Fighting the rising cost of groceries

[Ace]

We only have a family of three yet it still seems to cost a fortune to feed us all and buy other general stuff like cleaning products and stuff like that. With stacey studying at uni we are coping on one full time wage and stacey does some shifts at woolies in lithgow (with a puny staff discount of 5%)

I was just wondering what people do to try and save on the grocery bill each week. Do you plan your week/fortnights meals and stick to it, do you only buy home brand stuff and grow all your own vegies. How do you do it?

[LandyAndy]

Grow as many veggies/fruit as we can,especially as the mrs is a vegetarian.
Chooks for eggs.
Buy meat from mates when available,just got 2 hoggets for $130 dressed/cut up etc.Top quality contract killed/cut up in the Narrogin abbatior.
Brew my own beer,a nite at the pub is an easy$100 gone!!!,I can afford to DROWN anybody who dares stay for more than 3 pints without worrying about $$$.2 cartons of beer costs me around $19.00
Take any overtime thats available.
Do weekend work to cover play things for the Disco/holidays.
Make all my own smoko/lunch,guys at work spend up to $20 a day at the roadhouse every day EXCLUDING THEIR FAGS!!!
Re-use grey water in the orchard to save on watering costs.
Re-cyling everything we can.Saves on rubbish costs.Didnt even use any of our free tip passes last year,the wheelie bin is only half full every week.
Im lucky as the Mrs is now working full time,but our boy is 13 and well on the way to being 6 foot tall,lots of $$$ go into keeping that motor running!!!!
Andrew

[Tango51]

We had to make strict rules.
No prime meats except a steak once every 6 weeks
We buy 'economy cuts' from butchers
Oxtail
Beef shin
Lambs neck
all meals are with oodles of veges-casseroles, cassoulets, ragu, stews.caccitore
so a little meat goes a long way.
We eat a lot of Asian home cooked, very economical.
We only buy whole chickens never pieces, bones are used for stock, spare skin grilled and used in 'Peking Duck for paupers"lol.
We buy NO processed food at all, no boxes or plastic wrapped items.
We buy real quality coffee and tea, we make herb tea drinks and stock the fridge(peach, lemon rosehip etc) so no soft drinks....this saves a fortune!!
If you ate with us you would see we live very well, most people would envy us, but roasts are once every 4 months.
I recommend
1) Good cookbooks
2)forward meal planning
3) relationship with local butcher and forget coles or woolies except for chicken.
4) Quality veges, again forget chains.
5)Check the trolley before the register and toss processed items.
It is hard at first, HTH Ace!

[Ace]

Grow as many veggies/fruit as we can,especially as the mrs is a vegetarian.
Chooks for eggs.
Buy meat from mates when available,just got 2 hoggets for $130 dressed/cut up etc.Top quality contract killed/cut up in the Narrogin abbatior.
Brew my own beer,a nite at the pub is an easy$100 gone!!!,I can afford to DROWN anybody who dares stay for more than 3 pints without worrying about $$$.2 cartons of beer costs me around $19.00
Take any overtime thats available.
Do weekend work to cover play things for the Disco/holidays.
Make all my own smoko/lunch,guys at work spend up to $20 a day at the roadhouse every day EXCLUDING THEIR FAGS!!!
Re-use grey water in the orchard to save on watering costs.
Re-cyling everything we can.Saves on rubbish costs.Didnt even use any of our free tip passes last year,the wheelie bin is only half full every week.
Im lucky as the Mrs is now working full time,but our boy is 13 and well on the way to being 6 foot tall,lots of $$$ go into keeping that motor running!!!!
Andrew

Hi LA, i wish i could do overtime, unfortunately being a teacher on a set salary and work i do outside of school hours like excursions that take longer than school time i do out of the goodness if my heart.

One question about the meat in bulk from mates- how do you go about keeping all that meat, obviously you freeze it, but do you find that towards the end of the batch the meat has gotten freezer burn and is rather ordinary?

[George130]

We couldn't until my wife started working part time.
Shopping is done once a fortnight. Rarely drink. I rarely buy food at work. If you watch the budget and know where you $$$ go them it becomes easy. We find we often have spare $$$ these days.

[Ace]

We had to make strict rules.
No prime meats except a steak once every 6 weeks
We buy 'economy cuts' from butchers
Oxtail
Beef shin
Lambs neck
all meals are with oodles of veges-casseroles, cassoulets, ragu, stews.caccitore
so a little meat goes a long way.
We eat a lot of Asian home cooked, very economical.
We only buy whole chickens never pieces, bones are used for stock, spare skin grilled and used in 'Peking Duck for paupers"lol.
We buy NO processed food at all, no boxes or plastic wrapped items.
We buy real quality coffee and tea, we make herb tea drinks and stock the fridge(peach, lemon rosehip etc) so no soft drinks....this saves a fortune!!
If you ate with us you would see we live very well, most people would envy us, but roasts are once every 4 months.
I recommend
1) Good cookbooks
2)forward meal planning
3) relationship with local butcher and forget coles or woolies except for chicken.
4) Quality veges, again forget chains.
5)Check the trolley before the register and toss processed items.
It is hard at first, HTH Ace!

Thanks mate, thats a big help, we get all our meat from butchers, except chicken as you say, and thats our biggest item, stacey doesnt eat much red meat.

Our biggest problem is the area we live in, its very cold here in winter and the growing season is short, so we can grow a range of vegies but alot is only able to be grown here over summer so we have a gap over winter. I get alot of our vegies from school as we have a large vege plot system happening at school, so i bring as much of that home as possible. Matt

[ladas]

One question about the meat in bulk from mates- how do you go about keeping all that meat, obviously you freeze it, but do you find that towards the end of the batch the meat has gotten freezer burn and is rather ordinary?

Not if its packed properly, when we do ours we either tripple wrap - or we use out foodsaver vacuum kit.

The tripple packing works great, just make sure you get all of the air out of each bag.

The foodsaver vac system is a good investment - we buy things like bacon in 50 kg boxes, and seperate it into 1/2 and 1 kg packs and then vac pack it.

We have kept our own steers and sometimes we buy 'mates rates' half an animal (Cow Sheep Pig) and it saves a bloody fortune

[Hucksta]

G'day Ace,

Yep, it is getting tough man.....

There is 3 in our family at the moment and my missus workds part time so it is a bit tight for us also.

With regard to food shopping, we find that it certainly works out cheaper if we plan for the week or fortnight and try hard to stick to it. Apart from getting fresh fruit we try and use only whats in our pantry and fridge for the week. Just takes a bit of planning, I also take my lunch with me to work, this cuts down on heaps of expenditure.

Also, get into a habit of doing a weekly budget mate, it's hard at first but it definately works once you get into the swing of things.

Hope this helps ya.....

Hucksta

[gruntfuttock]

Hi Ace,
We do most of our shopping at ALDI. The price is good but some things they do not sell. BTW they now pricetag items by not only the price of the tom sauce per bottle but also per 100 b or mls etc.

As suggested in a post above. Prime cuts of meat OUT. Mince, is good you can do mayn things with it. Get the slow cooker / crock-pot out. Cheap meat and some veggies make a great meal and with some imagination you can do a lot.

Cheers and good luck. Been there, done that

[Ace]

We couldn't until my wife started working part time.
Shopping is done once a fortnight. Rarely drink. I rarely buy food at work. If you watch the budget and know where you $$$ go them it becomes easy. We find we often have spare $$$ these days.

I know what you mean about the budget. A bloke came to school a while a go and gave a talk to the year 11 and 12 kids about money management and saving etc and i think i took more away from it than they did.

I went straight home and did one of his budgets and i find i have more money left over each fortnight than i did before and i am earning the same amount. A budget really does help. We have a set amount put aside each pay for food and it works, but at the moment it could be stretched further than it is.

[numpty]

One thing we found was the kids drank heaps of milk, so I bought Light powdered milk (no frills brand) and used to mix it 50/50 with e full cream bought milk....they drank it for ages before they knew and never complained. We still do it...cuts quite a bit off the cost

Cleaners eat a huge amount of $
Use bicarb soda and white vinegar...good for the toilet especially. Scrub with bicarb first (I have bicarb in a large salt shaker with some rice to stop it clagging up) and then pour 1 cup of vinegar around the bowl and let it sit for 1/2 hr before flushing. Bicarb on a cloth is an abrasive and great for the bath & handbasin. Throw away all those toilet deodorisers and blue things (totally unecessary). For general cleaning a weak bleach mixture in a spray bottle is good esp in the bathroom.

PS...this is NM boosting Numpty's post count :D

[Tango51]

I reiterate: pay close attention to your menu.
A roast chicken is gone in two days, a chicken in our house will feed us for 6 days.
How?
Coq au Vin, Poule Grandmere: CHicken Tacos/burritos, Wonton soup, chicken chilli con carne, spicy chicken wraps with lettuce onion avocado tomato, chicken cacciatore pasta etc.

[Tango51]

One thing we found was the kids drank heaps of milk, so I bought Light powdered milk (no frills brand) and used to mix it 50/50 with e full cream bought milk....they drank it for ages before they knew and never complained. We still do it...cuts quite a bit off the cost

Cleaners eat a huge amount of $
Use bicarb soda and white vinegar...good for the toilet especially. Scrub with bicarb first (I have bicarb in a large salt shaker with some rice to stop it clagging up) and then pour 1 cup of vinegar around the bowl and let it sit for 1/2 hr before flushing. Bicarb on a cloth is an abrasive and great for the bath & handbasin. Throw away all those toilet deodorisers and blue things (totally unecessary). For general cleaning a weak bleach mixture in a spray bottle is good esp in the bathroom.

