Champing at the Bit

FrugalJo

Right managed the best part of 3 weeks on only £80 :j , throw in bank charges of £12, son invited to birthday party this weekend and the first school trip added a further unforseen £10 and I have £8 til next Tuesday.

However the experience and consistent support tips etc found on this forum have got me all fired up and ready to go come payday next week.

I have yet to work out a shopping budget for the four of us and think this is my downfall as the popping in for the milk in the supermarket always ends up at £10. Although I meal plan I always fall by the wayside with the little extras, and they are not even luxuries.

So this weekend I am going to set the budget, menu plan etc. The summer expenditure knocked me for six, now I'm ready for this MSE malarky , feel like I've only been training so far.

I have just found three pairs of football boots, two karate kits and more all set for ebay, once I can afford the batteries for my camera, that's just the tip of the iceberg - or rather the floor of eldest sons wardrobe...!

Thanks for reading

Spendaholic_Chick

Well done on your savings so far! £80 for 3 weeks for 4 of you is brill!! Keep up the good work!

FrugalJo

Kids have been moaning that there's 'nothing to eat' at which point they are directed to the overflowing fruit bowl/bread bin. It's working - slowly but surely.

protector

Ah yes, that's kid for "there's no junk food" isn't it?

Squirrel29

Hi Frugal, I agree that popping to the shop for milk is a BIG MISTAKE. I always spend at least a tenner on rubbish like magazines, papers, etc.

I have developed a meal plan which includes shopping at Asda weekly and buying in an extra loaf and milk and I freeze these. It then prevents a mid-week trip to the local shop. I can't believe how much better off I am already. I get £10 cash out for incidentals at the start of the week and make this last.

trying-very-trying

I think you've done really well!!!!! There's 4 of us and I don't think I could manage for 3 weeks on only £80.

TurnaroundSue

Well done FrugalJo, I ALWAYS buy loads of bread and milk (usually in discount bin!) and freeze them. It really did make a difference to the amount of times I shopped during the week and my milk is now really cheap instead of being £10 for 4 pints!!!! Good luck and keep up the good work.

My kids are always saying that there's nothing to eat in the house and I thought it was because I wasn't doing really well at my shopping, but when I actually sat down and throught about it it really meant there was nothing junky and nice to eat (but they failed to include those 2 vital words!!!!!).

FrugalJo

Thanks for the pat on the back guys. DH works for Somerfields and I'm always popping in for the top-ups, the discount is false security cos even if I buy RTC it's never on the meal plan.

On a more positive note after little more than 2 weeks the children know if they are hungry the options are limited, treats will be treats from now on not 'always there'.

TBH I've never been one for freezing milk but will do from now on, the last week has been real scratching about for the pennies.

£10 incidentals - that sounds sensible, I am terrible for having cash and just spending, the hole burns hot in my purse ! Could be anything from a charity shop to a Superdrug BOGOF (I'm not expensive just impulsive !)

Really ready to rumble.

bathgatebuyer

Hadn't even considered freezing milk - ooh, I've learnt something else from MSE!!!

Frugaljo, you're doing brilliant. Keep up the good work! Sounds as if the kids are learning about healthy too into the bargain! I've found that making my own food from fresh ingredients is so much cheaper than buying ready made. - not to mention you can taylor it a bit more to your own tastes

FrugalJo

I agree Bathgate, eldest is a 'fussy eater' - come to the conclusion he's only fussy cos I let him ! Supernanny is 10 years too late for me but I'm making headway.
Ready made is easy, when the kids were babies I mashed the advacodos and bananas etc , food processing and freezing ice cube portions of family meals, it was hard work and didn't pay off with eldest, he would be a processed food junkie - if I let him, will get there - he's now 13 and at the grunting stage lol ! Youngest loves cooking, eats most things and has accepted changes easily.

Sigh...wouldn't want them any different though.

trying-very-trying

I too freeze milk, whole milk isn't so good to freeze though. I try to buy 4x6litre cartons from farmfoods, it's the cheapest I've found, and it lasts me all week. Bread is the other major necessity that I pop in the freezer, especially if it's reduced to clear or on special offer. We are 32 mile from the nearest supermarket though.