Spending too much !! HELP

Penny-Pincher!!

Hi

I agree about the writing a list of all food you have in and making up mealplans to use this up without having to spend lots. Also, someone mentioned this website:

http://www.spendingdiary.com/

....which is excellent and you can easily keep track of all spendings.

HTH

PP
xx

Queenie

I'm sure it's great - personally, I have an aversion to keeping my finances on a webpage when I can just as easily keep them in a password protected file on my PC. Yes, I know, may seem odd, it's just ... we trust an awful lot of webspaces these days and can never be really sure how much we are being ... tracked?

Bella79

tonight i made fishcakes n home made wedges with tartare sauce yummy do u think i should use everythign b4 doing a shop then shop weekly or as and when needed or still do my weekly shop ? jst thinking about meat etc

JACKIEBINANA

Hi everyone,
I have been spending £40-£50 per week on food and I live alone.Ready meals, cheese grated in bags (I know its just lazy). I must throw out about £15 worth of veg a month:(
I have had my eyes opened by this website and Im going to start the menu planning this week.If anyone has a rough mon -sun menu for a healthyish single person I would be very grateful.
p.s i hate eggs ,but like quiche how wierd I know:)
Please save me from myself lol
Jackie

Dinah93

Skint_Catt wrote: »

Sorry to hijak but where would I get a paper bag big enough for a large bag of spuds. I keep ours in the garage (cool and dark) but they still sprout fairly quickly!

I have been told the best thing to use is hessian, as it lets them breathe, I was lucky enough to be sent a nice strong hessian bag from McCains after entering a competition, but the supermarket reusable bags will work just as well. Alternatively ask your greengrocer, as the traditional fruit and veg shops often still get deliveries of heavy root vegies in the strong old hessian bags.

sammiboo

owens3116 wrote: »

tonight i made fishcakes n home made wedges with tartare sauce yummy do u think i should use everythign b4 doing a shop then shop weekly or as and when needed or still do my weekly shop ? jst thinking about meat etc

I personally do a fortnightly shop and top up with fresh stuff each week. Try your local market for fresh veg, it can be be cheaper than you think. I bought 10 baking potatoes for £1!!!! BARGAIN!!!

We went shopping yesterday, bought enough meat to last over two weeks, i worked out what meals we will be having and work out whats needed. Sometimes what I make per meal is too much so will do for another meal.

Bulk up your meals with plenty of veg where you can

I made a curry on saturday and there was plenty left for another meal, OH had the leftovers tonight

I made gammon with cider last night and lots left, so can make another meal.

If you plan carefully then you can save a fortune. I find brand snobbery was the biggest thing for me. I use own brand tinned stuff now eg kidney beans, chopped toms for the fraction of the price as branded stuff and it tastes the same!!

sammiboo

JACKIEBINANA wrote: »

HI have had my eyes opened by this website and Im going to start the menu planning this week.If anyone has a rough mon -sun menu for a healthyish single person I would be very grateful.

Why dont you try and bulk cook? Make a chilli, curry, spag bol etc and freeze single portions? Then its just a case of defrosting if you are having a lazy day.

EG of a week for me (and OH)

Monday
Spag bol

Tuesday
King prawn stirfry with rice

Wednesday
Chicken wraps - these are easy and cheap to do. Just buy some spices and add it to chicken strips in a pan, tortilla wraps add salad and cheese

Thursday
Chicken fillet with salad and cous cous (maybe a jacket)

Friday
Chilli con carne with rice

Saturday
Chicken curry with rice

Sunday
panfried trout with garlic and lemon, with fresh veg and jacket

Any leftovers you have you can use for another meal

I dont buy ready meals, i make all my own food. Once you get into the habit of cooking then you wont want ready meals

ecoelle

Hey there this is brill, i'm also trying to reduce spending on food and found two brill websites, apologies of anyone ahs already mentioned these. www.mysupermarket.com a comparison site for checking wher's cheapest for food
www.cookingbynumbers.com put in the food you have and it generates the recipes for you based on what you have in the cupboard, particularly good for the end of the month but also for new ideas. Also definayely meal plan and if you're really serious find out the best times for reductions at your local supermarket, save a fortune on veg and then do what was suggested earlier and 'chop'n'freeze'