PS...this is NM boosting Numpty's post count :D

This is great stuff, we do it too, and good for the environment!
Cinnamon is a powerful deodorant/freshener!

[cartm58]

I used to spend $150 a week on food and groceries

We now target to spend $100 a week or less for 2 adults and standard poodle

Kathy doesn't eat red meat or pork so its chicken and fish

We buy chicken whole and cut it into portions and carcass is either fed to the poodle as treat or boiled with veggies to make stcok whihc is frozen in 2 cup plastic self seal lock bags for use later.

We don't eat take away a lot

We buy things like tinned food red bean white bean and other sort of beans tomato etc in bulk when Italian Grocery store selling them for under 70 cents a tin.

Also large jars like artichoke hearts are $9 for 2 kilos compared to couple dollars for a tin so need to calculate the savings of buying larger units against single serve convenience.

Fresh food like fruit and veggies cost us around $30 week

We don't find any hardships in doing it and eat well.

[Ace]

PS...this is NM boosting Numpty's post count :D

and here we are thinking Numpty was all domesticated :D

thanks for that NM, most helpful, you would think a chemistry teacher would know all that. :D

[LandyAndy]

Hi Ace
We have a seperate deep freeze.
As Ladas states,as long a bulk meat is wrapped correctly its no problem.
Forgot to add,we freeze/pickle/preserve(well at least SHMBO does)as much excess in season veggies as possible,if they dont end up being used they go back to the chooks.Some of the stuff she pickles and makes sauces(mainly chilli) wich she sells at the weekend markets.
Andrew

[dobbo]

Just apply more funds towards shopping and do without unnecessary **** like duel diflocks, etc..........

[LandyAndy]

Hi NM
The 4 chooks are an integral part of our orchard.
They eat any fallen fruit,eat the bugs,and green material/scraps that dont go in the wormfarm get thrown to the chooks.They get all the vegi garden waste,at the break of the season they are restricted to a small area of the orchard,i grow a crop of oats/peas/lupins,once its 2 foot high they are allowed to do what they wish with it.Takes them a long time to chew their way thru it,they were still into it at Xmas time!!!.
If there are no seedlings in the vegi garden(as at the moment) the chooks get a special treat,grazing the vegi garden,they dont do alot of damage as they love Slaters and there are heaps easily found.
We would buy a 25kg bag of laying pellets every 10 weeks or so.
Andrew

[Ace]

LandyAndy, do you find now tho that keeping chooks is getting too expensive? We had chooks for years but found that when the price of the chooks went up to something like $15 per point of lay chook, and feed went over $15 per bag, that even with selling eggs at $2 per dozen to friends, it was cheaper to buy local grown eggs from the markets at $2.50 per doz.
I hate to think what a chook costs locally these days, and the cost of layer pellets :(

Mind you....I did love having chooks :D These days the cows get the kitchen scraps and the chook shed makes a great hay shed :D

i have had the schools chooks here over the holidays (people steel them at when they get left at school- i guess that shows how expensive they are getting :D) but they arent quite on the lay yet and they (14 of them) are eating about 1 and a half bags a week at about $27.50 a week, so if they laid a dozen eggs a day and we sold 6 dozen eggs a week at $2 to friends (this is based on them being our chooks) we would be out of pocket by alot more than what we save by having them to get "free" eggs. Sure you can give them scraps and stuff to cut the cost down but they still need the grains and meat meal etc to create a balanced diet.

how much would you say it costs to keep your chooks Landyandy?

[rovercare]

Just apply more funds towards shopping and do without unnecessary **** like duel diflocks, etc..........

Subtle:eek:

Since when AREN'T diff locks necessary, people who say that have generally never had them:p

[Ace]

Hi NM
The 4 chooks are an integral part of our orchard.
They eat any fallen fruit,eat the bugs,and green material/scraps that dont go in the wormfarm get thrown to the chooks.They get all the vegi garden waste,at the break of the season they are restricted to a small area of the orchard,i grow a crop of oats/peas/lupins,once its 2 foot high they are allowed to do what they wish with it.Takes them a long time to chew their way thru it,they were still into it at Xmas time!!!.
If there are no seedlings in the vegi garden(as at the moment) the chooks get a special treat,grazing the vegi garden,they dont do alot of damage as they love Slaters and there are heaps easily found.
We would buy a 25kg bag of laying pellets every 10 weeks or so.
Andrew

forget my last post, that answers my question. I suppose with 4 chooks they lay enough eggs to keep you going, with no wastage, and as you have pointed out they pretty much feed themselves.

[tombraider]

Just apply more funds towards shopping and do without unnecessary **** like duel diflocks, etc..........

Yep... Agreed...

Learn to drive the terrain better, drive smoother, more fluidly and you can get anywhere without them :D


As for shopping... We shop daily... We dont have a garden patch etc....

More to do with our shift habits than anything else....

But if I want a steak, I buy a steak... Chicken? We buy chicken....

Just the nature of the work we do...

And the boys consume a goodly amount of milk and bread for sure....

Food isnt that expensive, neither is fuel.....


The best advice I can give... Go where the money is high and the cost of living is less....

[dobbo]

Yep... Agreed...


The best advice I can give... Go where the money is high and the cost of living is less....

Exactly what I did, I have to travel for all up 6 hrs a day but I feel my family is worth it. Besides, I don't pay for the travel.

[Blknight.aus]

we also keep a good stock of cheap extenders like 2 minute noodles, croutons, dried vegies and frozen bread. In bulk it turns up cheap, its filling and generally it picks up and carries the taste of whatever your cooking with it....

WE buy the cheap bulk pack meats and minces seperate it out, trim the fat from the meat then freeze it and boil the mince to lift the fat from it before cooking it.

[Ace]

Exactly what I did, I have to travel for all up 6 hrs a day but I feel my family is worth it. Besides, I don't pay for the travel.

unfortunately we dont all have this luxury, althought it would be good to have free travel to and from work.

I only have to drive 15km to and from work so fuel isnt really that much of an issue, i set aside $50 a week for fuel and if i go over that i try and cut back on other trips that arent needed.

As for the diff locks, its personal choice, i had been saving here and there since i got the vehicle because that was what i wanted, at no point have i skimped on my family or put the car first, i have sold projects uncompleted because money was more useful paying bills etc. We all spend money on accessories to make our vehicles better at what they do. Besides this thread was for how to cut the shopping costs and grocery costs not how to get the extra money from other things. Saving money is always a handy thing and if you dont need to waste money on expensive cleaning products because you can do what NM suggested why should i go without diff locks so i can keep buying shower power and a toilet duck for the rest of my life. :D

[dobbo]

why should i go without diff locks so i can keep buying shower power and a toilet duck for the rest of my life. :D


Simply because all the difflocks in the world can not get the germs off your toilet seat, therefore your ar53. Fine you can climb a rockwall with your car, I can too, I just have to use my body, it's still capable to walk partially due to the fact that sitting on clean toilets over the last few years have kept the germs/desease away, therefore wear and tear due to healing and recovery time, therefore arthritis from my body.

[EchiDna]

..............I only have to drive 15km to and from work so fuel isnt really that much of an issue, i set aside $50 a week for fuel and if i go over that i try and cut back on other trips that arent needed............

got a pushy? 15km is only about 30 minutes and it's free exercise...

do this 5 times a month and that's $50 a month still in your pocket... do it 5 times a month for a year and you are $600 bucks up over a year...

that'd enough for a family holiday, a major repair around the house, a much needed new appliance...

[Rangier Rover]

Just apply more funds towards shopping and do without unnecessary **** like duel diflocks, etc..........:(:(No Diff Locks:(:( That would be ---k--. You Have to live:D;)

[dobbo]

got a pushy? 15km is only about 30 minutes and it's free exercise...

do this 5 times a month and that's $50 a month still in your pocket... do it 5 times a month for a year and you are $600 bucks up over a year...

that'd enough for a family holiday, a major repair around the house, a much needed new appliance...

Or a years supply of toilet duck:D

[Ace]

Simply because all the difflocks in the world can not get the germs off your toilet seat, therefore your ar53. Fine you can climb a rockwall with your car, I can too, I just have to use my body, it's still capable to walk partially due to the fact that sitting on clean toilets over the last few years have kept the germs/desease away, therefore wear and tear due to healing and recovery time, therefore arthritis from my body.

you must not have read the bit about bleech in NM's thread.

[Ace]

got a pushy? 15km is only about 30 minutes and it's free exercise...

do this 5 times a month and that's $50 a month still in your pocket... do it 5 times a month for a year and you are $600 bucks up over a year...

that'd enough for a family holiday, a major repair around the house, a much needed new appliance...

you know its funny you mention that, its was only the other day i thought of doing that, more so for fitness than saving money but a good idea none the less. Maybe not in winter though :D

[Tango51]

Simply because all the difflocks in the world can not get the germs off your toilet seat, therefore your ar53. Fine you can climb a rockwall with your car, I can too, I just have to use my body, it's still capable to walk partially due to the fact that sitting on clean toilets over the last few years have kept the germs/desease away, therefore wear and tear due to healing and recovery time, therefore arthritis from my body.

