setting my grocery budget,y 'almost eight' son and I. Advice appreciated x

fuddle

Ah you have the meal planning and shopping list bug.

When things were really tight here my meal plan was only 7 days long. I woukd repeat week after week. That way I was only buying the bare minimum of ingredients and that let me stock up too. It is very tiresome but a stress lowering meal providing plan that money can manage. Just sharing really, you don't need tips uou have this in the bag.

Just warning about the fab feelings to come in growing your food stocks. When you're on your feet with it all look forward to thevrelaxing feelings (and slightly enjoyable feelings!)that the food stocks are there to help you out in a 'no money' patch.

Food hoarder? Me? Oh yes

Tink_04

Your doing so well!

Its great when you start to see progress. Keep going and it will become secind nature.

Graciefields

Lindlou wrote: »

Hi,
Didnt want to read and run. I'm sure there willl be lots of people here soon who will tell you that your budget is more than doable. Grocery challenge thread would be a good place for encouragement/ideas.
There's just me, my hubby and cat. We spend about £50 a week for food, toiletries, cat food, litter and cleaning stuff. We also have a couple of bottles of wine a week too. We eat well, very well I feel, and have packed lunches each day too.

Hi Lindlou, how on earth do you manage to live on £50 per week and eat so well? I spend about £80 per week for me and my cat. I have tried the grocery challenge but just can't seem to make it work! Would be grateful for any tips or advice.

Gracie

ERICS_MUM

I buy a lot of my toiletries and cleaning stuff in the pound stores but need to keep my eyes peeled for special offers in Wilkos and Home Bargains.

I know which brands I can't substitute because I don't like the cheaper versions - Heinz baked beans, Marks & Soencer cream of tomato soup, Coke. Everything else I'm happy to try the cheaper versions and decide.

OP I think you are doing fab, not only saving money but cooking such nutritious and tasty meals from scratch so you know what's in them. It's a good lesson for your son too. My Mum brought the 3 of us up on a small budget and we all learned how to make good food. My brother used to meal plan for his kids as his wife (now EX, hurrah !) was a frozen dinners woman.

cheel

Morning everyone! Happy bank holiday!!

[/MamanB] thanks sounds like a nice change and I have so mash in the freezer!

Fuddle thanks, yes it will be nice to know what I have in and have a little stockpile for emergencies. Both in the bank and I the cupboards! I'm a single mum so if son is ill it'd be one less thing to worry me!

Tink thankyou!

Ericsmum thankyou! There are a few thing I not happy to swap over too. Coke and Cadbury dairy milk . I thought id struggle with changing from lurpack too but we have (aldis block of butter) and its fine, but I'm making holes in the bread! Will investigate solutions for that!! I think I saw on here about beating water in to it.

My son is being a star. The only thing he is fussy about are the crisps for his lunch box. But he only has them every other day, so its not a big deal especially if I get ones on offer. He didn't even mind the lentils in the mince. I told him i put them in to help us be healthier, He said 'I saw them mummy they dont taste of anything though!'

I promised him id play games with him all day today. so I spent a fiver on the co op pizza deal (pizza, garlic balls, chicken dippers, wedges and oreo icecream) and he couldn't be happier that we are having game day!!

I joined the grocery challenge, but my budget looks quite large compared to others on there and their family size. I shouldn't compare though as everyone's different.

Enjoy your bank holiday. I can't wait to have an Oreo icecream!! Its the little things xxx

HOWMUCH

Cheel I'm lucky that I have a flexible budget which allows me to take advantage of items when they are on offer and freeze or put in my store cupboard. I batch cook and freeze in single portions it eeks out the meat making extra portions. Two years ago I too was spending a lot more than I now do, we still eat well even my DH mentioned last week how well we eat for our expenditure. You'll get then hang of things and may be able to reduce your budget it all mainly depends on what shops you have access to and if you can pick up on reductions. How and portion size too x

cheel

Hi howmuch

Yes I'm hoping that too. I dont want to make it really difficult and fall at the first hurdle. At the end of the month I will have another honest look at the budget and see if I can bring it down.

Xx

Pollycat

Graciefields wrote: »

Hi Lindlou, how on earth do you manage to live on £50 per week and eat so well? I spend about £80 per week for me and my cat. I have tried the grocery challenge but just can't seem to make it work! Would be grateful for any tips or advice.

Gracie

Look at my post #23 for tips on making meat go further.

Do you menu plan & batch cook?

I've got 1kg of pork mince, 750gm mushrooms, 4 large onions, 2.5 tins chopped tomatoes plus a carton of passata, stock & garlic, herbs & spices in my slow cooker to make ionk pie bases.

ERICS_MUM

Cheel, you hit the nail on the head saying it's the small things. I have a cappuccino and muffin in Costa's every couple of weeks and it tastes delicious because I look forward to it and enjoy every mouthful. I've got type 2 diabetes so have to restrict my sugar intake.

Lindlou

Hi Gracie,

I buy mostly own brands bar the odd items. I only buy more expensive items (such as butter) when on offer. We check for YS buys and usually manage a couple of meals a week based around our finds. We buy toiletries from bo**care or sa*ers and I use soap instead of shower gel or handwash as I find it lasts longer. I dont plan too wildly but check how many meals we've got in the freezer before I go shopping. Jars of curry sauces are bought when on offer for when pressed for time so we dont resort to too many take aways. Always do enough to freeze half when doing chilli, curry, bolognese for the same time short or cant be bothered days. And remember most things freeze...left over lemons, reduced veg....dont waste anything.
Oh and dont buy loads of different cleaning stuff. Bottle of sta* drops does bathrooms, floors, windows etc. Bottle of bleach for loo, own brand washing powder for clothes and soda crystals and white vinegar for towels and sheets. Do buy Fai*y WU liquid as lasts months although others recommend *ldi own brand.
HTH