2019 Frugal Living Challenge

tighteningthebelt

I only go to aldi. They seem to mark up their 50% off stickers I early in the morning, so that's when I go. That works best for me. I dare say I could save more by shopping around, but I don't have the energy, so it's a good balance.
I'm a meal planner too, but I will flex if I see a bargain... Or I'll buy the bargain and freeze it and plan it in for the following week. If you were only to make one change I reckon meal planning is the number one way to get on top of things.

chocolatelover93

tighteningthebelt wrote: »

I only go to aldi. They seem to mark up their 50% off stickers I early in the morning, so that's when I go. That works best for me. I dare say I could save more by shopping around, but I don't have the energy, so it's a good balance.
I'm a meal planner too, but I will flex if I see a bargain... Or I'll buy the bargain and freeze it and plan it in for the following week. If you were only to make one change I reckon meal planning is the number one way to get on top of things.

thank you

Hettyhound

I’m an Ald1 covert too, used to be tesc0 until they opened an Ald1 near me. Managed to slash grocery funds from 200 to 150. For household and toiletries I go to Home Barga1ns, their toilet roll (comfy?) is 3.99 for 18 rolls and no one has ever complained! I’ve started getting the almat washing liquid from Ald1 as a lot of their stuff gets good housekeeping awards, for my towels and sheets I also use a scoop of washing soda with a half measure of washing liquid on the top of it, again no one has ever complained.

I’m always fascinated by that eat well for less programme that often people can’t tell a difference when the packaging is removed and also by how much they spend in the first place. I don’t think my taste buds are particularly refined anyway but my bank balance is healthier for it! :rotfl:

chocolatelover93

Hettyhound wrote: »

I’m an Ald1 covert too, used to be tesc0 until they opened an Ald1 near me. Managed to slash grocery funds from 200 to 150. For household and toiletries I go to Home Barga1ns, their toilet roll (comfy?) is 3.99 for 18 rolls and no one has ever complained! I’ve started getting the almat washing liquid from Ald1 as a lot of their stuff gets good housekeeping awards, for my towels and sheets I also use a scoop of washing soda with a half measure of washing liquid on the top of it, again no one has ever complained.

I’m always fascinated by that eat well for less programme that often people can’t tell a difference when the packaging is removed and also by how much they spend in the first place. I don’t think my taste buds are particularly refined anyway but my bank balance is healthier for it! :rotfl:

I love that programme lol. I'll give Ald! a go next time I do my shopping last time I shopped there I was not impressed with their fruit and veg as it seemed to go off pretty quick and some of it was already off when I opened it

Hettyhound

Yep watch the fruit and veg, give it a good look over. That was one piece of advice I was given by a friend when she was persuading me to try it, it has stood me in good stead.

Frugaldom

OLaney wrote: »

I don't know if people follow their credit rating religiously but I do check mine and I am very pleased to say that mine has improved greatly since last month. I aim to improve this month on month as mine was not great this time last year I must admit. I am very happy with how things are going.

For the past 'as long as I can remember', mine has read 999, which is brilliant, I think? But it still shows a warning that such a high score could be detrimental to my ability to get credit! It's as though they want people to have debt! Not that it bothers me, as I have no intentions of taking on any, but it does irk me, wondering if I would get credit if I really needed it for something? I think I would still go directly to my bank if things got financially complicated, unless there was a particularly good cashback offer on a zero percent finance offer of something I really needed.

Frugaldom

chocolatelover93 wrote: »

Quick question - what does everyone spend on their weekly shop?

It is just me and DS he is at nursery 3 days a week so he gets meals there that I pay for. I've been spending £40-£60 depending on what bits I need to get.

C xx

As a real diehard frugaler, I spend an average £1 per person per day on food and find it is still possible to get quite a lot if there are yellow stickers. There are usually 2 to feed but with family visits and occasional students to feed, plus the usual stream of visitors, I tend to spend closer to £100 per month by including luxuries like crisps, chocolate and ice cream. We have a very basic diet here, I eat eggs a lot and if there is anything edible growing at Frugaldom then that gets eaten, too.

2Scratters

Impressed with DH last night, he had been shopping locally for something to make for tea. Came home to lovely smell of curry. We already had some beef thinly cut in the fridge. He had frugally bought 4 pots of Patak curry pots for 25p each. Along with a pack of 4 naan bread which will do us twice. Was very nice. I suggest ice cream for pudding (from Aldi) being frugal all through out the meal... no, the daft begger blew it on 2 locally produced vanilla slices. (which we love!)

chocolatelover93

Was naughty yesterday and bought a pizza from Tesc0 instead of the chicken I had on meal plan (it was still partly frozen) so I have marinated it and will cook it for lunch/dinner this evening so it doesn't get wasted. Also forgot to prep my bits for work today so had to spend £1 on a drink

Crafty_Lisa_Hampshire

chocolatelover93 wrote: »

Quick question - what does everyone spend on their weekly shop?

It is just me and DS he is at nursery 3 days a week so he gets meals there that I pay for. I've been spending £40-£60 depending on what bits I need to get.

C xx

I have just managed to reduce my monthly groceries/toiletries/cleaning bill to £200.00 a month. I did allow £260.00 but decided that was too excessive. I suppose weekly that would work out to about £50.00 a week. It is just me though. I know others probably spend less than that a week but I am very pleased with the fact that I have reduced it by so much.