Help - we feel like we've done everything we can, and we're still piling on the debt!

BlushingRose

mum2one wrote: »

Hope its as profitable as the last week!!x

*lol* I hope so too, but I suspect not..

RAS

The thing is once the agency know that you are good, you get more bookings. And you get to know about jobs that you would never have dreamt of applying for otherwise.

Zazen999

That's brilliant news

***clashes virtual glasses together in celebration!!!***

mhe

Great news!:j Dont forget to let us know how you got on with the shopping in Aldi tonight.:rotfl:

BlushingRose

RAS wrote: »

The thing is once the agency know that you are good, you get more bookings. And you get to know about jobs that you would never have dreamt of applying for otherwise.

This is the first job I've had from this agency - my other agency has sent me on a couple of contracts, all last year though

BlushingRose

mhe wrote: »

Great news!:j Dont forget to let us know how you got on with the shopping in Aldi tonight.:rotfl:

Oh, I will, although we changed our minds and went to Lidl (is that spelt right?) - I have a list although we ended up going to Lidl, Asda and will be going to the local butcher for a couple of bits tomorrow so I'll let you all know what we boguht, how much it was, and whether we spent less......tomorrow!!!

determined_new_ms

Hi blushingrose, sorry to hear you are having such a hard time.

I just wanted to say I have reduced our food bill to £165 PM since joining this site, I do this by using 2/3 different shops per week (asda, lidl and sometimes aldi), plan out meals, usually having a roast chicken at the weekend then the next day making something out of leftovers and the 3rd day some soup (I then use this for lunches at work)

I have 2 teenagers and understand that they SURE CAN EAT! I brought my son (15) a cookery book last xmas and always have staples in so he can cook something, pancakes get made alot in our house! Once I have done the weekly shopping I stick to the meals plans and only buy milk, bread and vegetables. I can honestly say we do eat well.

Also wait till all gas & elec suppliers have increased their prices and see if you can get that cheaper.

Good Luck!

BlushingRose

Right, we went to Lidl and Asda - and also a local store.
This is what we bought - comments please?

Lidl

Foil - £1:99
Choc Spread (huge jar) - £1.09
Juice cartons x 8 - £1:49
Potato waffles - 69p
Marg - 79p
Loaf x 2 - £1:70
Apples x 8 - £1:09
Carrots (bag) - 55p
Turnip - 55p
Potatoes (bag) - £1:38
Chips - 59p
Cola - 37p
Beefburgers (12) - £1:28

Total = £17:09


Asda

Baked beans x 4 - 80p
Tinned tuna x 4 - £1:08
Spaggetti x 3 - 69p
Bread buns x12 - £1
7-Up x 3 - £3:96
Cheese - £3:48
Handwash x 2 - £2:40
Pork Loins x 6 - £4:41
Mince (250g) - 79p
Simmer soup x 4 - £1
Rice Snaps - £1:37

Total = 25:21

Butcher

Meat Joint - £7:32
Cold meats - £4:55

Total = 11:87

Total spend this week = £54:17


Our usual spend often comes to about £100....

I also forgot to mention that I had a piggybank with copper in, which we've counted and it came to £7:50! We're going to put that into an account that I don't use, just to save, and we're going to save copper in the pig over each month. Once a month, we'll count it out and pop it into the account!

firesidemaid

well done on reducing your bill by half - that's a really good start.

i'm sure others will have comments, but just a couple of things.....

in my head (and others have suggested having a notebook for this) i have a mental note of the 'top price' that i will pay for something ie. i will o/wise wait till its on offer and buy in bulk. i also try to get brand name for this price.

for example, 60p is the tops i will pay for liquid soap/handwash. 69p for either 15 or 20 m of foil.

also 10% of your bill (20% at asda) went on soft/fizzy drinks (i know you have a teenager). have you thought about water/squash.

also, as i don't eat meat (OH does) i am always horrified at the price of it!

have a look at each of the items on your bill (or anything you buy) and think of martin's mantra - 'can i afford it - do i need it - can i get it cheaper anywhere else?'

good luck too with your work this week x

Zazen999

Hi.

Well done, hopefully all of you joined in on the shop.

My comments would echo the above; but what's your menu plan for the week to go alongside this?

My first comment would be the bread, £2.70 for bread for the week; I changed over to making my own and a big bag of flour can last a good few weeks; we have cut down to one loaf a week for 2 of us, and you can make your own rolls...really is filling when it is homemade.

The only other thing I would say is the lack of rice and pasta there; have you already got these in the cupboard or don't you eat them? And to go with it, some tinned toms for making up pasta sauces and curries...you can also chuck a few handfuls of either into soups to bulk it out.

And isn't meat expensive? I haven't eaten it for 23 years so never look at it; hopefully that joint will do 2 or 3 meals? Sorry, I haven't clue on meaty things.

Hope the week goes well, and well done for getting the shop down to a manageable amount.