are you economising?
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Topic: are you economising?
Posted By: lizzle
Subject: are you economising?
Date Posted: 28 April 2008 at 6:34pm
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in the news recently, there is a lot about families cutting back on staples - i.e. on the cover of North and South it says something like "johnny is only allowed two glasses of milk a day". in Sunday Star times, they talked about two families who seem to have cut out heaps of stuff. Are families actually doing this?
We are on a tight budget, but always eat well. I buy seasonally, preserve where I can. BUt milk is something I will always buy, regardless of the price, i just cut back in other places. What do other people do? |
Replies:
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 28 April 2008 at 6:42pm
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Not here. I refuse to sacrifice on essentials like milk and cheese regardless of the cost. Which I suppose is why Fonterra have us by the short and curlies - while there is high demand, they can charge what they like. -------------  Maya Grace (28/02/03)
 (02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: MrsMojo
Date Posted: 28 April 2008 at 6:58pm
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I've cut my grocery bill down but I won't compromise on serving good healthy food from all the food groups.
However to tell the truth I was thinking today of cutting down Michaela's milk. She currently drinks 750mls (minimum) per day though so cutting it back to 500mls per day prob won't be a bad thing especially since her morning bottle seems to be preventing her from eating breakfast. I always make sure we eat plenty of fruit and veges but don't mind if it's fresh, tinned or frozen - it's all healthy (in fact tinned or frozen fruit and veg can be better than the stuff that's been sitting in the fridge for a fortnight). We don't eat as much red meat anymore (but DH and I used to eat it 5+ times per week and Michaela doesn't really like it). Other than that I've cut out lots of non-essential grocery items like coke, complan, expensive breakfast cereals etc. -------------  
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Posted By: peanut butter
Date Posted: 28 April 2008 at 7:05pm
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I read those articles and thought WTF??? They made it sound worse than Ihave experienced....what else are they spending on their groceries if they cant afford any meat?
I just went to the butchers and spent $80. I got at least 15 meals out of that and most of it is organic or free range. It will probably go further. I estimate that should last us at least 3 weeks. I also buy things in bulk when they are on special but I dont always buy homebrand if my favourite brands are on special. I tend to buy things more on special than not unless it is urgent. We have a deep freeze and its full of meat and bread and butter (I stock up when that is on sale as I love butter in baking). I cant get DH to let me buy and freeze milk though. But I figure milk still isnt THAT expensive. 2l is about the same as a cup of coffee in a cafe and people do that many times a day. I still put choocolate in (one of the major food groups) but only if it is on special. We had a few big shops but now seem to be keeping under budget. |
Posted By: MrsMojo
Date Posted: 28 April 2008 at 7:40pm
Chocolate comes from cocoa beans, beans are vegetables therefore chocolate fits into the fruit and vege group - you shuld be having 5+ servings per day  -------------
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nzpiper wrote:Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 28 April 2008 at 7:50pm
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Yes and no, I have to get milk (Josh has it in his bottles) and both my boys love cheese, but I buy the non-branded stuff as it all comes from the same cows and is processed in the same factories. I am at the moment cleaning out my pantry (the food is all on the benches) to see what I have and what I need to buy and I think we will be having a lot of tinned stuff from now on. Meat - well its just me and that boys so I can cut down on that (but choose not too for me). Me and my friend also have dinner at her place once a week. I take stuff there and she cooks it for us, so that saves me a bit as I only take some meat and a tin of something usually. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: aimeejoy
Date Posted: 28 April 2008 at 8:02pm
Stupid media again (sorry Emma ).
