As frugal as you both are I am so surprised you get judgement comments. Enjoy those cookies with your hot beverage whilst deleting mean comments. You help many of us and are appreciated!
I agree! The money you save processing all that wood for your heating well outweighs the little bit you spend on a few cookies or bottles of a beverage you like to drink in the summer or any other beverages you purchase. I'm really surprised that anyone begrudges you these few treats that you do by yourselves. You clearly take care of all of your necessities and contributed to significant amount for savings into your budget and you still manage to stay in your food budget while buying these few extras so I would just skip right on over any comments like that or I'm sure it is quite easy for you to block someone if they get too awful. Hello to the adorable Mary & Dolly!
People who make rude toxic comments make me cross. I was brought up to believe if you had nothing nice to say don’t say anything but I do find today some people are down right rude and have no manners. People say it’s sign of the times but it is not right. Rude aggressive people should not be tolerated and their parents should be ashamed of the way they allowed them to turn out. Good manners cost nothing. I refuse to interact with people like that and if I had comments like that I would just delete them, I would not react as that makes them think they have got the better of you.
I am doing similar. I had gone full tinfoil hat and stashed food away for the apocalypse - only to realise stuff was going over date and potentially being wasted or less good quality. So we're eating down stores and spending as little as possible!
I’ve finally come to the conclusion that things like canned soup are just fine. I have a busy schedule and if it keeps me from getting carry out (take away) or hitting the drive thru, it’s just fine. Even a can of ready to eat soup (not condensed) that is $3 is still cheaper and healthier than fast food. Same with instant coffee.
Endeavour to batch cook stews while using as little meat as you can and freeze. I freeze in glass jars (jam jars). NEVER fill jars to the top since any liquids expand in the freezing process. Take out of freezer the night before and you have a meal only requiring heating, saving gas/electricity. If vegetarian cooking use, chilli flakes/ condiments to enhance flavours.
Great deal on those peaches. And the grain breads here are $6 or more, so good price for the special bread. Buying all of those specialty ingredients to make that bread would be extremely expensive and then you would need to use it quickly so it won't go bad. Being frugal doesn't mean that we owe anyone an apology for when we choose to buy something that simplifies our life today, or that we just plain want!! It's not their money.😊
I agree that there has been a big shift in this in the last 18 months. I had previously stocked up when things have been on offer prior to the massive inflation we have seen. For example I stocked up on Olive oil when it was £4 and it has increased 50 percent plus, when interest on savings were less than 1 percent. Now we are back to offers all the time on and off, and prices are stabilising, so there is less advantage of 'buying to save money'.
I've been ":shopping" the larder/ freezer/ pantry/ cellar and I've kept a note of costs. I have been advance planning for food and decided to shop alternate weeks instead of every week. This was our in-between week and we spent just short of 33 euros. What is most interesting is that the biggest proportion of the shop was from our home stores, and added together, our "bill" for groceries/ animal feed and household items (cleaning etc) was 40 % less than usual. Not quite the half you achieved, but still, I was delighted with that. Our 33 euro shop involved a cat food stock up so if you deduct that, we spent even less at the shops. I have our meal plan in place to reflect what we've got to hand, and I am aiming to spend half of what we've been spending weekly. As an aside, we've just sorted out better shelving for storage that's also helped a lot. The last big job is to update and log our supplies (lots have changed location)The 40 % saving allowed us to gift a litre of good olive oil to friends plus take 3 bottles of wine to friends also. . Thanks for sharing. PS- I see good pork is settling down to around 6 euros per kilo now in France- Happy Days!
Jane, I have become addicted to your videos, lol. I also need to spend less money on food, I overbuy, not because I am building up a stock but out of habit. Meal planning and shopping with a list helped me reduce my grocery bill. My next step is to integrate what I already have into my meal planning and buy only what's missing.
Love your supermarket visits. Interesting to compare goods and prices with what we have here in New Zealand . The government have just signed a new trade agreement with the EU so it will be interesting to see if we get more goods from Europe. I find it a bit of an oxymoron, we are trying to reduce our carbon footprint but we import the most basic things eg biscuits ftom Holland and pikelets from Australia and cream cheese ftom USA when we already produce and export those same goods from here just to fullfil our free trade obligations.
Enjoy your channel, lots of interesting info and just enjoy seeing your life so far away. I'm in the U.S. I have always been a listmaker, budgeter and thrift shopper but after being widowed a few years ago, my income was cut in half so I had to be more careful. At 70 I no longer care about my clothing size but did decide to lose weight for my health. According to research I have done they have found whatever diet you follow, the people who live the longest eat less food and so Ive lost 70 lbs so far and i'm still going. The easiest thing for me was to fast ( which also has great health benefits) so I usually fast a couple days a week (one day at a time) except for holidays and vacation . I eat whatever i want on my eat days but mostly eat healthy meals made at home. An unexpected benefit has been spending less money on food. I plan to cut my fasts down to one day a week or every other week once i reach my goal weight. Keep up the good work. You have a lovely home.
I too have over bought for my stockpile, and it’s only me here! I love seeing your grocery purchases. The packaging and prices are so different than ours.
ITS summer, you have a wonderful garden to enjoy. Great idea the bolognese sauce and everything that can keep you out of the kitchen. When winter arrives you will have time to cook. Jane and Mike enjoy your beautiful garden with those furry babies. Happy summer from Spain. ❤
I don't meal plan before shopping. I do check the pantry and refrigerator. But if I make meal plans before shopping, then many of the meats or fish are not on sale. So I go to the store, and buy what's on sale, and then make meals out of those items. Of course, I've been cooking for 50 years, so I can make a decent meal out of most anything.
@@FrugalQueeninFrance : our stores raise prices then create a "sale". The sale price is what they should charge in the first place. Thanks for your great presentations. USA
You got some great deals. I find it interesting on how similar items here in Canada are packaged so differently there and often the ingredients you have are of a much higher quality than here. It is such a shame people nit pick on purchasing premade items. In my humble opinion, there is nothing wrong in purchasing bread, cookies and the like. For those who grumble about what you buy with your money, I would like to see their cupboards. Bet there are lots of premade items in them. Have a great day
We discovered we have too much in our pantry and freezer to be able to buy more. So we are eating it down until we have a couple weeks worth of food instead of many months worth. Our children don't come to visit as often so it's just the 2 of us. Being elderly we don't eat a lot so it's just becoming too much. It helps spread the available money around to other areas where prices have gone up drastically. And today we bought a new to us car, so we want to put more money back in the bank to replace what was taken out for the car purchase.
Totally agreed. Ive builted up my pantry. Going to market just to get fruit, cheese, coffee/water (for my son). I'm cooking a roast chicken, leftover quinoa, spinach/leeks.
We do the same thing, Jane. We will have a back up or two of an item, but we don't keep a large stockpile of foods. Other than, during hurricane season. We keep a small stockpile non perishables for that. Then when we pass up hurricane season, we re-absorb it back into our normal pantry supplies.
Excellent video Jane. I like to meal plan, helps with anxiety. And my list, it's good to follow, so I have what I need. I am a one person household and one pet. Doing what I can. Thank you for what you do🌻
I am always fascinated with your shopping hauls. I can't remember the last time I could buy a load of bread for under $2 and those peaches were terrific. I just paid $3.99 a pound and, yes, they were a great and I only got 3! I wish people didn't feel like the rest of us want to see their nasty comments. Thank goodness most of appreciate your hard work and good advice.🌹I am in Western Oregon USA, and I do mostly go for organic fruits and many veggies, and only have me that I mostly cook for so I know that makes me very fortunate. I honestly don't know how people with families feed their own given the rise in prices. I have noticed 25 to 30% increase in goods so they are not going in my cart unless there is no option! I also and eating through my freezer and pantry. 😎
The flat peaches look interesting! I've never seen those. We always buy peaches to can or freeze from a local Amish store. The peaches come from Southern Illinois or the Bootheel of Missouri area. This year they lost 95% of their crop due to a late freeze. The owner of the Amish store said they were not taking orders this year because of the much-increased cost. I still have a few jars left from last year and I think they will be used for special occasions! We got a call from the lady who owns the store earlier this week and she was taking orders for sweet cherries....$28 for a 28 pound box! They were overstock from a grocery distributor. I split a box with my daughter-in-law. They are delicious! I put up 12 pints of cherry jam and syrup. Like you, there are just two of us, but we do have a lot of company. I watch what I spend and buy only what we need, unless there is a really good deal! Thanks for sharing your life in France.
We also ended up with too much food! I am eating from the freezer for a second week and will then just shop for one week at a time! I have always done this with a meal plan and a list!
This is the first video of yours I've seen, and I'm happy TH-cam decided to show it to me! I've been trying to be more frugal with groceries, but most creators I've found make tons of freezer meals and canned foods. I live alone and don't need a year's worth of food in my freezer. This video has validated my idea of being frugal, by not buying more than I need. I look forward to your future videos!
How interesting to see your hauls! I live in Canada and the prices are quite similar - granted I only go to cheaper stores, liquidation sales and factory outlets. I cannot wait for your cheaper hauls - also super nice you broke down the prices for your international audience ❤
Here in the States, we usually have a choice of block cheese or shredded, of the sale price. Maybe that’s why people wonder about your buying the shredded over block. Fabulous price on the peaches! Your food is ‘cleaner’ in Europe which is sooo nice! Fewer chemicals and GMO’s and who knows what nasties. ack! And, Sensodyne really is the only toothpaste that works for people with intense sensitivity issues! I’ve tried them all!
