frugal mums,help to re-educate me, i need to start economising

[milkgoddessmakesthefinestmilk]

hi now we hav dd and we are about to go down to one wage, we really need to start economising, we have never been careful with money, but we need to start.

do you have any tips to help at all wise MNetters?

any particuar shops or anything you recomend for either food, household stuff

and anywhere good for baby toys and clothes?

For baby wipes I bought a pack of j-cloths, cut them in two, and just use them with plain water. Wash them with the nappies/muslins. Soak in a bucket with a few drops of tea tree oil until you have enough for a wash. When I'm out and about I confess I use packet wipes for convenience. But a pack of bought wipes lasts ages because most nappy changes happen at home.
Using washable nappies is a money saver of course but obviously long-term only (and gets cheaper with subsequent babies).
I'm following this thread with interest and I need to cut down too.

Have a look at the money saving expert website - it has a lot of good advice about stuff like this.

Totally agree with Digby about meal planning. If we don't do it our grocery bill doubles and yet we end up with nothing for dinner two days later.

I don't meal plan as such but go round the supermarket & see what's on offer or a good price & then use it all up.

you wonderful mums have actually made
me feel quite positive about all this.

how much do you all spend a week on food and where do you shop?

food shopping, we spend about £100 a week, just me dh and an 1 month old, i make her meals

i think this seems too much

nature lover, i can definately do that re the wipes
what actually are j clothes, we have those blue multi purpose wipes, is that the same thing?

Put your credit card in a small tub of water then freeze it

There's no reason not to feel positive about it I love the challenge of seeing how much of my money I canactually kepp each week. View it as a good thing.

I've just spent this morning changing all of DS's trousers from last year that he's outgrown into long shorts ready for the summer. Some are more like short shorts though because they were worn through at the knee, but I'm quite proud of my mornings' work!

I have 5 dc and dp I usually spend about £110.00 a week at asda online ,but thats for everything lunches ,toiltrees ,dogfood .Etc etc.

It does seem a lot what you are spending but I think you tend to get into bad habits just try and do a menu planner for one week you will be amazed at what you save, and I find it a lot less stressful knowing what I am going to be cooking rather than pot luck .

Alos google freestuff uk and you can sign up for loads of samples and stuff I have had just this month some nivea visage ,a full size air freshner and fabric conditioner and some original source shower gel.

Haircuts use a mobile hairdresser or look for a model night and get a free or very cheap haircut.

yep the blue cloths are j-cloths. They can be machine washed too.

For us, a big part of the weekly shop was coke, wine, beer, cider etc.

I went round the supermarkets near us, and bought a can each of all the own brand beers and colas, and had a tasting. We found one we liked, and now I bulk buy that (saves masses).

For wine, the BOGOF offers can be good.

Freecycle is a worldwide org you just need to google freecycle and your area .You offer things for free you don't want anymore and you can ask for stuff or ask people for the stuff they offer .

I got my dryer balls from the 99p store if you can't find any that cheap cat me and I will send you some ,I have looked online but they are all around 8.00

(makes us sound like lushes)

In the weather walk as much as you can too ,cheap and good for you .

*THIS

What about having a couple of storecupboard days? You'd be amazed what meals you can conjure up out of the contents of your storecupboard. Makes sure that you use up all those little things that can hang around, and also puts off going to the shop for a few more days.

I limit my cash every week - I take it out at the start and it's got to last me. Can be a bit nerve-wracking!

Aldi does some great stuff especially baked goods, fruit and veg, dried pasta. So much cheaper than Tesco.

Freeze your credit card in a tub of water. Freeze some pound coins for emergencies!

If you're making anything with minced beef or lamb you can make it go further by adding red lentils and extra water. I always do this now and have effectively doubled the quantity of the meal so I freeze one portion.

Clear out your freezer - you may be amazed how many (hotch-potch) meals you can conjure up. I did this recently and managed to feed us for 5 nights!

If you're on a really tight budget, stop using credit / debit cards completely, and withdraw the amount you have to spend in cash weekly.

When it's gone, it's gone and you'll just have to manage. If there's any left over, stick it in a jar and use it for treats or put it in a savings account.

Worked for me when I was a poor student!!

Now is the perfect time to get a veg garden growing. If you don't have a garden, it's amazing what can be grown in a few pots. Ask around any garden proud friends or neightbours, you are bound to find one with a few extra seedlings they can give you (I've just scored 5 tomato plants from a neighbour yesterday) If nothing else, it's educational and fun for the little ones.

Without wanting to sound patronising, learning how to really cook well can be a major money saver. Try and work out a few recipies for leftovers and emergency 'I have nothing in the cupboard' meals. Fritters (good for leftovers, especially curry) scones (flour, butter, milk) and soup (anything in the bottom of the fridge) are some of my staples.

£100 a week for groceries for 2 adults and a baby is a fair bit, I reckon you could economise if you need to. There are 5 of us (DH with an enormous appetite, me and 3 DC) and we spend about £80 a week on average including nappies, toiletries etc. I do a main shop at Tesco and get it delivered (I spend less that way, no impulse buys) and also get bits at Lidl and Iceland (eg frozen veg).

Buy the huge bags of rice and pasta, they work out better value. Buy less booze.

You could probably halve what you spend on groceries if you have time to cook and a decent sized freezer, but it'd be easier to cut back gradually I think. Maybe try setting yourself targets eg. to bring it down to 75 for a few weeks and see how you find it. Do you throw much food out?

yes im a fairly good cook, although i need to learn how to do it in a cheapr way.

last week i mad fish pie and i used prawns[3.50] line caught sustainable cod [5.50]
salmon fillets [4.40]

when really i should be using cheaper bits

its was bloody tastey though!

the red lentals and water is a great idea,

i dont throw much out, thats one thing im fairly good at, not much gets wasted i even make stock with the bones etc.
which i thought id only do for dds 1st year, but im going to keep doing that

right dds gone for her nap, im off to sort though my wardrobe, teh ill be back, perhaps i can tell you what ive got knocking aboiut in the cupboards for some.
storecupboard days

back soon.

Try mysupermarket.com too I have only just discovered it and it does save you money