Thats exactly what I've been wondering as well. I keep moaning about the media going on about everything being so expensive, but its not hard to economise. Meat, fruit and veges are lots cheaper than takeaways or convenience meals/packets etc. We have discovered cheese isnt a necessity. And dont even get me started on the moaning about petrol prices - yes it is bloody expensive, but theres nothing we can do to change it so we need to change how we do things, ie dont drive so much! Sorry, rant over. Just annoys me cos we (mainly me!) try really really hard to save money and make everything from scratch, cut way back on car use etc etc. So if we can be saving money at the moment (we've never has so much spare before) on one very average income, I'm sure most people could. ------------- Aimee Hannah 22/10/05 Greer 11/02/08 |
Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 28 April 2008 at 8:05pm
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I get what you mean Aimee, i'm the same. I used my car once today and probably will only use it once tomorrow. I know I have to go to Feilding 3 times this week so will be working out how to pay for that. Part of my reason for cleaning out the pantry is to see what I have so I can start make things from stratch. Andrew found the cans of Spaghetti and asked for spaghetti on toast for lunch tomorrow - easy for me. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 28 April 2008 at 8:08pm
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I buy a lot of Homebrand stuff too. Certain things like spaghetti I have to buy a certain brand coz the no names just aren't the same, but most things (canned fruit, cheese, milk, eggs, jam, bread, baking products...) are much of a muchness. ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: linda
Date Posted: 28 April 2008 at 8:11pm
| we've started doing some bulk purchasing at Moore Wilsons....rice, pasta, tins of tomatoes, tomato paste etc and we've found thats helped. Cereal at New World (Hubbards) is $4.29 which is very cheap so I ended up buying about 10 boxes. If ice cream is not on sale then we don't buy it..same applies to a lot of things. Maybe there should be a new area on OB on specials...supermarket specials are generally from Monday to Sunday. Could be for food or clothe specials. Just a thought. |
Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 28 April 2008 at 8:12pm
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We've just started shopping smarter. So we're getting fruit & veges from the markets (instead of supermarkets) and trying to buy other stuff more in bulk, in fact DH has found that he can buy most of our groceries from bulk bins! We also buy meat in big packs (when that works out cheaper) then divide them into meals at home. It takes more time and thinking, but at least we still get to eat just as well - if not better.
I think we qualify for big family status now though. 50pcs of fruit and 12L of milk per week  When you divide that among six of us (incl our boarder) it's actually not that much.------------- |
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 28 April 2008 at 8:37pm
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Wow T, you beat us, we only get thru 9l of milk a week. Altho Maya doesn't drink any at all, and neither do I so that's just the gremlins and Willie plus little bits I use for cooking etc.
We do go thru acres of fruit tho, esp bananas, the girls would eat a KG of bananas a day if I'd let them. ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 28 April 2008 at 8:45pm
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We go through 9lts plus a week of milk and thats mostly Josh - he loves it. I've gone through and worked out what I need to get. I am picky with a few things it has to be Watties spaghetti, baked bean, fruit, tomato sauce and creamed corn. But I happy to go buget with pasta, rice and other things. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 28 April 2008 at 8:47pm
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Oh yeah, I the 1kg packs of Homebrand pasta at Countdown coz we eat a lot of pasta. ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: Two Blondinis
Date Posted: 28 April 2008 at 8:49pm
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We're definitely cutting down on the non-essentials but still have a good diet.
We even discovered that frozen veg is cheaper than fresh  I would have thought it was the other way around and I also read that it has more goodness when snap frozen than "fresh" veg in the supermarket.
We freeze our milk, always have. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
 
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Posted By: MrsMojo
Date Posted: 28 April 2008 at 9:02pm
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We go through 12L of milk every week... 2 adults and 1 toddler (and I eat my cereal at work so I use their milk supply). I really think we could cut down... or buy our own cow.
I agree with you Aimee I manage to spend between $100-$150 per week on groceries (including cleaning supplies, toiletries and a pack of nappies). I think that's pretty good especially since I have Coeliacs disease (i.e. I have to adhere to a lifelong gluten free diet) which means that I often have to buy specialty foods - a small loaf of GF bread is $4.50 and a 200g bag of pasta is $4. I buy generic brands where I can but somethings I have to buy the expensive alternatives because of my diet and sometimes I buy them because I prefer the taste. The biggest change we made when we cut our grocery budget in 1/2 was stop buying convenience foods, particularly snack foods, and I have started baking a lot more. This is great for our budget but bad for my waistline as I bake foods I can eat (whereas most convenience foods I can't). I even make my own icecream as a pint of cream is fairly cheap. -------------
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Posted By: Bobbie
Date Posted: 28 April 2008 at 9:12pm
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Nope not for fruit and veges although we do try and buy seasonal stuff rather than imported now.
