Help for newbies form experienced old stylers...

In_Search_Of_Me

pretty please! I have been a DFW (Debt free wanabee!) for over a year & have managed very well to cut down utilities and general day to day spending but my shopping bill gets me every time! Its also that time of year when there are lots of new people on (& we tell em to come over here too cos you lot are amazing at saving!) the DFW boards so how about those of you who manage to live on very little tell us who are extremely good at spending money (we wouldnt be DFWs otherwise!!) how not to!! For me I'd love to know how peple do weekly shops - do you make a list, add up as you go along etc...I try to be frugal but never end up with less than £25 in my trolley!! All tips gratefully appreciated! Heres to a frugal 2008 where I pay off more of my debts!;)

angelavdavis

Join the monthly Old Style challenges to help you along saving:
Do a cupboard challenge to get you started - perfect after Christmas with all that extra stuff in the fridge/freezer!
Join the January monthly grocery challenge.

Meal planning is another one for anyone looking to save. Just search for meal plans on here for all the posts, there are masses on here.

There is also a thread for Old Style Newbies here

Crazychik

In my household - 2 adults, 2 kids, 3 cats, 1 dog & 1 rabbit

First I look at what shopping is needed, toiletry wise, pet food, store cupboard, fridge/freezer,pack up stuff.
I then do a meal plan for the following week of what can be made with the items I allready have in. If there are certain ingredients I need, then it goes on the list!
I shop with a list and stick to it. And only go with a limit of cash (thus to avoid spending that little extra)
Sometimes I do add up as I go along. But don't tend to do this as often as OH.

When making meals, I tend to make a little more, suitable to freeze, in 1 meal containers (i use old vitalite margarine tubs) and OH takes these to work in place of sandwiches etc...

I no there's a lot more I can do to bring my shopping down (we spend on average £50-60£ per week. So that's my next challenge. But I think Ive done pretty good in the last year of making cut backs and not missing them at all! When myself & OH first got together, we could spend at least £100-120 per week! And half of that went in the bin!

dolly_day_dream

I manage to feed 2/3 adults with additional guests for £20 per week. It is tight and I am helped by sometimes having veggies from a friends allotment. I intend to try and grow more of my own food this year. I make up a months worth of menus after looking at what I have in the freezer - this ensures that I spread out the different meals and helps me to provide a variety when I am too tired to think what to cook. I then bulk cook some things such as chilli and spag bol for the freezer. On Friday night I check for what I need for the next week. There is no more buying on spec in case I need it - if I have not planned how and when I will use it I do not buy it. This has been fantastic for reducing the amount I throw away. However if I see an absolute bargain then of course I buy it but I have to adjust the rest of my shopping/cooking.

Once I have sorted out what I need then I go to

http://www.mysupermarket.co.uk and find out who is selling it the cheapest. If I am at all unsure then I print out the shopping list and visit Aldi first. I have to visit the cheapest supermarket for each item because literally every penny counts. I travel by bus so petrol does not have to be accounted for. Obviously everything is cooked from scratch and the fact that 1 adult (me) is vegan helps to keep the costs down. I use the internet to find recipes that use up any ingredients that are left over. This site is also fantastic for new recipes.

I have fun trying different dishes from around the world and my herbs and spices cupboard is bulging. As you can see I am very organised about this but then that is how I manage for such a low amount but it is a challenge that I really enjoy.

Old_Meanie

Hello InSearchOfMe.

Can I please say how impressed I have been with people who carry so much debt and the courage and determination shown to deal with this. It must take real guts to face up to debts like yours and do something about it. The most useful tips are cook enough to eat and freeze. Years ago in the days when married women did not work and I did I used to do a batch cook every Monday. I came home during my lunch hour and stacked the oven as follows: top shelf: brisket braising in tightly covered casserole, shoulder of lamb on rack covered with foil. Second shelf savoury mince and beef casserole, bottom of oven large rice pudding large baking potatoes. We ate (hus and 2 child) the lamb cut the brisket cold for sandwiches and to be reheated in delicious gravy made with liquid from cass put savory mince in fridge together with beef casserole and tightly wrapped baked pots. Rice pudding lasted two days. I did not have a freezer and I used to leave oven on low and leave it NOT TO BE COPIED TODAY. With a bit of imagination you could do this in the evening and thats just a weeks cooking in one go to re heat. You can cook any combination for a more modern menu. As I have a chronic illness sometimes I am too ill to shop and my partner takes list and does shopping. Definitely notice a saving there! I tend to have a master list for everything and replace only what is needed. Just think of the freedom to spend your money how you wish and not how big business wants you to. Reward yourself with treats e.g. a little of what you fancy does you good!