I am missing something?
Is this some kind of 'in' conversation, quips about some past threads?
If not, what is the relevance of this tragic misunderstanding of the relationship between Toilet Duck, ar*es ,arthritic onset and scaling toilets?
The point is on how to conserve funds, how to live well cheaply, how to recognize wasted resources.
(If you wish to brag about your ability to spend, start a thread.)

[Ace]

I am missing something?
Is this some kind of 'in' conversation, quips about some past threads?
If not, what is the relevance of this tragic misunderstanding of the relationship between Toilet Duck, ar*es ,arthritic onset and scaling toilets?
The point is on how to conserve funds, how to live well cheaply, how to recognize wasted resources.
(If you wish to brag about your ability to spend, start a thread.)

its just dobbo's attempts to wind me up, its what he does, i ignore it, but im glad it doesnt go un-noticed.

[Tango51]

Pushy is a fantastic idea!
You will toughen up before winter, you'll enjoy it!

[Ace]

Pushy is a fantastic idea!
You will toughen up before winter, you'll enjoy it!

Have you ever been to lithgow in winter :D

But i reckon i might give it a go, might need to work on the fitness a bit first, some of these hills arent to pushy friendly. :D

[Tango51]

Oh, I see.


I saw something on the price of feed going up by a huge percentage.

We eat tofu once a week too, that's pretty cheap and excellent if you know some good recipes!

[EchiDna]

you know its funny you mention that, its was only the other day i thought of doing that, more so for fitness than saving money but a good idea none the less. Maybe not in winter though :D


awe come on, get those pedals turnin and you soon warm up :)

I did it for 4-5 years in Melbourne, sub-zero on occasion through winter, usually below 10 in the early morning... just make it safe, good lights, high-vis clothing...

[Ace]

awe come on, get those pedals turnin and you soon warm up :)

I did it for 4-5 years in Melbourne, sub-zero on occasion through winter, usually below 10 in the early morning... just make it safe, good lights, high-vis clothing...

I might have to start soon whilst its still warm so i can ease in to the winter chill, i guess it saves me spending 15 minutes every morning in winter defrosting the windscreen. :D

Can you get snow chains for push bikes. :D Its probably not that bad.

[dobbo]

The point is on how to conserve funds, how to live well cheaply, how to recognize wasted resources.
(If you wish to brag about your ability to spend, start a thread.)


If funds are that tight what are you doing wasting valuable money and you monthly DL excess here?

The truth is, if you can afford a Land Rover, whether it be a S1 or an RRS, you are not doing it too tough. If you have the internet you are not doing it too tough.

F*** from the size of the queue outside Starbucks in Sydney CBD today, the average Aussie is not doing it as tough as they like to make out.

And for the record I don't have diff locks and like to eat either red or white meat, fish and vege's nightly.

[dobbo]

I might have to start soon whilst its still warm so i can ease in to the winter chill, i guess it saves me spending 15 minutes every morning in winter defrosting the windscreen. :D

Can you get snow chains for push bikes. :D Its probably not that bad.


Having done it I advise against it, it's totally different going for a ride because you can and going for a ride to make a train (in your case school bell).

In other words ride because you want to not because you have to.

[Ace]

If funds are that tight what are you doing wasting valuable money and you monthly DL excess here?

The truth is, if you can afford a Land Rover, whether it be a S1 or an RRS, you are not doing it too tough. If you have the internet you are not doing it too tough.

F*** from the size of the queue outside Starbucks in Sydney CBD today, the average Aussie is not doing it as tough as they like to make out.

And for the record I don't have diff locks and like to eat either red or white meat, fish and vege's nightly.

Dobbo, dont ruin a perfectly good thread with this crap, your post had no relevance, you implied that i wasnt cleaning my toilet so that i could have diff locks, its just petty attacks towards me, give it a rest hey. the thread was about how to save money on groceries by shopping smart, i thought it might have been a good idea to see what things other people do to save a few bucks, cause as Tango pointed out saving resources and money isnt a bad thing, not about going without life luxuries so that you can have what ever you like. If that were the case why do you need two land rovers? You are fortunate enough not to have to pay for travel to and from work so save a fortune.

and as for monthly download limits its not hard to get plans these days with unlimited downloads.

[Tango51]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tango51 View Post

The point is on how to conserve funds, how to live well cheaply, how to recognize wasted resources.
(If you wish to brag about your ability to spend, start a thread.)

If funds are that tight what are you doing wasting valuable money and you monthly DL excess here?

The truth is, if you can afford a Land Rover, whether it be a S1 or an RRS, you are not doing it too tough. If you have the internet you are not doing it too tough.

F*** from the size of the queue outside Starbucks in Sydney CBD today, the average Aussie is not doing it as tough as they like to make out.

And for the record I don't have diff locks and like to eat either red or white meat, fish and vege's nightly.

That is amazing. I am impressed.
Despite quoting the point of the thread in bold type you have actually missed the point entirely with this post!
And you earn the big bucks?

[Ace]

Having done it I advise against it, it's totally different going for a ride because you can and going for a ride to make a train (in your case school bell).

In other words ride because you want to not because you have to.

well i dont have to cause i can drive, so it would be doing it because i want to.

Problem is stacey is starting work not long after i finish these days so on days when she is working if she starts to close to when i finish i wouldnt have time to get home before she needed to leave so i can look after marcos.

[graceysdad]

I run a tight ship far as grocerys is concerned, we were being killed by the amount of milk the boys drink and a 5 bux a 3 litre now cant have that, Aldi is your friend for what I was paying for 3 litres of milk I can get 5 litre of Aldi long life and I cant tell the diff, aldi bread is a buck a loaf and freezes well, you pay 3 bux for that squishy stuff made by the big bakeries, can get 6 loaves of Aldi bread for what you pay for two loaves of the squishy stuff, boys go through heaps of cordial in summer, very expensive, Aldi is your friend here too, I have not and do not patronise woolies inany way, we go to the markets once a fortnight for veges and fruit and only buy what will get used, we buy meat from the big wholesalers rathers than supermarkets, huge savings there too, we have the usual consumables that we go through on a daily basis if yo buy in bulk where you can it pays, I buy my snags from a local maker in bulk can get 10 kilos for 30bux on the right day, bag em up and freezem, 10 ks of snorkers is a lot, I dont buy brand names at all, when I did shop Woolies prior to our Aldi opening buying all known brand and then buy the same in homebrand was automatic 50 buck difference at the counter, you can grow your veges if you like, hit the market on the right day and you will win. Try the home brand thing first, look in your cupboard and see what is there before you dash out, shopping fromthe hip is a bad move, make a list first. If you have other Supermarkets besides Woolies go and have a look, if there is an Aldi within driving distance go for it, Aldi do not sell crap and nothing I have had wasnt first class.

[Ace]

I run a tight ship far as grocerys is concerned, we were being killed by the amount of milk the boys drink and a 5 bux a 3 litre now cant have that, Aldi is your friend for what I was paying for 3 litres of milk I can get 5 litre of Aldi long life and I cant tell the diff, aldi bread is a buck a loaf and freezes well, you pay 3 bux for that squishy stuff made by the big bakeries, can get 6 loaves of Aldi bread for what you pay for two loaves of the squishy stuff, boys go through heaps of cordial in summer, very expensive, Aldi is your friend here too, I have not and do not patronise woolies inany way, we go to the markets once a fortnight for veges and fruit and only buy what will get used, we buy meat from the big wholesalers rathers than supermarkets, huge savings there too, we have the usual consumables that we go through on a daily basis if yo buy in bulk where you can it pays, I buy my snags from a local maker in bulk can get 10 kilos for 30bux on the right day, bag em up and freezem, 10 ks of snorkers is a lot, I dont buy brand names at all, when I did shop Woolies prior to our Aldi opening buying all known brand and then buy the same in homebrand was automatic 50 buck difference at the counter, you can grow your veges if you like, hit the market on the right day and you will win. Try the home brand thing first, look in your cupboard and see what is there before you dash out, shopping fromthe hip is a bad move, make a list first. If you have other Supermarkets besides Woolies go and have a look, if there is an Aldi within driving distance go for it, Aldi do not sell crap and nothing I have had wasnt first class.

We tried the aldi thing here for a few shops and found that it did little difference. The store is quite small and doesnt have much in the way of range. they were good for stuff like shampoo and some of the groceries, but alot of it was poor quality. We did the no-name brand thing at woolies etc and found that worked better. i suppose it depends on where you live and what is nearby.

[Ace]

Ace... what about when you turn up at work in a lather of sweat after the pushie ride? Personally, I'd keep driving and ride the pushie on the weekend if you think you need the exercise :D

I reckon the best bit of advise given is
1. stick to budgets
2. Plan meals so you are not buying unnecessary food
3. Buy cheaper brands
4. Bulk buy where possible/applicable
5. Cook snacks for the children/family rather than buy
6. Cut back on the cleaners
7. Cheaper cuts of meat...
8. Have some non-meat meals

It all adds up
What do they say "look after the cents and the dollars will look after themselves"

I didnt think of that, but hey, some of the kids dont know what deodorant is so i might aswell fight fire with fire :D

I think its time to sit down and plan some meals, and buy a chest freezer, our biggest problem to date is the tiny freezer we have.

