Trying to get the grocery bill down

I’ve noticed my bill is much higher, not that we are eating more or better. I think it’s because there are no special offers, and the budget range is non existent. A bit unfair to my mind.

I suppose I could coggie. It's arduous though. Especially after a day of online teaching. But I guess needs must.

Our grocery bills have most definitely gone up, as I am having to do all my shopping in Denmark, as we are not allowed to cross the border to Germany.

I usually do my shopping there, 3 km from our house in Denmark, as prices are far cheaper.

We are DH, myself and cat, and we only very rarely eat out, so it is the difference in food prices and in VAT between the two countries that is causing the rise in housekeeping outgoings.

Already there, with the baking Hetty! And you're describing much of our diet already. I don't have fancy tastes or a desire to cook elaborate meals. Love my veg tho.

I live on my own and, at the moments, am shopping fortnightly. It almost made my eyes water when I went shopping this morning and saw the size of the bill. However, I comforted myself by dividing it by 2, making it a weekly shop. However, prices have risen, understandably.

Ours is much the same I think. The bills from the butcher and greengrocer seemed high but when we added up what we spent daily instead of in a big hit it worked out about the same - or would have done if we hadn’t ordered too much! On line Tesco shopping has brought it down as we’re new to it and don’t browse so no impulse buys.

DH intends to browse Tesco wine section this evening so things may change!

Much cheaper for me. I normally only snack at home and do regular lunches. Now I'm snacking a little more but the restaurant bills have completely disappeared, of course. I'm wondering which of my eateries will still be in existence once the new normal appears. Cooking doesn't hold much appeal for me thus I find the snacking element more than adequate.

My DH is over 70 and has a heart condition, so we started to isolate before mid-March. Our first few bills during this time were huge because I was pretty low on stock and had trouble getting online shopping slots, but it has all balanced out now.
DH likes simple food so we have roast chicken which reappears as risotto, fajitas, chicken with jacket potatoes etc. Also batch cooked mince which becomes bolognaise, cottage pie, and lasagne. We always have eggs for breakfast and now sometimes have tortilla which can reappear for lunch another day. We've rediscoverd the kipper!
I'm lucky because I've always alternated my online shops between Ocado and Waitrose and have been given priority slots by both which means I can still have a normal sized delivery every week and include items for older neighbours who need them.
The thing I miss most is going to Lidl every week to buy my fruit, veg and free-range chicken. DH misses their NZ sauvignon blanc!

Go shopping every eight days instead of every week. After eight weeks, you'll have saved a week approximately.

I haven't a clue what we're spending. Luckily if doesnt matter. We're having to get deliveries from our local Eurospar. They haven't got a great variety but I'm just glad to get it.

My husband used to go to the shop every morning and pick up perishables that we needed (or wanted). Obviously he's not doing that now, so I am getting them with my Sainsbury's delivery, which makes that a lot more expensive, but it's really just transferring the spend from one account to another. I haven't worked out whether we are spending more overall. Probably a bit, as I do think prices have gone up, but in the end it will mostly cancel out, I think.

I can't face the idea of going to to my usual supermarkets- too many people and a long queue, so DH goes to local Co-op and I go to M&S Food. Working out probably a bit dearer but like other posters, we're not eating out or spending as much on petrol. I buy fresh meat/ chicken /fruit and veg at Mark's plus a few treats. Make sure we use up all leftovers so a few unusual meals. DH is getting used to yesterday's tea returning in a different format as tomorrow's lunch. Managed to get some flour recently and yeast so now working on finding perfect pizza recipe so I can use leftovers on topping.

Someone gave me a tin of meatballs ?

Can you and/or your dd apply for Universal Credit, Gagajo? From what I’m reading, they’ve relaxed their rules during this crisis.

Are they completely inedible?

I've had meatballs from a tin in Spain. Not great but not vile either.

MaryXYX, the Co-op is expensive. They class themselves as 'convenience stores' rather than supermarkets.

Here, we live half a mile from a Tesco. I can't get a delivery slot but I do get click and collect.

Local taxi firms will collect and deliver to me - for the price of a normal fare. Perhaps the scheme operates in your area too?

Tangarine, we did the eight day thing when the kids were small. The extra went on a nice outing!

I think I'm spending more on food because every meal is eaten at home but I am spending far far less on other things because you can't go out socially to events or eat out in a restaurant.

I think I'm spending a lot less.

Could your daughter bulk cook some veggie favourites and freeze them? Maybe?

Dragonfly a bulb farm in this area has just opened a pick-your-own-tulips scheme for local people. It’s too far for me (40 mile round trip) to justify but I am very envious of the people who live nearby. ? ? ?

Some Co-ops are huge, one a few miles from us is most definitely not a convenience store.
I only discovered it a few days into the NY but haven't been able to go back since then.
I used to like our local Co-op, it was a reasonable size and also convenient!

She does cook about half of the week but not really space for freezing. We don't have a chest freezer and the under counter one we do have is full.

We just tend to eat the same thing for a couple of days when she cooks. IF it's something I like. Her cooking leaves a lot to be desired at times. Not that mine is any better, BUT because I'm a meat eater, she won't eat mine.

Make a shared base and add the meat eg make a tomato and basil sauce in bulk and add what you wish.
Make double and freeze one.

Gago, do you need to have delivery, or is there a Lidl / Aldi that you could go to, they are cheaper.
i believe iceland do deliveries and are thought to be cheaper.
i would have thought not having so much meat would be cheaper, more beans, lentils, rice, cous-cous, vegetables, etc.
is she a strict vegetarian or does she eat fish. what about cheese. pasta with cheese and vegetables, nuts, seeds.
meat replacements are best avoided anyway, if you mean pretend meat, not generally very healthy. does she eat eggs.
does the child get enough protein. how old is he. does he have full blue top milk. it's good for growing children.

Asda are quite reasonable and do click and collect. They have eggs too! which Tesco do not for some reason.

Unless you have a shielding letter you can go out shopping, or to collect your food and go for a walk.