how did I manage to do that?

I went to the supermarket this morning and spent $191.42!! And that's only 1 weeks groceries for DH, Jack and me. Granted there are a few extras - xmas club voucher, flea bombs and cat flea stuff ( cats!!) but I still spent $150. There is only 6 nights meat, no fruit and veges, only swimmers and nappy liners as we use MCNs, I make all Jack's food so not baby food and nothing else very exciting or extravegant (sp?). $100 used to be my max spend.

I filled the car up during the week, $191 after the supermarket discount voucher. And the power bill came last night, $220!!! The charges have gone up, but I worked out we are using 10kWh more per day since the last bill - minimal drier use and minimal heat pump use can't be that much can it? What else is it?

I just can't believe how much things have gone up recently. I just changed my job status at work from permanent part time to casual part time. Although I was only bringing in about $230 a fortnight we may start really missing it next month!

Thanks for the rant! Off to spend more money, having a hair cut. At least it is only a cheapy

Yeah food prices are crazy at the moment! I'm starting to wonder if we will manage on just DH's income.

I am finding that too, and I don't buy snack items like muesli bars etc as we bake quite a bit. We buy lots of fruit and veges, but mainly the ones in season, and we don't buy much meat. If I pop in to get a couple of items like milk, bread etc, then I always spend $20, it's ridiculous!

We still manage $50-60 a week on groceries, but we are on a strict budget, so lots of budget toast, rice, noodles as base of meals

And it's times like this when I'm glad we don't have a car. With petrol prices and all, I'm starting to wonder if it's worth getting one...

So noone wants to hear that my power bill last month was $93??? I can't believe it was that cheap.

I have noticed the prices go up at the supermarket - we used to get a 5kg bag of flour for $5 last week it was $7

AliaDawn wrote: We still manage $50-60 a week on groceries, but we are on a strict budget, so lots of budget toast, rice, noodles as base of meals

How do you do it? I try and buy the cheaper brands except for things like tomato sauce, DH would leave me if I bought anything other that Watties! I still seem to get to the checkout with not much and still spend heaps

i find buying groceries every fortnight works out cheaper than going every week....we spend $150-160 per fortnight. i'm going to have to spend more now though, just isn't much in the trolley at the end of that! i get my fruit and veges at the local funky pumpkin too which is alot cheaper

our power bill for the last few months has been $70-90 but this latest one is $189 had to happen i guess

Thats a lot Nikki! I would try turning all your switches off at the wall, even fridge/freezer cos it will only be for a wee while, and check your meter thingy to see if its using any power.

nzpiper wrote: we got a $325 power bill

You what!!!!!!!! OMG you should def be talking to your power company! I use the dryer every day, most days we have two baths (one for the girls, then either Willie or I), plus a shower, dishwasher, and running two oil fin heaters 11 hours each overnight and two dehumidifiers, plus there are 5 of us living here, and our bill is only ever a max of about $250 over winter. Summer it's around $160.

Oh and LOL Linzy, Willie moans about cheap tomato sauce too! I buy most stuff Homebrand, but not tomato sauce, baked beans or spaghetti, he will only eat Watties.

Maya wrote: Oh and LOL Linzy, Willie moans about cheap tomato sauce too! I buy most stuff Homebrand, but not tomato sauce, baked beans or spaghetti, he will only eat Watties.

Yes, we have to have Watties Baked beans and spaghetti as well. Personally I can't taste the difference. I am sure DH wouldn't either if I took the labels off!