Can anyone suggest...

[hastalavegan]

I'd suggest doing more green days, I don't eat meat and I'm always amazed at how much it is for so little when I'm serving customers at work. I buy dry red lentils, couscous, pasta and rice in bulk to save money.
Check out your local supermarkets for reduced stuff. Reduced potatoes will last longer than a day, onions, garlic, chilies and peppers can be chopped and thrown in the freezer. I never pay full price for things like lettuce and salad, I reduce tons of the stuff at work for as little as 10p.

If you have veg due to go off, use it! Make meals in advance with them and just freeze it for another day.

Planning is also a good way to keep you on budget

 

[fillymum]

I keep spuds in the veg draw of the fridge they last ages that way.

Nice to see you Hastalavegan !!!

I love green days. I always feel fuller and fitter !!! So much cheaper than red days.

A baked potato is the perfect vehicle for so many fillers and yummy, yummy. Baked potato with baked beans, scrambled egg and quorn sausage ( but only bought when on offer lol !!!)

You will do it. I know you will because you are so interested in how to make a fiver do the work of a tenner.............

My sis saves loads of money using coupons and offers from Asda to meet Tesco's prices etc...........I don't really understand it as we don't have it here. She can do a family shop for about 15 squids this way.

 

[X Kelly X]

Hi. Someone posted this when I asked a similar question a few months back. It's super long but has loads of tips-

· plan your meals for the week, make a shopping list and get only for the ingredients you need to make them
· start by looking at what you have in the cupboard/freezer already and choose meal options that will use them up
· cook your meals from scratch as pre-prepared sauces will be more expensive and you'll know exactly what has gone into them
· plan to use leftovers for other meals or for lunch the next day eg if you are cooking rice for dinner one day, make extra, throw in some leftover veggies and a fat-free dressing and you have lunch for day two
· cook one meal for the whole family not different ones
· seasonal fruit and veg is always cheaper so plan your meals around what it available
· take advantage of special offers - most supermarkets do cut price fruit and veg each week - and shop around to get the best prices. Check out offers and prices on comparison websites.
· try out the 'discount' supermarkets like lidl or aldi. Not everything is cheaper but many things are such as tinned tomatoes, pulses etc
· check out local shops such as greengrocers and butchers because supermarkets are not always the cheapest option
· frozen fruit and veg can be cheaper than fresh and a good alternative
· go green rather than red as meat is more expensive
· if doing EE then bulk out your meals with cheaper ingredients such as pulses, lentils, meat-free mince so you use less meat
· if buying meat go for cheaper cuts and invest in a slow cooker. Or buy joints and whole chickens that can be used across several meals rather than packs of chicken breasts
· beans, lentils and pulses are all good sources of protein and much cheaper than fish and meat
· batch cook meals taking advantage of special offers and freeze portions so they are ready for use
· go for shop own-brands rather than premium brands as they are usually just as good and a lot cheaper
· you don't have to buy mullerlights. There are several supermarket versions that are also syn free or other brands that are on special offer such as activia or shape zero
· know where your supermarket puts the things that are nearly out-of-date. You can sometimes pick up bargains on things like meats
· if you have storage then big bags of staples like pasta and rice can save money in the long-term - asda are selling 2 x 3kg bags of pasta for £3 at the moment
· invest in a water filter rather than buy expensive bottled water
· have breakfast at home so you're not tempted to eat on the go
· if you and/or your husband work, take lunch with you rather than buying out
· make your own versions of favourite family takeaway meals - save on the £s and the lbs
· and don't shop when you are hungry!

WOWSA! thanks for this hun!

 

[moonwatcher]

What they all said! Plus, on the exercise front, take a look through local classified ads. I got my exercise bike for a tenner, and a step machine (only a 'mechanical' one - hands on back of a chair and off I go!) for about two quid I think it was! People often buy exercise equipment and then don't use it, so you can get some good bargains. And, if you are cheeky enough (I was!) and you know friends or relatives who have exercise equipment they never use, ask them if they would be prepared to lend it to you 'to get it out of their way until they want it back.' I have my SIL's strider machine on long term loan this way!

Local libraries have exercise DVDs - a good way to vary your workout or to try before you buy, and see if you like it!

 

[hastalavegan]

Thanks Filly, good to be back, I've missed everyone loads!

 

[tallsarah]

I have two dogs and walk them everyday, was surprised when I started measuring how far I walked, it was an average of 20 miles per week! It my favorite part of my day, plug in my ipod and walk the stresses of the day away!

 

[rachel1984]

I wish we could get ours down to £20 - currently on about £70 wk for 2 adults & 1 child (inc hubbys pack lunches etc)

Can I ask what meals you make as i'm really struggling to come up with cheap family meals (fed up of eating diff to family)

During the past week we've eaten:

Tesco value pizza and chips (weigh in night naughty meal!!). Pizza 44p each, big bag of value chips less than a pound I think. We only use them once a week so a bag lasts ages.
Homemade burger and potato wedges (using value mince and pots from a huge sack that was on over 2 weeks ago, and they're still fresh and loads left).
Spaghetti carbonara using a slimming world recipe.
Pasta gratin (another sw recipe - make enough for 4 so either freeze half or take for lunch one day. Value pasta, passata is cheap enough).
Chicken stir fry (don't use the packet veg stuff - use fresh or frozen and add soy sauce, spices, whatever you want.
Roast: frozen chicken breast from freezer or chop or something (bought big bags so cheaper), and then veg/pots.
Pasta bolognaise. Value pasta and make own bolog. using tinned toms, spices, minced meat, onion, etc.

That's an average week.

I've literally just got in from Tesco though, our weekly shop, and spent £24.35. This included enough for the following meals:
Pizza and chips
Risotto (enough for 4 so eating it 2 nights)
Burger and wedges
Roast dinner
Pasta bolognaise
Soup (got enough ingredients to make 2 different soups - butternut squash and country vegetable, so will cook them up and freeze.

Whilst there I also got beer (8 small bottles 25cl, £2.44 - nice treat in the evening)
Part baked bread (£1.00 for Christmas day - it was on offer so freezing it)
Christmas Eve Party food (3 for £5).

So, out of the £24.35 I spent £8.44 on extras! £15.91 was spent on 'food'. That also included bogof veg, satsumas, bananas, yoghurts (value), milk.

Hope this helps xx

 

[rachel1984]

Packed lunches for oh:
2 rounds of Sandwiches (value bread, value ham/chicken, butter)
Fruit
Biscuits - a couple of different types (value)
Yoghurts (value - 29p for 4).

 

[mcv]

Shopping about and working to a menu plan is an excellent way of shopping cheaply. Don't shop hungry because it is very easy to slip extra goodies in the trolley. If I am buying mince in the week I will have cottage pie, spagetti bolognaise, chilli, lasagne,burgers depends how much I have got. I buy a cheap chicken, make a dinner and soup. I think it's already been said but I find icand the best price for cheese. I get eggs from local farm 80p 1/2 dozen. And farm shop for potatoes. It does get a bit addictive tho, trying to see just how much money I can save.