New Life Pending.....

Iwantanewlife

Opinion Poll

Ive been reading lots of other diaries and seen that some people do massive monthly shops then just small tops up each week (milk/fruit). Currently i tend to just buy for the week, but I have to admit i hate trying to fit it into the schedule, plus my cupboards are BARE by the time top up day arrives. What is peoples opinions on monthly vs weekly shops? and does it effect your budget better/worse?

[Deleted User]

We don't have a car, so I do a big monthly shop just after payday for convenience. I get this delivered from Tesco and buy anything heavy/long-life like tins of beans, soya milk for the month, loaves of bread (freeze these), pasta, rice, cereal, potatoes etc. in bulk.

Some of Tesco's own brands are cheaper than Aldi! It also allows me to get fancier vegan things that Aldi don't do, so I stock up on those for the month too (like frozen vegan nuggets).

Then I top up with fresh things from Aldi/Asda the remaining weeks (and actually lugg this home with my glamorous granny trolley haha). I semi-meal plan for these depending on what we've got left in the fridge.

It works well for us. I tend to spend around £90-£120 on the initial monthly shop, depending on what we've run out of, then around £40ish a week in Aldi/Asda each week. So works out around £250-£300 a month for 3 of us (myself, hungry 6'6" husband and very hungry 5 year old, including packed lunches for all of us). This is with getting everything we want.

We can do it for £200 a month when we have to, but found that being too frugal with the groceries ends up with us getting frustration takeaways haha!

It definitely works for us, and I love the big monthly stock up!

enthusiasticsaver

I prefer to meal plan weekly and do a weekly shop with one top up for milk and fruit and bread. I don't think I would want to do it monthly and in fact never have even when we had kids living at home. My DH would eat all the treats in the first week and throw out my budget. My rule is when it is gone, it is gone and won't be topped up until next weekly shop. This applies to treat stuff like cakes, crisps and biscuits, ice cream obviously.

Toni'sfriend

I take money out of the bank weekly and shop almost every day and I usually have money left at the end of the week. However, it works for us because we are retired and have the time, we have a lot of shops close by and it allows us to pick up YS deals. The downside my freezers are rammed full of YS food which I'm trying to use up (but I will do. We throw nothing away). Also neither of us drive so it saves carrying a lot at a time.

However, if you are not within walking distance of shops, work and have other family commitments or a busy social life (or your children do) I can definitely see the advantage of shopping monthly and having things delivered. I get an order delivered when we go on our self catering holidays because it is easier and cheaper.

Basically, I would say that it really depends on your circumstances and lifestyle. Maybe you could try getting a monthly delivery to see if it works better for you.

girlatplay

Weekly works for me, monthly doesn't. I have shops within walking distance and I also have a car. Maybe it's a habitual thing for me; when I got tax credits they arrived in my account on a Wednesday, I worked a half day on a Wednesday so the two matched. Just can't get monthly to work for me so have stuck with weekly although sometimes it rolls over two weeks depending what we have on and what I have batch cooked.

ohdearhowdidthathappen

Monthly wouldn't appeal to me, we shop weekly and a midweek 'top-up', but we're a family of 7... maybe monthly is more economical with a smaller family?

Honeysucklelou2

Weekly shops here (8) with a top up for milk mid week. The teenage boys would eat lots of the food in the first week, if I did monthly!

Iwantanewlife

Hi Guys

Just realised i haven't posted for a while, still been here every day! So my notice is in, and I am currently going through the checks and doing the paper work for new job. Start date is still not 100% as it is looking as though my existing company is going to make me work the full 3 months.

Money wise, still within budget although down to pounds. Luckily i get paid on Thursday. This month ive decided to up my budget a little so i can do some extra activities with my son. As you all know i have on debt left, my minimum payment is £54 and some pennies. I am going to over pay £250 so i dont feel too guilty. I also have £75 waiting to be paid out from 20 cogs and im over half way on one poll for a £30 pay out. Shoppix ive hit the £5 payout threshold but ive decided to hold out to the next level and get £10 as its fewer points needed. All of the extra will be paid to the debt. Of course when im paid i will do my monthly debt round up!

Love life is a disaster as always, so the guy i was dating who seemed everything and more has disappeared. I mean literally disappeared. we had a date booked for the Sunday, was talking all saturday, and according to his whatsapp he hasnt been online since - this was over a week ago!!! So to be honest i felt a little bit of a fool over this one. Im one of those people that doesnt let their guard down easily and with him i did, so felt really disappointed. I did think maybe something has happened but surely after a week he would of been able to contact me somehow. The problem is he doesnt have any social media so its not like i can even cyber stalk and check! Still think its bizarre he hasnt been on his whatsapp since he sent me his last message though (timestamp proves this). Me being silly, it did sort of dampen my excitement for the new job, everything seemed to be going so well! I suppose the old saying 'you cant have it all' lol. I have been invited on another date at the weekend, but im not sure i wouldn't just be going to make myself feel better about being ghosted - not sure that's the best intentions!

Anyway enough from me. xx

chelseablue

Does seem a bit strange that he hasn't been on WhatsApp for over a week, me being me Id be worried something had happened to him.

[Deleted User]

Congratulations on your new job and boo to possibly having to work the full notice...it's not as though you're likely to be doing much any way lol

Sorry about date man, that's a rotten thing for someone to do. Don't let him get you down. Big Hugs xx