trick i learned from someone on youtube (forget which one, sorry!) buy regular cream cheese, & whatever veg you have chop it small & mix it in yourself. make it custom & cheaper! carrots, cucumber, herbs, etc etc. hope that helps someone!
Good morning from New Jersey! Hope everyone here is able to make their budgets stretch to cover all their needs. Jane and Michael have been very helpful with ideas for how to do this.
I've cut down on non-essentials and am trying to use up every last drop of everything before I buy more. A few years ago I'd had my hair bleached platinum but went back to my natural mix of gray and auburn. I found some old shampoo in back of the cabinet and thought I'll use this up too! It turned my hair pink and purple! My son and grandson roared when they saw me!
Wow....My extra large chicken from Lidls in the UK today was £4-75. And, contrary to all the media scaremongering, the shelves were full of fruit and vegetables.
Jane, the other thing we have started doing is saving till receipts in a box, so it gives us an idea on weekly basis how much each essential item is going up by! It’s eye watering, but now vital to keep them instead of relying on the ever decreasing memory, how much items are in different supermarkets! If at all possible, buy the BIGGER version of everything, it’s the packaging that costs more after all! And if you are lucky enough to have Asian grocery stores, do check them out, sometimes items are cheaper, especially if you cook Asian meals!
Meat is so expensive in the US, so we are eating less. I intermittent fast. So only two meals a day. Our granddaughter raises chickens and gives us eggs for free. We are blessed
I live in North Florida and shop a discount store. They had miscut chicken breasts for 1.25 a pound. I bought a family size package, went to put it in the oven and there was a whole chicken in their too. While I did not expect it I will use it, baked and put in the oven and will use the bones to make bone broth with veggie scraps. We will get at least 4 dinners from that pack of chicken. First time baked. Next deboned and diced added to noodles and broccoli with a cheese sauce, third time dice chicken on salad. Fourth time will be soup, maybe chicken and vegetables with additional tomatoes and a couple zucchini in it. 3 people 12 or more individual meals from 7.00 of chicken. Also got pork spare ribs for 6.00 will feed us 6 individual meals with sides like potato wedges or baked beans and green beans. That is a weeks worth of dinners for us with what I call hint and pick night which is where we eat leftovers or cereal, oatmeal, or a sandwich. No snacks in grocery cart, fresh fruit, vegetables, coffee and a package of toilet tissue, and noodles. I also search for copycat versions of restaurant meals to keep from missing out on some favorite meals. I just cannot go I to a restaurant and pay 15 to 20.00 for a single meal and get poor customer service on top of that. Enjoyed seeing your grocery haul and price fluctuations.
In Australia here on our last shop I had to stop myself from making too much of a scene as I watched the register tally go up and up. I'm finding most shoppers are leaving the supermarket whilst performing the art or act of receipt reading/checking. It is really becoming frightening.
Yes I wish our so called Labour PM, thought along those lines, it’s getting harder, and more expensive every shop. So much for looking after the workers, it’s becoming an elites paradise..
I love that I have found your channel. It’s interesting how grocery prices differ in different places. We got some picnic items today (instead of eating at a restaurant) two apples where $2 but it was only $30 for the 4 of us to have a picnic lunch. Eating out would have been over $70. I’m definitely working to follow more of your tips. Packing a lunch to go on the weekend is something I’ll definitely need to start. However I have always packed lunches for work and school.
I haven’t been supermarket or brand loyal since we moved to France over 15 years ago. My grocery shopping is always combined with other errands as the diesel prices here are eye watering! We have no food waste. We only shop when we need to which is fortnightly, sometimes stretches to 3 weeks. I use the love food hâte waste site to find recipes using up what’s left in the fridge.
Grew up in a rural community in the 50s. Some foods were still rationed but we always managed to have a store-cupboard for those times when things were short. Many were not so lucky.
Its pays to share what you already have. We mince casserole beef so that we pay 8euros per kilo for mince, I am happy to loan my mincer to my friends and neighbours so that they can do the same, its just a cheap attachment that came with our blender. My friends may have kitchen gadgets that we can occasionally use when baking and cooking to help with our cost. I recently loaned a cot when my granddaughter visited rather than buying one which helped and saved us having to buy one.
Hello Jane&Michael, first of all i love your video,it is so reflective and direct. It helps me to ponder and find areas that maybe i could&would consider doing differently. For example,i no longer buy prepared cleaning products. I remember my grandmother using baking soda and lemon juice to scour the kitchen sink with. I also remember her using rubbing alcohol to clean the bathroom sink,baking soda and vinegar for cleaning the toilet,for mopping the floor she would use a bucket and a scrub brush with just a drop or two of dish soap in a pail of water. I figured if it was good enough to clean for her maybe it would work out for my cleaning. So far success and what a savings i have experienced!
The conversions are very helpful, thank you. We enjoy mugs of hot cocoa by the fire at night, as well. Temps here are dipping below -10 F so far tonight. The cabbage is beautiful!
Thank you so much for posting the Canadian conversion. It made it much more relatable to what our prices are. I haven't seen pink toilet paper since the early 80's! I used to always buy pink to match my bathroom. As far as keeping our food budget stretched, we are checking flyers, cooking more from scratch, trying more generic brands and I make most of my home cleaners. It's so discouraging to go grocery shopping.
I stopped buying cleaners and now put my lemon peels or orange peels or pine branches in a mason jar and fill to top with white vinegar with lid. Let sit for a week, I will shake every once in awhile and then strain into spray bottle. Great disinfectant , eco friendly , no waste and cheap.
Trying to do the math and make a fair comparison. I believe your 1 kg of sugar cubes (1.75 euros) based on the exchange rates stated (1.45) is about $2.55 CDN. I am on the Westcoast of Canada and at one of my more reasonable stores for 1/2 as many (500g) we pay $3.29 CDN. More than double!
I shop at a variety of places including the farmers market and the farm shop. The worse possible thing to do is buy everything in one supermarket. They will hike the prices on staples and basics because they know a lot of people don’t shop around. It doesn’t take that much longer and I enjoy the farmers market and our local shops. Chatting with friends and neighbours I run into makes food shopping a more relaxed and sociable time.
I do my big grocery haul early in the morning on the last day of the month. It's quiet with no crowds and I'm more energetic in the a.m.s so can be more efficient. Where I live there are many pensioners who get their check on the first day of the month so the stores get pretty crowded those first few days of the month. I avoid all that.
I look for 1/2 off sales on things nearing best-before dates and either eat right away or freeze. Shop the in-store lost leaders and look for items going on deep discount. For example, the butcher put whole chickens on sale for .99 cents per pound the other day. They’re normally $2.49 per pound. I bought 8 of them for the freezer.
I really appreciate you including the Australian conversion 😁 I think our inflation was slow, since December it’s really noticeable now. I shop 3 stores. I’ve started to eat more vegetables - I like to buy a small bag if coleslaw for $2 and eat half with Japanese mayo and the other half I cook up with sesame oil and oyster sauce for stirfry. Fruit I just buy what is on sale. I also went through my freezer and I’m using up all the old meat and lots from my stockpile (as mine is a lil too big).
Very interesting to compare the prices. Here where i live (in the Middle East) what is available locally has not increased substantially, but as we import a lot from Europe and elsewhere, these prices have shot up immensely, more than 50-60 %. But in comparison I feel its still a decent level here if you stay away from import goods. I can get a full chicken from here (1-1.2 kg) for 4 EUR, I can get 30 medium eggs for 4 EUR, locally produced veg is cheap, a bundle of spinach is a few dirhams, less than a EUR, a big bunch of parsley the same, potatoes can get for like 2 EUR for 3 kgs, onions around 2 EUR for 5 kg. All these prices are the same for the last 10 years or as long as I recall. Cucumbers for like 1 EUR a kg or local tomatoes as well. In comparison tomatoes imported from Holland go for 7-8 EUR a kg! The difference is crazy! Lower quality minced meat that is frozen and not fresh but works great for spaghetti sauce and the likes is only like 1.25 EUR for 400 g pack. But then on the opposite end of the spectrum are as I said imports, European brand mayonnaise Knorr for example the smallest one I think around 200 ml is now like 3 EUR. Hence I started making my own mayo. Oil went up a little but its still cheaper than buying ready mayonnaise. Milk went up quite a bit too. Generally everything imported from Europe is extremely expensive, I remember turkeys from Ireland around Thanksgiving were like 100 EUR for a 5 kg bird. I personally do not spend any more on our grocery budget than I did a year ago, but I suppose most people do. I buy when there are offers and as I cook everything from scratch and use local products mostly, I can kind of bypass the most inflated items. Love your videos!
G'day Jane & Mike Would like to thank you for the monetary conversations on your food shop in this video. We thought it very thoughtful and it was much appreciated
It's summer here in New Zealand, so I'm able to supplement most of our veggies from the garden. We also have chickens which helps. I stock a deep pantry, and we definitely have more vegetarian and vegan meals in our repertoire these days. I make what I can from scratch.
Thanks for the conversions, Jane - it really puts the prices in perspective - and OUCH, our prices are getting bad here in Australia but gosh - yours are eyewatering! I'm really focusing hard on wasting less because that's something I absolutely can control. I'm cooking smaller portions to avoid leftovers that might go to waste - unless I specifically plan a use for that leftover. For example, I made extra polenta and sliced and breaded it the next day as part of the evening meal (first try - and oh yum!). I'm shopping at the end of the day because that's when they do the markdowns. I too scour the catalogues online and plan my shopping accordingly. I try not to stress about it - which is hard. My parents went through some very tough times, as have my husband and I, and looking out for the positives can make a big difference. Your puppies at the end always make me smile!!
I built a deep pantry. Now I am using the stocked food with the perishables to create meals. That deep pantry helped to lock in lower prices. Then I can wait on offers to shop. I don't buy a lot of toiletries because I use mostly vinegar and baking soda. I stocked up on soap. I have a little bit of wiggle room.
Steak tartare!!! Glorious when made right, when at Cote Brasserie. I have started having a farm meat box delivered , about monthly. It is probably slightly more £ more per kg but its bloody lovely stuff! There is a variety of weights to buy so I'm not trying to use up excess, and I'm supporting farmers which I think is really important. I don't waste any of it; I can buy a single 100g steak if needed, along with Really interesting things like mutton, venison and amazing bacon. Once delivered, I decide what meal Ill make with each item and what other ingredients are needed. That is then the basis of my shopping list, which is on the fridge, along with the meal list. I'm also looking in the store cupboard at the tins and packets and using them up; no point in storing money in the cupboard and buying more ! Many thanks for your well planned videos, they're a real pleasure.
I live in rural Ontario. I do a once of month grocery stock up at Costco in Ottawa. My daughter gets a free card from my membership. With my and her grocery buying, the rebate cheque at the end of the year pays for our membership fees! So I can then get the cheapest lactose-free milk that I can find. I do look at the more local cheap store flyer (akin to Walmart) called Giant Tiger, and I design a nutritious menu from what's on sale as an exercise in frugality. I will buy from them if I need to, to round out the food order from Costco, but I do this because I might one day have to give up Costco as a place to go to, because I'm getting older, and who knows if I'll be able to drive that far in the future. My local shop is a 10 km bike ride. I give myself $50/per week Canadian dollars to design a menu from them. So far, I have been able to do so. But as time goes on, I'll probably have to up it to $60. Silly little game that I play, trying to see how far a dollar can go!
GM from Edwardsville Illinois near St Louis Missouri. I love all your vids - but I find myself waiting at the end now each time to see those sweet babies! Too Cute! Smart idea picking up extra. I’ve been doing it since September 2021. Things in the US are beyond ridiculous now. I retired early also, in 2021. Basically in the same situation as you and Mike, but single. I do work a little part time job to keep my mind going and a bit of pocket money. I have two poodles and one of them growls when he sees your pups 🤣. I told him he’s just jealous because they are too sweet! Enjoy your week, dear🌷
We are retirees also. Not only are food costs shooting up but medical costs and prescriptions are really going up. I am currently juggling the budget for February to make it all work. We have definitely reduced our shopping trips to save money. One thing that helps us is having a dedicated freezer to keep extra meat and frozen vegetables in. It is much bigger than what I see people utilizing in the U.K. I also review all sales and offers at the grocery every week. We are now only shopping every two weeks.
Hi there from Oklahoma, USA. We shop a lot the way you did there. However, we DO have a stockpile (several 😆) & a lot of it can be traced back to the Great Depression era. We learned then that life can hit you in so many directions, whether job loss, illness, etc that it really does pay to have a stockpile of food & other resources to help you get by until things are better. Usually, we shop at several stores depending on what’s available to us, especially close by. I love Winco, but they are so far away from us & I prefer to stay in my area (or areas I will be in normally) & the only time I venture out towards 1 of the 2 Winco’s in our greater area (easily 30 minutes away or 50 minutes away for the nicer one). So I usually go to Crest or Homeland (loss leaders only) or Costco or Sam’s (big warehouse stores that you pay a fee for but we only buy certain items at each one), & RARELY Aldi’s unless it’s NOT produce because you’ll be lucky if their produce lasts 24 hours after you buy it. It’s terrible & I refuse to pay for something that is rotten in a day. We have an App called Flipp that you can put in to see what is on sale (NOT JUST FOOD) & you can even put in the search engine what you are looking for ~ hammer, bananas, etc. & if any is on sale or even mentioned, it will bring up all the ads that have that available, including the price for how much (a lb (sorry, a pound), a package, each, etc. I’ve heard quite a few of the other MUCH BIGGER CITIES (NY, California area, etc) that have apps for getting food free or close to it otherwise it will go in the trash. We don’t have that … yet. Someday maybe. You’d be surprised what you can freeze!😂 1 kitchen fridge that also has a freezer, then 1 fridge & 1 freezer in our garage. Except for the extra fridge in the garage, all the rest are packed. Extra fridge does hav things in it but it’s not packed.
Oh & we have a family of 3 at home (all the time), & we homeschool the 8 year old. We do try to keep a good stockpile not just for us but also our oldest son (26) & his girlfriend, in case they need help at all (son has gone ‘shopping’ in mom & dad’s stockpile before… a few times when life tried to kick them down to gutter), as well as any family or friends that need help. Anytime we realize we have food that’s still in date but we don’t like it, (unless someone has said they needed food) I take it to the food pantry I am privileged to work at. We are not allowed to give out of date food (even a day late), so if it’s something that we believe it’s something we can eat past the “Best Buy date” etc. then one of the workers can take it home, otherwise it goes into the trash.
I shop bi-monthly at Winco - a store in some of the larger cities in the western USA. Winco does not print flyers, or run ads, nor does it have an on-line presence. You will find sales in the store but no "yellow" stickers. All of that keeps their costs very low. It is also owned by the employees - which is always a great thing. They have a great area of the store that is for bulk purchases so you can buy only as much as you need - so if trying a new recipe with a new spice you can literally buy just the teaspoon of that spice you need until you know if you will make that recipe again.
Our local grocery store here in Texas is HEB & they have a bulk food area. I always get my spices there if they have what I need. I keep my old spice containers and refill them. I got enough Italian herb mix to fill my old container for about 50 cents.
I live in Alberta and food is expensive here. I now check all three of my nearest stores for their weekly flyers and now check the prices of everything that I buy. Thanks for all your great tips and recipes. I live alone so find it really hard to cook for myself. I only have a very small fridge /freezer so storage is difficult! I am learning to cook!!
I'm from Alberta too! Sherwood Park near Edmonton. The food is crazy expensive and even the flyers don't have much on sale like they used to. Nice to see you here! :)
I too am in Alberta. I've been mostly shopping at No Frills and most of my stuff is the no name brand. I've got my budget down to $150 per month. It's just me and I eat plant based only.
I make my own cream cleanser it's cheap and no nasty chemicals it works well on sinks and the bath 1 cup bi carb/baking soda 1 tsp liquid glycerine (found at supermarket or pharmacy) Add Enough liquid dishwashing detergent to make a paste. Keep in a recycled jam jar and use 1 tsp per use I wanted to share to help others save money 💰😊🇦🇺
Love your channel and linked you in my description (new Frugal February video) as an inspiration. Pity that in the actual video I said "Princess" instead of "Queen" haha!
I once read that it is very important to stick to your weekly budget - even if it means that you are unable to take advantage of many offers or sales. It is easy to get swept up by sales, and then overspend weekly "in order to save money". I took note of the fact that you did not stock up on sale items until you were certain that you had money left over at the end of the month. Very wise!
I don’t buy fabric softener, as I don’t believe it does anything but scent your clothes. In fact, my towels became softer when I stopped using it! I add a few drops of essential oils to my final rinse if I want scent, as on the sheets wash. Shopping wise, locally we have Lidl and Sainsburys, 6mls away we also have Waitrose and Morrisons. Our main shops are at Morrisons and Lidl. I go very occasionally to Waitrose for some dairy free items (vegan) as more choice,. I also go to B&M snd Home Bargain and top up with tinned goods. I got a jar of tiger balm at one recently for £1, wishing I bought more as I’d usually £7.99!
I'm only going to my local grocery store that sells only food not going to Walmart anymore as there's more temptation with the clothes ,toys etc .....also not shopping with kids if they are not going to cooperate with the concept of only getting food on sale so we have no squabbles in the store
Enjoyed the video. Prices here in the United States have gone up so much. I am blabbergasted each time I shop! We have been stretching our meat to where we are turning what we use to eat in1 meal to 3 meals. I think we really haven't noticed the difference in the casseroles. That has helped . I shop sales and am no longer a brand snob. I buy generic items to try and if they are just as good I will continue to buy them in the future as long as they are less expensive. One thing I have noticed is the generic brands are the first to leave the shelves nowadays as before you could always find the generic.
From the Netherlands here! I do a lot of similar things like you: check the offers, take store brand when it’s cheaper, stock up on things I use often when they’re on offer. Next to that I do 2 other things: 1. I buy most meat directly from the farmers as the taste is way better and the price the same as the supermarket. We eat less meat but better quality. 2. Use the ‘too good to go’ app. In supermarkets you often get a bag with minimum value €15,- for €5,-. It depends on the supermarket what they put in it, so it’s always assessing whether you want to go back to a specific place based on 1-2 try-outs
I always check the advertisements from our local shops. After that, I make a weekly meal plan with recipes matching the offers - and I stick to it. Secondly I reduce the amount of meat in the recipes and increase the amount of vegetables. When there are real good offers, I use my "special-offer-budget" to stock up on these things.
I usually try and get meat when it’s yellow sticker but I’m finding the meat is now so expensive that the reduced items are not such a bargain any more
Thanks for sharing, I find it so inteesting to see the differences between prices in different countries. Some things are higher here (US) other ae significantly lower. I also compare the on-line sales flyers of three different stores, which are all very near to each other to see what is on sale at which store and then shop accordingly.
I noticed yesterday that skin lotion is around $10 now. They use to be $5 or less. I've been home bound due to an injury for 2 months and just started going out to shop. Been eatting off my stock pile. And was shocked by the prices. 😮 Going to do a mini stock shop too.
We only buy what we need and look for short dates, which are usually discounted. We've swapped to roll on deodorant from spray, which is a big saving. I don't enjoy shopping now, it's quite challenging and stressful.
I'm in the US and think your prices are still good. Even with the conversion rate, your prices are good. You may not be used to the current prices, but for us in the US your prices are still very good. I shop at Aldi, Walmart, Winco and the dollar stores. The savoy cabbage is beautiful ! Very nice grocery haul Well done ! Thanks for sharing 🥰🌷❄☃💗✝
I thought the same thing. Most everything that was purchased in the video is more expensive in the US. I live in NY on Long Island and shop Lidl, BJ’s and Costco.
I normally do my grocery shopping fortnightly but stretched it out to 3 weeks this time and only spent an extra $40 on top of what I would normally spend. I will be doing that from now on as it will save me hundreds over the year. I have been making an effort to use up what I have in the cupboard and freezer and it is summer here so our garden is feeding us as well. Thanks for all the great tips and keep up the good work, it is much appreciated in these hard times!
Note on U.S. price comparison. In the U.S. many states add sales tax on top, which can be as high as 7%. Most states have sales tax on at least some food items. Where I live there is sales tax on soda, candy, cookies, and on all house-hold items.
hi from new Zealand my budget 100-week prices are high potatoes and eggs are 7dollers a dozen and we have a shortage of eggs in some areas. meat is high. use cheaper cuts .and only have meat 3 times a week .reason there is a shortage of eggs is we no longer have caged chickens, only free range or cage free . meat can be up to 32 dollars kg
We shop similarly. Usually at the Aldi next to my place of employment or the Netto near our house. Almost all store brand except if the brand is cheaper. We put the amount budgeted for groceries into a seperate wallet each month. So when we are shopping, we can clearly see how much is left.
This was a very helpful episode. I managed to come under budget this week and last, and I want to stock up on things we will need later. Lots of good ideas here. To come under budget this month, we've settled on less expensive snacks, swapped brands of tea and milk (half the price of og), and purchased sale meats to repackage for later.
Love the tip about pesto in soups. Wow. Will definitely try this. We make all our meals at home and that would be a nice change in this cold (soup!) Weather
My friend has been taking me shopping for the last few weeks and we’ve been horrified at how much things are going up in price week on week! We both wanted a whole chicken on sat so we picked up the cheaper “value” chickens. My friend just picked 1 up & walked away. I rummaged to the back and picked up the heaviest bird I could find. I checked the 2 birds and mine was 2 kilos heavier than my friends. The same price for both mind you! I showed her the difference then got her a heavier 1 too. She had no idea that these shops do this kind of thing and make extra money from unsuspecting customers. I ALWAYS look for the heavier item! I managed to get Beef cheeks in the reduced fridge so I grabbed a pack for the freezer. Beef bourguignon for me next week! Yum! Not had beef for months! Thanks for the great video. X
To save Money I Measure everything now so not to use more than what's needed also I cut My Dish Detergent with Water... if you look at the Bottles they are mostly Concentrated so when you pick up the bottle and give a Squirt into the Dish water you are already using to much so I cut it and it Cleans just as Good . Cooking from Scratch on everything also Saves Money ...
💗 your tips. Surprised to hear we are cost comparative to France. I try to stock up on the best in store deals also. Usually the big chain stores can offer better quality produce & some frozen than our local store. But before Thanksgiving they had superb specials and I scooped them up. 😊 💗🤗& happiness from the 🇺🇸.
Like you, we watch the ads before we shop. But we also look for unadvertised markdowns and in the discount bins. Happily, some chickweed started growing in the flower bed. I added some to leftover stew and some to a stir fry. It tastes a bit like corn.
Carrots, celery, potatoes, onions, and winter greens average near me, $ 1.00 USD per pound or Less so we a lot of these items! Keeps it simple and healthy too 🥗 Bless you all and keep warm 🌟💛🌟
I really like your tile backsplash. I have to remodel my kitchen. My home is filled with all the treasures I purchased in Paris in the 1980's. I was stationed in the UK and I had 10 days off per month. I'd haunt the back street markets for all my home decor. When I say I like "French Country" it is NOT the American version. The tiles for my kitchen are the last thing I need to buy. I will plan a project, then purchase what I need as I find it. This saves $1000's on a project. I'm glad I'm not the only frugal person in the World.
I read the ads and then make my weekly meal plan off of the specials. I sometimes go to up to 4 different stores to get the best deals on what we need.
Many people underestimate the uses of pork broth. Any time I cook pork of any type I save the broth. It's a very good base for minestrone soup, for bean soup, for gravy, for casseroles. It makes a good broth to cook cabbage. I put the pork drippings/broth in the refrigerator overnight, then skim off the fat before using it.
Hi Jane and Michael. Greetings from NYC To save I have learned to make a few items. Like bread, mayonnaise and sour cream I wish I had chickens. Eggs are very expensive.
I love your shopping trips and comparing prices. Yours are still better than ours. Our burger (mince) is $8 lb, CDN. So glad that I pressure canned pasta sauce with the meat last year, and when the beef in the freezer is gone, we'll be eating more salmon and chicken, eggs and beans, which will be more affordable because we live close to a river, have a garden and chickens. But there's been hefty increases in other areas, property taxes, for example, so frugality will not be flying out the window.
@@FrugalQueeninFrance It was good to look back and compare prices now. Oh my goodness. Our mince has gone down to $6 lb, but the vegetables are more expensive. Seldom is anything less than $2 lb, even potatoes are $1.25 in bulk. That head of cabbage would be close to five dollars.
I have been working on our budget for living and have now streamlined it inclusive of fuel and pet needs we are now spending $500. Aust dollars a month. For just me and hubby, a dog and cat. Very close to your budget. I manage it by shopping like this. Week one is Groceries $200. Week 2 fuel $100, week 3 meat from the butcher plus fruit and veg $150. And week 4 $50 fruit n veg which includes 6 litres of milk. Hubby loves his milk and we go through 6 litres every 4 days. Gotta work on that one.
We purchase bread, 2.75 ltr. soda, sandwich bags, shampoo, body wash, for $1.25 each. Freezing leftovers individually. We purchase toilet tissue and canned fruit & veggies by the case. Meal prepping and Meal planning saves us. TY Jane. Nice video.
I am in Ohio, USA. I am astounded by the prices now a days. I paid 4.89 for a dozen eggs just yesterday. Our family doesn't have eggs for breakfast now, I only use them in baking. We also have cut down portions of meat, stretching it with pasta or vegetables. Now a days, I look at the price before I look at the product to see if I want it. I am also looking for recipes to make my own mixes and herb blends, like my own Mexican blend, and a "cream of something" soup mix. Much more cost effective. Oh and I have a homemade soup every week. That lasts us for one dinner and 2 lunches per week.
Our eggs are 4.59 a dozen. But, I can usually find some sort of chicken on sale (legs quarters are currently 49 cents/pound . I guess it averages out in the long run. Great stock up haul.
Thank you for your very interesting videos! What I do is I am trying to limit how many times I go to the grocery store each month, so I will stay within budget, and I am refraining from buying eggs at $5 or $6 a dozen (cheapest brand) currently. Have a blessed day. From Maria and Mike in SC
Last week, our local grocery store was selling whole chicken for .77 cents a pound. It was a jackpot for me, bought 5 whole chickens and stored them in my freezer to use for family meals. Now I have 5 monthly family meals covered. It was a great sale on chicken that I haven’t seen in almost 2 years. I told my families about it, hope they took advantage of it.
I really find these shopping hauls fascinating, the products and the prices. I always think the fruit and veg look amazing. I bought a Savoy cabbage a few days ago as the broccoli was so expensive but it was just under £1 and sat in the palm of my (quite small) hand. I have also been buying more pork shoulder, lovely sweet meat, and saw you got some really good prices on yours. When I went to the dentist a couple of months ago I asked her about toothpaste and the cheaper tubes on offer. She told me to look for a certain %age fluoride - sorry, rather unhelpfully I can't remember the amount , unless I read one of the tubes upstairs! - so as long as that hits the mark then all good. And I do love a bit of "controversial" toilet paper! We are planning a trip to France after my son finishes his exams - the North, Normandy, then Brittany or Mayenne - so this price information is really helpful in giving me a basic starting point for our budget I'm costing up travel and accommodation so will see how much room we have after that.
I work...so I fix sausage biscuits for breakfast. I baked 2 cans of biscuits (20), eggs @ 1.99 from Rulers, and sausage from the freezer I bought a few weeks back @$2 a roll at Rulers. 68 cents a biscuits, all cooked, individually wrapped and in the freezer. Prices are higher every trip to the store. When something is on sale. I buy a lot...no sale, no buy. I can now get farm fresh eggs @ $2 a dozen.
Hi Jane, With your fabulous garden. Do you grow your own veg. I have an allotment which keeps my shopping bill down. I use teabags twice always can get another cuppa out of one. Enjoying your channel.
My father was born in morbihan. The ancestry dna came back high percentage british. Only 7% french. He passed away 10 years ago. I enjoy listening to your channel. Only visited france one time and that was 30 years ago. Mostly saw the sights of Paris and le louve. Family lived in Paris and could get fresh bread and veggies every day if they wanted them. Would love to know more about dna results... but france does not allow the testing. Take care. Enjoy watching your channel.
For UK fans of your channel, I'd like to recommend looking in Superdrug and Boots for 'specials' on anti-perspirants. There's almost always some kind of deal, the best being half-price. If you want a particular one it might not always be so good, but if you don't mind what brand you have, the saving is really well worth it.
Saw a great idea for a quilt+ thought of you Jane. A woman bought men’s shirts at charity shops (solids, stripes, plaids). Looked like cotton fabric cut in 5 or 6 inch squares. The stripes were in different directions and each square had a button from the shirt sewn in the center of each square. My try this idea myself.
Hi Jane and Mike To keep prices down I shop around. I Buy my fruit and vegetables from the markets. Asian grocery is good for sauces and spices etc I shop at aldi alot and I eat in season. I have fruit trees so I sometimes swap a bucket of plums and peaches for eggs and other fruit like grapes. And I am not fussy. Cheers Leesa
We buy protein in bulk. 1/2 a beef, 15 chickens, and a pig. It’s a lot to shell out, but cheaper and more delicious in the long run. I freeze dried 4 dozen eggs when the price was $1.55 US at Aldis. We are still eating our home canned peaches, green beans, and potatoes. The garden carrots are done. We still have some garden garlic. My husband is starting another bunch of spinach under the grow lights in the cellar. I shop with a list and we eat what we want. No manufactured junk. I’m too picky. I dislike people eating fast food. Be well! 💙
We have replaced fresh veggies with frozen in many dishes to save a few dollars here and there 😊
trick i learned from someone on youtube (forget which one, sorry!) buy regular cream cheese, & whatever veg you have chop it small & mix it in yourself. make it custom & cheaper! carrots, cucumber, herbs, etc etc. hope that helps someone!
Thanks for watching
Steak tartar is raw minced steak..enjoyed your video. As an American I see we are all around the world fighting price hikes. Keep calm and prep on.
Thanks for watching
Good morning from New Jersey! Hope everyone here is able to make their budgets stretch to cover all their needs. Jane and Michael have been very helpful with ideas for how to do this.
Thanks Nancy.
I've cut down on non-essentials and am trying to use up every last drop of everything before I buy more. A few years ago I'd had my hair bleached platinum but went back to my natural mix of gray and auburn. I found some old shampoo in back of the cabinet and thought I'll use this up too! It turned my hair pink and purple! My son and grandson roared when they saw me!
I bet you rocked it
Janet, you are keeping up with the trend ! 2023 hair colour is Pink! 👍🏻
Wow....My extra large chicken from Lidls in the UK today was £4-75. And, contrary to all the media scaremongering, the shelves were full of fruit and vegetables.
Jane, the other thing we have started doing is saving till receipts in a box, so it gives us an idea on weekly basis how much each essential item is going up by! It’s eye watering, but now vital to keep them instead of relying on the ever decreasing memory, how much items are in different supermarkets! If at all possible, buy the BIGGER version of everything, it’s the packaging that costs more after all! And if you are lucky enough to have Asian grocery stores, do check them out, sometimes items are cheaper, especially if you cook Asian meals!
Thanks very much for sharing
I love the pink toilet paper. I would buy it too. 🌸
With all the prices going so high, I think all our math skills are improving!
I hope so!
Meat is so expensive in the US, so we are eating less. I intermittent fast. So only two meals a day. Our granddaughter raises chickens and gives us eggs for free. We are blessed
Thanks for sharing!
I live in North Florida and shop a discount store. They had miscut chicken breasts for 1.25 a pound. I bought a family size package, went to put it in the oven and there was a whole chicken in their too. While I did not expect it I will use it, baked and put in the oven and will use the bones to make bone broth with veggie scraps. We will get at least 4 dinners from that pack of chicken. First time baked. Next deboned and diced added to noodles and broccoli with a cheese sauce, third time dice chicken on salad. Fourth time will be soup, maybe chicken and vegetables with additional tomatoes and a couple zucchini in it. 3 people 12 or more individual meals from 7.00 of chicken. Also got pork spare ribs for 6.00 will feed us 6 individual meals with sides like potato wedges or baked beans and green beans. That is a weeks worth of dinners for us with what I call hint and pick night which is where we eat leftovers or cereal, oatmeal, or a sandwich. No snacks in grocery cart, fresh fruit, vegetables, coffee and a package of toilet tissue, and noodles.
I also search for copycat versions of restaurant meals to keep from missing out on some favorite meals. I just cannot go I to a restaurant and pay 15 to 20.00 for a single meal and get poor customer service on top of that.
Enjoyed seeing your grocery haul and price fluctuations.
Thanks for watching
In Australia here on our last shop I had to stop myself from making too much of a scene as I watched the register tally go up and up. I'm finding most shoppers are leaving the supermarket whilst performing the art or act of receipt reading/checking. It is really becoming frightening.
It’s worrying
Yes I wish our so called Labour PM, thought along those lines, it’s getting harder, and more expensive every shop. So much for looking after the workers, it’s becoming an elites paradise..
I love that I have found your channel. It’s interesting how grocery prices differ in different places. We got some picnic items today (instead of eating at a restaurant) two apples where $2 but it was only $30 for the 4 of us to have a picnic lunch. Eating out would have been over $70. I’m definitely working to follow more of your tips. Packing a lunch to go on the weekend is something I’ll definitely need to start. However I have always packed lunches for work and school.
Thanks Naomi
I haven’t been supermarket or brand loyal since we moved to France over 15 years ago. My grocery shopping is always combined with other errands as the diesel prices here are eye watering! We have no food waste. We only shop when we need to which is fortnightly, sometimes stretches to 3 weeks. I use the love food hâte waste site to find recipes using up what’s left in the fridge.
Grew up in a rural community in the 50s. Some foods were still rationed but we always managed to have a store-cupboard for those times when things were short. Many were not so lucky.
Thanks for watching
That’s interesting adding pesto to stews. I’m making one this weekend so will try it. Thank you.
Hi Jane may I ask if you put the pesto in while the stew is cooking or add it at the end? Thanks.
Its pays to share what you already have. We mince casserole beef so that we pay 8euros per kilo for mince, I am happy to loan my mincer to my friends and neighbours so that they can do the same, its just a cheap attachment that came with our blender. My friends may have kitchen gadgets that we can occasionally use when baking and cooking to help with our cost. I recently loaned a cot when my granddaughter visited rather than buying one which helped and saved us having to buy one.
Thanks very much
Hello Jane&Michael, first of all i love your video,it is so reflective and direct. It helps me to ponder and find areas that maybe i could&would consider doing differently. For example,i no longer buy prepared cleaning products. I remember my grandmother using baking soda and lemon juice to scour the kitchen sink with. I also remember her using rubbing alcohol to clean the bathroom sink,baking soda and vinegar for cleaning the toilet,for mopping the floor she would use a bucket and a scrub brush with just a drop or two of dish soap in a pail of water. I figured if it was good enough to clean for her maybe it would work out for my cleaning. So far success and what a savings i have experienced!
Thanks for sharing
Лайк и комментарий в поддержку канала👍 thank you very much
I shop at Aldi and Kroger. Our spreadable cream cheese is around $3 US
The conversions are very helpful, thank you. We enjoy mugs of hot cocoa by the fire at night, as well. Temps here are dipping below -10 F so far tonight. The cabbage is beautiful!
Wonderful!
We too , have gravely accelerated prices on all food and necessary home supplies, Yikes!
Thank you so much for posting the Canadian conversion. It made it much more relatable to what our prices are. I haven't seen pink toilet paper since the early 80's! I used to always buy pink to match my bathroom. As far as keeping our food budget stretched, we are checking flyers, cooking more from scratch, trying more generic brands and I make most of my home cleaners. It's so discouraging to go grocery shopping.
Thanks very much
I stopped buying cleaners and now put my lemon peels or orange peels or pine branches in a mason jar and fill to top with white vinegar with lid. Let sit for a week, I will shake every once in awhile and then strain into spray bottle. Great disinfectant , eco friendly , no waste and cheap.
Thanks for sharing!!
How I wish we had some of that pink toliet paper in the USA! You're prices are overall much better than I am able to get here
Thanks for the feedback
Really interesting!
Glad you think so!
Trying to do the math and make a fair comparison. I believe your 1 kg of sugar cubes (1.75 euros) based on the exchange rates stated (1.45) is about $2.55 CDN. I am on the Westcoast of Canada and at one of my more reasonable stores for 1/2 as many (500g) we pay $3.29 CDN. More than double!
I shop at a variety of places including the farmers market and the farm shop. The worse possible thing to do is buy everything in one supermarket. They will hike the prices on staples and basics because they know a lot of people don’t shop around. It doesn’t take that much longer and I enjoy the farmers market and our local shops. Chatting with friends and neighbours I run into makes food shopping a more relaxed and sociable time.
I do my big grocery haul early in the morning on the last day of the month.
It's quiet with no crowds and I'm more energetic in the a.m.s so can be more efficient. Where I live there are many pensioners who get their check on the first day of the month so the stores get pretty crowded those first few days of the month. I avoid all that.
Good call
I look for 1/2 off sales on things nearing best-before dates and either eat right away or freeze. Shop the in-store lost leaders and look for items going on deep discount. For example, the butcher put whole chickens on sale for .99 cents per pound the other day. They’re normally $2.49 per pound. I bought 8 of them for the freezer.
Great savings
I really appreciate you including the Australian conversion 😁
I think our inflation was slow, since December it’s really noticeable now. I shop 3 stores. I’ve started to eat more vegetables - I like to buy a small bag if coleslaw for $2 and eat half with Japanese mayo and the other half I cook up with sesame oil and oyster sauce for stirfry. Fruit I just buy what is on sale. I also went through my freezer and I’m using up all the old meat and lots from my stockpile (as mine is a lil too big).
Thanks for sharing!
I'm doing the same with the coleslaw & Japanese mayo and eating out of the freezer. I wish our prices were the same as Jane pays in France.
I am trying (unsuccessfully!) to eat less sweets. Thank you for the video! Have a fabulous week!
You got this!
Very interesting to compare the prices. Here where i live (in the Middle East) what is available locally has not increased substantially, but as we import a lot from Europe and elsewhere, these prices have shot up immensely, more than 50-60 %. But in comparison I feel its still a decent level here if you stay away from import goods. I can get a full chicken from here (1-1.2 kg) for 4 EUR, I can get 30 medium eggs for 4 EUR, locally produced veg is cheap, a bundle of spinach is a few dirhams, less than a EUR, a big bunch of parsley the same, potatoes can get for like 2 EUR for 3 kgs, onions around 2 EUR for 5 kg. All these prices are the same for the last 10 years or as long as I recall. Cucumbers for like 1 EUR a kg or local tomatoes as well. In comparison tomatoes imported from Holland go for 7-8 EUR a kg! The difference is crazy! Lower quality minced meat that is frozen and not fresh but works great for spaghetti sauce and the likes is only like 1.25 EUR for 400 g pack. But then on the opposite end of the spectrum are as I said imports, European brand mayonnaise Knorr for example the smallest one I think around 200 ml is now like 3 EUR. Hence I started making my own mayo. Oil went up a little but its still cheaper than buying ready mayonnaise. Milk went up quite a bit too. Generally everything imported from Europe is extremely expensive, I remember turkeys from Ireland around Thanksgiving were like 100 EUR for a 5 kg bird. I personally do not spend any more on our grocery budget than I did a year ago, but I suppose most people do. I buy when there are offers and as I cook everything from scratch and use local products mostly, I can kind of bypass the most inflated items. Love your videos!
Thanks very much
G'day Jane & Mike Would like to thank you for the monetary conversations on your food shop in this video. We thought it very thoughtful and it was much appreciated
Our pleasure!
It's summer here in New Zealand, so I'm able to supplement most of our veggies from the garden. We also have chickens which helps. I stock a deep pantry, and we definitely have more vegetarian and vegan meals in our repertoire these days. I make what I can from scratch.
That's great!
Thanks for the conversions, Jane - it really puts the prices in perspective - and OUCH, our prices are getting bad here in Australia but gosh - yours are eyewatering! I'm really focusing hard on wasting less because that's something I absolutely can control. I'm cooking smaller portions to avoid leftovers that might go to waste - unless I specifically plan a use for that leftover. For example, I made extra polenta and sliced and breaded it the next day as part of the evening meal (first try - and oh yum!). I'm shopping at the end of the day because that's when they do the markdowns. I too scour the catalogues online and plan my shopping accordingly. I try not to stress about it - which is hard. My parents went through some very tough times, as have my husband and I, and looking out for the positives can make a big difference. Your puppies at the end always make me smile!!
Thanks for watching
I built a deep pantry. Now I am using the stocked food with the perishables to create meals. That deep pantry helped to lock in lower prices. Then I can wait on offers to shop.
I don't buy a lot of toiletries because I use mostly vinegar and baking soda. I stocked up on soap.
I have a little bit of wiggle room.
Sounds great!
Steak tartare!!! Glorious when made right, when at Cote Brasserie.
I have started having a farm meat box delivered , about monthly. It is probably slightly more £ more per kg but its bloody lovely stuff! There is a variety of weights to buy so I'm not trying to use up excess, and I'm supporting farmers which I think is really important.
I don't waste any of it; I can buy a single 100g steak if needed, along with
Really interesting things like mutton, venison and amazing bacon.
Once delivered, I decide what meal Ill make with each item and what other ingredients are needed.
That is then the basis of my shopping list, which is on the fridge, along with the meal list.
I'm also looking in the store cupboard at the tins and packets and using them up; no point in storing money in the cupboard and buying more !
Many thanks for your well planned videos, they're a real pleasure.
I live in rural Ontario. I do a once of month grocery stock up at Costco in Ottawa. My daughter gets a free card from my membership. With my and her grocery buying, the rebate cheque at the end of the year pays for our membership fees! So I can then get the cheapest lactose-free milk that I can find. I do look at the more local cheap store flyer (akin to Walmart) called Giant Tiger, and I design a nutritious menu from what's on sale as an exercise in frugality. I will buy from them if I need to, to round out the food order from Costco, but I do this because I might one day have to give up Costco as a place to go to, because I'm getting older, and who knows if I'll be able to drive that far in the future. My local shop is a 10 km bike ride. I give myself $50/per week Canadian dollars to design a menu from them. So far, I have been able to do so. But as time goes on, I'll probably have to up it to $60. Silly little game that I play, trying to see how far a dollar can go!
Thanks very much
Thank goodness for the freezer! I just gave mine a quick tidy.
GM from Edwardsville Illinois near St Louis Missouri. I love all your vids - but I find myself waiting at the end now each time to see those sweet babies! Too Cute! Smart idea picking up extra. I’ve been doing it since September 2021. Things in the US are beyond ridiculous now. I retired early also, in 2021. Basically in the same situation as you and Mike, but single. I do work a little part time job to keep my mind going and a bit of pocket money. I have two poodles and one of them growls when he sees your pups 🤣. I told him he’s just jealous because they are too sweet! Enjoy your week, dear🌷
Thanks, I stock up
When I have spare budget
We are retirees also. Not only are food costs shooting up but medical costs and prescriptions are really going up. I am currently juggling the budget for February to make it all work. We have definitely reduced our shopping trips to save money. One thing that helps us is having a dedicated freezer to keep extra meat and frozen vegetables in. It is much bigger than what I see people utilizing in the U.K. I also review all sales and offers at the grocery every week. We are now only shopping every two weeks.
No medical or prescriptions bills here except our taxes
Hi there from Oklahoma, USA. We shop a lot the way you did there. However, we DO have a stockpile (several 😆) & a lot of it can be traced back to the Great Depression era. We learned then that life can hit you in so many directions, whether job loss, illness, etc that it really does pay to have a stockpile of food & other resources to help you get by until things are better. Usually, we shop at several stores depending on what’s available to us, especially close by. I love Winco, but they are so far away from us & I prefer to stay in my area (or areas I will be in normally) & the only time I venture out towards 1 of the 2 Winco’s in our greater area (easily 30 minutes away or 50 minutes away for the nicer one). So I usually go to Crest or Homeland (loss leaders only) or Costco or Sam’s (big warehouse stores that you pay a fee for but we only buy certain items at each one), & RARELY Aldi’s unless it’s NOT produce because you’ll be lucky if their produce lasts 24 hours after you buy it. It’s terrible & I refuse to pay for something that is rotten in a day. We have an App called Flipp that you can put in to see what is on sale (NOT JUST FOOD) & you can even put in the search engine what you are looking for ~ hammer, bananas, etc. & if any is on sale or even mentioned, it will bring up all the ads that have that available, including the price for how much (a lb (sorry, a pound), a package, each, etc. I’ve heard quite a few of the other MUCH BIGGER CITIES (NY, California area, etc) that have apps for getting food free or close to it otherwise it will go in the trash. We don’t have that … yet. Someday maybe. You’d be surprised what you can freeze!😂 1 kitchen fridge that also has a freezer, then 1 fridge & 1 freezer in our garage. Except for the extra fridge in the garage, all the rest are packed. Extra fridge does hav things in it but it’s not packed.
Oh & we have a family of 3 at home (all the time), & we homeschool the 8 year old. We do try to keep a good stockpile not just for us but also our oldest son (26) & his girlfriend, in case they need help at all (son has gone ‘shopping’ in mom & dad’s stockpile before… a few times when life tried to kick them down to gutter), as well as any family or friends that need help. Anytime we realize we have food that’s still in date but we don’t like it, (unless someone has said they needed food) I take it to the food pantry I am privileged to work at. We are not allowed to give out of date food (even a day late), so if it’s something that we believe it’s something we can eat past the “Best Buy date” etc. then one of the workers can take it home, otherwise it goes into the trash.
Thanks for watching
Good morning from Australia
Hello there!
I shop bi-monthly at Winco - a store in some of the larger cities in the western USA. Winco does not print flyers, or run ads, nor does it have an on-line presence. You will find sales in the store but no "yellow" stickers. All of that keeps their costs very low. It is also owned by the employees - which is always a great thing. They have a great area of the store that is for bulk purchases so you can buy only as much as you need - so if trying a new recipe with a new spice you can literally buy just the teaspoon of that spice you need until you know if you will make that recipe again.
Thanks Kris
We love WinCo! Last week they had quite a bit of marked down pork chops, close to $1 per lb.!
Our local grocery store here in Texas is HEB & they have a bulk food area. I always get my spices there if they have what I need. I keep my old spice containers and refill them. I got enough Italian herb mix to fill my old container for about 50 cents.
Great video.
Glad you enjoyed it
What a beautiful home
Thanks very much
I live in Alberta and food is expensive here. I now check all three of my nearest stores for their weekly flyers and now check the prices of everything that I buy. Thanks for all your great tips and recipes. I live alone so find it really hard to cook for myself. I only have a very small fridge /freezer so storage is difficult! I am learning to cook!!
Thanks for sharing
I'm from Alberta too! Sherwood Park near Edmonton. The food is crazy expensive and even the flyers don't have much on sale like they used to. Nice to see you here! :)
I too am in Alberta. I've been mostly shopping at No Frills and most of my stuff is the no name brand. I've got my budget down to $150 per month. It's just me and I eat plant based only.
@@ingridmarsden8866 Thanks I will check her out.
I make my own cream cleanser it's cheap and no nasty chemicals it works well on sinks and the bath
1 cup bi carb/baking soda
1 tsp liquid glycerine (found at supermarket or pharmacy)
Add Enough liquid dishwashing detergent to make a paste. Keep in a recycled jam jar and use 1 tsp per use
I wanted to share to help others save money 💰😊🇦🇺
Thanks for sharing!!
Love your channel and linked you in my description (new Frugal February video) as an inspiration. Pity that in the actual video I said "Princess" instead of "Queen" haha!
Thanks for sharing. Good luck with frugal February. Today’s video might be a help for you too.
I once read that it is very important to stick to your weekly budget - even if it means that you are unable to take advantage of many offers or sales. It is easy to get swept up by sales, and then overspend weekly "in order to save money". I took note of the fact that you did not stock up on sale items until you were certain that you had money left over at the end of the month. Very wise!
Thanks Katie
I don’t buy fabric softener, as I don’t believe it does anything but scent your clothes. In fact, my towels became softer when I stopped using it! I add a few drops of essential oils to my final rinse if I want scent, as on the sheets wash.
Shopping wise, locally we have Lidl and Sainsburys, 6mls away we also have Waitrose and Morrisons. Our main shops are at Morrisons and Lidl. I go very occasionally to Waitrose for some dairy free items (vegan) as more choice,. I also go to B&M snd Home Bargain and top up with tinned goods. I got a jar of tiger balm at one recently for £1, wishing I bought more as I’d usually £7.99!
Thanks for watching
I'm only going to my local grocery store that sells only food not going to Walmart anymore as there's more temptation with the clothes ,toys etc .....also not shopping with kids if they are not going to cooperate with the concept of only getting food on sale so we have no squabbles in the store
Good idea
Bonjour from Quebec! I use a budget. I do stock up on lost leaders. I rarely go out for dinner or order in.
Love that!
Enjoyed the video. Prices here in the United States have gone up so much. I am blabbergasted each time I shop! We have been stretching our meat to where we are turning what we use to eat in1 meal to 3 meals. I think we really haven't noticed the difference in the casseroles. That has helped . I shop sales and am no longer a brand snob. I buy generic items to try and if they are just as good I will continue to buy them in the future as long as they are less expensive. One thing I have noticed is the generic brands are the first to leave the shelves nowadays as before you could always find the generic.
That’s hard
@@FrugalQueeninFrance It is but I am thankful I can eat and also help others. The older folks here seem to be the ones suffering here.
From the Netherlands here! I do a lot of similar things like you: check the offers, take store brand when it’s cheaper, stock up on things I use often when they’re on offer.
Next to that I do 2 other things: 1. I buy most meat directly from the farmers as the taste is way better and the price the same as the supermarket. We eat less meat but better quality.
2. Use the ‘too good to go’ app. In supermarkets you often get a bag with minimum value €15,- for €5,-. It depends on the supermarket what they put in it, so it’s always assessing whether you want to go back to a specific place based on 1-2 try-outs
Thanks so much
I always check the advertisements from our local shops. After that, I make a weekly meal plan with recipes matching the offers - and I stick to it. Secondly I reduce the amount of meat in the recipes and increase the amount of vegetables. When there are real good offers, I use my "special-offer-budget" to stock up on these things.
That's a great idea!
I usually try and get meat when it’s yellow sticker but I’m finding the meat is now so expensive that the reduced items are not such a bargain any more
Thanks for sharing, I find it so inteesting to see the differences between prices in different countries. Some things are higher here (US) other ae significantly lower. I also compare the on-line sales flyers of three different stores, which are all very near to each other to see what is on sale at which store and then shop accordingly.
Thanks for watching!
I noticed yesterday that skin lotion is around $10 now. They use to be $5 or less. I've been home bound due to an injury for 2 months and just started going out to shop. Been eatting off my stock pile. And was shocked by the prices. 😮 Going to do a mini stock shop too.
That’s expensive. We buy Cerave here for 7€
We only buy what we need and look for short dates, which are usually discounted. We've swapped to roll on deodorant from spray, which is a big saving. I don't enjoy shopping now, it's quite challenging and stressful.
Thanks for sharing!!
I'm in the US and think your prices are still good. Even with the conversion rate, your prices are good. You may not be used to the current prices, but for us in the US your prices are still very good. I shop at Aldi, Walmart, Winco and the dollar stores. The savoy cabbage is beautiful ! Very nice grocery haul Well done ! Thanks for sharing 🥰🌷❄☃💗✝
Thanks for watching
I thought the same thing. Most everything that was purchased in the video is more expensive in the US. I live in NY on Long Island and shop Lidl, BJ’s and Costco.
I normally do my grocery shopping fortnightly but stretched it out to 3 weeks this time and only spent an extra $40 on top of what I would normally spend. I will be doing that from now on as it will save me hundreds over the year. I have been making an effort to use up what I have in the cupboard and freezer and it is summer here so our garden is feeding us as well. Thanks for all the great tips and keep up the good work, it is much appreciated in these hard times!
Thanks for sharing
I think you got some real deals; with the exception of the butter. I appreciate your conversions. The U.S. dollar does not go as far as it used to.
I remember when the UK £ used to buy two US dollars.
Note on U.S. price comparison. In the U.S. many states add sales tax on top, which can be as high as 7%. Most states have sales tax on at least some food items. Where I live there is sales tax on soda, candy, cookies, and on all house-hold items.
Thanks very much
In Tennessee sales tax is on all food items.
@@marianlinden9736 We live in Kentucky. Our sales tax is 6%.
hi from new Zealand my budget 100-week prices are high potatoes and eggs are 7dollers a dozen and we have a shortage of eggs in some areas. meat is high. use cheaper cuts .and only have meat 3 times a week .reason there is a shortage of eggs is we no longer have caged chickens, only free range or cage free . meat can be up to 32 dollars kg
That’s expensive. Sorry to hear that
We shop similarly. Usually at the Aldi next to my place of employment or the Netto near our house.
Almost all store brand except if the brand is cheaper.
We put the amount budgeted for groceries into a seperate wallet each month. So when we are shopping, we can clearly see how much is left.
Great way to shop
This was a very helpful episode. I managed to come under budget this week and last, and I want to stock up on things we will need later. Lots of good ideas here.
To come under budget this month, we've settled on less expensive snacks, swapped brands of tea and milk (half the price of og), and purchased sale meats to repackage for later.
Wonderful!
Thankyou so much for putting all the price conversions in !
Our pleasure!
We try to eat seasonally, check offers and only buy extra if we have the budget and the items have a long shelf life.
Thanks very much
Love the tip about pesto in soups. Wow. Will definitely try this. We make all our meals at home and that would be a nice change in this cold (soup!) Weather
Hope you enjoy
Brilliant ♥️
Cheers Stu
Hello from your regular viewer...enjoyed watching as always.
Awesome! Thank you!
My friend has been taking me shopping for the last few weeks and we’ve been horrified at how much things are going up in price week on week! We both wanted a whole chicken on sat so we picked up the cheaper “value” chickens. My friend just picked 1 up & walked away. I rummaged to the back and picked up the heaviest bird I could find. I checked the 2 birds and mine was 2 kilos heavier than my friends. The same price for both mind you! I showed her the difference then got her a heavier 1 too. She had no idea that these shops do this kind of thing and make extra money from unsuspecting customers. I ALWAYS look for the heavier item! I managed to get Beef cheeks in the reduced fridge so I grabbed a pack for the freezer. Beef bourguignon for me next week! Yum! Not had beef for months! Thanks for the great video. X
Thanks for watching
To save Money I Measure everything now so not to use more than what's needed also I cut My Dish Detergent with Water... if you look at the Bottles they are mostly Concentrated so when you pick up the bottle and give a Squirt into the Dish water you are already using to much so I cut it and it Cleans just as Good . Cooking from Scratch on everything also Saves Money ...
I use half the laundry liquid suggested too
💗 your tips. Surprised to hear we are cost comparative to France. I try to stock up on the best in store deals also. Usually the big chain stores can offer better quality produce & some frozen than our local store. But before Thanksgiving they had superb specials and I scooped them up. 😊 💗🤗& happiness from the 🇺🇸.
Thanks for sharing!!
I love the pink toilet paper!
Thanks
Do you grow your own potatoes? I have done it and it was a great way to save money. I might try again
Like you, we watch the ads before we shop. But we also look for unadvertised markdowns and in the discount bins. Happily, some chickweed started growing in the flower bed. I added some to leftover stew and some to a stir fry. It tastes a bit like corn.
Thanks very much
Carrots, celery, potatoes, onions, and winter greens average near me, $ 1.00 USD per pound or Less so we a lot of these items!
Keeps it simple and healthy too 🥗
Bless you all and keep warm 🌟💛🌟
Thanks very much
I really like your tile backsplash. I have to remodel my kitchen. My home is filled with all the treasures I purchased in Paris in the 1980's. I was stationed in the UK and I had 10 days off per month. I'd haunt the back street markets for all my home decor. When I say I like "French Country" it is NOT the American version. The tiles for my kitchen are the last thing I need to buy. I will plan a project, then purchase what I need as I find it. This saves $1000's on a project. I'm glad I'm not the only frugal person in the World.
Thanks so much
I read the ads and then make my weekly meal plan off of the specials. I sometimes go to up to 4 different stores to get the best deals on what we need.
Thanks Julie
Same! 💚🇦🇺
Many people underestimate the uses of pork broth. Any time I cook pork of any type I save the broth. It's a very good base
for minestrone soup, for bean soup, for gravy, for casseroles. It makes a good broth to cook cabbage. I put the pork drippings/broth in the refrigerator overnight, then skim off the fat before using it.
Thanks very much
Hi Jane and Michael. Greetings from NYC To save I have learned to make a few items. Like bread, mayonnaise and sour cream I wish I had chickens. Eggs are very expensive.
They certainly are
I love your shopping trips and comparing prices. Yours are still better than ours. Our burger (mince) is $8 lb, CDN. So glad that I pressure canned pasta sauce with the meat last year, and when the beef in the freezer is gone, we'll be eating more salmon and chicken, eggs and beans, which will be more affordable because we live close to a river, have a garden and chickens. But there's been hefty increases in other areas, property taxes, for example, so frugality will not be flying out the window.
Thanks for sharing
@@FrugalQueeninFrance It was good to look back and compare prices now. Oh my goodness. Our mince has gone down to $6 lb, but the vegetables are more expensive. Seldom is anything less than $2 lb, even potatoes are $1.25 in bulk. That head of cabbage would be close to five dollars.
I have been working on our budget for living and have now streamlined it inclusive of fuel and pet needs we are now spending $500. Aust dollars a month. For just me and hubby, a dog and cat. Very close to your budget.
I manage it by shopping like this. Week one is Groceries $200. Week 2 fuel $100, week 3 meat from the butcher plus fruit and veg $150. And week 4 $50 fruit n veg which includes 6 litres of milk. Hubby loves his milk and we go through 6 litres every 4 days. Gotta work on that one.
You can do it!
We purchase bread, 2.75 ltr. soda, sandwich bags, shampoo, body wash, for $1.25 each. Freezing leftovers individually. We purchase toilet tissue and canned fruit & veggies by the case. Meal prepping
and Meal planning saves us. TY Jane. Nice video.
Thanks for sharing!!
I am in Ohio, USA. I am astounded by the prices now a days. I paid 4.89 for a dozen eggs just yesterday. Our family doesn't have eggs for breakfast now, I only use them in baking. We also have cut down portions of meat, stretching it with pasta or vegetables. Now a days, I look at the price before I look at the product to see if I want it. I am also looking for recipes to make my own mixes and herb blends, like my own Mexican blend, and a "cream of something" soup mix. Much more cost effective. Oh and I have a homemade soup every week. That lasts us for one dinner and 2 lunches per week.
Sorry to hear that and thanks for sharing
Our eggs are 4.59 a dozen. But, I can usually find some sort of chicken on sale (legs quarters are currently 49 cents/pound . I guess it averages out in the long run. Great stock up haul.
Thanks
Eggs here are 6-12 a dozen usa southeast
Thank you for your very interesting videos! What I do is I am trying to limit how many times I go to the grocery store each month, so I will stay within budget, and I am refraining from buying eggs at $5 or $6 a dozen (cheapest brand) currently. Have a blessed day. From Maria and Mike in SC
Thanks for sharing!!
Loved the puppy photo bomb!!!
Last week, our local grocery store was selling whole chicken for .77 cents a pound. It was a jackpot for me, bought 5 whole chickens and stored them in my freezer to use for family meals. Now I have 5 monthly family meals covered. It was a great sale on chicken that I haven’t seen in almost 2 years. I told my families about it, hope they took advantage of it.
Oh wow!
I really find these shopping hauls fascinating, the products and the prices. I always think the fruit and veg look amazing. I bought a Savoy cabbage a few days ago as the broccoli was so expensive but it was just under £1 and sat in the palm of my (quite small) hand. I have also been buying more pork shoulder, lovely sweet meat, and saw you got some really good prices on yours. When I went to the dentist a couple of months ago I asked her about toothpaste and the cheaper tubes on offer. She told me to look for a certain %age fluoride - sorry, rather unhelpfully I can't remember the amount , unless I read one of the tubes upstairs! - so as long as that hits the mark then all good. And I do love a bit of "controversial" toilet paper!
We are planning a trip to France after my son finishes his exams - the North, Normandy, then Brittany or Mayenne - so this price information is really helpful in giving me a basic starting point for our budget I'm costing up travel and accommodation so will see how much room we have after that.
Enjoy your trip
I work...so I fix sausage biscuits for breakfast. I baked 2 cans of biscuits (20), eggs @ 1.99 from Rulers, and sausage from the freezer I bought a few weeks back @$2 a roll at Rulers. 68 cents a biscuits, all cooked, individually wrapped and in the freezer. Prices are higher every trip to the store. When something is on sale. I buy a lot...no sale, no buy. I can now get farm fresh eggs @ $2 a dozen.
Thanks very much
Hi Jane,
With your fabulous garden. Do you grow your own veg. I have an allotment which keeps my shopping bill down. I use teabags twice always can get another cuppa out of one. Enjoying your channel.
Catch up on the videos to see just that
My father was born in morbihan. The ancestry dna came back high percentage british. Only 7% french. He passed away 10 years ago. I enjoy listening to your channel. Only visited france one time and that was 30 years ago. Mostly saw the sights of Paris and le louve. Family lived in Paris and could get fresh bread and veggies every day if they wanted them.
Would love to know more about dna results... but france does not allow the testing.
Take care. Enjoy watching your channel.
Thanks very much
I like Lidle my favorite grocery store.
For UK fans of your channel, I'd like to recommend looking in Superdrug and Boots for 'specials' on anti-perspirants. There's almost always some kind of deal, the best being half-price. If you want a particular one it might not always be so good, but if you don't mind what brand you have, the saving is really well worth it.
The cien anti perspirants in
Lidl uK and the lacura in Aldi are fantastic
Saw a great idea for a quilt+ thought of you Jane. A woman bought men’s shirts at charity shops (solids, stripes, plaids). Looked like cotton fabric cut in 5 or 6 inch squares. The stripes were in different directions and each square had a button from the shirt sewn in the center of each square. My try this idea myself.
Love this idea, I have a bunch of shirts from my late husband that would work.
Great idea!!
Hi Jane and Mike
To keep prices down I shop around. I Buy my fruit and vegetables from the markets. Asian grocery is good for sauces and spices etc
I shop at aldi alot and I eat in season. I have fruit trees so I sometimes swap a bucket of plums and peaches for eggs and other fruit like grapes. And I am not fussy.
Cheers Leesa
Sounds great!
We buy protein in bulk. 1/2 a beef, 15 chickens, and a pig. It’s a lot to shell out, but cheaper and more delicious in the long run. I freeze dried 4 dozen eggs when the price was $1.55 US at Aldis. We are still eating our home canned peaches, green beans, and potatoes. The garden carrots are done. We still have some garden garlic. My husband is starting another bunch of spinach under the grow lights in the cellar. I shop with a list and we eat what we want. No manufactured junk. I’m too picky. I dislike people eating fast food. Be well! 💙
Thanks very much