I'm still spending too much on food.

HampshireH

On your coffee, depending on where you get it an your utility supplier.... Octopus do free hot drink at either Greggs or Nero which is handy.

Reduces the spend but keep the treat.

Obviously have no idea I'd you are with them but I'd you are it's a perk to take advantage of

Scumblepancake

Emmia said:

Lisacolesavingmoney said:

Emmia said:

How often are you buying coffee out? This year I've cut out the takeaway coffee when at work, and I'm saving around £25 a week. 

I think twice a week, it is just coffee, I don't have cake or anything. But that is still £7

It would be £350 - £400 a year you'd be saving on that spend.

wowsers, that is shocking

Scumblepancake

HampshireH said:

On your coffee, depending on where you get it an your utility supplier.... Octopus do free hot drink at either Greggs or Nero which is handy.

Reduces the spend but keep the treat.

Obviously have no idea I'd you are with them but I'd you are it's a perk to take advantage of

I have the Octoplus deal at Greggs and another from Go Compare but because I consider it a treat I try to get a really nice coffee somewhere, Greggs doesn't hit the spot. I haven't seen a Nero deal yet, I'll look out for it thanks. And I'll definitely make sure it's just one coffee a week now I know what it adds up to over a year!

Floss

Where do you shop? I find that if I shop at Sainsbury's, Tesco or the odd M&S shop it costs more than comparable shops at Asda, Lidl or Aldi.

kazwookie

Get the till recipts for the last couple of month if you have them, or for the next two months and see what you re actually spending on.

If you like excel spread sheets log it all on there, under headings, have a good look at what / when / how much

Do you have a lot of 'stores' that you can use up, by better planning?

What is in the freezer?

Do you waste a lot of food?

What happens to left over cooked food?

Where do you shop and at what time of day?

Scumblepancake

Floss said:

Where do you shop? I find that if I shop at Sainsbury's, Tesco or the odd M&S shop it costs more than comparable shops at Asda, Lidl or Aldi.

I get an Oddbox every fortnight (£20) then most of my shopping comes from Lidl but I do get chicken from M&S (3 legs for £1.50) and meat from the butchers. That is usually cheaper than a supermarket - I got a £1.50 bone that made 3 pints of broth. I think after reading everyones replies is what I am probably doing is shopping too often and every time I shop I spend an extra £5 on something I don't actually need. 

Scumblepancake

kazwookie said:

Get the till recipts for the last couple of month if you have them, or for the next two months and see what you re actually spending on.

If you like excel spread sheets log it all on there, under headings, have a good look at what / when / how much

Do you have a lot of 'stores' that you can use up, by better planning?

What is in the freezer?

Do you waste a lot of food?

What happens to left over cooked food?

Where do you shop and at what time of day?

It's all on my Snoop app so I can see what I've spent, I just need to write down what I spend it on.
I have good stocks of staples, tins, oil, nuts etc. I tend to plan by what needs using up first.
The freezer has portioned cooked rice, some discounted meat and some berries frozen from the summer. Also pureed apples from the harvest and a few lunches made from leftovers.
I don't waste much at all. 
Leftover cooked food gets turned into something else or is frozen for lunches.
I shop mostly at Lidl and usually on the way back from work - around half 4. I do special trips to get chicken from M&S (£1.50 for 3 legs) and on Saturdays I sometimes go to the butcher and the greengrocer. I spent £7 at the butcher today which is about usual. I don't get much from the greengrocer because I get a fortnightly Oddbox.
great questions that have really made me think, thank you!

Emmia

elsien said:

You could maybe try cutting that down to one a week? All or nothing just makes it harder to stick to. 

I was going to suggest lentils to bulk some meals out, but that’s not going to work with low-carb is it?
what do you have for breakfast?

I don't agree with this, carrying on with once a week is (for me at least) a slippery slope back to twice, three times... 

Cold turkey starting when I returned to work in the new year really worked.

Scumblepancake

You are all brilliant and I have a plan.
I'll limit myself to one coffee at the weekend (not on any days off)
And sadly one pub visit a month where I will attempt to stick to 2 pints. I might take cash for this so I know when it runs out.
And one meal out - these are usually under £15 so not exactly lavish but I can see they mount up.
I'll write down what I'm actually buying from the shops so I can see where my money is going too.

Floss

Maybe do a meal plan for the week - include something from freezer/ stores, so you know wat will be cooked & eaten when.

Also have an ongoing list of things you are almost running out of so you can replace when necessary.