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The hardest challenge yet

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  • elantan
    elantan Posts: 21,022 Forumite
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    bouicca21 wrote: »
    I think a month might be too ambitious and set you up to fail. Why not try a week at a time?
    I agree....a month is too long, too many variables. A week should be easier, and even then there might be days when it all falls apart.

    The best thing is to have a few ready meals, either home cooked or bought, in the freezer for emergencies and cba days.

    Don't forget it's December, with all the craziness of Christmas and New Years, so maybe best not to get too bogged down straight away. Baby steps.

    Maybe keep a note in your diary of things you might like to try, ideas etc as reminders for when you run out of steam.

    will do that then, one week at a time and before I know it I will have a months worth of meal planning, i dont have a diary as such but maybe i can put some tasty ideas on post 1 of here :)

    no big plans for xmas tbh as im going to look for a shift on xmas day and I'm oncall on boxing day, we no doubt will need to do something with the parents and aunty, but not too mich as they are not really up to too much, aunty ruined a very expensive dinner last year so were not really planning too much

    thanks
  • elantan
    elantan Posts: 21,022 Forumite
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    edited 30 May 2024 at 11:31AM
    firebubble wrote: »
    My suggestion would be to split out what seems like an enormous food budget into smaller categories, eg lunches, home meals, home alcohol, takeaways, social meals out, social alcohol.

    The meals and booze eaten at home where there are no guests - these are the categories to cut. Split them out so you can see where your money is really going - do you need a fully stocked drinks cabinet at all times? Are you consistently ordering takeaways every Friday night because you're tired? Are you wearing the culinary equivalent of a hair shirt when you supermarket shop (soaking lentils and eating value mince) but then feeling you need to treat yourself when you go out, so you order lobster on your lobster? Have you got a freezer full of food, which actually should be eaten up (other threads have looked in detail at the potential folly of having too much 'stock' food - it's up to you to decide what is necessary/comfortable for you).

    The hybrid category of meals out/takeaways where there are no guests should be considered home spending, and can be cut - even if you buy a supermarket ready meal and have that, it will still be cheaper than a takeaway (or even if you buy sides/rice from the supermarket and get only main dishes from the takeaway).

    The food/drink expense where there are guests or where you are otherwise socialising - these are not categories to cut without making yourself lonely. They can only be reduced - can you choose a cheaper venue, use a voucher, don't order expensive drinks/food? Otherwise, maybe you are a sociable person, so this is really essential spending. Without it, your life will be poorer for it - and there comes a point where yes, you could not spend a single penny socialising and you will retire years early - but for what?

    Another useful thing about tracking spending, is that you can see where your 'line' is - there will be a food threshold below which you will notice an uptick in treats to offset the boredom. I notice it if I start eating all meals out of the freezer - I suddenly start craving something crispy and fatty to get away from the mushy texture.


    that could work, it would certainly give me a much deeper insight as to where the money goes, I do wonder though if it's too complicated ?
    Just stumbled over this thread and totally relate. I have been away from the forums for a while and and back and aiming to post regularly to get back on track.

    Like you I worked my way out of debt with the support of the DFW threads and paid off my mortgage with the support of various threads on here. I am also aiming for FIRE but have felt our spending is getting out of control, especially with food, takeaways, alcohol (and I don't drink!) and treats from the local corners shop - read junk food to enjoy whilst watching TV. Will go back through and read the thread later with interest. Best of luck on your quest.

    Welcome, pull a wee chair up and get comfy we can learn together xxx
    PipneyJane wrote: »
    Hello.

    Firstly, congratulations on paying off your mortgage. That is quite an achievement.

    Secondly, re the bit I've bolded above, this is when your freezer is your friend, along with your microwave. Every so often when cooking, I'll make a double recipe and freeze half. (I do a lot of curries, some Chinese, some italian.) In the circumstances above, I'll put the kettle on for rice or pasta before taking off my coat, then haul a tub of sauce out of the freezer, go get changed and zap the meaty sauce while cooking the rice/pasta. Dinner ready in less than 20 minutes and I've had time to de-stress in the process.

