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

Katiehound

^^^^^^
I think he possibly has had to budget as, for once ,he comes from being a coal miner and working in Citizens Advice (unlike the Hooray Henrys from Eton, Westminster etc)
 However he likes to make controversial comments.
He was not pleased that Jack Monroe got all the praise and he was vilified! I think he has tried to set up cookery classes and the like but......the meals for 30 pence is not a possibility.

No, I am not defending him... but at least he hasn't got so much dosh rolling in that jhe has had to pay a tax bill larger than we can ever envisage.

(I note MPs managed to give themselves a pay rise- how cynical of me)

sarahj1986

YorksLass said:

sarahj1986 said:

Anyways I nearly fell off my chair - last week Galaxy bar 89p this week £1.50?!?! What’s that a 70% increase? Absolutely ridiculous and greedy of Tesco. 

For the last 10-11 months I've been keeping a small notebook listing the groceries I buy and their prices.  I kid you not, everything I buy has gone up.  I've changed brands, gone down a level, look for ys items, have been using up stocks, buy cheaper cuts of meat, batch cook/bake etc - all the things we're all doing - and have so far managed to stay within budget but it's getting harder week on week.  I'm a competent cook and used to being frugal, but I'd love to know how MP Lee Anderson thinks it's possible to make a main meal for 30p!     

The price of branded is unreal. when I first started buying food as an adult I would buy branded, even into my mid-late twenties I’d still buy some branded. Now I’ve really cut back. Even mayonnaise I used to be Hellman’s only but I’ve tried the Tesco own and ok it’s not quite the same but I still like it. I ran out of salad cream the other week, used the Stockwell which I liked, none in stock and £2.99 for Heinz, absolutely refused to pay that. I ended up getting the Tesco own “free from” salad cream for £1.50, slightly more than the Stockwell but nowhere near Heinz price. I’ve tried it and it’s very nice. 

I look in my cupboards, fridge and freezer. The only branded I buy is Babybel, unfortunately that’s the only cheese my daughter eats. I limit her to 1 maybe 2 per day. A net of 10 is £2.39. I remember buying 6 for £1 not that long ago. As I say I can’t get her to eat other cheese and she likes them in her lunchbox so unfortunately I have to take the hit on that. Diet Coke or Pepsi max, not bothered which just whichever is on the best offer. I only have 1 can a fizzy drink a day. I’ve even downgraded my Fanta to Tesco own 4 for £1 and really nice, own brand cola I just cannot get on with. So if I buy a box of 24 of diet coke or Pepsi max it will last me a month. Aside from that most other things are own brand, I try to use the budget range where possible, providing we like it, some of the Tesco budget I don’t like but most of it is absolutely fine. 

I genuinely don’t know who can still afford to buy branded these days. Especially at the prices for somethings. £8-9 for jars of coffee, Heinz beans being near £2 a tin. My eyes just water at supposed pauper meals now costing so much more. I grew up on the likes of beans, fish fingers and that kinda stuff. Nothing wrong with it, meals I still enjoy but so quickly becoming a luxury. 

When will it ever end :-(

otb666

I have tried out of date on line store in a bid to save money but we did not like the out of date stuff.  I have nearly gone vegetarian as meat is so expensive.  I buy a lot of vegetables now and make soups on top of gas stove or in slow cooker.and trying the gut loving 30 a week plant base diet. We have stopped smoking and drinking alcohol. We are certainly getting healthy but i agree it is a real challenge to stay in budget. I really feel for young families at the moment.

elsien

Our “plant based” ice creams (no non-vegan options available) at the theatre were £9.20 for two.
Can’t help thinking that I’m subsidising people’s life choices - I’m fairly sure they could have got non-vegan options cheaper and given the rest of us the option. 

Auntycaz

They could have probably got vegan options cheaper and they probably did but marked it up for the sake of profit. You don't have to be well off to enjoy the theatre but it helps if you are.

sarahj1986

Auntycaz said:

They could have probably got vegan options cheaper and they probably did but marked it up for the sake of profit. You don't have to be well off to enjoy the theatre but it helps if you are.

I live by the RSC and with a CV37 postcode we can get discounted theatre tickets. I was very lucky to know the theatre manager, he has since left but he got us tickets for free to many wonderful productions. I believe the CV37 tickets are or were £5 or £10 each. It is subject to availability I think they only offer them a day or two in advance. The seats could be anywhere within the theatre, so you could get a top price seat or a lower price seat. Even so it’s a massive saving. 

elsien

Auntycaz said:

They could have probably got vegan options cheaper and they probably did but marked it up for the sake of profit. You don't have to be well off to enjoy the theatre but it helps if you are.

I’m sure they could, but I still think my marked up dairy ice cream would have  been cheaper then the marked up vegan ice cream, if I had the option.

Tickets started at £15 so not particularly for the well off bracket. 

Auntycaz

@elsien totally agree that marked up dairy ice cream would have been cheaper or they could have given you a choice

Floss

sarahj1986 said:

Auntycaz said:

They could have probably got vegan options cheaper and they probably did but marked it up for the sake of profit. You don't have to be well off to enjoy the theatre but it helps if you are.

I live by the RSC and with a CV37 postcode we can get discounted theatre tickets. I was very lucky to know the theatre manager, he has since left but he got us tickets for free to many wonderful productions. I believe the CV37 tickets are or were £5 or £10 each. It is subject to availability I think they only offer them a day or two in advance. The seats could be anywhere within the theatre, so you could get a top price seat or a lower price seat. Even so it’s a massive saving. 

The Shakespeare North Playhouse in Prescot do something similar to this - if you have their local postcode you can access their pay what you like tickets: 
https://shakespearenorthplayhouse.co.uk/6793-2/

elsien

sarahj1986 said:

Auntycaz said:

They could have probably got vegan options cheaper and they probably did but marked it up for the sake of profit. You don't have to be well off to enjoy the theatre but it helps if you are.

I live by the RSC and with a CV37 postcode we can get discounted theatre tickets. I was very lucky to know the theatre manager, he has since left but he got us tickets for free to many wonderful productions. I believe the CV37 tickets are or were £5 or £10 each. It is subject to availability I think they only offer them a day or two in advance. The seats could be anywhere within the theatre, so you could get a top price seat or a lower price seat. Even so it’s a massive saving. 

You've just prompted me to check the RSC website for the first time in ages - would have loved to see Hamnet but it's sold out.  Must get back on their  mailing list.