May 24

Written by: dmg
5/24/2008 2:21 PM

The Credit Crunch

There is no doubt about it we are all beginning to feel the pinch with the price of petrol and diesel rising at a phenomenal rate which of course is going to have the knock on effect of making everything else more expensive.   Here are a few tips which I have heard over the past few weeks from a combination of subscribers to Help for Busy Mums and that I have picked up from the likes of  the Money Saving Expert.

•    Try buying own label products.  By trading down a standard say from luxury to standard you can save over a third on your weekly shopping bill. (So says Martin of Money Saving Fame).  

•    When buying meat – buy less and add more vegetables/ lentils to bulk out the meal. You will probably not notice and anyway you can always declare how much healthier it is.

•    Shop online.  Plan a weekly menu and shop with a list.   If you are visiting the shops make shire you do not shop when you are hungry. 

•    Try using your car 10% less – that way your fuel bill should remain roughly the same as before.

•    Cut down on waste.   It is criminal really how much food we end up throwing away.  Try cooking smaller quantities.  Dish up only what is likely to get eaten and freeze whatever leftovers you can.  Then once a week have a “bit of this a bit of that” for supper.  This is a favourite supper for a friend of mine.  She digs all the leftovers she has saved out of the freezer, adds whatever is in her fridge.  Supplements it with jacket potatoes, boiled eggs, and baked beans.  Whatever will complement her buffet – and then everyone tucks in and helps themselves at supper time.

•    Cut down or cut out fizzy drinks,   squash and replace with water.  Have fizzy drinks as a treat.  Buy tubs of ice ream and create your own cornets or luxury ice cream by adding your favourite crushed or melted chocolate bars. (Crunchies and smarties are great crushed with ice cream and melted mars bar makes a delicious topping).

Subscribe to Help for Busy Mums and be part of our community with the opportunity to get discounts on products and services and automatic entry to our monthly competitions.

 

Copyright ©2008 Diana Groves

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