Live on a tenner a week ???

PasturesNew

I tend to go shopping for the essentials once every 8-10 days if I can. That avoids temptation (especially sweets!) and cost.

I mostly shop at Lidl as there's no cost to get there, other shops I'm looking mostly at £2 fuel for a round trip to speculatively see if there's anything cheap.... and so mathematically it doesn't make sense to gamble like that.

I've spent a total of £56 so far this year on all food, household goods stocking up (enough loo roll, kitchen towel, washing up liquid and shampoo to last 3-6 months) and way too many treats/sweets (which make up 10% of my total spend).

My typical till spend is £4-7 when I do go out.

While I could make soup - and don't mind the occasional soup - I probably have about four bowls/year, so I've never got round to making up, say, a slow cooker of it as it'd be a right pain in the butt for it to clutter up the freezer until I fancy it

Frugalsod

Making your own soups is a great way of keeping the bills down. You can make them for less than the equivalent fresh soups in store and even comparable to canned versions, with all their economies of scale. I made a Cream of Chicken Kiev and broccoli soup for about 59p a portion, and each portion is about 600ml.

Bread I can make for about 48p but even YS bread at 10p beats this so I get it and freeze. I did have a fantastic YS haul just after Christmas but not so good since then. It is down to luck, and being near a big store.

Making my own peanut butter costs about 24.5p per 100g and is only beaten on price by the value versions which not everyone will eat.

I can make a good sized pizza for £1 or so depending on toppings and very fresh as well. If you can get YS meat that can go on pizza as well. I cheat and use ketchup for the tomato base.

I also aim for a £1 a meal target price and can achieve it without much of a struggle, and eliminating food waste is very helpful. I throw everything into the pot. Excess is frozen and used eventually.

Making your own cleaning agents is also significantly cheaper to do. Using the MSE double or even triple dipping on branded items can make significant cuts to the budget. Overall there are loads of ways to cut the budget, but the real problem is willingness to do so.

VfM4meplse

HOWMUCH wrote: »

We've been eating our 1p and 2p salad and veg items plus having sarnies from our 3p large wholemeal MrT's bread cakes . I've still got 4 packs left in the freezer and tomorrow we will be starting on the MrT's finest wholemeal loaf which was 13p will start with toast then sarnies. I've still got loads of veg left and it's still very fresh looking from Saturday. The strawberries I got 1.5kg for 60p have been turned into jam and is now sat in the cupboard. I may even go again this Saturday at the same time, one never knows.

Well you definitely have the YS technique nailed down! The only downside is because of the reduced shelf-life you either have to plan to eat it fast, or invest time in turning it into something that won't deteriorate fast or can be frozen.

76rosie

its a real shame that people judge others on how they live.

i'm still earning a decent wage but i do try to think frugally. i have savings and do not live beyond my means.

i don t completely go without but i do have a water meter and have navy showers.

I use the washing machine once a week and no tumble dryer.
I cant live on 10 pound as i drive to work and start early but it's only
1.1 picanto.

i love y/s and coupons. i never pay for coffee at work and take my own lunch.

I also exercise with our parks 3 times a week and go to the cinema using showfilmfirst.

honeythewitch

VfM4meplse wrote: »

Well you definitely have the YS technique nailed down! The only downside is because of the reduced shelf-life you either have to plan to eat it fast, or invest time in turning it into something that won't deteriorate fast or can be frozen.

I rather enjoy the pressure of having to do it quickly, and thinking of different ways to cook it, but I am lucky that I have time to spare.
It would be very difficult to take advantage of the reduced food if you had a young family and a full time job for instance.

HOWMUCH

VfM4meplse wrote: »

Well you definitely have the YS technique nailed down! The only downside is because of the reduced shelf-life you either have to plan to eat it fast, or invest time in turning it into something that won't deteriorate fast or can be frozen.