[graceysdad]

Part two, cleaning products, when I buy dishwashing liquid I keep the old bottle and fill it half way and top up with water, you get two for one!, going to a chemical place ie someone who supplies commercial cleaners is a good move, buy in bulk, last you for a long time, we go through so much washing powder, Go Lo sell the big 3 kilo bag of OMO etc very cheap compared to Woolies, Aldi chemicals can be a bit weak at times, Bog rolls that thick stuff is all well and good but the Aldi skid a mile lasts longer, you can also buy in bulk from the cleaning supply places, kids do not eat less as teenagers, they eat more, twice as much and more often, you can save a buck you just got to be nousey.

[dobbo]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tango51 View Post

The point is on how to conserve funds, how to live well cheaply, how to recognize wasted resources.
(If you wish to brag about your ability to spend, start a thread.)

If funds are that tight what are you doing wasting valuable money and you monthly DL excess here?

The truth is, if you can afford a Land Rover, whether it be a S1 or an RRS, you are not doing it too tough. If you have the internet you are not doing it too tough.

F*** from the size of the queue outside Starbucks in Sydney CBD today, the average Aussie is not doing it as tough as they like to make out.

And for the record I don't have diff locks and like to eat either red or white meat, fish and vege's nightly.

That is amazing. I am impressed.
Despite quoting the point of the thread in bold type you have actually missed the point entirely with this post!
And you earn the big bucks?


Not the case at all, those that know me know I do without the finer things in life, to subsidize my families needs and wants. My family deserves steak for dinner therefore they shall get steak for dinner. No I don't need 2 land rovers, I need 3 of them actually. One for her, two for me. Not knowing my financial position does not excuse yourself for being rude. Put it this way, I am above the average wage, yet we're below the average wage. Our home is not flash, yet we feel that living a "Suburban Lifestyle" is not us and would prefer a crap house and luxuries to having a nice house and living a life of slavery and poverty which seems to be the norm these days.

In short the only way I can see You, Ace of whoever having there cake and eating it too (which is essentially what this thread is about) is if you all go on a supermodel type diet and have a laser cutter in the kitchen.

[graceysdad]

There is a big variation in the size of Aldi stores, ours are quiet big here and stock a full range of most things,
I can fill a trolley at Aldi for 70 bux , got to Woolies and you can fill a trolley for 200 bux and still have room for more, my wife wont use Aldi detergent for washing or there cleaning stuff ie bleach and disinfectant, Me I think its all the same, the Aldi shamoo is fine, the soap is good, the dunny rolls are a joke though,
We were being killed with the cost of milk and snack stuff for the boys, we were doing 12 liters of milk in 3 days, now I dont buy Milo or hot choc they wont touch coffee, I only buy weetbix coz they can use hot water and then just a splash of milk rather then a liter of milk drowning the rice bubbles, they hate the Aldi milk so thats a plus, equiping them with the necessary school junk like roll ups and little bags of chips and shapes and stuff, costs a mint, they get home made cakes and bickys now and fruit, getting them to switch to multi grain bread was hard too, my middle boy who is skinny as a rake and plays rugby he will do half a loaf of bread just in toast as a snack, luckily he has moved out, we saved a lotin bread, if i could just get rid of the 18 year old I would be laughing, he is a one man eating machine, you can do it, you might not think you are saving alot it adds up believe me, take that 10 or 20 bux or whatever you might save and put in a tin, at the end of the year see what you have, be surprised!

[EchiDna]

after a bit more thought, if the budget aint stretching, consdier getting rid of any/all of the following:
1, smokes
2, anything more than 6 alcohol drinks a week
3, pay tv
4, holidays more than 250km from home
5, all fast food - starbucks (thanks Dobbo!), mcdonalds, pies etc
6, all processed snack foods/drinks (chips, softdrink)
7, turn off the heater in winter - wear more clothes, in summer turn off the aircon and wear less :)
8, downgrade your mobile plan to fixed minutes a month
9, cut up the credit card if you have had to pay interest at any stage because you couldn't make a repayment due to funds shortages
10, collect all gold coins - last time i did this during Uni days it was enough over a year to buy all birthday and Christmas presents for my extended family, and pay for a week's diving holiday for me
11, don't pay bank fees - easy to avoid if you bank smartly!!


simple stuff really...

lastly, if you smoke at all or drink more than 6 beers/wines a week, sorry no sympathy if you find yourself a bit short on the mortgage.

[abaddonxi]

Buy the low budget labels.
Don't eat much meat.
Lots of rice, lots of fresh veges and fruit.
Only buy what's in season.
Buy in bulk when it's on sale and store it.
Like Tango51, make a chicken go a long, long way.
Know what the price should be.
If it costs too much don't buy it.
I also belong to a vege co-op, twelve families, go to the markets and shop for everyone once every twelve weeks, pack it up and everyone comes on Saturday morning to pick up. $20 a week. Not quite so easy from Lithgow.

Make preparing food an activity for pleasure rather than a chore. Enjoy cooking stuff from scratch.

Minimise pre-cooked food.

Spend the money where it matters. We only eat steak once a month or so, but we only eat the best cuts.

Learn to love the odd cuts. It's surprising how cheap a meal you can make out of chicken feet.:D

Cheers
Simon

[nobbydoldrums]

I love this thread, I thought I was being stingey knocking back a few family outings to pay for parts and tools.

I feel a whole lot better knowing there are bastards out there forcing their families to eat second grade meat so they can hoon around in a huge thristy V8/TD fourby ;) :wasntme:

[Ace]

I think some, dobbo in particular, seem to think i started this thread because i cant afford to live or something and that rather than cut back on other luxuries i would rather skimp on shopping for my family. Which as usual is way off the mark. I started the thread because even the smallest shop these days where you seem to get bugger all costs over $50. So i post a thread to see what people do to save a few bucks here and there and make the most out of the shopping dollar. I dont need to cut back on pay tv or not have diff locks or what ever, my family eats fine. I was just curious to see what people did and after this thread i can do alot more to save a few more bucks so my family can have a few other luxuries, like a nice holiday at the end of the year or what ever.

So instead of turning a very contructive thread into one of personal attacks lets move on shall we can hear some more great ideas.

I remember on guiness world records ages ago they had a guy that lived on like $50 a week or maybe even less. He would buy everything in bulk, he would buy 4 ply toilet paper and separate the plies so he had 4 rolls from one (no im not joking) plus numerous other stuff to save a buck.

now i wouldnt go to these extremes cause i think thats a helluva lot of work to do to save a few cents on toilet paper, but with some resourcefulness you can save some money and still serve good meals up to your family.

[hiline]

mine is simple Ace :D

as the price of everyday living goes up so does my prices:angel::p

[Xavie]

Hahaha Hiline, I wish I could do that, I envy you!

But seriously, good thread ACE. It is only my partner and I and I know when we go to the shops it can cost a small fortune. It is always good to see what others do so one can change their own behaviour with shopping when the budget is tighter then we would like it to be.

But some times I find to save a few bucks just is not worth the effort whether it be because of space limitations, or initial outlay or the effort that goes in to doing the task.

I'm not scrounging for every dollar by any means nor do I go without but as you say it is nice to be able to go for that extra trip that you wouldn't of been able to afford or would of felt guilty for doing so if the effort is minimal.

To save a few bucks I tend to make my own bread and pasta and I grow a lot of veggies but seasons are a bugger in the mountains. Just as a note if you want to grow veggies and if you like beans plant some with some wire for them to grow up (about 5ft high). They take no effort to maintain except for picking and they have a good growing season and by the end of the time your ready not to eat another until the next year. four plants would probably stock a family of 4 every 2-3 days. I guess these are things I enjoy doing too so it doesn't bother me at all. But 7 bucks for a kilo of beans when my plants make that every 2 days.... what a rip off.

Xavier

Xavier

[agrojnr]

With us at the moment (wife just went back to work 2 days aweek) what I do is look at all the junk mail that comes in and see whats on special.

I like buying in bulk when ever I can especially for LL Milk and washing powder

Our fortnightly shop is around $200 but if somethings cheap I will buy alot of it and store it

Last time I bought washing powder it was $1.75/K so I bought 20 of them and so it has lasted us 6 months


Adam

[Ace]

mine is simple Ace :D

as the price of everyday living goes up so does my prices:angel::p

I wish it were that simple, the thing i hate most about teaching is the lack of opportunity for overtime or control over prices i charge (which i dont) and what not.

[dobbo]

I know of a bloke who goes into production with his neighbours and the local butcher, all neighbours are on properties. One raises pork, one lambs the other beef. All have equal shares with any costs. I think it went two animals for the households, one for the butcher so three animals are in production at all times.

[BigJon]

My better half is now living in Victoria (Dimboola / Horsham) and I will be moving there soon. One of the things she has commented on is how cheap food is down there. If you want to feel like you are saving money on groceries, live in Alice Springs for a while, then move away!

[Tango51]

I love this thread, I thought I was being stingey knocking back a few family outings to pay for parts and tools.

I feel a whole lot better knowing there are bastards out there forcing their families to eat second grade meat so they can hoon around in a huge thristy V8/TD fourby ;) :wasntme:

Thanks , I love a good laugh, last one like this comment was when I heard dairy farmers say the cows would get confused over daylight savings.

