I've been meal planning for a while now but up until recently had been planning my meals around what I bought rather than rummaging through the cupboards fridge and freezer to see what we had to make meals from & then add any extras to the shopping list.
I now also have to plan meals around Harrys hot lunch option, so that he's not eating the same kind of thing twice a day.
Although I don't have a strict food budget I do try to keep our monthly spend under £300 and I don't just go to the one supermarket.
I also use vouchers I receive through having supermarket points collecting cards etc and any vouchers I happen to find in magazines or newspapers.
The last food shop I did took me to three different supermarkets; Tesco, Lidl and Farmfoods actually I only visited two as the Tesco shop was delivered to my door!
On this occasion I shopped at Tesco for all our meat as I had been sent 'spend at least £10 get £10 free' across their fresh meat selection, this filled up our freezer handsomely.
I did also buy meat of the frozen variety from FarmFoods, I'd received a leaflet through my letterbox with all there deals and after a friend recommended a few products I thought we'd give them a go. I went with a list - insistent I wouldn't deviate from it like I so frequently do (slap on the wrist)! and I only came out with one item not on my list - Tunnocks Tea Cakes ~ yumyum I just couldn't leave them on the shelf! I must of been getting hungry when I spotted them.
From FarmFoods I brought a 1kg bag of chicken breast, 4 Salmon fillets and a bag of peeled prawns all for £10 we've tried all three of the meats and the recommendation was spot on I'll be going back to buy them all again on my next food shop.
From FarmFoods I brought a 1kg bag of chicken breast, 4 Salmon fillets and a bag of peeled prawns all for £10 we've tried all three of the meats and the recommendation was spot on I'll be going back to buy them all again on my next food shop.
I then went to Lidl to stock up on cupboard essentials fruit and veg and I wasn't disappointed with what they had to offer, I filled my large trolley to the top for just over £70 I was amazed at how little it cost.
My favourite buy from them had to be the XXL bag of spuds for £3.49 - we haven't used a frozen chip, waffle or croquet all month - slimming world chips are my new fav way to use a potato!
My favourite buy from them had to be the XXL bag of spuds for £3.49 - we haven't used a frozen chip, waffle or croquet all month - slimming world chips are my new fav way to use a potato!
So I thought I'd put together a few tips for meal planning and budgeting;
- Know what you already have in the cupboards
- Don't shop when your hungry
- Write a list & try not to deviate from it
- have all recipies you want to cook with you when you write a list so not to forget anything
- Check prices through supermarkets online grocery ordering services
- If you have time shop around for the best prices
- Collect vouchers and coupons
- Sign up to supermarket points schemes to receive extra coupons tailored to your frequent buys
Do you shop in store or online?
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