We do buy generic (homebrand, Pams etc.) for a lot of things and we don't buy the non-essentials most of the time (loo spray etc.) Almost all our meals are done in the slow cooker now and I freeze left overs out of almost every meal. In fact this week we have enough in the freezer that I don't have to cook at all! -------------  
 
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Posted By: fattartsrock
Date Posted: 28 April 2008 at 10:56pm
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We go through about 12 to 14l of milk a week. I wouldn't cut down, though, I have started buyng my bread at couplands, lasts ages and is heaps cheaper.
i don;t buy block cheese anymore, as I am the only one who eats it in slices, and I like tasty, and its just oo dare. I buy grated now, and if I feel like a slice I buy a 250gr. Don't buy processed anymore, Jake loves cheese slices, but at $4 a packet for chesdale, no way, jose! We grow our own veg, although we probably only have about another month left out there, so will re assess things then, as not buying veg saves heaps. I buy meat at butchers and drive round the supermarkets for meat specials. Buy alot of home brand now. I have 2 lists, the it can wait a week or two if things are tight list and the absolute essentials list. I have a petrol card, so the business pays for my gas, not me, so I don;t really think about that alot (naughty) although am feeling guilty about going to nelson tomorrow as that will make two tanks of gas this month when I try to do a tank a month. ummm, not really cutting back, just trying not to be so extragvagant and pay off my poor overused CCard! ------------- The Honest Un PC Parent of 2, usually stuck in the naughty corner! :P |
Posted By: minik8e
Date Posted: 29 April 2008 at 7:31am
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Wow, it's really interesting reading this. We have noticed we are getting less groceries for our budget ($150 a fortnight - 2 adults), and at least half of that is meat although we are building that up so we have a supply on hand. We go through about 2L of milk a week (1L of normal milk, and 1L of lactose free), very rarely buy cheese (DP sometimes gets some camembert if it's on special), get frozen veges rather than fresh (except mushrooms, we always have mushrooms in the fridge), and don't go through a lot of bread, but when we do buy it we freeze it. We buy muesli bars and Le Snaks and things like that for lunches, and fruit (usually apples and bananas). We've never gone over our budget for groceries, and it usually also includes 12/24 beer for DP. Our biggest thing is fuel. DP goes through at least half a tank a week (diesel - $50/60) but when we had racing, it was a tank a week (think $100). I go through around a tank a month but DP's mum borrows my car for golf sometimes and tends to put gas in it (I haven't put any in for the last 2 months!!). Otherwise it would be about $15 a week for that.
I think this has just been a huge ramble. We have noticed you get less for your $$ but we're not minimising much at all. |
Posted By: fire_engine
Date Posted: 29 April 2008 at 8:30am
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Minik8e, would love to know how you do two adults for $150 a fortnight. We've expanded our grocery budget to $120 for 2 adults a week (I feel really bad saying that!) and find that we go through it - 4 months ago, I could do it for $100 a week. I'm trying to change my pattern of shopping from shopping for specific meals to trying to make sure I have the basics on hand and use them for the week. Because I've always shopped for specific meals, I haven't bulked up when things have been on special, which is so stupid given that I love Hubbards, and there's $1.50 diff between special and regular price! Cheese, I'm pretty tight on and we might do cheese stuff 2 weeks/month. I'm not using much cheese in cheese sauces, and DH is gradually getting used to it! We eat more vegetarian. I think one reason our budget has expanded is that I'm absolutely ravenous at the moment and having cravings for bad things, so I buy them. Naughty me ------------- Mum to two wee boys |
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 29 April 2008 at 9:09am
Eek, all these people who are so good with petrol makes me shamed  I go thru a tank a week no probs ($90) ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: AliaDawn
Date Posted: 29 April 2008 at 9:10am
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We go through 6-8 litres of milk a week, 2 adults and 1 toddler who doesn't drink much (seems to have a mild allergic reaction to too much, so only has bits like in weetbix/baking) I guess we're lucky in that he just drinks lots of water! $50-60 groceries a week. Meat is usually bought in bulk lots, and we don't have alot of it anyway. Cheese, we don't go through that much. Butter... I've had to bug Mike to cut down on it, as he loves loads of it on his toast, but he's been doing ok last few weeks. Bread we do budget as we go through heaps, (about 5 loaves a week usually) We are not big veggie eaters So we have potatoes, brocolli for Seb and that's usually it for fresh veg (always keep frozen veggies to steam for seb) Most of the bulk of our meals would be potato/pasta/rice etc, so not expensive. I wish I didnt have to buy bananas (shipped from overseas, so not so great) but they are cheap, and me and seb love em... apples are also common so long as they're not $4! a kg (darn pak n save)
We don't have a car, so don't pay for petrol, but means we can't really go out of our way to find better priced meat/veggies etc. We are on the student allowance atm... so I am a bit of a budget nazi  $50 for food, $20 for power a week, monthly we have insurance/internet/phone which is about $150, rent is $94 a week (housing nz) and the other $150 we get a week is paying off bills atm...-------------  
 
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Posted By: MissAngel
Date Posted: 29 April 2008 at 9:13am
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I spend $100 a week on petrol in the car ($97 to fill it) Now that i'm able to drive again, and we have the new car, I drive EVERYWHERE. I'll drive somewhere just for the sake of driving!
