that I am so tired and I need to jump back on the bandwagon of having my house in order instead of a mad clean round every now and then.

So any tips, guidance of where to look would be very much appreciated I am not trying to be wonderwoman but ideally I would love to shop for £200 a month, feel in control of the house, feel it is tidy and doesn't need a huge overhaul once a week and be able to have some "me" time...........hmmmmm maybe I need a PA/cleaner/housekeeper???

morganb

Is there anyway you can take a day or two off work, then you could have a day to rest yourself and then a day to have a good blitz, it is amazing what you can do if you've got a big chunk of time and don't have to look after the kids. Just an idea, I found it really helpful to have a day off last week (although it was a day off sick so I didn't achieve much but did get a lot of rest)

tallyhoh

£300 per month. I dont think you are doing to badly so far. If you think that less than £70 per week or only £17 per person (EXCLUDING the animals). For each person thats less than £2.50 a day!! (If my maths are a bit dodgy let me know).

Working ful time makes it harder because theres less time to shop around, so good for you!!:T

Hardup_Hester

Hi Blackangel
Welcome

Essex-girl_2

Morning Blackangel -

Are you menu-planning at the moment? For me that has been the biggest change to my grocery budget. It will take you a little time the first time but will save you time and money in the long run.

I would hate to go back to when at 4pm I was looking at what I should make for dinner, also used to throw loads of food away. I only do it a week at the time but loads of people on here do longer.

hypno06

Hi BAUK!! Good to see you over here :hello: I have a shopping target of just £150 this month, so if you see me spending on chocolate, feel free to give me a kick!!

nealallen

Have you ever tried shopping at your local markets? You can most this from them and the good thing is you can barter on the price. A weekly visit to the market could save you ££££ over a month.

Cazzdevil

As far as the house goes, rather than do a mad clean all at once, let OH know that it's easier to give things a "swish and swipe" more often (wipe round the bathroom sink and toilet, or give the floor a quick sweep) so it's less effort to do the proper clean when the time comes.

I'm working on convincing my OH at the minute and he seems to be taking it on board.

moanymoany

Yup, menu planning is the way to go. Include EVERYTHING, breakfast, lunch, dinner, tea, snacks.

By doing this you can begin to 'shave' and reduce the money you spend.

If you have one, use your freezer. Grate value cheese and put it in the freezer. Mix it with value mayo to make a sandwich filling. You wouldn't need marge or butter. If you use value bread you can take it out slices at a time to make lunches.

The 'cook for a day, eat for a month' lady says bake a batch of jacket potatoes, halve and freeze them, they make the base of a quick meal.

Reducing your budget does mean making some changes in what the family eat. If you make a batch of pastry with value flour and marge and then make quiches with value cheese, eggs, bacon and milk. These can be frozen either cooked or uncooked and make a cheap meal.

Tesco value chips are 42p for one and a half kilos.

Something on toast is an option for a main meal.

What you want can be done.

trying-very-trying

Sorry BA, I can't help with the budget, I'm struggling with that one myself. But as for the housework you could try the flylady website http://www.flylady.net. If you sign up for her daily email she will show you how 15mins a day can help you keep on top of things. She's got great ideas for getting the kids involved. It really worked for me last year although a major relapse in my MS meant that I kinda gave up with it, but I'm a good bit better now so I really must start using it myself again. Hope it helps you. Good luck with the budget, it's really hard just now with the school holidays I know.

newlywed

I too am struggling to get my grocery budget down to £200. I know it should be possible but .... never seems to happen.

I've joined grocery challenge this month as we have a holiday at the end of the month so I really need the extra cash.

Our grocery spend usually works out about £250-£300. This weekend I chopped a big bag of value onions, split into portions, bagged and froze them, peeled chopped and cooked carrots and did the same. And baked 8 potatoes and froze, ready for our lunches. So it was a busy weekend but during the week I gain a bit of extra time

So far I have spent £100 of the budget but have meals planned for nearly 3 weeks and only need fruit veg, loo rolls, and the occasional bit of meat so I'm hoping to deal with the rest of the month at £25 a week, debating going for cash this time so I have to meet the budget