Anyone else want to scream 😱 about prices

[Cupcakeicecream]

Anyone else feel like screaming 😱. The smart meter is now the enemy. I'm constantly topping up the meter. Yes it's prepayment they won't change it I've tried and tried. The budget just keeps getting tighter. It's hard to find cheap food no offers things constantly out of stock. You need a bank loan for just to buy toliet roll 🙄 I don't have the heating on constantly I try to just heat one room with a heater. Radiators are barely on an hour here and there to keep away damp. Dryer needs to be used in in emergency since the house is colder so clothes aren't drying properly. I use an airer and it's constantly raining and windy to use the washing line. Food budget is through the roof food is smaller and more expensive and always out of stock honestly what a joke.

You could potentially make fishfingers.

I’m going to be looking into making fish cakes from various fish and not just my favourite which is cod.

can you make hamburgers from Quorn?

Waitrose is reintroducing it’s free hot drink with a purchase soon. Sign up to Greggs app and you get a free pastry and hot drink on signing up - did this the other day and got tea and vegan sausage roll.

My mum’s “treat” in 70s was to go to The Wholemeal Cafe (veggie cafe in Streatham) which was also reasonable. She met her best friend there but could also see her sister who lived in the next street and get cloth at the John Lewis there (Pratts).

no or very rare cafe/restaurant outings until I was 9 or so. And family got an inheritance. We were taken to the pub for drinks locally or on holiday in the beer gardens as only place kids were allowed! Far more dinner parties at home!

Aldi have massively increased prices over the last 6 months aswell as smaller amounts in packets too

RedToothBrush I think brand 2 is Heinz (without cheating!). I’m not a beans expert though, think they are the devil’s food but the kids love them.

@LyndaLovelace @BarbaraofSeville Isn’t the point of cutting down and being careful to ensure that we can pay the bills, eat nutritious food and - if there’s anything left over - have the odd treat? If we can.

I can’t stand ketchup but I have three teens. If they want to add it to chips, mash, scrambled eggs etc then I am happy for them to do so. Or are we only allowed to eat what you do? I’m lucky that, at the moment anyway, I think I can add that bottle of ketchup to the basket for my kids. So I will. I want the cheapest, best, alternative - I don’t need to be a monk just yet.

Thank you to those of you that suggested ketchup alternatives. I suspect that lidle ketchup is the new covid loo paper - I went in to three Lidle’s today. Not a single ketchup bottle to be found!

I used to buy Tilda rice sachets at 1 pound a packet as we don't eat that much rice. Saw the Sainsbo own at 35p so thought I would try it - just as good! Although I don't have to I am just in general looking at alternatives.

Here's a tip for the people who like to visit NT places - join the Scottish NT

@Mentalpiece Thank you! I shall try Aldi’s 👍

OOps - it's cheaper and you can visit all English properties.

£5 for an options hot chocolate pot…. A fiver!!!

Lurpack 500g. Refuse to call it butter as it is not. It is a margarine with butter in. Has varied in price been £4 and £7 over the last 6 months. Currently £4 at Ocado. I remember when you could buy 2 for £5…

Granary bread is now £2.15 at Sainsburys. That
gave me a shock!

Asda has just put up the price of milk. 1.65 for 4pt bottle still 1.55 elsewhere.

Price of meat stiil the same but basics like flour,oil,milk shot up in price nearly 100% in last year.

I have been saying for a while that M&S often works out cheaper and been scoffed at on here.

Their fruit and veg is much better quality than most of the supermarkets and the prices are often the same or cheaper than other supermarkets.

Their peanut butter is much better than any others and so are their baked beans. Much cheaper than Heinz. Branston may be cheaper (don't know how much they are) but me and DH think they are vile.

Not sure why people are buying rice pouches, especially if they are going to moan about the price, when a bag of rice works out much much cheaper

24 toilet rolls for £6.59. Have been surprised at how expensive it is elsewhere.

I buy Co op's own tomato soup now at 68p a can and it tastes no different to Heinz.

Try Tesco’s own beans. They are usually £1 for 4 tins if you have a club card ❤
I was a heinz fan for year then something changed with the flavour & the pandemic hit.
I tried every type we could get our hands in & Tesco came out top. They have less sugar in than other brands which is always a win & possibly what they changed in Heinz to make it taste weird.

Please vote this lot out at the next general election. Seriously. This isn't happening to this extent anywhere else. This is Brexit and this is government mismanagement of the economy. It's them not putting caps on the energy companies, and it's them just letting huge corporations run riot.

Hugs 💗Things are super hard right now. I’m used to higher prices as I am gluten & dairy intolerant so my food & milk is already pricier than regular shopping but even I have noticed little rises too.
I already pay £3+ for what is basically half a loaf of bread & between £1.30 & £1.70 for 2 pints of milk.

If you don’t have a debt your supplier can not refuse to change your meter from PPm to regular meter. You may need to have a smart meter fitted but at least you will no-longer be having to manage the PPM.
If you do have a debt, are struggling to manage with a PPM, have small children in the hour or are vulnerable yourself you can have the PPM taken out. Also if you are in receipt of certain benefits you can ask power company to remove the PPM & arrange to direct pay your bills directly from your benefits via DWP.
Threaten to go to the Ombudsman if they keep refusing.
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/your-energy-meter/get-your-prepayment-meter-replaced-with-a-normal-meter/

We have just received our first ever Gousto box and can’t believe the value for money, first box was £26 for 4 people which includes duck leg, chicken and cheese pasta bake, gnocchi and chicken pie.
I always assumed these would be major money. There’s loads of choice, no waste and would’ve been around £20 if I got a standard meal instead of the upgraded duck leg option! We would spend a lot more on evening meals in the supermarket plus the inconvenience of going to the shops, planning ingredients and ending up with waste etc.
I know it’s not suitable for everyone and we’re lucky to beable to afford this but it’s far cheaper than I expected.
Use the below for 65% off and I’ll get £30 too!!
cook.gousto.co.uk/raf?promo_code=HELEN43631233&utm_source=iosapp
We end up ordering in several times a week because nothing we get bored of the same meals we’ve bought in so hopefully this curbs the waste of money on just eat and deliveroo too!

lol

Brexit, the beast that devastated all of Europe. Even non-EU.

Have you checked that DM has got her discount? Customers with prepayment meters have to apply 😤

I could scream, yes! I have lacto free milk, locally I would have to pay £1.90 in Iceland, If I can walk to Aldi, it is £1.05, just one example but I totally feel your pain, everything is so expensive!

Pre-payment meters should be banned in this day and age! I remember having one and it crippled me financially ( due to a previous tenant and near impossible to change) , the heating v eating debate is a very real one IMO
Is this the actual "Hunger Games" commencing?
“Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favor.”
but seriously keep the faith, we can get through this, somehow 🙏

Me too and mayonnaise and own brand Weetabix.. at first rather blegh but getting used to it!