As for groceries, I buy what I want. I'm not really worried about the price of food as I choose/have to eat. We spend $200+ a week on food for me and Matt. The only cheap brand stuff I buy is loo paper cuz I go thru 24 rolls a week. Its mostly the meat that bumps the price up tho, $19-$20 for 3 chicken breasts etc. |
Posted By: aimeejoy
Date Posted: 29 April 2008 at 9:23am
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Woah - I won't buy meat unless its less than about $6 for a meal. Or I've got a few other meats that are cheap (like $4) so it all balances out, or it can be seperated for several meals. I have this thing that I try to get dinners for the week to average around $7 a meal. ------------- Aimee Hannah 22/10/05 Greer 11/02/08 |
Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 29 April 2008 at 10:05am
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We only go through 1L a week. Very rarely 2L. We don't buy much cheese at all anymore, it's just too expensive. But that is a good thing, full of fat!
I go through $10 petrol a week. I don't let myself go more than that unless I go to my parents place for a visit. DH doesn't eat as much meat as he use to but when my parents do a bit of home kill I'll ask for some next time. Waaaay cheaper than in the shop. I'm trying to buy less brand name stuff. Some things I won't, like watties tomato sauce
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Posted By: james
Date Posted: 29 April 2008 at 10:24am
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we do always have we go thur about $150 to $200 a fortnight in food we buy mikl as needed as we have two toddlers here we have 4 adutlds and two toddlers ------------- <a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="http://b4.lilypie.com/nLJ5p13.png" alt="Lilypie 4th Birthday Ticker" border="0" /></a> |
Posted By: minik8e
Date Posted: 29 April 2008 at 10:33am
| Hrmm, how do we do $150 a fortnight for 2 adults....meat we get what is on special - mince, stewing/casserole steak (we use in the crockpot), we ALWAYS have some form of chicken (usually chicken breasts - we stock up when they're on special), usually have rump steak and sausages in the freezer, and roasts (lamb, beef and pork at the moment). We get it while it's all on special - Pak n Save do wicked specials on their meat!!! We also buy a lot of bacon and eggs - our luxury - and I make huge pies which work as lunch and dinner (and taste soooooo good!!) for 4-5 days (or is frozen). Pastry is cheap as ($3 pastry makes a big roasting dish size pie)!! Usually get 2-3 boxes each of muesli bars and Le Snaks, a kilo of apples/bananas at a time. I'm not really sure, we don't buy Homebrand or anything, we buy expensive coffee, and we don't buy chips or lollies or anything like that!! We also get yoghurts for DP for his lunch, and if frozen veges are on special - stock up. We don't get much fresh veges - I think that's our biggest saving. And we buy Budget bread, because it's always fresh, it's $1 a loaf and it's got no dairy products in it. |
Posted By: Paws
Date Posted: 29 April 2008 at 11:22am
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We haven't cut back....our food bill is around $200-$250 per fornight, usually on the higher side if we splurge and buy a lot of organic stuff.
We have cut back on non essientals though and just make sure we have good healthy meals. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Kellz
Date Posted: 29 April 2008 at 12:00pm
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Ok so we are spending way way to much on food then. I cant imagine only spending $75 a week,..we spend double that, usually around $150 a week lately, plus takeaways once a week. DH always takes food from home to work, and I usually have lunch/coffee out once a week.
