It's getting tough out there. Feeling the pinch?

Slinky

@dreaming I too have had to have some Tesco deliveries recently due to a fall, I've noticed they do a Delivery Saver option which is £7.99 a month. I've only had 2 deliveries, the first cost me £3 the second was £4.50 but if I was doing it regularly it would appear that you can make a saving if you're ordering more than a couple of times a month.

sammy_kaye18

@London_1 are you going anywhere nice on your travels Jackie? I hope you enjoy yourself though and good luck on eating your freezer down! #

@Spendless I know the feeling about budgets being different. Whenever my parents come to visit they like to go out and do things and being that my husband is the sole earner in our household, we are very tight with our budget. My parents on the other hand are quite flush and so is my sister as she has a disabled child as well as 3 other children so she has a lot of benefits, PIP, carers etc. It does always make me slightly happy though when my sister has to borrow money from us at the end of the month though when we have budgeted ours well. 

In regards to fuel prices, I don't drive but husband does. I have been watching prices though and have seen them creeping up. My husband does overtime (grey fleet) so they pay his travel so he will always fill his tank from that money so it doesn't take from his wages although with son wanting to learn to drive soon I think he might be in for a shock. I don't want him on a moped or motorcycle but it might be the only way for him to get experience etc and be able to afford it himself.

As far as food shopping goes, I only shop twice/three times a month if I can help it. I will a fortnightly delivery from Asda or Tesco (whichever is available) and then Ill do a once a month £70 freezer shop which fills my chest freezer and is free delivery if you spend over £35 I think. I find with Asda and Tesco if you choose the hours that are during a school run or late at night then you can generally get slots for about £1.50 - £2. In the interest of saving money I don't mind these slots - especially since my kids are that bit older so I don't need to do school runs now. From rec0llection during the pandemic I think Sainsburys has similar slots too. Other than that we have a small premier shop near us if I am really stuck and where my son works is practically next to a decent sized Tesco so he doesn't mind nipping in on his break every now and then.

Well I woke up this morning to find my greenhouse has undressed itself in the wind last night so I was out there in my pyjamas at 7.20am trying to put the cover back on. No casualties thankfully but I will have to make sure the cover is better secured. 
Also had to order a few bits off Amazon for the lizards since I don't think we will be getting over to Pets At Home soon so they are coming tomorrow - has to be said I don't think many people order worms by post! 

I did also spend a bit of last night before I went to sleep making a list of things I want to stock up on for the coming winter. I keep two notebooks besides my bed - one is to make the following days to do list in and the other is for long term plans - whether it be for the house, garden, presents, birthdays etc. So last night I was more focused on 'heat the person rather than heat the house' so I made a list of things like quick and easy hot drinks, add water type meals like noodles etc. I also considered a bag for the car for when husband is working away in the event that there's bad weather and he gets stuck, breaks down, traffic jam etc so I think I will start putting a rucksack of sorts together for things he may need that could help in that situation. 

But for today I am just having a quick clean around, relaxing and trying to think what I will make for dinner tonight.  

Spendless

I've never done an on-line delivery so can't help but what's your food storage space like, fridge, freezer, cupboards? I'm just wondering if it would be worth asking your daughter to come over say once a month, you do a big shop to last a few weeks, and then top up with weekly perishables just from near-by shops?

I invited my parents to our BBQ and got the added bonus of shopping in their cupboards, so I was gifted sausages, chicken, kebabs, and some marinades. Shortly I will make a sort of sangria using a bottle of red DH got as part of a Xmas hamper, sliced citrus fruit that needs using plus ice cubes. Just need to buy some lemonade, yes it's missing the brandy but no one will be bothered. There's also plenty of other drinks and mixers in. 

euronorris

I had a delivery saver pass with Mr T for ages, and it saved us money as I got a weekly delivery. I only stopped as I started to feel more comfortable in going to the shops in person. I always had a great service from them, and found I had less substitutions with them, than I did with morries.

Spendless

@sammy_kaye18 - What's your eldest's situation, now and going forward. Is he at sixth form/college or working, intending going to Uni and moving away soon etc?

I had my eldest one learn to drive when still at college, he passed first time at 18. He's not been able to afford a car during the 4 years he spent at Uni, but now he's finished that he already has a license is going to be helpful with his job hunting.

