Cash neutral grocery spends, 'till Christmas. 28 October 2019 at 2:29PM in Old Style MoneySaving 34 replies 5.1K views

mumtoomany

Hello all.
I am going to drastically cut our grocery spends from now until Christmas. We have paid out over £5,000 from savings in the last few weeks, the family car(minibus) needed the gearbox rebuilding and MOT, also the barn (we live on a smallholding) needed a concrete floor laid and a new roof, at least the central part. Our total annual income is around £12,000, so the savings have taken a big hit.

We are an 8 person household. Myself, DH, DD1, DSiL1, DGS, DGD1, DGD2 and DD3. DD1 and her OH are having an extension built which will become there's and the grandchildren's home. I do all the cooking and most of the grocery shopping for the whole house. DD1 contributes £120 per month. I CAN shop for us all on £240 per month, but recently this has been creeping up by upto £50 extra per month.

The challenge is to only use the £120 from DD1 and any extra earned money, surveys, Facebook sales, etc. until Christmas. Both big freezers are full as are most of the cupboards. I have not told the family what I am trying to achieve, I do not want DD1 to think that she needs to increase their share of the budget, they are saving so hard to finish the build. In fact if I manage this I will split the savings with her.

I have been reading weezl74's old threads on living on 50p each and living on less than the USDA allow for food also D&DD's thread on living form stores when times were tough for her. If I can manage to do as well as these two ladies, I should be OK.

I will keep you all updated, internet connection allowing. Wish me luck, mumtoomany.

PipneyJane

Good luck, mumtoomany. I will be cheering you on from the sidelines.

- Pip

t14cy_t

I do as many surveys on as many sites as I can and believe me its worth it!! also scan the cashback sites so you can claim back for items purchased. best of luck. xx

mumtoomany

Thanks Pip (love your signature), and t14cyt. I do surveys on Yougov and swagbucks mostly. Trouble is most people don't want replies from an "old" lady living in the middle of nowhere who never does anything or goes anywhere and never buys anything! Will have to start on grabpoints again, at least they give you points if you are screened out. mumtoomany.

tessie_bear

wishing you good luck x

i am impressed with your £240 budget but fair lay if u think u can get it down...could u share the sort of things u cook where u shop tips really

many thanks x

[Deleted User]

Have PM'd you

JackieO xx

mumtoomany

Thank you Tessie bear.

The ways I keep the budget low, grow our own veg/fruit as much as I can. Works if I can harvest before the rabbits, mice, caterpillars. Also grow our own lamb and mutton, sometimes pork too, but no weaners this year, the minibus was in the garage for 4 months! Messed up the plans a little. Also chickens so our own eggs.

Shopping wise I try to buy things wherever they are cheapest. Although we are 20 minutes drive from town, once there we have a choice of, Aldi, Lidl, Tesco, Morrisons, Farm foods, and a cash and carry. Also a superb veg shop, sells £1 boxes, these have for example 20 to 30 apples, or 4 to 5 cabbages or lettuce, or 20 to 30 peppers etc. Also sacks of potatoes, carrots, swede, onions. I tend to shop about once a week, visiting 2 or 3 of the above each time. No in between shops and always take a list.

I try to never waste anything, all leftovers are turned into something else or frozen.

DD1 and her family have gone to visit the in laws today till Saturday, so only two for tea today, (DD3 at her boyfriends). Had sausage, beans, tomatoes, (we are both on an eight week low carb diet)

Brought in a few more raspberries, a few more tomatoes, 1 carrot and three spaghetti squash from outside.

No money spent today.

Mumtoomany.

mumtoomany

Thanks Jackie, have replied.

purpleivy

Well, watching for inspiration! My freezer is about full, so really don't need to keep buying more meat and stuff. I wonder if I can avoid putting things in the freezer? The problem is, you take out stock etc, make soup and then there is more than you started with! Same if you make a batch of bol!

We just had 4 adult visitors for a week, so there are all manner of bits and pieces that have been stashed. Some things taken out, but not that much.

thriftwizard

Good luck, I'm cheering you on too!

mumtoomany

Hello everyone, a quick post (if the internet stays connected).

Quieter day again today. Slightly easier than yesterday though. Dadtoomany had made the roof trusses for the barn in the extension, to keep the rain off. There are seven of them, 20 feet long by nearly 5 feet high and VERY heavy. They needed moving from the extension to the barn. Only two of us at home to move them! I am covered in bruises and splinters, but they are moved. Now we will need to find a way of getting them up to the roof. A man with a crane I think. Today I am joining up crochet squares for DGD1's blanket, it is cot sized but she wants it as big as her brothers.

Lunch today will be pea and ham soup, stock and leftover bits from a piece of gammon last week with diced onions leftover mash and tinned mushy peas.

Tea, I have put 3 chicken thighs in the slow cooker with some veg stock, some chicken stock and the leftover tomato juice from last night. Will cook plenty of veg to go alongside. DD3 home again for meals.

Freezers, fridge, cupboards and pantry(well really it's just a set of shelves in the utility room) all still full.

Catch you all later, mumtoomany.