    Being organised is the key to a) saving money, and b) coping when time is in short supply. I've spent the last three winters working 2-3 days a week at an office 68 miles from home. (Seriously, I am half expecting to find myself out there again, come January.) Mondays were a bad day, because I have choir rehearsals that evening and frequently only had half an hour to eat, get changed and collect my music before heading off again. My way around it was to use the slow cooker every Monday.

    HTH

    - Pip

    Thank you, I spose it can be very easy to forget how far weve came, weve managed to in the name of my first thread " Turn the money situation around" it's been a journey and I certainly should stop more often and enjoy how far weve came, it's easy just to think right what's next without thinking wow that was hard work but worth it, thank you for the reminder.

    i totally agree being organised is a huge part of it, well that and what i lovingly refer to as arseability, I do so well for a while then just loose traction, this like many other things needs to change for me.
  • elantan
    elantan Posts: 21,022 Forumite
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    bouicca21 wrote: »
    Pip’s post reminded me that we shouldn’t just be pontificating about cutting the food budget, we should be congratulating you on getting rid of the debt and being mortgage free. That’s a mega achievement and comparatively speaking the food budget isn’t a mountain to climb but just a little hill.


    Thank you, right now it feels like K2 but I will get there, one foot in front of the other and as Beanie would say keep plodding :)
  • maddiemay
    maddiemay Posts: 5,095 Forumite
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    elantan wishing you well with your new challenge, I remember your name from the time when Elaine at MFIT had her blog.

    A couple of years ago I was curious and a little miffed at how much I was spending on food etc for OH and myself, although not the world's best at using them I made a spreadsheet which I manged to keep going for a whole year, it answered lots of questions and enabled me to spend on things that were most important to me and flagged up the daft purchases of things that I did not need or were real wants, rather than spur of the moment stuff.

    My meal plan is quite a loose affair, it lists potential main meals for 8/9 days, but not allocated to specific days unless it involves things in the fridge that need using soon. Home made ready meals etc. Quick meals using eggs, pasta, risotto can be slotted in at short notice if I forget to defrost something or simply CBA:rotfl:
    The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time. (Abraham Lincoln)
  • boultdj
    boultdj Posts: 5,333 Forumite
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    Elantan just a heads up, weekend starting 6th Dec mixed nuts are in the weekend deal 200g bag £1.39. hth
    £71.93/ £180.00
  • Wednesday2000
    Wednesday2000 Posts: 8,315 Forumite
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    edited 30 May 2024 at 11:31AM
    The challenge to eat down the fridge and freezer went well this week. I must have saved some £££ as well as making sure almost everything was eaten. I just made a grocery order for Tesco for the weekend and it made me more mindful about what to buy and what we actually need, rather than just clicking on all my favourites without checking what I have first!

    My husband is off next week and we are going to keep making our way through the recorded TV shows we have lined up. Nice, cheap entertainment. I bought frozen pizzas from Tesco for us to eat next week instead of getting our usual Tuesday takeaway.

    I have to call up HMRC to pay my voluntary Class 3 National Insurance contributions next week. I also want to set up a direct debit so it gets taken out weekly instead of paying a lump sum.

    I also follow http://quietlysaving.co.uk/ and https://www.msziyou.com/ as UK based FIRE blogs and there are lots of UK based people in the comments.

    I follow the Down to Earth blog for inspiration on simple living at https://down---to---earth.blogspot.com/ and follow various blogs and Youtube channels on simple living and frugal living.

    Oh, I hadn't heard of the MSZI one before. :) i will check it out, thanks.

    I look on YouTube all the time, it's amazing how much information people put out there for free.:T
    2025 GOALS
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  • Hi El - good to "see" you!

    Food spends - our basic grocery budget is £175 a month - that includes oddments of toiletries and the main household stuff although things like water filter cartridges come from a different budget. On top of that we have one, and sometimes 2 takeaways a month - £15 - £20 each depending on what we have. The alcohol spend isn't really factored in anywhere as we tend to budget for that from our own spending money rather than from central funds - and it mostly happens out and about in a social setting too - we drink a small amount at home but it's likely to be a couple of drinks each on a Friday and Saturday night if we're at home, no more.

