budget advice

Yip would love some advice on groceries as well.

tips I can give is to make certain foods a lot more off. Like lasagne. Then freeze some of it and when you dont feel like cooking you dont have to get take aways. Plus it helps with the powerbill to make more food in one go and freeze than to use the oven every night.

I make a list. Mmmm now to stick to it. lol.

Yus sticking to it is hard, especially for me when I get to the chocolate and other naughty things!

Ah yes, the list. Go the list! I'm the same - do the list, check all the cupboards before you go shopping so you know what's in them and you don't think "Oh, crap, I think I've run out of onions", buy some more, and find that you thought you'd run out of onions last week as well ...

If your anything like me and find it really hard to stick to a list then online shopping is excellent! I find I always end up spending less cause I'm not cruising the isles like I do at the actual supermarket

Wow, our budget is $160 a week for 2 adults (plus 3 animals)...and we frequently spend OVER that!! Last week we spent $400 although hopefully that will last us until next week or the week after. That doesn't include meat either!! It's not me who spends extra though, it's DF!!!

Yes that would be great Emma!

Vick - we spend $140-$160/week for 5 of us (3 adults, 2 preschoolers, and a little bit for Krystiana). I'm trying to keep it at $140/week atm...

As for not sticking to lists, the thing that keeps me accountable is each week I note (in a spreadsheet) how much I have to spend, how much I spent, and how much is left or, er, owing. Then the following week I have a new week's budget plus/minus the difference from last time. That way stocking up on things on special (when you would ordinarily buy those things, that is) works out, as well as those weeks where you don't seem to need as much - it can just wait in the account for the following week.

Wow!!!!!! You put me to shame .

I really like the spreadsheet idea I might get hubby to set one up for me this week. I would love to only spend that amount. HMMM might have to get tough. I can as you have proved be done.

Emma - that would be great

Edited by nuttymama

For the three of us we spend $400 for the month (usually less) - and thats for everything.

* Definitely write a list
* put a list on the fridge and every time something runs out put it on there so you dont forget and have to make a special trip.
* Keep all your grocery receipts for a month, then go over them to see what extra stuff you didnt need, and then you can compile a permanent list from it
* Try and do a big shop fortnightly or monthly, then the other weeks just top up milk, bread, veges etc
* Don't go to the supermarket just for one ingredient, cos you'll end up buying a basketful of stuff. You may be surprised at what you can improvise with.
* Dont buy too many pre-prepared sauces/sachets etc as they are expensive!
* No-name brands can be nicer, as Ginger discovered!
* Only buy stuff in bulk if you are going to actually use it or it has a long shelf life.
* Use less meat in your meals and buy cheaper cuts. Have one or two meatless meals a week.
* Snack pack things like chippies are way more expensive than buying a standard pack and seperating yourself.

Will add more when I think of them

Hmm maybe this is where I go wrong for a start... I have no budget whats so ever. We are paid monthly and because we have had house money while we were building if I ever needed money I just dipped into that but now we are going to have a mortgage its going to get really tight so maybe I should sit down and do some sort of budget. Plus I need to stop going to malls and spending money.

So whats everyones opinion on buys presents in advance? I made a list the other day and between now and christmas (including christmas) I have 30 presents to buy, this is mainly for kids and its all family so I have to buy them not just feel like I should. With the warehouse sales etc... when Ive seen something cheap Ive grabbed a couple to put away for presents. For example they had big my little ponys on sale from $25 down to $15 so I got 3 as I have 3 girls to buy for and also brought an outfit for my neice that was half price. But is that a waste of money? Should I just buy as I need the presents or is it good to stock up when they are on special?