Dancing in the Rain

JoJoC · 21 February 2018 at 10:43AM

doingitanyway wrote: »

Like you I probably spend a lot more than I think I do!

Your plan sounds more straightforward. I think if I had a car. I would do a weekly shop in Mr Ald1 and it would be simpler. Maybe that will happen in the future

Just a thought - is it worth your while getting a taxi back from Aldi? If you think one big shop there would do the trick and save you money, it might be worth the £5-10 that it would cost for a taxi. Might be a false economy, but thought I'd suggest it anyway.

redofromstart · 21 February 2018 at 10:52AM

Hi DIA,

I don't have a set budget, instead I:

Have set things that are bought every week - the milk mountain for the boys etc. I have a spare of key things and when that is opened it goes on the list to be replaced (eg butter, cheddar, tinned toms, cereal, rice) with the aim of not having to buy over priced rice in the co-op.
Have price points for when I buy other things - then I buy in bulk, so if the teabags of preference go on offer then I buy lots which is where not having a set budget is handy. Ditto DW tablets, toilet roll, etc.
I don't meal plan in detail as such instead we used to do something more like - Mondays leftovers, Tuesday mince, wednesday sausages, thursday chicken, friday fish, saturday new things, sunday roast so when I was going to the bulk butchers I plan a few months forward on the basis of ten lots of mince, etc. This has gone off the rails a bit lately when I got busy with the project work but it will be back from March.
F&V I buy x portions of whatever is best value plus carrots, potatoes and onions. I keep frozen peas, sweetcorn and green beans so we always have options. they are replaced as I open the new bag
Pet stuff I buy online mostly, another zooplus fan.
YS a bonus when I see them but generally only buy freezable stuff that fits the plan

Hope this make sense, my head is full of work stuff. You don't want to know how rubbish the food plan is this week!

JoJoC · 21 February 2018 at 10:54AM

doingitanyway wrote: »

You always come up with good ideas JoJo. I did think of a friend who lives nearby who I like to meet up with. I might ask her if she fancies a joint trip fortnightly. There's a nice place next door so I could treat her to coffee and she would drop me home. It might fulfil 2 functions. Good thinking...I will explore this further :cool:

That sounds like a great idea - and what a lovely idea to go shopping with a friend. I love having company wandering round the supermarket (as long as it's not my two sprogs, as that makes it a lot less chilled!). Hopefully your friend will be on board and you can make a regular thing of it?

redofromstart · 21 February 2018 at 10:55AM

jvr wrote: »

also stealing this back up milk option. I used to freeze a mini milk so could defrost overnight if realised I was low but this means I have to remember the night before!

:hello: jvr

I freeze a tiny tub of skimmed for when I run out for my tea as I dislike the boys semi skimmed a lot. Its literally a couple of spoonfuls so it doesn't take long to defrost, especially if you stand it in a bowl of lukewarm water. Don't forget to leave a little room for expansion as it freezes or the lid comes off

jvr · 21 February 2018 at 11:28AM

Thanks redofromthestart... that is genius as it is literally just enough for a coffee I normally need... I have some tiny Tupperware for dressing etc. that would be perfect

RosaBernicia · 21 February 2018 at 2:28PM

jvr wrote: »

Long time lurker who loves your diary... always find it heartening to see I am not the only one that struggles with food especially the just need to grab a few bits error that leads to massive overspends... also stealing this back up milk option. I used to freeze a mini milk so could defrost overnight if realised I was low but this means I have to remember the night before!

Another option is the lacto free teeny tetra paks that come in bags of 6 or so. I usually have goat's milk which visitors are not keen on for in their tea :rotfl:so I sometimes pick those up too.