Yes I do agree, but whilst I'm purchasing my YS stuff I have an idea what will be made from it as it's going into the trolly. Any veg can be quickly turned into soup, salad stuff will keep for 3 days or so. We eat our way through the veg first but if it starts to look a little sad then it's soup. Bread always goes straight into the freezer then it's good for 3 days you can take part of a loaf out of the freezer.
I took early retirement last September but look after my DGS 4 days per week with the day off on a rota until March then it will be Tuesday's. I do most of the cooking at weekends and most of it is then frozen, ready to be eaten later, so they are HM ready meals. The asparagus which was in the twin pack with tender broccoli has been made in Delia's asparagus and cheese quiche along with some YS blue top milk I got and froze for 12p, we always use semi skimmed. When I bought it I thought quiche or egg custard, I've still got a pint in the freezer.
I need milk within the next day or two so I think I'll pop out at 7pm this evening and try my luck at MrT's

FunBrum

Great bargains HOWMUCH! I agree with what you say about veg soup.
I've just had a bowl of scrumptious carrot, coriander, onion and pepper soup, I made last night! All from left over veg that I was given.
Nothing tastes better than free!

[Deleted User]

I adore winter for the lovely soups that can be made for very little.I think r the last time I ever bought soup was about two years ago, and then I think it was reduced , the supermarket were stopping selling it in the little metro shop and I got a haul of 10 tins for 10p a tin ,it was value stuff and not brilliant but I used it in casseroles.I much prefer my own stuff,especially when its 'wonky/bendy veg.I am just finishing the leek and potato I made last week and then tomorrow I shall make a sweet potato and pepper one from the fridge where the peppers are just starting to look like me (a bit wrinkled :):))

DD gave me some tinned chickpeas that she had nabbed in Asdas for 20p a tin so they will be used to bulk out some of my forthcoming soups instead of potato's.I do like fairly spicy stuff as well so I always chuck some chilli powder or sauce in my soups .Carrot and coriander is one of my favourite soups

Ilona

HOWMUCH wrote: »

Bread always goes straight into the freezer then it's good for 3 days you can take part of a loaf out of the freezer.

Hi HOWMUCH, I can see you are well organized there. Something I noticed in your post, bread will be ok in the freezer for up to three months. Maybe a typo and that's what you meant. I take two slices out and pop it into the toaster, or if I want to make a sandwich to eat immediately zap it in the microwave for three seconds. I also make my sandwiches with frozen bread if I am taking them out with me to eat later. Easypeasy
Ilona

lessonlearned

Some great ideas on here.

I don't often manage to catch the best ys items, at least not at the rock bottom prices you lovely ladies seem to find but I do snaffle them up when I see them. I did manage to get some nice meat from M&S on Monday so filled up the freezer.

Not much gets wasted and although I do spend more than £10 a week I am happy enough with what I spend.

I think it helps if you enjoy cooking and experimenting. I always have a good selection of herbs and spices and a well stocked storecupboard of basics so can usually rustle up something with any meat and fish bargains I have in the freezer.

I check the fridge regularly so veg and salad things dont get time to go off. I used to do something called "Fridge Friday" when my boys were small. I used to involve them and they enjoyed dreaming up concoctions to use up any leftovers. They are both good cooks now.

I have noticed that a lot of newspaper articles and TV documentaries can be quite sneery when they do programmes and articles about money saving. More fool them if they want to waste money.

I live simply but well on what many would think is a very modest income - doubtless those same journalists and tv executives would class me as "living in poverty"...........:rotfl:

I'm fine, no debts, everything I need or want, I'm not afraid to put the heating on, I run a little car, get out and about, have holidays and have a wardrobe of nice clothes - ok Bought mainly In the sales or charity shops. I do like a mooch round the chazzers...... And I can still put something by for my future.

And it's all down to a bit of frugality, using my resources wisely and not being wasteful.

I am not as "hardcore" as you Ilona but I am happy and content. I daresay I could cut back a bit more if I had to but for now there's no need.

Who cares what the sneerers think.....