Very best wishes for 2008.

In_Search_Of_Me

aww thanks all. I hink I just need to stop thse littel bits that go in & see where I go! Dolly you ARE organised! Thanks old meanie - which I'd noticed the debts earlier but they you go - whats done is done & I now have to undo it & have become much happier all round as a result - plus have an allotment!

JoJoB

I joined the site recently and one of the first things I have done is cut my shopping bill drastically (will have better idea of the figures at the end of jan). My method:

1. Visit this thread: http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=110684

2. Write a list of all the recommended products from the store you choose to go to (I chose Aldi as it's nearest), and what to avoid so you don't buy duds.

3. Build weekly menu around a few of these items and visit "cheap meals" threads for ideas and recipes.

Plan, plan, plan!

I have also worked on making cheaper versions of my favourite supermarket items. Pizza for example - loads of homemade recipes on here. And today I made a version of the Waitrose tomato and marscapone pasta sauce which i love but is £1.99 a tub. I bought a 98p marscapone sauce from Lidl and 2 jars of 21p chopped tomatoes, whizzed them up together with some herbs and seasoning and presto - the equivalent of 5 tubs of pasta sauce. £10 worth of pasta sauce for about £1.40, and it tastes nicer!

The mysupermarket site looks ace by the way ,goes to investigate>

furrypig

Thanks for all these ideas determined to get myself more old style again this year especially after splurging on food stuffs over Christmas!

Think the reading of other threads and the planning will make life a bit easier!

Thanks

lucielle

Hi I love the ideas and will visit the old style board for more ideas. My problem is that I work with food all day (no I don't get to bring any home) and usually only get my lunch at three o'clock, children come home at 3.45 and ask whats for tea? AAAAAGH. Really don't feel like cooking. I have made a few bits and bobs whilst I have been off. We reared 17 pet lambs last year and have still got 5 left to eat so the freezer is looking fairly good. Any recipes for lamb flaps (belly meat) would be appreciated as I find it very fatty. Thanks

catralense

JoJoB wrote: »

I have also worked on making cheaper versions of my favourite supermarket items. Pizza for example - loads of homemade recipes on here. And today I made a version of the Waitrose tomato and marscapone pasta sauce which i love but is £1.99 a tub. I bought a 98p marscapone sauce from Lidl and 2 jars of 21p chopped tomatoes, whizzed them up together with some herbs and seasoning and presto - the equivalent of 5 tubs of pasta sauce. £10 worth of pasta sauce for about £1.40, and it tastes nicer!

Yum! That sounds delicious! I think I'll have a go a that over the next few weeks. We love pasta and eat it a lot.

catralense

lucielle wrote: »

Hi I love the ideas and will visit the old style board for more ideas. My problem is that I work with food all day (no I don't get to bring any home) and usually only get my lunch at three o'clock, children come home at 3.45 and ask whats for tea? AAAAAGH. Really don't feel like cooking. I have made a few bits and bobs whilst I have been off. We reared 17 pet lambs last year and have still got 5 left to eat so the freezer is looking fairly good. Any recipes for lamb flaps (belly meat) would be appreciated as I find it very fatty. Thanks

Hi

I just asked by husband (the Gordon Ramsay of our house) and he says to spread sage and onion stuffing over it, roll it up, tie it and roast. He did it a couple of months ago and I remember that it was really delicious. We bought a whole lamb last Autumn and really enjoyed it. Most of it has gone now but we're hoping to get another one if we've got the cash when they're ready. We paid £85...is that about right?

Verity