We buy lots of fuit and veges, but stuff thats cheap,...not mushrooms etc that are like $9 + a kg. We only get meat on special, lately I have been paying $9kg for mince which is heaps but I havent been able to get it cheaper. Never buy chicken full price. Get muslie bars 1 box per week for DH and only the brand on sale, no chips/choc etc.We do buy pasta sauce (watties), 2min noodles for DH, a couple of maggie meal sachets a week. We dont buy any coffee/tea/hot choc/fizzy/alcohol/nappys. Do buy wipes but get the pams $2 for 80 ones, and use ecostore washing powder, soak and eco-friendly dish-washing liquid and bathroom cleaner. Please someone help! Would love healthy cheap meal ideas, and ideas on how to make meals from scratch. We dont have a crock-pot. |
Posted By: Paws
Date Posted: 29 April 2008 at 12:20pm
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Well I'd cut out the museli bars and the pasta sauces...you don't need the former and you can make pasta sauces from scratch...
Maybe we need to start a budget recipe thread...or even better....a whole budgeting section!!! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: fire_engine
Date Posted: 29 April 2008 at 12:24pm
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I'm with you Kellz - would love to see a list of what meals people eat in a fortnight to get some ideas for how to do it cheaper. I have actually started a list of meals that I know all the ingredients of and that are reasonably cheap so I can duck into the supermarket after work (ie without having to plan heaps). We're also trying to make our meals do two dinners (usually they do 1 dinner and one lunch but I'm trying to do cheaper options for lunches - ideas welcome!). No matter how hard I try, I just can't get it much cheaper than $120. And I want to have a little bit of manoey spare to buy a bottle of wine now and then once baby is born! ------------- Mum to two wee boys |
Posted By: Kellz
Date Posted: 29 April 2008 at 12:35pm
| Thanks Paws,...but I have absolutly NO idea how to make pasta suace! Lol! Ok I will start a thread in the recipe section! |
Posted By: Sarah Beth
Date Posted: 29 April 2008 at 12:50pm
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We budget for $250 a fortnight but are more often under that (and it includes sposies and wipes). Petrol is $70 a fortnight, but again, depends on how much driving we have done often it is less than that ------------- "> 
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Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 29 April 2008 at 12:53pm
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Kellz - you should def get a crock pot, you can get them for around $40 and they are great! I have a beef and veg stew in mine today. ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: MrsMojo
Date Posted: 29 April 2008 at 1:00pm
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I've been trying to convince DH to let me get ona slow cooker with our flybuys points (the cheapest is only 290 points) but I have aircore *the walkaway cookware* and he says I should use this instead. -------------
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Posted By: minik8e
Date Posted: 29 April 2008 at 1:03pm
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$9 for mince is sooooooo bad!!! We usually only pay $5/kg...sometimes up to $7/kg maximum, but then again, we only buy premium mince because I can't stand the fat. We buy Moccona coffee for DP (the big jar - $22 - which lasts us around 3-4 months) and Cafe Mocha for me ($9 which lasts around 6 weeks). I buy Persil High Performance Washing Powder - around $4-5 on special for 1kg. My lactose free milk is $3 a litre, which we use for everything - cooking, baking, coffee for me. We don't buy butter - Olivani for us, which is about $7 for 1kg, which lasts us around 2 months. Meals we have - chicken chow mein (Maggi sachet), have a lot of casseroles/stews done in the crockpot, occasionally we'll have a treat of steak, egg & chips (not so healthy but quick and easy), roast meals with spuds, meat, peas, corn, beans and gravy (usually on a weekend), chops or sausages with mashed spud and mixed veges (sometimes I buy some fresh broccoli/cauliflower to have as well), cottage pie, meatballs (Maggi sachet again). I could go on and on....we eat quite well (or I think so anyway!!), we do eat a lot of potato which I'm not so enthused about as DP doesn't like kumara...roast spuds, baked tatoes, boiled, mashed....varied all the time!!! We also have things like enchiladas and burritos which can be made with chicken or mince or beef. We always have a heap of veges in our meals, regardless of what it is.
