Cost of living crisis 2022 - what have you cut back on?

This link to budget slow cooker recipes came up on my RSS yesterday. There are links to other budget cooking plans. May help some.

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/articles/budget_slow_cooker_meal_plan

Another rate hike. Mortgage is 18% now. Still unable to switch.

Mortgage prisoners should read https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/mortgages/mortgage-prisoners/#campaign, updated in April. And get on to your MP.

Article links to https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2023/03/mortgage-prisoners-lse-report-launch/ - more info there.

Yeah, I follow a lot of campaigns. 12 years on, still no closer to a solution. Unfortunately, my MP is blue, so she couldn't care less.

I haven't followed for 12 years, but the update looks like progress with a sitting MP. The 18% rate you quote is double the figure quoted of 9% for 'mortgage prisoners' - clearly an extreme case. Martin Lewis has secured a private donation of £60,000 to help push things forward. The donor is unlikely to be a mortgage prisoner, but has showing a willingness to try to help those that are. The update in March shows ML has the ear of Economic secretary to the Treasury, Andrew Griffith. As for your MP, regardless of political persuasion, they are your MP. If you've made an approach for help, and been rejected, that's one thing, but don't write them off before trying. Ultimately, it looks a clear injustice, but in spite of the time frame and I'm sure the fatigue, sometimes you have to push yourself forward and fight for your cause and accept help to achieve this.

Following our recent move, I've cleared some space in our garage and emptied our self store unit. That's £140 a month we no longer have to pay.

Bread to loo roll: How UK prices compare to five EU countries

 

Unsurprisingly, we're not doing too well. The French aren't, either, but they're not known for personal hygiene, pet food is probably high because the horses get served at restaurants and who needs milk when there is vin?

 

Closer to home, I do often have to do mental maths at Tesco to check if "Clubcard" is the best offer. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-65854124

Closer to home, I do often have to do mental maths at Tesco to check if "Clubcard" is the best offer. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-65854124

 

That's not just a Clubcard thing, you see it on lots of products which come in varying quantities. From memory, Jaffa cakes come in 3 different quantities, the middle one of which is the best value - but as the pack sizes are 12, 24 and 30 it is harder to do the maths and realise. You also see some product prices broken as price per unit while competitor products are shown as price per 100g, which again makes it hard to calculate which is actually better.

 

Weetabix come in 12, 24, 48 and 72, but the value gets better as the pack size gets bigger, which is normal. My local Tesco doesn't sell the 72s, but Waitrose does. But... Waitrose is more expensive per pack (again, normal!), meaning the 48s in Tesco are actually better value than the 72s in Waitrose!

 

I often take my phone shopping to use a list, I'm starting to think I might need to take a laptop and Excel instead!

You realise your phone is a supercomputer that at do a division, right?

 

The point is they're showing price/100g for the original price, but not the discounted price, so comparing to the cheaper brand is hard.

 

The best deal in Tesco is Custard Creams, 55p for a pack, insanely cheap

Cereals are where it gets really crazy.

For not much different in size shredders I think was £4 or tescos own brand was nearly £3 cheaper on todays shop.

 

There has to be some profiteering going on in the branded products.

 

Edit: just found on Tesco malted wheat 13p v 41p Kellogg’s per 100g…….. l

Edited June 10, 2023 by gaz350b

Sometimes the supermarket brands taste nicer and are better for you: both Sainsburys 'Ready Oats' and 'Bran Flakes' have lower sugar content and are considerably cheaper than the Kellogs/Nabisco branded ones.

The only cereal I will not buy cheaper versions of is Weetabix. I've tried all the others, yuk!

The only cereal I will not buy cheaper versions of is Weetabix. I've tried all the others, yuk!

 

100% with you on that!

The only cereal I will not buy cheaper versions of is Weetabix. I've tried all the others, yuk!

Depends on the version, when I was a student, Morrisons own "corn flakes" were almost texturally and flavouraly indistinguishable from the box they came in, while the Tesco ones are alright. TBH, I can't think I've seen any own brand Weetabix.

I have real Weetabix as a treat Asda and Tescos are ok with whole milk.

 

But if you buy Weetabix it is much better value if you buy a 72 pack what is the point of a 12 pack? (I eat 3 a day.)

Edited June 19, 2023 by nicholab

I have real Weetabix as a treat Asda and Tescos are ok with whole milk.

But if you buy Weetabix it is much better value if you buy a 72 pack what is the point of a 12 pack? (I eat 3 a day.)

I've managed to find a 96 pack before!

Just had a squabble with Mr gee40 about shower gel. I put a small amount on a sponge and can do my entire body with it. He uses a couple of handfuls without a sponge to clean his body. We could save a fortune on shower gel if he used my method!

Just had a squabble with Mr gee40 about shower gel. I put a small amount on a sponge and can do my entire body with it. He uses a couple of handfuls without a sponge to clean his body. We could save a fortune on shower gel if he used my method!

 

You need to get him a manly one like

 

 

These seem to be on clearance @£3 in Superdrug. Must see if they have stock when I'm next in town.

That's it. SkyTV has gone.

Now need to look into getting a freesat or freeview box with recording capabilities.

But if you buy Weetabix it is much better value if you buy a 72 pack what is the point of a 12 pack? (I eat 3 a day.)

 

I said this above, but not for me. I can only buy the 72s in Waitrose, so the "Waitrose tax" means they're the same price as 48s in Tesco.

Does your TV not record? A lot of newish smart TV's recorded when you add a hard drive.

 

I only find a need now to record one program at a time, that is really at Christmas time only.

Edited June 20, 2023 by nicholab

I said this above, but not for me. I can only buy the 72s in Waitrose, so the "Waitrose tax" means they're the same price as 48s in Tesco.

 

But it comes with free caviar!!!

I've not recorded a program since VHS was a thing, just get stuff from the internet now

Does your TV not record? A lot of newish smart TV's recorded when you add a hard drive.

 

I had a play with mine recently and it would only seem to record stuff delivered via the aerial.

Does your TV not record? A lot of newish smart TV's recorded when you add a hard drive.

 

I only find a need now to record one program at a time, that is really at Christmas time only.

 

My TV is not that new, about 8 years old. can only record the channel it is watching as far as i can tell.