Cutting shopping bills.

[bantingm]

This is such a boring question (sorry) but im desperatly trying to cut our monthly food bill down...currently we do a huge shop that we try to make last a month, and then buy the essentials if and when neeeded...however this seems to be costing an awful lot. Has anyone else found that doing a weekly shop has helped? please help me cut costs!! The food shop is just for my boyfriend and i, i use tesco mainly.

thanks in advance

[bantingm]

not at all patronising, i have considered a weekly shop over the last few months. i have just been given some lovely cooking books which i am planning meals ahead with, i hve only lived away from my parents for a year so still getting used to things! i hate ready meals, and love cooking fresh (even after coming home from a 9-5.30!)

So Zac your suggestion is plannig and weekly shopping?? i think i shall give this a go from now on.

thanks

[dot.hawkes]

I have said this before on here, the easiest way is to eat a large meal before you go shopping, you will be surprised at how focused you will be on the essentials, it stops you adding goodies to your trolley

[LoftyLottie2]

I now shop on several days a week. I now have the time to do it, and have to go into town on an almost daily basis anyway (so no extra petrol involved).

I have a better chance of finding bargains shopping like this, between the three supermarkets I have available (one being Lidls). I also find there is far less wastage.

[EmEd1984]

apologies if you do already do this, but the best thing i can suggest is shopping online. In store they move things around to purposely get you to try to hunt everything down and therefore pick stuff up you didn't intend to get, but online (tesco) you just type in whatever and it comes up be it vague or specfic (ie. 'bread' or 'warburtons seeded batch 800g'). also, you don't get the lovely smells that tempt you (freshly baked white chocolate chip cookies �P mmm) and you can even look at your last order and just completely reorder it.

Admittedly, there is a delivery charge, but there's always discount codes knocking about online for free delivery, �5 off, �10 off, 100 extra clubcard points etc so sometimes you're saving even more than in store.

We tend to do a 'big shop' fortnightly because as Zacsmaster says, monthly creates a lot of waste and you're just constantly at the shops after the 2nd week buying your dinner!!

The great thing about Tesco is that if you already have a clubcard, when you sign up it'll tell you what your favourite products are to get you started.

Sorry if you do all that already!!

[bantingm]

Hiya Dot & Lofty

I have to admit i commit shopping sin when i go food shopping hungry.

especially with the other half who is like a child and adds stupid things when not looking (small chockie dougnuts mostyl!!) i defianlty agree to eat first.

Lofty unfortuantly you ay of shopping just wouldnt work for me, as i work full time...i either do an internet shop or nip off in the evenings to get ours (do find a few bargains some evenings if meat etc is on sell by date)

thanks

[angiebaby57]

Try cheaper cuts of meat occasionally....chicken thigh fillets are delicious and much nicer than chicken breast...marinate in soy sauce, honey and ginger and garlic and bake in the oven. Look out for buy one get one free offers, plan ur menus, get spuds from a local farm (and onions) as they can be a LOT cheaper, make double quantities and freeze half, bulk up casseroles with lots of yummy veg (cheaper at Lidl and Aldi and lasts a lot londer than tesco) make ur own bread...Tesco mix is 65p and a loaf is almost double that!! As far as washing powder is concerned, ignore the quantity they tell u to use...use half as much and use a 2 in 1 powder as u dont need fab cond..use cheaper brand cleaning products as with a bit of extra elbow grease they are just as good, cut down on unecessary sweets and treats, and do what I am doing and use up everything in your store cupboards...I was amazed at how many packet mixes and tins of stuff I had that I had forgotten about!! Stuff like teabags are much of a muchness...I changed from Twinings to Tesco and its 50% cheaper...also write down everything you spend as this will surprise u at where your money is going! Also keep an eye on whats on offer in which stores...I have 2 large supermarkets nr me and often check out the deals in both as it can add up to quite a saving. Also use a list and do NOT deviate from it unless its to stock up on something u will definately use. Good luck. xxxx

[bantingm]

Hi EmED,

i do a tesco shop online occasionally but have jsut had broadband fitted at home so can do it alot more easier now! i think i will definalty stop doing the monthly shop, its such a waste as everyone agrees, and i love fresh fruit and veg (not frozen!)

thanks guys :-)

[Jules001]

