Should itsthelittlethings spend less on coffee?

[Deleted User]

OneThranWeeCutty said:

How far away from a supermarket are you? Could you more frequent little shops instead? 

I think the OP is very close to a number of supermarkets as they often post about their almost daily trips to them! 😀 

I appreciate everyone has a different way of doing grocery shopping and it's whatever works for individuals and their lifestyle.

Personally I think one food shop a week is enough if you are organised, do meal planning, batch cooking and or using leftovers.  

I think going to the supermarket multiple times a week isn't cost effective.  The majority of people will spend more than if they had just gone once.

Also it isn't that time efficient!!

MFWannabe

itsthelittlethings said:

I left my wallet behind and deleted the cards off my phone today when we went out. That is another trick I learned from the money course. I might keep it up as I do quite a bit of unnecessary spending on the way too and from work. If I really need anything, say for dinner, I can pop to the supermarket as there is one only five minutes away from my flat.

Supermarket five mins from flat 
Unnecessary spending on way to and from work, doesn’t state what on 🤔

OneThranWeeCutty

I’ve followed this thread from the start, and I have to say I don’t think this is a money issue, it’s a habit issue. 

MFWannabe

OneThranWeeCutty said:

I’ve followed this thread from the start, and I have to say I don’t think this is a money issue, it’s a habit issue. 

Think you’re spot on there x 

[Deleted User]

itsthelittlethings said:

Back to work today. Was worried I would have to take a sick day as I was a bit poorly yesterday but I woke up and feel ok today. Just listening to the radio and going to put the wool I was cataloguing away in a minute. Also make another coffee, moisturise and put primer on and brush my hair. I was going to wash up but I don't want to get my work clothes wet.

30 days to payday. To be honest I only really have food to buy. Everything else is secondary. I have a load of ingredients for Chinese food coming in my Waitrose order next week. In complete coincidence, it's Chinese New Year in February. I'm making Kung Pao Prawns and Vegetarian Chow Mein. I need to invite my sister etc round this week. Might make spag bol as I have spaghetti and tinned toms so it's just a load of mince @£10. Let me tell you, that family can eat! Just remembered that my niece prefers not to eat spaghetti (let me repeat that for you) so might pop to Tescos and get some fusilli.

Off to London next weekend. It is budgeted. Last holiday this year except visits to mum. I booked it when I wasn't so serious about paying off debt. I'll tell you all about it afterwards.

I was interested in your food choices and I haven't heard of Kung Pao Prawns before.  It looks a nice dish from the recipes I can see online but I also looked at how much the ingredients cost on Waitrose website.  Over £15 for the prawns, vegetables and cashews, not including the ingredients for the sauce, though you may already have some of the sauce ingredients in your store cupboard?

Also, it doesn't look like a meal where you could make the leftovers into something else on a different day. Not sure it would freeze well? I think that's where meal planning and batch cooking is the best money saving tip anyone can give you.

Batch cooking means buying less when you go shopping as you already have meals in the freezer.

Meal planning to have different meals each day to keep it interesting, making the most of what you have and using up leftovers.


Both are money saving but maybe I'm just a bit obsessed by both food and money saving! 😁

OneThranWeeCutty

[Deleted User] said:

OneThranWeeCutty said:

How far away from a supermarket are you? Could you more frequent little shops instead? 

I think the OP is very close to a number of supermarkets as they often post about their almost daily trips to them! 😀 

I appreciate everyone has a different way of doing grocery shopping and it's whatever works for individuals and their lifestyle.

Personally I think one food shop a week is enough if you are organised, do meal planning, batch cooking and or using leftovers.  

I think going to the supermarket multiple times a week isn't cost effective.  The majority of people will spend more than if they had just gone once.

Also it isn't that time efficient!!

It was a rhetoric question. 

OP when you need to go to the supermarket for a couple of things just take enough money to buy those things. Leave your phone at home or turn your cards off.

It’s surprising how the little (extra) amounts add up. 

itsthelittlethings

You’ve convinced me! I’ll cancel my Asda delivery and do an Aldi shop on Monday.

itsthelittlethings

I have some batch cooking planned. Going to make a load of tuna pasta sauce to put in the freezer. I think you have to have a mix of fresh and batch cooking. Also my freezer is somehow a bit full at the moment.

I went to the cinema last night (it was a payday treat). I saw H is for Hawk which wasn’t amazing but it was nice to be back in the cinema.

On an early shift today. Hoping for a no spend day apart from Aldi shop. Then I have a new online knitting group to go to. Apparently they try to knit from stash which is a great inspiration for me.

Mands

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81856767#Comment_81856767

With the greatest respect: the lack of permanence of your convictions is one of your biggest problems.

You want to go vegan, you want to cook prawns, you want to switch jobs, you want to stay, you want to start a new OU course or take up a new hobby.

You are rich with enthusiasm, which is glorious to see. But the chopping and changing is exhausting to watch and is detrimental to your budget. There have been weeks when you have given yourself a pat on the back for not overspending … when it's only Tuesday morning.

Pick a thing, stick with it. Stack another on top. Repeat.

liselle

I think that you’re trying to do the right thing but p’rps you’re young and have other things to focus on.I can recall both my husband,and me too,both working, good salaries, no children yet, but always being in debt/overdrawn/robbing Peter to pay Paul.Basically living way beyond our means.Wish I’d had a Forum like this to advise me.Because there’s lots of good advice on here.Setting a realistic budget is a good start.