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Cost of living

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Tips please on how to cut the monthly groceries bill

62 replies

CountingPennies · 25/02/2014 19:19

We've cut it back to £450 a month (food and nappies, shampoo etc) but are struggling to cut it further - is it possible?

We have a toddler and 3 teenage DSCs (they are with us every other weekend, plus random friends for sleepovers). We shop at Costco, Aldi/Lidl and local shops for veg (cheaper than supermarkets), cook everything from scratch and batch cook if possible.

What else can we do to cut it further?

OP posts:
ilovedogsandcats · 02/03/2014 23:47

I also dilute bleach etc and put into spray bottles.
I've recently started using a lot of frozen veg. Farmfoods do 3 bags of spinach for £2. I always add a couple of handfulls to any sauce. The really cheap diced frozen mixed veg are also great for bulking out mince/sauces.
Frozen berries are also really good. I like them warmed up in the microwave and added to cheap natural yoghurt. Nice on porridge too.

MadMonkeys · 03/03/2014 11:33

Things I've started recently to cut costs:

Buying a lot of meat and fish in the reduced shelf in Asda - I get a lot half price when the date is up and freeze it. Its great for things like pies and fish that can be cooked from frozen.

Using pulses more - I cook in bulk, so a tin of lentils in a batch of lasagne stretches it further, 5 lasagnes instead of 4 etc

Buy rice/pasta etc in bulk - Asda do 3 kg bags

I am fickle with my shopping - one week I shop at Aldi, one week it is Ocado (I get everything on offer, half price usually, so it works out cheap), one week in Asda etc. I meal plan about a month ahead, so I buy things from wherever they are cheapest.

Using frozen veg and herbs - it saves a huge amount of waste.

Making all our bread in the breadmaker - we make what we need instead of eating it just to use it up.

Cook meals in bulk and freeze - loads of things freeze really well and its lovely not to have to cook from scratch every day. Also, something like chorizo works out fairly cheap if it is going in 3 meals, the taste is still there.

Definitely agree with people who suggested dishing up smaller portions, especially with kids. Some days they eat seconds and thirds, other days they hardly eat anything. Anything leftover can be used again.

And a biggie - grow your own if you can - you'll save lots on salads and herbs and if you have room try growing soft fruit - if you can beg things like runners off raspberries etc you can do it for next to nothing.

My budget is £70 for me, DH, D1 (4yo) and DD2 (18m), including nappies, cleaning products etc. We could cut it further if we cut out the more expensive ingredients like chorizo, but we don't need to at the mo.

mrsspagbol · 06/03/2014 14:51

Madmonkeys is that £70 a week?

poocatcherchampion · 06/03/2014 19:01

this is a brilliant thread thanks!

MadMonkeys · 06/03/2014 19:59

Yep, £70 a week.

mrsspagbol · 06/03/2014 21:32

Oh phew i thought £70 a month!

rodgette · 30/05/2014 18:53

Counting pennies, I use a little amount of cheap washing powder in my toilet, sprinkle it in with the lid down to soak for 5-10 mins, then scrub like
hell with the loo brush, my toilet comes up sparkling and lovely :) costs practically nothing! I use a tiny bit of wash powder made into a paste for sinks, taps and lino floors, has never let me yet, cannot use the pricey stuff as it sets my asthma off :(
HTH

TeaAddict235 · 01/06/2014 16:20

minimise your use of wet wipes for when you are out of the house only. Indoors use soft cloths for bum cleaning and wash them in a general wash. Or you can pick up a packet of ~5 face flannels from a pound store and use then for bum cleaning. Wipes can be pricey if you use them daily.

annielostit · 02/06/2014 10:40

Rodgette, that washing powder solution also cleans burnt off ss pans and oven trays. Boiling water a bit of powder simmer & soak for a bit, sparkling pans.

kazzawazzawoo · 02/06/2014 22:25

Watching with interest.

careeristbitchnigel · 26/06/2014 11:52

Maybe stick up an average week's menu ? That would give us an idea of where you could ditch stuff for cheaper versions :)

careeristbitchnigel · 26/06/2014 12:46

10p for a cucumber and 15p for 2 romaine lettuces!), a few pieces of fruit (last week I got about 70 pears for 1.10 and a box of 20 plums for 11p), ham rolls at about 5p each (filled with free cheese from work and a pack of ham I paid about 40p for, 15p pack of rolls).

Frozen vegetables revolutionised my waste - you just use what you need and there is a great range

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