www.iva.co.uk

Over the weekend we had friends over for a cheap raid the freezer bbq lol. We were talking generally about the increase cost of shopping etc (they dont know we are in an IVA). They have started doing their shopping on a daily basis they have 4 kids who eat them out of house and home. They reckon that they are spending less as she sets a daily budget so when the yoghurts or apples or cheese etc has run out thats it as before they were eating thru the weeks worth within the first few days of the week so they were back at square one on Monday.

I am thinking of trying this to see how it goes. Dont know whether anyone else does this. Also she said obviously nothing goes off so she has far less waste.

any thoughts....

hope everyone had a good bank holiday - weather today is just typical but lovely[:D]

I do a weekly shop and top up milk, bread, etc another once. Once the treats are gone they are gone....apart from the few I hide!!!! lol
xx

Same here, one big shop at Asda (daughter works there so we get 10% off) and the rest is just top up stuff like bread.

thats what I do.. need fresh fruit all time as hubby takes about 6 pieces everyday to work!!

I have a very rigid plan when it comes to shopping and meals. Some people laugh at me but it works for me. I set a menu on a Friday evening and we shop for the menu and stick to it religiously. Saturday is bascially what you get, i.e sandwiches, soup or any other snack that is in either the freezer or cupboards providing it's not for the weeks menu. Sunday always a roast. Monday - Friday we choose one meal each (there are 3 of us living at home) the other two meals are determined by what we have in the freezer/cupboard from last weeks bargain buys e.g buy 1 get 1 free or similar! Packed lunch stuff for hubby and daughter are bought for the week, nobody would eat these or they'd get no lunch! Biscuits are value packs and kept in my bedroom, I distribute these out for supper each evening! Strange I know but works for us. All bread and everything is purchased from around half a dozen different shops on a Saturday (to get the best prices). I like it this way as I work funny hours and it's a routine we're used to. A lot of my friends say but how do you know you'll fancy that on Wednesday, well I don't but it's what I've got! We have long life milk for the week that we can store in the cupboard and only have fresh milk on a weekend. Daughter also bakes on a weekend (she loves it) so biscuits are for weekday nights and 5 packets for a £1.00 in Heron!

I do mine once a week on line and get it delivered. Its worth paying the £5 to get it delivered because I don't spend half as much online. When you're walking round the store you put lots more in your trolley - and when you have the kids with you they sneak allsorts in !

I did try online shopping for food suzanne but found it didn't suit me as the cold meats etc., were only a few days to their sell by date as I choose the ones with the longer date due to wanting to store them all week. There were some other things they sent me with a short sell/use by date too. I know what you mean about kids sneaking things in, I have a 44 yr old kid that does that too!

Wow Lesley wish I cold be as organised as you, well done[:D]

I tried that lesley doing a plan for a week but if hubby didnt "fancy" whatever we had he wasnt eating it and it was either going in freezer or wasted. So I going to do a monthly big pack loo rolls washing powders etc and then buy stuff as its needed I need to go to supermarket nearly every day to buy grapes (we need a vineyard lol) and bread as you cant bet fresh bread (wish I could make it lol).

Going to give it a whirl and see if we end up saving anything.

I shop every few days since all this IVA stuff. We spend less and I throw less away!
I am lucky though as I have a Morrisons and an Asda at equal distances and can even walk there within 10 minutes.
I don't really eat crisps etc as trying to eat sensible and oh eats whatever given although he does noan when he doesn't fancy what is made - tough!!

I do my main shop online once a month and then top up on a weekly basis for fruit & veg so nothing gets wasted.

Have to recommend the following website. Although it's nearly always sainsbury's that is cheaper it's always really good and you can save your shopping lists ) Quite organised for a bloke hey ;o)

http://www.mysupermarket.co.uk/Home.aspx

Thanks for the link. I'm going to have a look now, there is a Sainbury's near work. I'm quite lucky really have all the major supermarkets close by, so really I have no reason to pay over the odds. Gonna look at the link.

I do online shopping as I find I dont spend as much as you say you buy what you need not what you fancy. I do go to the local precinct once a week for the fresh stuff and the odd trip to iceland they have great offers. I have the odd weeks where I dont buy anythinf except neccessity and we eat all the stuff out the freezer.

Ang

No worries,

Like Ang says I find it saves LOADS shopping online rather than my normal favourites of shopping when i am hungry or after a couple of beers on the way home. Never a good idea lol.

)

I shop between sainsburys and tesco, asda dont deliver to my area. I check out the offers and see which is best. I still prefer sainsburys though most of the time.

Ang