Youngest however turned 17 the week after lockdown1. Plus had too much anxiety from school trauma in her latter years there to consider feeling confident enough to start lessons. She's only mentioned liking to start them very recently but she's moving away in October and there's such a backlog here there's no chance of getting her in with someone and her passing before moving away, so that is going to have to be on hold for now.

dreaming

Spendless said:

I've never done an on-line delivery so can't help but what's your food storage space like, fridge, freezer, cupboards? I'm just wondering if it would be worth asking your daughter to come over say once a month, you do a big shop to last a few weeks, and then top up with weekly perishables just from near-by shops?

Thanks Spendless. I have undercounter fridge and freezer, and decent kitchen cupboards. I actually have quite a good store cupboard of tins and dried pulses etc., and freezer is pretty full too as I tend to cook 4 portions of things to eat twice in one week and freeze 2. I probably eat about 75% vegetarian but do eat chicken and beef so keep that in the freezer too. I'm happy to have the s/market deliveries as also have 2 cats so can buy their food as well. I also had a fortnightly fruit and veg box until recently but found it was too much for me and I don't always have the energy to process and freeze things. I realised I was wasting things so stopped that but don't mind relying on frozen/tinned until I can have a few things from the garden. Just starting to look at the cash side and wondering if I can reduce costs a little.
DD has taken time off work to come to some appointments with me but I don't want to ask her to do any more than she does as she works long hours in a stressful job 30-40 miles away from me, and she also helps her dad and his partner too as well as having to do her own shopping/housework/living etc. The only shop I have near me is the Tesco Express (as well as chemist, and fish and chip shop) which I do use but have found their fruit and veg not such good quality and expensive to boot so usually just buy milk and small loaf once a week.  I'm not particularly struggling financially (yet) but just looking for ways to reduce costs as I can see from my spreadsheets that everything is creeping up. Think I am feeling the loss of my independence a bit and just thinking out loud.

Florenceem

I have never had an online shop from supermarkets as I have a fairly large Asd very near to me. There is a large Ald. 15 minutes walk away.
The only item that had gone down in price in my big shop on Thursday was toothpaste - special offer.
I plan to bake when I cook dinner today - I have some suitable cake cases for the Jubilee.
 

Spendless

dreaming said:

Spendless said:

I've never done an on-line delivery so can't help but what's your food storage space like, fridge, freezer, cupboards? I'm just wondering if it would be worth asking your daughter to come over say once a month, you do a big shop to last a few weeks, and then top up with weekly perishables just from near-by shops?

Thanks Spendless. I have undercounter fridge and freezer, and decent kitchen cupboards. I actually have quite a good store cupboard of tins and dried pulses etc., and freezer is pretty full too as I tend to cook 4 portions of things to eat twice in one week and freeze 2. I probably eat about 75% vegetarian but do eat chicken and beef so keep that in the freezer too. I'm happy to have the s/market deliveries as also have 2 cats so can buy their food as well. I also had a fortnightly fruit and veg box until recently but found it was too much for me and I don't always have the energy to process and freeze things. I realised I was wasting things so stopped that but don't mind relying on frozen/tinned until I can have a few things from the garden. Just starting to look at the cash side and wondering if I can reduce costs a little.
DD has taken time off work to come to some appointments with me but I don't want to ask her to do any more than she does as she works long hours in a stressful job 30-40 miles away from me, and she also helps her dad and his partner too as well as having to do her own shopping/housework/living etc. The only shop I have near me is the Tesco Express (as well as chemist, and fish and chip shop) which I do use but have found their fruit and veg not such good quality and expensive to boot so usually just buy milk and small loaf once a week.  I'm not particularly struggling financially (yet) but just looking for ways to reduce costs as I can see from my spreadsheets that everything is creeping up. Think I am feeling the loss of my independence a bit and just thinking out loud.

I do understand this but as someone who has both pensioner parents/in-laws and Grandparents as well as teenage/student children we're still supporting (truly the sandwich generation) I can say sometimes not speaking up to 'not be a bother' can have a worse knock on effect and there's been several occasions when I've wished the older generation had asked for help because it would have been a lot easier to sort at an earlier stage if only we'd been aware.

I'm guessing a shopping trip would be out on a hospital day? If you were to ask your daughter and make it clear you don't want to think her under any obligation to say yes, you could offer to do something together as well. just something to consider. 

