£67,031.92 is a frightening number indeed....

PurpleFairy26

Do you have a c0stco near to you? Do you know anyone who is a member so you can go with them (and possibly split cost of the membership) we buy lots of things in bulk (not everything from there as I'm still price savvy and make sure it's the best price). Their maple syrup is proper stuff (not synthetic) and the best price by a country mile I found anywhere else. Just a thought.

enthusiasticsaver

I personally think there is no point in examining receipts on a non standard week (holiday). It is the week in and week out spending which needs addressing. If you are downbranding and meal planning and not buying loads of booze then you should be able to bring the weekly cost down if you are shopping in somewhere like Aldi or Lidl. I suspect it may be the top up shops either you or your OH do where you go in for fresh fruit or milk say and come out with snacks you fancy when there. Maybe you should adopt the policy I did with my kids when they were young. Shop for snacks at the beginning of the week with meals and stuff for lunches. Leave a sum of cash aside, maybe £10 for extra milk, bread or fruit during the week. After it is gone then they have to scrounge around in the cupboards until shopping day or bake biscuits, buns providing you have the basic ingredients in your cupboards. Kids are not going to die through lack of snacks if they are eating three meals a day.

PositiveBalance

Hello ToPM!

Several thoughts....

1) It's interesting that you have noticed a massive increase in your food budget while the DCs are on holiday. I doubt you are the only one. I bet if you analyze your food spending you are bound to find loads of extra snacks that have snuck their way in with a 'Muuuuuuuuum, I'm STARVING' (or equivalent) as, subconsciously, the kids know what while they are in class they aren't allowed to eat, but when at home, the rules are a bit different...

2) Ever considered making your own cleaning products? You seem quite handy at making sourdough etc. which should make this a doddle. White vinegar is brilliant on stainless steel (and in combination with bicarb of soda and lemon on just about anything else) and cuts through grease like no man's business. Also, due to the 5% acetic acid content, it's good at killing bugs of all descriptions and 5L is normally less than £5 wholesale and lasts ages. I use it all the time and it's one of the best things I do in terms of :MSE: and the environment as it's totally biodegradable.

3) It's also very good as a substitute for fabric softener and absolutely encougrages any remaining soap powder to get the heck out of the fabric, which is a really good idea if you have anyone who is sensitive to this kind of thing. You can also add a few drops of lavender oil if you want it to smell like regular fabric softener, which is easy for you as you already use if for your Epsom salt baths.

4) Ever considered making your own cleansers, moisturizers etc? I have a bit of essential oil knowledge and apply it appropriately. I gave a pot of home-made cleanser to a friend who only uses the most expensive organic products imaginable and she raved about it! To be fair, you could really feel the tingle when you put it on, but there must be something going on to get Ms. Neil's Yard Remedies on board!

5) For a less organic alternative, consider BioOil. I worked with a woman in her 50s a little while ago who had literally the *best* skin I had ever seen on a woman her age (a few tiny crows feet and that was it) and she says that she applies BioOil to her face when going to bed at night a few times a week (preferably just before washing her hair in case it gets in her hair line). The rest of us - all on our 20s - all made note and bought a big bottle that same day. I would be more than happy to look like that in my 50s!

6) What do you actually use the maple syrup for? Could you substitute with honey? If not, get thee to C0STC0 as it really is good for this type of thing.

Cherryfudge

redofromstart wrote: »

Another resource you may find useful was a project that was done by some people on old style, years ago, that was about balanced family meals for pennies. I think it was £100 per month for 2 adults, 2 children so real crisis stuff. I had a google and it looks like Weezl has put the website back up recently (hurrah!):

http://www.cheap-family-recipes.org/index.html?opt=rcost

There is a veggie meal planner that might give you some more ideas but there are also snacks and baking bits on there.

Hooray! So glad I'm not the only person to remember Weezl and her amazing threads. I could read her just for sheer joy. (Remember the pig's head? :rotfl:)

I'm delighted she has the website up again, must sally forth and have a look.

quintwins

Cherryfudge wrote: »

Hooray! So glad I'm not the only person to remember Weezl and her amazing threads. I could read her just for sheer joy. (Remember the pig's head? :rotfl:)

I'm delighted she has the website up again, must sally forth and have a look.

nope I loved it aswell, still love potato and onion soup. I think I remeber her doing a Christmas plan aswell.

Cherryfudge

I didn't see the Christmas plan... if I'm not around for the next few weeks, it will be because I'm re-reading!

Looking at the website, I'm not sure if it's the original author who's put it up again. I hope Weezl is okay. Her kids will be well into school age now I suppose.

Apologies for hijacking your thread TOPM.

Kittychick

Wow, just had a look at that site, I'm going to have to spend some time there, looks like some really good ideas that we can definitely use, thanks for reposting it! :beer:

quintwins

I think looked and she hasn't posted since 2015

Kitty the prices aren't accurate anymore but all the recipes are still a great resource, there is lots of similar facebooked pages aswell.

mizmir

That is an amazing site - and there is a veggie version too! I am going to adjust for family of 1/2 (OH away a lot at the moment) and work out a proper meal plan. If this is for a family of 4, we should definitely be able to eat well for £100 a month. Not managing it at the moment though.

Treadingonplaymobil

Wow, lots of posts and ideas to read through, thanks everyone. We had a fab long weekend camping and I'm in the midst of unpacking and sorting/cleaning everything again, but will come back with a vengeance tomorrow morning with my usual lists and plans, having read all of your posts.

One big spend while camping - lunch out for the five of us, with our friends - but literally didn't spend so much as 1p apart from that, so I'm not too despondent. Annoyingly DS1's self inflating mat has sustained a puncture on cub camp, which we can't locate, so I think we'll be replacing that this week.

Anyway, back to the grindstone for now, I'll be back here bright and early tomorrow.