DP gets the Fleming muesli bars - usually choc chip. They're fairly cheap ($3 I think?), and an 8/10 pack lasts him two weeks. Same with Le Snaks. I get the Nice n Natural Nut Bars which are about the same price (again, dairy free) and they last me 2-3 weeks. |
Posted By: minik8e
Date Posted: 29 April 2008 at 1:06pm
| I second the slow cookers!!! They're fantastic!!! I left my one with my ex, so DP's mum gave us her classic Ralta Crock Pot - fantastic!!!! Chuck it on low in the morning and it's done when you get home from work, or I sometimes chuck it on high at lunchtime if I go home from work, and it's still done when we get home!! |
Posted By: aimeejoy
Date Posted: 29 April 2008 at 1:35pm
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Crock pots are great - have got corned silverside in ours at the moment. ------------- Aimee Hannah 22/10/05 Greer 11/02/08 |
Posted By: shaz
Date Posted: 29 April 2008 at 2:31pm
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I let DH do the shopping the first week I was back at work because he had a day off.....I had written a list of EXTRA things we needed (not the essentials, other stuff) so he got all the stuff on the list and not one essential item, no toilet paper, no cleaning stuff, no milk, no bread, BUT it cost him $380.00!!!! I have no idea what is all was as it was put away when I got home. I had to go back and spend another $200.00 on stuff we actually needed!!!!
Now that I have that off my chest.... I'm hopeless at budgeting when it comes to shopping I spend about $200-$250 a week then but extra fresh fruit and veg and milk etc on top of that. But we are feeding 3 adults and 3 kids (12,10 and 1) So probably not that bad actually. ------------- Mum to Natasha Aroha 9/12/1995, Alexandra Makareta Waimarie 22/4/1998 and....Alyssa Frances Hopaea 18/03/2007 
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Posted By: MrsMojo
Date Posted: 29 April 2008 at 4:33pm
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I make my own yoghurt now. If you don't already have one an easiyo maker is a great investment (I think they're about $20-$30). We spend $3.50 each week on yoghurt mix instead of up to $10 on pottles of yoghurt. If I wasn't so lazy I could make my own yoghurt even cheaper by warming milk and putting it in the yoghurt maker overnight with a spoon full of premade yoghurt. -------------
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Posted By: SMoody
Date Posted: 29 April 2008 at 4:52pm
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I have definately noticed the increase in prices on certain items. I found as I cut certain stuff out (snacks and unhealthy stuff) due to healthier eating ect that my bill just didnt come down.
I buy only meat on special and then stock up on it. Check the mad butcher prices out every Monday and compare it to the other shops when I am out. Buy fruit at the market or at the fruit shop. Hubby is itching to get a hyproponic system and then grow certain veg and fruit all year round. Right now we are working cost out to see if it is worthwhile. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: .Mel
Date Posted: 29 April 2008 at 6:23pm
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We aren't going to use the car during the week. Only if it's absolutely necessary and/or the weather is bad. We'll walk to school and back and if needed might even catch the bus. Costs $1.60 for me and $1 for the kids...
Cutting down on the more expensive fruit. Trying to only buy meat every few weeks, and trying to buy bigger packets of mince, etc and getting at least two meals out of that packet. We've also started to buy the supermarket brands of tinned goods etc. One thing we won't compromise on is Watties tinned Spag and BB's. Cannot stomach any other brand. We go thru alot of bread so I've asked for a breadmaker for my birthday then I can make our own rolls and bread. ------------- Mr Mellow (16) Miss Attitude (8) Destructa Kid (3) 
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Posted By: marielb
Date Posted: 29 April 2008 at 9:56pm
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Definitely cutting back here
We do a grocery shop once a month (and fruit/veg/milk/bread once or twice a week), and every 4 months we don't do a big shop for that month and almost completely deplete our stocks, and then start again. Our budget is $150 a week for 2 adults, and 2 kids and its been that way for over a year. I don't buy any brand stuff either. We have only been shopping twice this year and didn't buy any 'junk'  so our cupboards are very bare at the moment!!!