London_1

Yes sammy_kaye18, I'm off for two weeks to the Isle of Wight, our annual summer holiday, although a bit earlier than we normally go, but that was down to availability of the holiday house .

 I also have a five day coaching holiday to Porthcawl in October with my eldest DDs ma-in-law as she's missed out on a holiday away for a couple of years, and we get on quite well together. I did try to get our previous place in Devon but everywhere was booked solid, and the very pleasant lady on the phone was very helpful and searched a nice hotel for us both and came up with this one.
Its 70 odd years since I last visited Wales as a little girl, all I can remember of it was it seemed to rain a lot and shops seemed to be always shut ,but possibly because of where we stayed.I do remember it being very green though perhaps the result of the rain but I'm looking forward to going somewhere different .

DDs Ma-in-law Margaret has had lots of turmoil what with illness, (covid)cataracts ops, her bathroom being flooded and her kitchen ceiling collapsing, so she is in need of something to cheer her up.
Although 85, she is bright as a button and keen to have a break away.

You are right, my freezer seems to be reproducing inside itself, so I definitely have to stay away from the shops for a few weeks.

Weather not so nice as yesterday and is quite chilly this afternoon.  Tomorrow I am taking my grandson Jack for an interview for a teaching job in Maidstone so I shall cross my fingers for him as he's just qualified so he's longing to get a proper pay packet at long last.

JackieO xx

greent

I've read the whole of this thread over the last week or so we've made some changes here and will be doing more. As it stands we are the 'make ourselves skint' brigade in that I put a good chunk into savings on pay day, leaving us a limited amount for the month (I also have a slush account that I transfer money into and will dip into this if we have unexpected expenses  - it's actual purpose is this.

Family of 6 - 1 at uni where we pay his rent and top up other money for food and buy a chunk of clothes (not designer) every Summer.(Masters - limited funding) He will be finishing his dissertation come Sept, so will hopefully get a job some point after that- ideally relevant and interesting.... DD works and pays us rent of £225/mth and her phone bill (sim only) - doesn't spend much extra and is saving massively towards a house (works for police but civil staff - not well paid but really loves her job) Thankfully not at all high maintenance. We also have a 16yo currently taking gCSEs who will almost certainly arlttend uni and a 4th currently in Y8 - who knows what they will do.

DH is in a reasonable paid job (hence our ability to save) but is at definite risk of being made redundant next week- good job we are fortunate to have savings - or is it that I have been sensible with our money..... 🤔 I work in a school - ft hours but term time only - but am on sick leave as am currently receiving chemo and will then need radiotherapy and most likely return on a phased basis so will not be paid full hours. 

I abhor food waste - although some of this has crept in whilst I have been having treatment this year as I have just not had the mental/ physical energy at times to be on top of it - but I am not going to be too cross with myself - there are other priorities! My job (only been there since Sept) and then cancer means I have not done olio-ing, receipt photo-ing, surveys etc like I used to. Again  - priorities. Thankfully we are on a fixed energy deal until Aug 22, so I haven't had to think about rises yet - but have started implementing using less in smaller ways- usually shorter washing machine and dw cycles. I only use the td to fluff towels for 
10 -15 mins and have always preferred to line dry my laundry. I bake my own bread (more expensive but tastes nicer!) and usually cook mostly from scratch (although we now have a supply of convenience food as well as hm ready meals in the freezers due to current health) Garden produces cherries, bramleys, eating apples, rhubarb, loads of strawberries, pears and some plums. Normally I grow lots of potatoes , courgettes, tomatoes, carrots etc too- but have only 2 Tom plants given to me this year and my mum.is growing extra toms, courgettes and some cucumbers for us instead (My household.dont do gardening) 

We have increased costs with cancer due to frequent hospital/ gp trips and all the parking plus extra other meds, wigs, different toiletries, covers for picc line, some beanies and extra wide hairbands and changed foods - all of this adds up and I can see how this wowould.masssively affect budgets where there is no flex. I am extremely thankful for the nHS - of course it has its issues- but it is still amazing with mostly amazing staff - its biggest asset (and underpaid at that)

Holiday plans have been scuppered the past 2 years by covid and now this year by cancer - but hopefully the treatment means I can still do these things in the future 

Oh - and lovung EH's posts - some very sensible words there!