New 2016 downshift challenge tool discussion

DavidP24

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karenccs67

Do you recommend meal planning for the month? I've been doing this and on the whole I stick to it, probably 90% of the time, we used to have a takeaway weekly but now maybe once or twice a month. The meal planning helps but now I need to bring the cost of the meals down. We are a family of 3 adults, my son is a 18 year old non stop eating machine, I have a budget of £160 but as things are it's not enough.

VfM4meplse

Good in theory, but life is too short. Mine is, at least.

A._Badger

" Be aware that most fruit in the UK is irradiated before the Supermarkets get their hands on it, this slows decay, putting fruit in the fridge makes it last weeks, sometimes even months."

The Food Standards Agency appears too disagree:

"All foods which have been irradiated must be labelled as 'irradiated' or 'treated with ionising radiation'. Where an irradiated food is used as an ingredient in another food, the words 'irradiated' or 'treated with ionising radiation' should appear next to the ingredient in the list of ingredients."

https://www.food.gov.uk/science/irradfoodqa

maman

There are good ideas in your post OP but having read through it's not that different from what most people on OS do and I'm much the same.

I choose to shop regularly on the same day each week as it suits my lifestyle but I always start by incorporating what's in the fridge and freezers (from my freezer list) into my meal plan and only buying essential extra ingredients. So while I don't save by stretching the food for an extra day (s) I only buy what I really need and waste virtually nothing.


karen, I'm guessing that your 18 year old is healthy although he eats and eats. I'd fill him up as best you can at meal times and then have limited snacks available. If he really is ravenous then he could make toast or eat fruit. When the snacks you do budget for are gone then maybe he can buy his own.


Personally I get on better with a weekly meal plan as it's easier to use up fresh things week to week. I know some people who do a monthly plan and shop for the meat, dried and tinned stuff but then go again weekly for fresh food, milk and bread. I suppose it's horses for courses and depends on how much storage you have.

PasturesNew

One thing many people overlook is that a "treat" soon becomes "the norm" and then it's in the trolley every time. Then they stock up, so they don't run out.

What I do is know what's a treat - and leave it as a treat. I COULD buy crisps every month, week.... but I don't. I leave them as a treat. A treat means: You mindfully purchase them, remembering how long ago you last bought the item. Once home you cherish the treat. Then eat the treat and think "that was a treat". What you CAN'T do is buy it again the next time you're in the shop. Nor the next week. Nor the next month. That's the whole POINT of a treat.

So fill the trolley. Then look at it. Go back round the shop putting all the cakes, biscuits, crisps, sweeties, trifles, alcohol, milkshakes, nibbles etc BACK on the shelves.

Put them back ....

A treat's for 2-3x a year MAX.

Sometimes you'll fall off the wagon ... but NEVER make the purchase two shopping trips in a row; NEVER stock up on them.

My list of "could buy every time if I wanted to, but I don't" includes: mini trifles, chocolate biscuits, crisps, doughnuts, pizza, milkshake .... but if I made those "the norm" not only would I be poorer, I'd also be heftier ... they're not food. They're treats.

Sometimes, just for a "mini treat" I'll allow myself to linger in the shop and stare at them on the shelves before walking away

VfM4meplse

PasturesNew wrote: »

A treat's for 2-3x a year MAX

Blimey, you're strict

maman

DavidP24 wrote: »

Thanks, what is "OS"?

There is a flaw in your weekly strategy and taking into account what you have left in the fridge.

I'd agree with you about the fuel but we all have to work within our lifestyle. I'm fortunate that I live in a big city so have the shops I need very close by. Also I have learned the self discipline of only buying exactly what I need. The only exception would be something reduced that I could freeze or an offer that can go in my storecupboard. My planning is such that going anywhere near a shop midweek (because I've run out of something) is almost unheard of.


I know your lettuce was just an example but I don't buy lettuce as I know it's easily wasted. I buy spinach instead which is versatile as salad leaves and any leftovers can be stirred into a casserole. Similarly I am at home alone most days at lunchtime so often eat up a single portion of the previous night's dinner.


Your strategy works for you and mine works for me.:)


OS is the Old Style Boards where there are some posters who have made an art form from frugality:rotfl:.


P.S. I agree with the 'treats becoming the norm' argument. I think that's one of the reasons we have an obesity crisis. I, too, love crisps but I ration them as I know they're not healthy. The next time I eat them is likely to be with my turkey sandwiches on Christmas night! The last time was back in July as part of the packed lunch we took to travel on holiday:D.

maman

maman wrote: »

OS is the Old Style Boards where there are some posters who have made an art form from frugality:rotfl:.

Just wanted to add that many of the posters (although not all by any means) are older people who have many years of experience in being mse.


There's one elderly lady who remembers rationing and learned a lot from her mother who I guess lived through the Great depression of the 1930s. She likes to leave shopping for as long as possible too.


But she lives alone, so can conjure up a meal for one from the freezer which is not so easily done for a family. She also has a daughter who although a bit pushed for cash herself invites her round every Sunday and plates her up a dinner to eat on Monday.


I think we can learn from each other and adapt the tips to suit our differing circumstances.

CloughiesBrewerArmy

PasturesNew wrote: »

So fill the trolley. Then look at it. Go back round the shop putting all the cakes, biscuits, crisps, sweeties, trifles, alcohol, milkshakes, nibbles etc BACK on the shelves.

Put them back ....

A treat's for 2-3x a year MAX.

Or you could be diabetic like myself and never pick up any of it

I'm not sure what my issue is - I tend to buy lots of the cheap stuff and still end up spending £40-£50 a week on my food etc and I can't work out how - I live on my own.

Not everything is value/basics/savers etc but 80% of it is. Some of the sales assistants look at me like a pauper :rotfl: