Shopping

I was asked if I could do a post on how I shop

On average I spend £20 a month on shopping, its not set in stone and I don't do it as a challenge and I am not into frugal shopping.

As it was we went shopping yesterday

£14.70 we had £12 in vouchers total cost £2.70

the carrots are for Sol he has one every day for lunch and the digestive biscuits are for the goats they have a couple biscuits as a thank you after milking. The peanuts are for making peanut butter, vinegar for pickles, sugar and flour is for baking, Tortilla wraps have been split down and frozen although we had some last night with duck, at some point I will start making my own.

Now to try and explain my shopping habits

We raise our own meat so we don't have to buy in that

We grow our own fruit and veg so we don't have to buy in that

We get milk from the goats. Eggs from the chickens and honey from the bees.

All that is left to buy in is basics, tea, sugar, cereal rice, pasta, flour

I bake the bread we eat it works out cheaper, I buy in bread flour in 16kg sacks approx £20, most dry goods I buy in bulk either from suppliers or wholesalers, I used to use Costco but now it Booker's, 

Rice I bought yesterday from Tesco £3.50 for 5kg were possible I will buy in large packs unbranded.

I don't buy in ready meals, jars of sauce, cake mix, fancy biscuits ice creams, jams, pickles, peanut butter, sausages, bacon, pies, burgers, or anything like that I make my own.

We eat fruit and vegetables in season, with two poly tunnels we can grow and eat fresh veg all year round.

Any surplus is frozen, canned or dehydrated.

I only usually shop in one store, I don't have the time or inclination to do price checks on line and spend time going round several shops just to save a few pence, 

I also go shopping with a list get in and out as quick as possible and make only one trip a month sometimes 2, I don't want to be wandering around shops, the more time you spend going to shops the more you buy and more inclination for impulse buys.

I cant think of anything worse than spending my time going round shops. I do buy in some dry goods through suppliers on line mostly with Amazon, 

I get free delivery and can get more unusual stock items. 

This may sound like we have very plain dull meals, but we don't, we eat exceedingly well and have the occasional take away, also if we want to buy something we will buy it, I cant grow everything and if there something we need or want like Bananas I don't deprive my self by going without.

During winter and spring we use a local fruit and veg wholesaler to buy in extra greens for the goats, crates of apples, peaches cabbages etc for £1 and if we want to eat some of it we will. 

We also forage for edible from the hedgerows and shellfish along the sea shore, 

We are only 2 years into our journey of self sufficiency, we will never be able to provide everything we want but its good fun trying and there is still plenty more to learn and try.

 for me spending less is, 

 don't go to the shops and don't buy it if you can make it.

You don't have to do without or be deprived 

Sorry I don't have a magic formula for spending less on shopping it is just a life style choice for us.