Help to reduce my monthly grocery shop

deebee

some really good suggestions on here, i too live alone, and have just started working after being off work for about ten months - that's when I started being a bit more savvy with my outgoings - this site has been invaluable; I already had a slo cooker, and have used that much more often - I am veggie, so usually make a big batch of veggie bolonaise when the veggie mince is on offer in one of the supermarkets, then freeze it into single use portions - passatta is a great buy for making this - 29p for a 500g carton in Tesco - yummy - it is also great to spread on your home made pizza dough, I make mine in the breadmaker - incidentally I use the breadmaker all the time, haven't bought a shop loaf for at least six months!
Add to all of this the discovery that Tesco take money off coupons even if you haven't bought the item the coupon is for - and believe me you can make some big savings this way - I usually manage 30 - 40% off my shopping by using MOCs - so basically you can buy your usual shopping or whatever you want and use these coupons to get your bill reduced - there are some threads on here about that - well worth looking at.
The great thing is I started my new job two weeks ago, tough going but really enjoying it, and having learned the above while I wasn't working, I am going to continue with MOCs and keep my costs down, and I also have almost enough clubcard points to convert to deals for a 'free' holiday!

hope this helps

Pitlanepiglet

When I moved into my first flat I could only afford either a fridge or a freezer, I chose the freezer, I didn't (and still don't) eat dairy products and I figured that I could do more with a freezer than a fridge! I think I did the best part of six months before buying a fridge!

There are often fridge freezers on our freecycle so it's worth keeping a look out or placing a wanted ad.

wishing4amoneytree

Ok. Just wondering...anyone any good at 'growing your own' veg? I have a huge garden ( for my sins, only an old 3bed semi nothing special but a HUGE garden to care for!!) I thought I could have a vegetable patch! SAVE some money to!

So, what sort of size patch would I need? and is this the time of year to start planting any veg? and do I plant seeds or buy seedlings? are potatoes easy to grow? and I assume you have to keep re-seeding as you use the veg up? anyone know how it works or any advice? every summer I grow tomatoes in pots but with all my new money saving activites I think I might turn a bit ' good life'.:D

wishing4amoneytree

anyone??? :-)

In_Search_Of_Me

growing your own veg is fab! Have a look at allotments uk and think theres a green fingered bit on here somewhere! Seeds from lidl & aldi & pots are cheap to grow & good for getting rid of weeds in the soil...I have an allotment & love it - lots of fresh air, cmpany & good when you havent got a garden! I live there in the summer!!

wishing4amoneytree

thanks 'in search of me'! is it too late to start now? or this a good time of year?

frosty

wishing4amoneytree wrote: »

Ok. Just wondering...anyone any good at 'growing your own' veg? I have a huge garden ( for my sins, only an old 3bed semi nothing special but a HUGE garden to care for!!) I thought I could have a vegetable patch! SAVE some money to!

So, what sort of size patch would I need? and is this the time of year to start planting any veg? and do I plant seeds or buy seedlings? are potatoes easy to grow? and I assume you have to keep re-seeding as you use the veg up? anyone know how it works or any advice? every summer I grow tomatoes in pots but with all my new money saving activites I think I might turn a bit ' good life'.:D

Hi,have you looked at the greenfingered money saving thread,its great for advice.

wishing4amoneytree

OOOOOOOH, will look now! thanks x