The cost keeps going up & up & up & up...

studentgirl_2

Hi iv been reading the forum for a while now, love it:j

As you can see by my user name im a student, also a mother.

Money is tight for us all but just keeps getting tighter due to the increase of food. I know that its been said before but the cost is really going up at a rate. Im now finding that mr T is not that cheep and am now finding it hard to feed my family well. both DH and DS are very big eaters and will not eat rubbish.

Rant over thanks

earwig

i know how you feel in the summer you could buy a bag of pasta bows for 37 p today that same bag cost 67p same with the butter it used to be 59p but now its 85p the cost hasnt gone up buy a few pence they have really jumped and thats just two everyday items in sainsburrys shame oh wages hasnt jumped at the same rate though:mad:

jayarr_2

i know what you mean, I used to buy the huge bags of pasta from asda for £1 each, the other week they went up to £2.20, on friday they were £2.45! Still a good buy if you can store it, but a huge jump in price

ka7e

Check out Iceland, Farm Fresh Foods, Lidl and Aldi, if you have any locally. You have to become a bit of an expert at comparative shopping, but these stores often undercut the big name supermarkets.
I use http://fixtureferrets.co.uk/index.asp to search out weekly offers, though you have to subscribe to get details of any £1+ savings.

jayarr_2

Something that Ive found helps is shopping twice a week rather than doing a big shop just the once-I have to go and get milk and bread, and at the same time I stock up on any bargains in the reduced section..i basically meal plan for half a week at a time, takes resolve not to spend too much tho!

deebee

I have noticed big increases in food prices too, and am on a budget as I am not working at the moment - I have recently become addicted to money off coupons as you can use them at Tesco without having to buy the item they are for - consequently I tend to get a £15 spend for ar0ound a tenner - every little helps haha

Lillibet_2

I too have noticed the big increases but they seem to be on the more common staple foods, like pasta, rice, bread etc, not meat except for chicken or "luxury foods" like ready meals (well, it is a luxuary in all but taste!). I find we are eating more lamb now as it is comparative in price to chicken & can be cheaply bulked out with pearl barley or split peas both of which don't seem to have gone up. Even veggies seem to be more expensive than a year ago, although we do try to eat mostly organic where ever possible & especailly veg & fruit, so I might be getting a slightly skewed view of things.

I think the best we can do is really really use up every last item & leftover, lots of home made soups from carcassess with home made breads, lots of padded out casserols & stews & hotpots which are great in the winter but a bit much in the summer, and get reading up on the best use of wartime rations!

Gingham_Ribbon

Some of these threads might help:

my favourite cheap meals
cheap meals
Gingham's vegetarian meal planner
Gingham's spring menu planner
MEnu planning tips
Grocery shopping experts, how little do you spend?

We're all feeling the pinch. Food prices have gone up a LOT. I have another mouth to feed now, but it in no way accounts for the difference in what I was spending when I wrote the spring menu planner and what I'm spending now (ie nearly double!)