I agree with Zacsmaster about planning your meal menus in advance, I shop weekly and I always make a shopping list and try to stick to it, although admittedly there are always special offers which I am tempted by, but if these are things you would normally buy, maybe at a different time and they have a long shelf life, then these will generally save you money. I do tend to have some gaps on my menu in case there are things on special offer which I will then buy, if there isn't anything that I want on special then I will fill in the gaps with tried and tested family favourites, spag bol, shepherds pie etc. I tend not to go to a supermarket once I have done my weekly shop, if I can help it, as I find that I am too easily tempted by things I see, especially if I go to a different supermarket which stocks items my regular supermarket doesn't. If you need fruit or veg to go with a particular meal, try and use a greengrocer or market stall as these will be cheaper and you won't be tempted by anything else. Don't be afraid of using some value label items either, things like tinned tomatoes to me are the same whether they are value or a branded name. If you currently buy a ready made pasta sauce, consider buying a carton of passata and adding dried herbs and some fresh onion and garlic to it and maybe a tin of value chopped tomatoes to bulk it out instead. Tasty and substantial meals can be made quite cheaply, the other day I made a carrot and coriander soup from scratch, this took about 30 mins to make and was absolutely delicious served with some fresh crusty bread. Hope this helps a little.

[bantingm]

Angie, that was very useful information. im not sure if there is a Lidl or Aldi near me, how can i find this out?

i am already practicing alot of your tips, the washing powder, cleaning products etc.

everyone is being so helpful, i think i will have to leave the cookie monster boyfriend at home when food shopping from now on!! this should save alot of money!!

[bantingm]

Hiya Jules, good advice, i always make pasta sauces using value tinned tomatoes and adding all the extras, i find these to be less saulty and more to my taste anyway!!

its the planning meals in advance that i need to start doing more, this seems to be the general opinion...

xxx

[bantingm]

iv never thought of that Zac, i havnt evern considered these things, sill learning!!

[luxury]

Hi Bantingm,
Our fridge is absolutely covered in menus!!!
This is one of them:
Sun: Roast Chicken, sage and onion stuffing (homemade), tats and 1 sweet potato, carrots x2, parsnips x 2, Brocolli and gravy.

Mon: Chicken soup: Boil up roast carcass, reserve boiling liquid, strip off meat, and add back to liquid, add tats, celery x2 , carrots x2, courgette x1, onion x1 and 1 chicken stock cube. Cook till veg done. Serve with 1 garlic ciabatta.

Tues: Plaice fillets, served with cannelini bean salad (thats a bowl with fresh rocket, baby tomatoes sliced in 1/4s, 1 red onion, 1/2 red pepper, 2 garlic cloves chopped, 1 can canellini beans rinsed and drained.) Then add 1/2 a chorizo that's been sliced and fryed along with a red chilli.

Then fry the plaice with lemon jiuce and serve with the salad and chips.

[LoftyLottie2]

One of the biggest savings I have made is cutting down on meat. We eat less and less of it and more and more vegetables. Noone in the family has complained. I did it in small stages.

I heard the other day of a pub that is selling hot, home cooked lunches for �1.00 a head and managing to make a small profit. It is still possible to make wholesome, good food for very little.

We don't need snacks, crisps, carbonated drinks etc. We have all got used to buying extras that we don't need.

[luxury]

cont :D

Wed: Baked stuffed marrow, with mince cooked spag bol style, then put in marrow, topped off with breadcrumbs and parmesan and baked till golden.

Thurs: Salmon, marinaded in teriyaki served with stir fried veg rice (1 onion, carrot, courgette, garlic)

Fri: Thai Green Chicken Curry.

I also bake all our 'goodies' so cakes, and biscuits etc are not to munchie hands.

So, thats a sample menu. I then know I need 8 carrots, 2 courgettes, brocolli, spinach, lemon grass, ginger, coriander etc. and I don't deviate.

L. x

[bantingm]

Hiya Luxury, you would be very handy to have around, i think you should publish your menus, i would be a first to buy your book..no jokes.

Lofty, i have to admit i dont drink any alcohol at all during the week (and rarely at weekends) but i look forward to sitting down to a cool glass of coke at the end of the day which is so epxensive to buy... i need to stop this i know, start drinking squash preharps as im not a big tee drinker and sometimes water just doesnt cut it!

xxx

[bantingm]

Does anyone know where i could find a website with menu ideas for inspritation? im struggling to track one down (mainly due to boss looking over my shoulder!!)

thanks xx

[LoftyLottie2]

We have to have some luxuries too, though. Don't begrudge yourself a glass of Cola in the evening. :o)

[luxury]

Well, there's BBC GoodFood....

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/

and the Food and Drink bit on here :D

xxx