1) Where have you been hiding? Do you believe that a reduction of red meat in the diet is a -bad- thing?
2) An increase in the volume of vegetables in the diet is a _bad- thing?
3) The reduction of proccessed food in the diet is a _BAD_ thing?
If so, you must have staggered out of a wormhole from the 19th century!

We only buy the best steaks, our chicken are always free range, and top quality cheap cuts like lambs neck, veal shanks, beef shins etc come from grain fed animals, organic if I can.

So the difference is this: Last time I ate a cassoulet that equaled mine I paid 65 dollars for a bowl in a french restaurant.
45 for the Coq au Vin/ about 2.50 at home
I make my own pasta, I wonder if you have ever eaten fresh pasta in your entire life? Most people grow up on swollen fat white soggy stuff with no bite, overcooked to blazes dried pack pasta.
Mine is half the cost and absolute heaven.
You will pay 30 bucks minimum at a restaurant to eat my raviole and strangely there is no 'forcing' anyone to rock up to the table around here.

Then we visit friends and they are eating 2 roasts a week, steaks every couple of days, veges roasted on the side, packaged desserts like sticky date , packaged cereals for everyone at breakfast (price that and realize how unhealthy it is and you are actually paying a fortune to harm yourself)
choc milks and red frogs and mars bars, packaged pre sliced meats (for pete's sake haven't you ever calculated what that 250 grams works out to be at a kilo???'try 45 bucks for factory offal of the worst kind) and they are telling us how they are struggling with the costs of living.
Have I just described the high cholesterol hypertensile colon cancer heart disease format that YOUR family is on?

From my diary:
Friday: Poached free range egg, 1 slice speck bacon, fried tomato, 1 toast, real coffee Epic blend.
------------
Welsh rarebit: Premium leg ham, havarati cheese shallot grilled.
Fresh orange juice.
-------------------
Ox tail soup
Home made pizza: Black olives, ham, salami italian home made, fresh tomato, onion, garlic, fresh basil boccocini buffalo cheese all on home made tomato sauce base.
Sat: Coffee fresh home made croissant
----------
Salad sandwich fresh juice
--------------
Scotch Fillet steak, grain fed, salad (Tomato, baby corn, swiss brown mushrooms, spanish onion, fresh made croutons and cos lettuce ) with balsamic. primo olive oil dressing with sechuan pepper
Dessert home made Zuppa Inglese (Italian trifle)


Sunday:
Toast and apricot jam and cheese/vegemite and cheese, white tea.
---------
Wonton soup, home made with free range chicken dumplings.
----------
Chicken cacciatore with home made tagliatelle pasta.

Monday,
Coffee fresh tomato basil on toast
-------------
bread roll with premo cheese & salad home made to take.
----------------
Thai red curry with aubergines zucchini shallots, green peas, basil and small portion lean pork over rice

fresh starfruit and mango dessert.

Be a man.
Post yours.....or apologize.

[abaddonxi]

Now we only need the recipe to brew our own Vegemite and everything is sorted.

:D

Cheers
Simon

[stevo68]

G'day All, some interesting stuff in here and some "hey look at me, aren't I the ants pants with what I can do with a $1.00" type responses. I currently have 6 to feed, coming up for 7 when the new born comes along in April. I like to eat meat, good quality steak at least once to twice a week. Also seafood, chicken, quality lamb etc etc. So as I think Dobbo suggested for like minded people, makes friends with a farmer or a co op for meat and veges. I have put in an order for a whole cow, which will be slaughtered Monday, butchered that week and ready for pick up. We are taking a quarter and I have notified mates, who are taking the balance. Have done the same with pork and lamb. Works out at around $3-4 a kilo, in the case of the cow for steaks, roasts, sausages, mince, off cuts etc. Will last us months and months.

As for general shopping, as has been stated, buy bulk, check out the junk mail, do up a shopping list and stick to it ( Hence why SWMBO does the shopping :D) and like anything if it gets tight find a way to earn additional income.....it can be done.

Regards

Stevo

P.S. I wont bore you with my weekly menu :angel:

[adm333]

Sunday:
Toast and apricot jam and cheese/vegemite and cheese, white tea.
---------



Can you talk me through this dish...... ?

Does the apricot jam go on first, followed by the first layer of cheese or vice versa.

:cool:

[EchiDna]

....I think some *snip* seem to think i started this thread because i cant afford to live or something and that rather than cut back on other luxuries i would rather skimp on shopping for my family.....

I hope I'm not in that category Ace as my statements are all to the general populus and not having a dip at anyone in particular...

even though my wife and I earn good money, we still buy wholesale meat, wholesale vegies, wholesale baking ingredients (flour, butter, dried fruit, nuts etc etc) and spend the time making all the meals we cook from scratch. All our breaky cereal, curries, sauces, pasta etc come from the base ingredients and are made on the day we eat them, then the intentionally made left overs go for lunch the next day.

Our kids also only eat home made food from fresh ingredients and they probably pay for that on occassions they over indulge in stuff like chocolates, soft drink and lollies at friends places as they will "redecorate" more often that not :(. But my 3.5 year old likes nothing more than making gnocci, biscuits, pizza... it's just like playdough but you are meant to eat it at the end :) and they all cost penuts to make....

We also have a fowlers system in the house for making jam, pasta sauces, bottled fruit etc - costs cents per serve as you only buy in bulk at the peak of the season. After a few years you can tailor the volumes to suit your consumption so you don't end up with leftovers at the end of the year... some of my favourite memories are standing with my parents and grandparents in the kitchen washing, cutting and filling bottles with fruit and tomatoes!

[Ace]

I hope I'm not in that category Ace as my statements are all to the general populus and not having a dip at anyone in particular...

even though my wife and I earn good money, we still buy wholesale meat, wholesale vegies, wholesale baking ingredients (flour, butter, dried fruit, nuts etc etc) and spend the time making all the meals we cook from scratch. All our breaky cereal, curries, sauces, pasta etc come from the base ingredients and are made on the day we eat them, then the intentionally made left overs go for lunch the next day.

Our kids also only eat home made food from fresh ingredients and they probably pay for that on occassions they over indulge in stuff like chocolates, soft drink and lollies at friends places as they will "redecorate" more often that not :(. But my 3.5 year old likes nothing more than making gnocci, biscuits, pizza... it's just like playdough but you are meant to eat it at the end :) and they all cost penuts to make....

We also have a fowlers system in the house for making jam, pasta sauces, bottled fruit etc - costs cents per serve as you only buy in bulk at the peak of the season. After a few years you can tailor the volumes to suit your consumption so you don't end up with leftovers at the end of the year... some of my favourite memories are standing with my parents and grandparents in the kitchen washing, cutting and filling bottles with fruit and tomatoes!

No mate not at all. Some people seem to using this thread to attack the way others live, just because people dont buy rib eye or scotch fillet steak. For god sake people grow up, just because some people plan out what they eat over a month they are tigh wads or eat cheap crap.

Mods just lock the thread its ruined now.

[stevo68]

No mate not at all. Some people seem to using this thread to attack the way others live, just because people dont buy rib eye or scotch fillet steak. For god sake people grow up, just because some people plan out what they eat over a month they are tigh wads or eat cheap crap.

Mods just lock the thread its ruined now. Mate, I have read all the thread, and I don't think anyone has had a go at the way other people live. Some people just play the devils advocate. If someone says per se that I am struggling to pay my grocery bills but I almost have enough money saved for XYZ, one may question the anomaly. One would also assume that perhaps they are struggling. Some people can be loaded and still very tight with their dollars, it can depend on how the initial thread is presented or read. Besides mate you have been on forums long enough to know that not everyone is going to produce a cohesive view, there will be differings of opinion.

In the case of yourself, having read the initial thread, there could be 2 trains of thoughts. One.....how to reduce the cost of groceries in terms of what, how and why. Another train of thought would be to reduce ancilliary costs, get a part time job or the missus finds full time work. Its a good thread mate,

Regards

Stevo

[dobbo]

No mate not at all. Some people seem to using this thread to attack the way others live, just because people dont buy rib eye or scotch fillet steak. For god sake people grow up, just because some people plan out what they eat over a month they are tigh wads or eat cheap crap.

Mods just lock the thread its ruined now.

I don't think this either, in fact I agree, over the last 8 years my income has doubled, so has the size of my family, the amounts on our monthly bills has close to quadrupled. If there are was to save on consumable items great, lets here them. The fact is if you want to pay 1980's prices in 2008, you have to miss out on a few luxuries. One of my neighbours lives of $20 of meat in a week. I could do it but I prefer not to.

[Tango51]

G'day All, some interesting stuff in here and some "hey look at me, aren't I the ants pants with what I can do with a $1.00" type responses. I currently have 6 to feed, coming up for 7 when the new born comes along in April. I like to eat meat, good quality steak at least once to twice a week. Also seafood, chicken, quality lamb etc etc. So as I think Dobbo suggested for like minded people, makes friends with a farmer or a co op for meat and veges. I have put in an order for a whole cow, which will be slaughtered Monday, butchered that week and ready for pick up. We are taking a quarter and I have notified mates, who are taking the balance. Have done the same with pork and lamb. Works out at around $3-4 a kilo, in the case of the cow for steaks, roasts, sausages, mince, off cuts etc. Will last us months and months.

As for general shopping, as has been stated, buy bulk, check out the junk mail, do up a shopping list and stick to it ( Hence why SWMBO does the shopping :D) and like anything if it gets tight find a way to earn additional income.....it can be done.

Regards

Stevo

P.S. I wont bore you with my weekly menu :angel:

Fabulous post Stevo, you scored two childish hits against me, bluntly your intention...... and you contributed.....nothing.
Absolutely nothing here that wasn't already posted by others in trying to help other forumites with ideas on how to make ends meet.
My intention was to assist, not to glorify myself and my family. Nice twist.
My menu was an answer to another misguided post, I see it may have hit a nerve with you! That is proven by your meat content in your post.
You are what you eat, isn't that what they say? ;)

[Tango51]

Can you talk me through this dish...... ?

Does the apricot jam go on first, followed by the first layer of cheese or vice versa.

:cool:

LOL you'll figure it out!

[stevo68]

Fabulous post Stevo[QUOTE] Thanks, I thought so :D, also I thought the word Fabulous went out with "Are you being served"?? :eek:
[QUOTE]you scored two childish hits against me, bluntly your intention...... and you contributed.....nothing. Well as they say, if the hat fits....wear it. I think ...nothing is a little harsh, there was the part about buying meat in bulk :angel:.

My intention was to assist, not to glorify myself and my family. Nice twist. Ohh dunno about that,
Mine is half the cost and absolute heaven.
Have I just described the high cholesterol hypertensile colon cancer heart disease format that YOUR family is on?, bit of judging friends here
Then we visit friends and they are eating 2 roasts a week, steaks every couple of days, veges roasted on the side, packaged desserts like sticky date , packaged cereals for everyone at breakfast (price that and realize how unhealthy it is and you are actually paying a fortune to harm yourself)
choc milks and red frogs and mars bars, packaged pre sliced meats (for pete's sake haven't you ever calculated what that 250 grams works out to be at a kilo???'try 45 bucks for factory offal of the worst kind) and they are telling us how they are struggling with the costs of living.

My menu was an answer to another misguided post, I see it may have hit a nerve with you! That is proven by your meat content in your post. Maybe misguided in your eyes, but you do seem to like to point out these things. Hit a nerve....nope, not sure what you mean by meat content?

You are what you eat, isn't that what they say? Well yes that would be true, I eat meat and yes I am meat......aren't we all?

By the way, not having a go at you :angel:, moreso that you seem to like to stick it up other forumites, in this case Dobbo and as far as I can see he was offering a different perspective...funny, that...a different perspective,

Regards

Stevo

[Greylandy]

ACE, we tend to save when buying in bulk, once a month and look out for any specials on the big ticket items.

Hope I got the "crux" of this thread .. so many "sensitive souls" ;)

[tombraider]

Just to clarify my position....

I do shop as I need it, as we often were throwing out a lot of food...

Just emptied the freezer and chucked around $200 worth of meat/fish that was aged too long :eek:

However, My meals are dietary based now-a-days (I'm a fat bugger)

And consist of grains for breakfast (I enjoy these)
Seeds and Nuts to graze on during the day... (Rather nice too)
A small tin of tuna and crackers for lunch (Amazingly filling given the size of the tank!!!)
More seeds etc to graze on...
Fish or Chicken for dinner with salad

Usually keep around 50 tins of tuna both in my work draw and at home...


Now, when the kids are here we go a little different...

Local Butcher does great bulk deals.... Get all meat from them.
Fruit and Veg shop is 20-30% cheaper than the supermarkets

Dont consume milk to often, a glass a day, and some on cereal
Dont consume excessive cordial, water is better... Teach kids to drink more water.

P1ss the Diet Coke/ Coke Zero etc off... Its as bad as normal coke...

Brew your own beer, good hobby and cheaper!

[dobbo]

This may be devastating to some members self essteem but here goes.

Believe it or not


Not everything you guys read on the internet is directly related to you personally

The universe does not revolve around your ego

By posting on this thread you have asked for opinions and should be prepared for your views to be scrutinised and/or praised.

I tell it as I see it

[agrojnr]

This may be devastating to some members self essteem but here goes.

Believe it or not

Not everything you guys read on the internet is directly related to you personally
The universe does not revolve around your ego
By posting on this thread you have asked for opinions and should be prepared for your views to be scrutinised and/or praised.
I tell it as I see it


Well said:arms::arms:


Adam

[Tango51]

If only it were universally adhered to!
LMAO

[CraigE]

Ace,
I lok at it this way do not spend what you do not need to. 10c here, 50c there. I am not saying do not have a life, but if for example an iced coffee is $2-60 at a supermarket and $3-20 at the deli, buy at the supermarket. Look for things on special. If you can get a few friends together buy fruit, veg and meat in bulk and divide. Most fruit growing areas will freight boxes of fruit and vegies directly to you. We used to get a mixed box of fruit freighted to us from Donnybrook to Kambalda for $36.
A lot depends on your lifestyle and income. It carries over to everything even luxuries. I only buy pre mix bourbon when on special, but may buy 2 and put away. Its not about being tight, but not wasting money.

[Ace]

Ace,
I lok at it this way do not spend what you do not need to. 10c here, 50c there. I am not saying do not have a life, but if for example an iced coffee is $2-60 at a supermarket and $3-20 at the deli, buy at the supermarket. Look for things on special. If you can get a few friends together buy fruit, veg and meat in bulk and divide. Most fruit growing areas will freight boxes of fruit and vegies directly to you. We used to get a mixed box of fruit freighted to us from Donnybrook to Kambalda for $36.
A lot depends on your lifestyle and income. It carries over to everything even luxuries. I only buy pre mix bourbon when on special, but may buy 2 and put away. Its not about being tight, but not wasting money.

thats what i tend to do, we have found buying fruit and vege a bit at a time is better because if we buy alot it tends to go off before we use it all. Stacey is in town alot with work etc and the gym and various other things so its not wasting fuel, but in the long term it saves cause we dont waste as much.

I understand that not everything posted on the net is personal, however some is. Sure this thread has had some constructive posts, and keep them coming. But can we play nice. I am not living in poverty and i understand dobbos point on not being able to get everything for 1980's prices, but isnt saving money a good thing, not saving it for any particular reason, but why spend it on groceries for the sake of it when you can save a few bucks here and a few bucks there so you can treat your family to a few luxuries.

[loanrangie]

With rising interest rates and everything costing more due to 911, drought, floods etc we need to save where we can. I have a commercial butcher near work and spend approx. $70 or so a month there, also have a pasta factory for cheap fresh pasta. With 2 kids on one wage plus a career change a few years ago has put us behind a bit but once i have finished studying the pay increase will be about 40% which will be well recieved. We arent on the poor line just yet but its still hard and when an unexpected bill comes in we struggle to pay it. Some good tips here, we have started shopping at Aldi ( to my disgust) but we did notice the savings and may only go there once a month.

[George130]

One thing we found was the kids drank heaps of milk, so I bought Light powdered milk (no frills brand) and used to mix it 50/50 with e full cream bought milk....they drank it for ages before they knew and never complained. We still do it...cuts quite a bit off the cost


My dad used to do that when we were growing up. Family of 6 kids and back then my mum’s annual medical bills would usually be around $20,000 .

The subjections about where you live depend on what it costs you. I drive 160km a day for work but I love where I live and my mortgage is less than what I used to pay in rent.

As for go where the money is. I love my job but not the highrachy and I believe in what we are trying to do. Because I care I live with the stress and politics.

[dobbo]

I understand that not everything posted on the net is personal, however some is. Sure this thread has had some constructive posts, and keep them coming. But can we play nice. I am not living in poverty and i understand dobbos point on not being able to get everything for 1980's prices, but isnt saving money a good thing, not saving it for any particular reason, but why spend it on groceries for the sake of it when you can save a few bucks here and a few bucks there so you can treat your family to a few luxuries.

Ok

I feel I can comment on this post, due to the fact you are mentioning me in the post. This is not a personal attack.



Mat believe it or not my comments were NOT directed at you.
You do what you want, I honestly don't GAFF.
This is what I mean, yours might be but the universe in which I live is not Acentrical.

This is me being nice

If you want to save money, lose the Fox and lose the Gym, you have a Land Rover you don't need Fox and Stacey can chop wood in the paddock to keep fit.

That way you'll have at least another $159.95 a month to spend on groceries or holidays.

[Tango51]

Stevo, 'judging' is a word indicating superiority ..... it was an example and those friends have been helped by my family, there were open to suggestions and have really benefited.
Dobbo deserved to be shown his posts weren't on topic.
They weren't.
A bloke says I'm needing to reduce costs....you contribute by suggesting how to reduce costs.
Lecturing him on why you think he got into trouble isn't on topic and should be for his family and close friends to do. It isn't helping to get out of trouble or improve things.
Dobbo's second post was a repeat.
Sticking it up people isn't a pleasure for me, but I reserve the right to retaliate or point something unfair out.
I like this thread.
I learned stuff that is helpful. I hope it continues as being positive, I hope it isn't derailed by people using it as a forum for their petty vendetta's.
Like you can stick that hat where the sun don't shine, cobber. :angel:

[Ace]

Ok

I feel I can comment on this post, due to the fact you are mentioning me in the post. This is not a personal attack.



Mat believe it or not my comments were NOT directed at you.
You do what you want, I honestly don't GAFF.
This is what I mean, yours might be but the universe in which I live is not Acentrical.

This is me being nice

If you want to save money, lose the Fox and lose the Gym, you have a Land Rover you don't need Fox and Stacey can chop wood in the paddock to keep fit.

That way you'll have at least another $159.95 a month to spend on groceries or holidays.

Saving money because i cant afford other things wasnt the point of the thread dobbo, and i cant be stuffed arguing with you any more, and whether you hide it or not your comments were personal.

[Outlaw]

Like you can stick that hat where the sun don't shine, cobber. :angel:
Watch the personal attacks :mad:

[LandyAndy]

Hey Dobbo
The Mrs has front and rear ARB diff-locks,plus a warm 4.6 with WOLF management,plus lots of other goodies in her Rangie.
Wouldnt want her to get bogged in the school carpark!!!!!
Would be embarassing considering she is the school gardener!!!
Andrew

[dobbo]

Dobbo deserved to be shown his posts weren't on topic.
I hope it isn't derailed by people using it as a forum for their petty vendetta's.
Like you can stick that hat where the sun don't shine, cobber. :angel:


dobbo, and i cant be stuffed arguing with you any more, and whether you hide it or not your comments were personal.

Go on gizza kiss,


both of you


:D

[Ace]

Go on gizza kiss,


both of you


:D

are you sure you want to risk it? You never know what you might catch given i havent cleaned my toilet in 4 years so i could buy diff locks, you might catch arthritis.

[RoverOne]

its just dobbo's attempts to wind me up, its what he does, i ignore it, but im glad it doesnt go un-noticed.

I disagree after reading comments I believe dobbos a valid comment...put more funds into groceries and back of the off road bits, if your struggling with the bills...if your not struggling then it can't be an issue.

I think it was the comments after this that were unnesseccary, Matt you should have done what you said you do...ignore it...which you indeed did not, sorry mate thats the way I see it. You obviously have some history with dobbo but I can't see a problem with his comment.

Maybe a visit to a financial planner may do the trick to help budget.

[dobbo]

All I'm saying is that if we stop being Americanised consumers, having goods and services because some O/S company tells us we need it (ie Luxuries) then you won't be broke all the bloody time.

How many of us have a mobile phone? Whats wrong with the old pay phone?

How many have "real coffee" instead of instant?

How many go to the gym as opposed to taking a walk or cutting some wood?

How many have pay TV when there is a commercially funded services in this country?

Thats the stuff I'm talking about. Cut out the unnecessary crap in your lifestyles and the money will come rolling in.

[BigJon]

How many of us have a mobile phone? Whats wrong with the old pay phone?

How many have "real coffee" instead of instant?

How many go to the gym as opposed to taking a walk or cutting some wood?

How many have pay TV when there is a commercially funded services in this country?

Thats the stuff I'm talking about. Cut out the unnecessary crap in your lifestyles and the money will come rolling in.


Guilty :eek:

I don't have any coffee, I can't remember the last time I turned on the kettle.

I walk the dog every day and ride my bike to work. I had gym membership once (given to me), I went three times in three months. I don't think the gym is for me :D.

I had pay TV (2 year contract) and then I got rid of it for that very reason.

We also buy bargain basement stuff when shopping, no name brands, etc. And we seem to being doing OK financially (no kids though).

[Ace]

I have not said we are struggling to pay bills, i said groceries seemed to cost a fortune what do people do to make the dollar spread further. I dont want to skimp on my family or cut their meals in half so i can afford to go 4wding or get bits for the disco, diff locks are the first real mods i have added to the car since i bought it in 2004. I simply dont like being judged because i started a thread on how to save some money at the checkout and stop giving woolies and coles money if i didnt need to, i dont see the point in spending money for the point of it.

When i cant feed my family things like the gym and pay tv will get the ****, but at the moment i can feed my family quite easily. If my initial post made out as though i am in someway struggling to feed my family then thats not how it was meant to sound, i am just sick to death of going to wooiles and buying a few things and having it cost a fortune so i asked what people do to keep more in your pocket, thats all.

Some of you seem to think i am this selfish ***** who skimps on food for my family so i can have accessories for my car, bugger all of you know me so it ****es me off that some have come to this conclusion, which is why i have taken some things personally, most comments have been fine and i believe that most of the comments in this thread are in good nature with the intent to help, some people less so.

If at some time i cant afford to pay bills the car takes a second step, i dont still buy that diff lock or suspension lift (which i bought second hand from Discowhite) and let my family go hungry. We eat sirloin steak and have roast dinners, eat fresh fish (well as fresh as it can be in lithgow) and have fresh veigies when ever we want. I simply asked what people did to make it cheaper to do this, such as planning meals in advance etc. Telling me to get stacey to quit the gym or cancel the pay tv doesnt answer the question i asked in the beginning.

[BigJon]

, i am just sick to death of going to wooiles and buying a few things and having it cost a fortune .

You and me both Mate ;).

[abaddonxi]

I've always found pet food to be a cheap alternative.

Look in the meat fridge for the raw kangaroo for pet meat, same as the people stuff, but heaps cheaper.

Cheers
Simon

[Ace]

You and me both Mate ;).

what gets me more is that i know what farmers get for their products, and then the price that we get charged at woolies is alot more.

No woolies has a day every year where they give all the profits to drought relief, why not pay the farmer the right amount for their product?

We pay $2 a kg for bananas, now this isnt to bad, but farmers get bugger al of this, and woolies get a crap load for paying some pimply faced teenager bugger all to put it on a shelf.

Woolies rips us off, just because prices are expensive, doesnt mean we have to pay it all, we can plan better and save a few bucks, which was more the point of this thread.

[Ace]

I've always found pet food to be a cheap alternative.

Look in the meat fridge for the raw kangaroo for pet meat, same as the people stuff, but heaps cheaper.

Cheers
Simon

so thats why you have a tail :D

[Greylandy]

I've always found pet food to be a cheap alternative.

Look in the meat fridge for the raw kangaroo for pet meat, same as the people stuff, but heaps cheaper.

Cheers
Simon

You are kidding right? :eek:

[EchiDna]

....Woolies rips us off, just because prices are expensive, doesnt mean we have to pay it all, we can plan better and save a few bucks, which was more the point of this thread....


hmm as a second thought, buy woolies shares - the dividends from which you can plough back into the stores to make purchases and a proportion of which will come back to you as dividends again.... net gain to you ;)

mind you... you would need about 12,000 shares to generate $100 a week for your groceries from the projected EPS of $0.44.... that's a mere $361,800.00 that you would need to buy in shares based on the share price at the time of posting... BARGAIN I say :D

Woolworths shares jump on huge profit result | NEWS.com.au Business (http://www.news.com.au/business/story/0,23636,23277591-14334,00.html)

[dobbo]

I've always found pet food to be a cheap alternative.

Look in the meat fridge for the raw kangaroo for pet meat, same as the people stuff, but heaps cheaper.

Cheers
Simon

Don't laugh my neighbours eat it at least 3 times a week. The only way a person on a senior pension can afford to live. It makes you stink though

[Ace]

hmm as a second thought, buy woolies shares - the dividends from which you can plough back into the stores to make purchases and a proportion of which will come back to you as dividends again.... net gain to you ;)

mind you... you would need about 12,000 shares to generate $100 a week for your groceries from the projected EPS of $0.44.... that's a mere $361,800.00 that you would need to buy in shares based on the share price at the time of posting... BARGAIN I say :D

Woolworths shares jump on huge profit result | NEWS.com.au Business (http://www.news.com.au/business/story/0,23636,23277591-14334,00.html)

No worries, i can starve my family for the next 10 years to save the $361800.00, people would really frown on me then :D

[isuzurover]

I've always found pet food to be a cheap alternative.

Look in the meat fridge for the raw kangaroo for pet meat, same as the people stuff, but heaps cheaper.

Cheers
Simon

You SURE about that???

Kangaroos can contain a LOT of parasites. I am not sure that pet meat goes through the rigorous testing/checking that human meat does. My uncle shoots the odd kangaroo, but only feeds the meat to his dogs because of all the parasites he sees when cutting up the meat.

CSIRO PUBLISHING - Wildlife Research (http://www.publish.csiro.au/?act=view_file&file_id=WR9790069.pdf)

[rovercare]

Don't laugh my neighbours eat it at least 3 times a week. The only way a person on a senior pension can afford to live. It makes you stink though

Kangaroo is excellent meat, nice and lean:)

[BigJon]

$361,800.00 that you would need to buy in shares based on the share price at the time of posting... BARGAIN I say :D



If you spent that much on a rental house you would get around $400 or more per week incoming, yet people keep saying "buy shares"... :eek:

PS I am stirring... :p

[BigJon]

Kangaroo is excellent meat, nice and lean:)


I usually have it once a week. You can by pre-marinated stuff ready for the bbq. I usually get that, then roast it with vegies,etc. Turns out very nice.

[rovercare]

I usually have it once a week. You can by pre-marinated stuff ready for the bbq. I usually get that, then roast it with vegies,etc. Turns out very nice.

Used to eat it kinda fresh a fair bit;) Fresh= blam blam, cut off the backstraps fresh

Bah, sooking about germs, how will you ever build up an immune system:eek:

[BigJon]

Used to it kinda fresh a fair bit;)

Bah, sooking about germs, how will you ever build up an immune system:eek:


I don't really understand this post at all :eek::eek:.

[numpty]

Don't laugh my neighbours eat it at least 3 times a week. The only way a person on a senior pension can afford to live. It makes you stink though

Don't agree with this. My parents lived very well on the old aged pension. And they were/are happy. Never wanted for anything, and Dad was always saying how there was always more in the bank than he thought.

You....yourself.....personally, decide how you wish to live. Some do it frugally and want for nothing and others will never have enough.

[isuzurover]

Used to it kinda fresh a fair bit;)

Bah, sooking about germs, how will you ever build up an immune system:eek:

Was that directed at me??? I don't worry about germs at all - definitely toughen you up being exposed to a few.

I WOULD worry about these guys though Helminth Parasites of Man (http://www.path.cam.ac.uk/~schisto/General_Parasitology/Hm.helminths.html) - if I was eating pet grade kangaroo (or at least I would make sure it was 100% cooked, which defeats the purpose).

I LOVE kangaroo - have it at least once a week, but I get it from a source I trust.

Dobbo - you are full of it - doesn't make you stink.

[EchiDna]

If you spent that much on a rental house you would get around $400 or more per week incoming, yet people keep saying "buy shares"... :eek:

PS I am stirring... :p


I know you are stirring, but if you could pay cash for the house, fine... but borrowing to create an income source in the current fiscal environment? no thanks...

if I had $20k to either put towards a house deposit or shares, right now it would go on shares or managed funds.

[rovercare]

I don't really understand this post at all :eek::eek:.

Editerated:angel:

[waynep]

Ace, re your short growing season, did you think of putting up a hothouse ? You could knock one up pretty easily with a frame and plastic. I don't have one but am thinking about it.

This is our practice to try and keep costs reasonable ;
1. go to the markets once a week and buy all fruit, vege, fish and meat. Much better quality/choice and half the price of supermarkets. (You probably do not have the big markets where you are, but there might be a Farmer's Market ?)
2. grow as many of our own veges as we can.
3. cut down on expensive meat cuts and try to have 2-3 non meat meals a week
4. "make our own" cleaning products the olde traditional ways using baking soda etc which are more environentally friendly anyway.

We're also looking at making our own preserves, just like the old folks used to do, and drying our own fruits. The plan is to go to the markets and buy cases of the produce when they're in season and preserve and dry them. All this is still only a plan.

[loanrangie]

I know you are stirring, but if you could pay cash for the house, fine... but borrowing to create an income source in the current fiscal environment? no thanks...

if I had $20k to either put towards a house deposit or shares, right now it would go on shares or managed funds.

In this financial climate the repayments on 361k would be a lot more than the incoming rent .

[dobbo]

Dobbo - you are full of it - doesn't make you stink.

Perhaps I just have a reaction to it, pehaps your comment is right and thats what is making me stink.

Who knows.

[billnjim]

I'm currently on a fairly decent wage and we have just started to make a budget due to a) the amount of wastage we have (use to buy alot of foods on impulse and then just throw them out not having touched them), b) need to get fitter and healthier and take-aways dont help the cause. we don't go down to the shops anymore 'just for something do' as we always end up buying stuff we don't necessarily need,the wife only buys nappies for our daughter when they are on special, usually save $10-$15 a box by doing that, she reads the junk mail and buys whats on special, we tend to walk down to the local supermarket/bakery and buy whats needed on the day now more than ever (exercise and less wastage) and I've started to eat left-overs. i 'spose the biggest saving is me working away, only need to buy a third of the food we used to and dont have the daily expense of running the landy. i'm lucky that my folks live close to the airport and i no longer have to pay parking ( i park at theirs and just put fuel in their car when they drop off/pick me up and still save over $100 a fortnight) the gym at work or rather the village i stay at is free, (unfortunately the squash courts down the road aren't, but trying to talk work into paying for the hire - healthy, happy workforce = increased production) everything is provided from meals to soaps/shampoos. when i'm away, the first day i land i buy breakfast and lunch (usually asleep on the plane before take-off so miss the breakfast they serve) as opposed to buying lunch every second day as i use to (even though meals are supplied). i no longer buy treats/snacks and have found that fruit and water isn't as bad as i thought, basically i have gone from spending $200 plus a fortnight whilst i'm away to just over $50 this last trip and that included buying a second hand GPS unit, so should be cheaper next trip away, haven't quit the ciggies yet but thats the next item to be done, managed to do this last trip on only two packets a week, hopefully be one packet a week next trip and then none from then on. i know this doesnt really show how we save on groceries, we've just tried to save in all areas and still give our girl everything she could possibly want (well for the time being, dare say it will be a different story when she gets older).

[Rangier Rover]

Used to eat it kinda fresh a fair bit;) Fresh= blam blam, cut off the backstraps fresh

Bah, sooking about germs, how will you ever build up an immune system:eek:
Not the only one:D:D;)

[BigJon]

In this financial climate the repayments on 361k would be a lot more than the incoming rent .

My original post was regarding someone buying Woolies shares to fund their grocery bill. The assumption there was a cash purchase of shares. My assumption was for a cash purchase of a house.

I don't see where any repayments would come into it. No repayments means all of the rent goes into your pocket (less taxes).

[BigJon]

I know you are stirring, but if you could pay cash for the house, fine... but borrowing to create an income source in the current fiscal environment? no thanks...

if I had $20k to either put towards a house deposit or shares, right now it would go on shares or managed funds.

See above, the origianl post was talking about purchasing $361 000 dollars worth of shares. There was no mention of finance/borrowing. I didn't mention finance/borrowing either. I didn't see you jump down anyone elses throat about the repayments required on the loan to buy the shares:mad:.

If you blinkers allow you to see shares as the only viable investment, that is fine, but you are making assumptions that were wrong in this example.

[BigJon]

I bought pizza for dinner last night, two large for $5. They were a bit old (been in the warmer for a while), but I couldn't resist the bargain! Now I have pizza for lunch and smoko today as well :D.

[dobbo]

I bought pizza for dinner last night, two large for $5. They were a bit old (been in the warmer for a while), but I couldn't resist the bargain! Now I have pizza for lunch and smoko today as well :D.


Yum,

Salmonella pizza, the meal you can enjoy all week long and still have a supermodel figure

[hiline]

Yum,

Salmonella pizza, the meal you can enjoy all week long and still have a supermodel figure


:Rolling::Rolling: so thats what i'm doing wrong ;)

supermodel figure here i come :D

[BigJon]

Yum,

Salmonella pizza, the meal you can enjoy all week long and still have a supermodel figure

No spews or squirts yet :D:p. At least I keep the uneaten portion in the fridge.

[EchiDna]

See above, the origianl post was talking about purchasing $361 000 dollars worth of shares. There was no mention of finance/borrowing. I didn't mention finance/borrowing either. I didn't see you jump down anyone elses throat about the repayments required on the loan to buy the shares:mad:.

If you blinkers allow you to see shares as the only viable investment, that is fine, but you are making assumptions that were wrong in this example.

BigJohn, sorry you took my post the wrong way - I know your original post (and mine before it) was in jest and not looking at the real picture of actually making the investment... but my next post was a bit more "reality based" because lets face it, how many of us have $360k to plonk down on a house or shares? hence my comment of if you have a few $$ it would go better into shares than a house in the current environment.

I didn't mention repayments either, that was a seperate post by someone else...

no stress intended :(

[BigJon]

BigJohn, sorry you took my post the wrong way - I know your original post (and mine before it) was in jest and not looking at the real picture of actually making the investment... but my next post was a bit more "reality based" because lets face it, how many of us have $360k to plonk down on a house or shares? hence my comment of if you have a few $$ it would go better into shares than a house in the current environment.

I didn't mention repayments either, that was a seperate post by someone else...

no stress intended :(

Thats OK, no stress here either :D.

Incidentally, some people do buy investment properties "cash". My Mum did for one (sold holiday house to pay for it).

As far as my girlfriend and I , we prefer to put our investing money into property, but that is a personal choice.

As an aside, Dad is back working again (by choice, he is nearly 70:eek:) and everything he makes goes into Super - low tax going in, no tax coming out:).

[Ace]

Ace, re your short growing season, did you think of putting up a hothouse ? You could knock one up pretty easily with a frame and plastic. I don't have one but am thinking about it.

This is our practice to try and keep costs reasonable ;
1. go to the markets once a week and buy all fruit, vege, fish and meat. Much better quality/choice and half the price of supermarkets. (You probably do not have the big markets where you are, but there might be a Farmer's Market ?)
2. grow as many of our own veges as we can.
3. cut down on expensive meat cuts and try to have 2-3 non meat meals a week
4. "make our own" cleaning products the olde traditional ways using baking soda etc which are more environentally friendly anyway.

We're also looking at making our own preserves, just like the old folks used to do, and drying our own fruits. The plan is to go to the markets and buy cases of the produce when they're in season and preserve and dry them. All this is still only a plan.

Yeah mate i have, in fact i put one in at school 18 months ago, they work really well for getting germination rates up, and do extend the growing season somewhat but a decent frost still penetrates the plastic and affects the plants. Light frosts arent a problem, but we get some nasty frost around here. I have found that i can get tomatos and stuff like that growing a couple of weeks earlier than people can outside but thats about it. We bought one of those $25 ones from the Warehouse to get seedlings up earlier then when the weather warms up we plant them into the garden, it means that we can get a few extra weeks of tomatos and other frost sensitive plants.

[Ace]

how many of us have $360k to plonk down on a house or shares?

we all will in 10 years if we follow all these money saving ideas :D