    This is for two of us - we buy good quality meat from farmers markets - and use it more as a "seasoning" than as a starring ingredient. A smaller piece of well flavoured, good quality beef for example in a stew will go further than a larger, lower quality (and thus lower in flavour) meat - saving both the budget and the planet! Chicken is bought from the supermarket but is always free range - ditto eggs. Shopping basics come from a mix of Aldi and the mainstream supermarkets - and things like pulses (tinned or dried) tend to be from the ethnic type supermarkets - I have a good Turkish one near my work, and we have an Asian (mixed Indian/Chinese/Thai etc) one nearer to home. I probably cook meat-free a couple of times a week at least.
    🎉 MORTGAGE FREE (First time!) 30/09/2016 🎉 And now we go again…New mortgage taken 01/09/23 🏡
    Balance as at 01/09/23 = £115,000.00 Balance as at 31/12/23 = £112,000.00
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  • lessonlearned
    lessonlearned Posts: 13,337 Forumite
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    hi El.

    Thought you might be interested in today's menu

    Brunch.......full English, no toast
    Dinner .......wild Atlantic salmon, quinoa, tenderstem broccoli, roast tomatoes

    Salmon was on offer at Sainsbury's..£5.75 for two portions. One for now, one to freeze. I know farmed fish is cheaper but I try to avoid it.

    Supper will be raspberries and yoghurt. Snacks will be fruit.

    F&V. Will be 8 portions today.

    I have decided to try and reduce dairy a bit more to help my tummy. . Lacto free milk just to splash in tea, almond milk for smoothies etc then I'm going back to vegan cheese for a while.

    See how it goes.
  • elantan
    elantan Posts: 21,022 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Hi all,

    sorry was a long day yesterday, didnt get in till after 9pm, havnt had a chance to catch up, will try and do so today.

    Hope you are all well
  • elantan
    elantan Posts: 21,022 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    maddiemay wrote: »
    elantan wishing you well with your new challenge, I remember your name from the time when Elaine at MFIT had her blog.

    A couple of years ago I was curious and a little miffed at how much I was spending on food etc for OH and myself, although not the world's best at using them I made a spreadsheet which I manged to keep going for a whole year, it answered lots of questions and enabled me to spend on things that were most important to me and flagged up the daft purchases of things that I did not need or were real wants, rather than spur of the moment stuff.

    My meal plan is quite a loose affair, it lists potential main meals for 8/9 days, but not allocated to specific days unless it involves things in the fridge that need using soon. Home made ready meals etc. Quick meals using eggs, pasta, risotto can be slotted in at short notice if I forget to defrost something or simply CBA:rotfl:

    Hi maddie, I remember you well, how are you doing ? your meal plan kinda sounds more like the way we eat
    boultdj wrote: »
    Elantan just a heads up, weekend starting 6th Dec mixed nuts are in the weekend deal 200g bag £1.39. hth

    thanks will pop in and get some
    The challenge to eat down the fridge and freezer went well this week. I must have saved some £££ as well as making sure almost everything was eaten. I just made a grocery order for Tesco for the weekend and it made me more mindful about what to buy and what we actually need, rather than just clicking on all my favourites without checking what I have first!

    My husband is off next week and we are going to keep making our way through the recorded TV shows we have lined up. Nice, cheap entertainment. I bought frozen pizzas from Tesco for us to eat next week instead of getting our usual Tuesday takeaway.

    I have to call up HMRC to pay my voluntary Class 3 National Insurance contributions next week. I also want to set up a direct debit so it gets taken out weekly instead of paying a lump sum.



    Oh, I hadn't heard of the MSZI one before. :) i will check it out, thanks.

    I look on YouTube all the time, it's amazing how much information people put out there for free.:T

    Hope the phone call to HMRC isnt too painful, do you find a frozen pizza does the same for you as a takeaway .? I do love Mr els pizza but it takes ages to make, a frozen pizza might be a worthwhile alternative
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