how did I manage to do that?
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Category: General Chat
Forum Name: General Chat
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URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=17325
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Topic: how did I manage to do that?
Posted By: myfullhouse
Subject: how did I manage to do that?
Date Posted: 17 May 2008 at 12:52pm
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
------------- Lindsey
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Replies:
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 17 May 2008 at 1:01pm
I must admit I've finally started noticing the grocery crunch, admittedly it doesn't help having DSD here coz she eats like a horse, but still, our bill has gone up by a good $50 a week just at the supermarket, not counting fruit and veg and meat.
And my car has now tipped over the $100 mark to fill 
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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: Bobbie
Date Posted: 17 May 2008 at 1:06pm
Yeah food prices are crazy at the moment! I'm starting to wonder if we will manage on just DH's income.
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Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 17 May 2008 at 2:36pm
I'm finding that we are getting a bit less for our money now too.
I'm JUST keeping within my food budget ($200 a fortnight and $50 the other weeks)
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Posted By: meow
Date Posted: 17 May 2008 at 3:55pm
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!
------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: MelanieAndBree
Date Posted: 17 May 2008 at 4:22pm
we spent 160 this week and got barely anything!
Soon i wont be able to eat. Ill just feed briahna.
Hey, ill lose weight at least
------------- Melanie.
Mum to Briahna Robyn, 3yrs
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Posted By: AliaDawn
Date Posted: 17 May 2008 at 6:37pm
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...
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Posted By: peanut butter
Date Posted: 17 May 2008 at 7:11pm
Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 17 May 2008 at 8:14pm
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 
------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived!
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Posted By: aimeejoy
Date Posted: 17 May 2008 at 8:16pm
My last power bill was $23, but that was because it was the end of our annual credit! Last two months before that were free! Hate to say what it will be this month tho.
------------- Aimee
Hannah 22/10/05
Greer 11/02/08
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Posted By: myfullhouse
Date Posted: 17 May 2008 at 10:08pm
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
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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
------------- Lindsey
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Posted By: Snickerdoodle
Date Posted: 18 May 2008 at 8:29am
I spent $189 on groceries this week
Mind you, some of that was cleaning products (jif, toilet cleaner etc..). But even so...
Tomatoes - $8.95 per kilo!!
I bought most things on special, too!
And don't get me started on the power bill!
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http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: jack_&_charli
Date Posted: 18 May 2008 at 8:46am
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
------------- http://www.alternatickers.com">
http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: peanut butter
Date Posted: 18 May 2008 at 8:54am
how do you get your power bills so cheap? I remember mine used to be like that before we shifted last year. They jumped up but I assumed that was due to havingall day hot water and I didnt want to change that till I had given birth (had visions of wanting a bath and having no water). I expected it to go down over winter with the fire going (wetback) but it didnt.
This house is just ridiculous. Turn on one switch and you get about 6 lights come on! I turned the nightstore on to warm the end of the housewith the bedrooms and as soon as I saw that bill I turned it off again. Through summer it was $180/month!!!!! That was with no drier or heater. Something seems fishy to me!
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Posted By: aimeejoy
Date Posted: 18 May 2008 at 8:59am
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.
------------- Aimee
Hannah 22/10/05
Greer 11/02/08
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Posted By: aimeejoy
Date Posted: 18 May 2008 at 9:00am
Linzy wrote:
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
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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
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I think I remember Alia saying they dont really eat fruit and veges - so that would probably be the difference. Correct me if I'm wrong tho Alia...
------------- Aimee
Hannah 22/10/05
Greer 11/02/08
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Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 18 May 2008 at 1:26pm
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.
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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: busymum
Date Posted: 18 May 2008 at 2:07pm
Did you get to the bulk bin, Becks? We're getting our groceries down heaps by going there - and to the Saturday market too. It's our Saturday family outing (and all by 9.15am cause DD1 has ballet at 9.30!!!)
Our power bill is not that bad either, about $180/month. DH has recently started turning off the stereo, tv, 2 computers all off at the wall every night and that has been making a big difference. We have a very sunny home, no installed heating so just an LPG heater (not my fave, but it works). And gas hot water (which is a stupid idea cause you get 2x line charges). So I think we're doing pretty well, all things considered!
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Posted By: myfullhouse
Date Posted: 18 May 2008 at 4:53pm
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!
------------- Lindsey
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Posted By: CuriousG
Date Posted: 18 May 2008 at 5:13pm
We are going to start doing the $20 week challenge where you only spend $20 one week out of the month on groceries encouraging you to use up what you already have. Next week is that week! Eeekkk!
------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: peanut butter
Date Posted: 18 May 2008 at 5:46pm
I think our power bill jumped when I turned the nightstore on! Those things are so expensive to run but I honestly didnt expect that!
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