I also don't eat meat, so that cuts the bill down. We also only have one car which we fill up once a week, and sometimes it lasts longer if we stay local, and DH cycles to work and I often walk home (luckily for us we both found jobs within a few km from home). We are pretty good with saving money, turning all the lights/power switches off. Walking lots, no coffees out, no dinners out....... Sounds sad when I read it back but we live a very happy life 
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Posted By: marielb
Date Posted: 29 April 2008 at 9:57pm
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Haven't read everyones posts, too late for me to concentrate, but will do that tomorrow
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Posted By: Kellz
Date Posted: 04 May 2008 at 1:32pm
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Ok have been seriuosly cotemplating a lot of these great suggestions, but have a few questions:
What is the difference between a crockpot and a slow cooker? Which is better & why? How do I blanche veges to freeze? Do they all need to be blanched before freezing? I have brocolli, cellery, corgettes and green peppers that I want to do to freeze today. Looked on some mince we had in the freezer that I got last week on 'special' and it was down to $10 a kg,..which I thought was good! Off to a butcher thsi week to sus me out a cheaper place,..we only have woolworths and pack n save supermarkets here (thats all within 2 /12 hrs drive)! |
Posted By: caliandjack
Date Posted: 04 May 2008 at 2:47pm
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We are making the most of cheap pumpkins ATM and making lots of soup.
You do need to blanch brocolli don't know about the rest. To blanch you bring a pot of water to boil, add your vege for a few minutes, then remove and put into a bowl filled with water and ice. Remove and shake of excess water then freeze in a freezer safe container or bag. I did this the other week when PnS had brocolli for 38c ea |
Posted By: Kellz
Date Posted: 04 May 2008 at 2:55pm
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Cool thanks I will go blanch the brocolli now!
I am going to go back to shopping at pack n save from tomorrow, and buy fuit and vege at the farmers market and will find somewhere cheaper for meat. |
Posted By: aimeejoy
Date Posted: 04 May 2008 at 3:56pm
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Not sure about the other veg, but I learnt about brocolli and tomato on google searches.
I dont think there is a difference between crockpot and slowcooker. If you are going to get one, I would get a biggish one so you can make double meals and cook chickens etc. Well done Kellz! ------------- Aimee Hannah 22/10/05 Greer 11/02/08 |
Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 04 May 2008 at 8:39pm
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If you check out www.destitutegourmet.com.nz you'll find a list of things that can be frozen, and whether they need blanching or not! ------------- |
Posted By: Kels
Date Posted: 05 May 2008 at 12:06am
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We are defintely feeling the pinch here. Have cut down on meat as Lesieli has gone vege on me and SAdes only eats mince. Mince is also good for Alize to eat. I buy Chicken breast on special and hoki fillets. thy come on special every fortnight at our PnS. Have always gotten no brand products etc Except for Coffee and watties Spaghetti. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
Busy mum to Miss 15yrs, Miss 10yrs and Master 4yrs |
Posted By: mum2paris
Date Posted: 05 May 2008 at 8:50am
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we don't buy too many brand name products either although i must say that alot of the time here the brand name stuff can actually be cheaper than the pams or budget stuff.. weird huh.
we stock up big time when there are specials, of things like cereals (when they're $1.50 for a big bag, we'll get about 6 of each) we buy small portions of meat to try and fit in with what portion sizes should be. All of us love our meat but tend to have alot of chicken etc and lots of stir-fry type meals so that cuts down because i can put a small amount of meat in the stir-fry, add heaps of veges and it disguises the fact there isn't much meat. we do buy the sauces to go on them, but not the expensive ones, we tend to get the ones in bottles and have a range so that i can just add a small amount, enough to add a bit of flavour, and that's it. we are still very much a meat and 3 vege kinda family in between the stir-fry stuff to mix it up a bit. we still buy cheese, 1 kg block, sometimes we go through that in a fortnight, other times we don't and petrol, we allow $80 a fortnight to fill the tank, sometimes we have plenty left, other times it is getting towards payday and we are on E-for-enough there are things i won't scrimp on, and those are the fruit, milk, breads etc, and heating for our home. We have our nightstore heater going throughout the winter, works wonderfully, and we so need it. if we didn't spend on heating our home, we'd be spending much more in doctors bills for paris due to her asthma etc, and lossing money from having to take time off work to look after sick kids. we have cut down though, on the snacky stuff.... mostly cos i have no willpower so i try to remove the temptation. ------------- Janine and her 2 cool chicks, Paris & Ayja 
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Posted By: caliandjack
Date Posted: 05 May 2008 at 11:48am
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If you get a slow cooker get the bigger one, it fits whole chickens and roasts.
I've been cooking corned beef and pickled pork in mine. Cheap cuts of meat, that taste delicious cooked slowly. Sadly our economizing means NO babies for the next 2 years, until I've cleared my credit card and car loan debts. |