Making your zucchini fritter recipe (that you taught us last summer) for dinner tonight. I’m using up shredded zucchini from the deep freezer, another week or two and I’ll be getting fresh ones from the garden.
I bake our bread and most dessert or snacking treats also, but in the summer heat? I often buy bread until it gets cooler again, or I might bake if we have a rainy weekend. Even though I regularly bake cookies, I love Speculos cookies… they are just yummy! Definitely should not be given any grief over buying things on occasion.
Thank you for sharing your perspective and strategy! Many people are pretty well stocked up. Planning menus is calming! Helps us to prepare ahead, and make good decisions!
I like the idea of meal planning first, then buying, especially in summer when one often doesn’t want a heavy meal. Speaking of price increases I am on a yearly average electric bill so no big swings in the rate. I just got my notice and my bill has increased by 49%.
Thanks Jane and Mike. Another interesting video. We are doing a similar thing, trying to eat mostly from the freezer and pantry. Like you, I would like to defrost the freezer and start restocking before the winter.
Enjoyed seeing your supermarket haul! I like the idea of jam sugar! I have never seen any here in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania,USA. Lidl has good prices here and so do Aldi’s. I find when I buy less and less often that I am more creative in the kitchen. Thank you for all your inspiring posts! I appreciate each and every one of them!
Sh we could get Jam Sugar here in the USA. We have to buy the sugar plus the pectin. Both are getting so expensive its almost cheaper to buy jam and preserves in the store.
Like you, I have a stockpile, so I am only buying fresh fruit and vegetables, dairy products, and very occasionally meat. I still feel rather beat up when I leave the supermarket, as if someone has robbed me. After visiting my sister in another state recently, where prices are considerably lower, I am tempted to shop there for my shelf stable items.
Love your content. I do stock up as long as I can afford it. I have a working pantry albeit very large. We also have an enormous garden and can many items. If I had to I could go a good month without restocking and still be OK. On a side note I have 14 grandchildren who visit frequently and stay for dinner. So I enjoy it much and am always prepared with having a large pantry. I love knowing that if I couldn’t go shopping I’m good for several months. Have a great and blessed day.😊
Thank you Mike and Jane. As a shopper who buys out of anxiety, I am taking the bold step of shopping with a meal plan, a grocery list and "without the Jones". I can do this Take care
People are really beginning to feel the pinch, cash flow problems. I read an article that people are not just switching to cheaper brands, they are cutting back on buying altogether. The article said that lots of people are only eating two meals a day and measuring out their amount of food they do have. We haven't really been grocery shopping for a while now. Only getting the true sells now I have a big wooden bowl of fresh veggies from the garden. We will be eating most of those this week.
We actually go to a food project that takes donation for food from grocery stores that are no longer eligible for sale, and build our menu around that. We have saved so much money just doing supplemental shopping and feel good about reducing food waste.
Great video! It sounds like a much more manageable way to shop. It is stressful trying to always stock up - you need plenty of freezer space, and you have to always make sure to use the oldest items first. Some people are really good at it. I am not one of them. :)
I’ve also decided to stop having huge stocks in - it doesn’t work for me either. I’m wading through it and then going to do the use one and one spare in stock. Oh the space I will save!!
Yet another amazing video Jane and Mike - I'm still 'enjoying' my No Buy July and loved seeing how you saved money by redeeming store points. I do the same here in New Brunswick, Canada. Most times I use my Optimum Points to get a huge turkey at Christmas - loads of leftover turkey that my daughter and I share plus one of us always makes a turkey soup/stew. Not wasting a thing!! Thanks Jane - you make such a difference in our lives 💜
We are doing the same. Mealplanning and I shop once a week, I only buy what we need. these days there is less and less interesting offers in the grocery stores. I have food in the pantry, but we are rotating it. We are also eating out of the freezer. And during this cost of living crisis, and inflation, I use less meat in our recipes. When we have other meat, I slice the meat, chicken breast for example. We do not need one each. I was lucky this Friday, I ordered two bags on "TooGoodToGo", one from a grocery store, and one from 7eleven. The grocery store one was a score. A big loaf of bread, cakes, salads, a saladkit, and 2 pizzarolls. The one from 7eleven had 2 big baguettes, 3 croissants, one with chocolate, and vanilla buns. I froze a lot of the cakes, had the salad for lunches and dinner yesterday, The boys had the baguettes and some cakes throughout the weekend. I paid around £3.50 per bag. A treat for the weekend. 🙂
Not sure why, but corn starch has doubled here in the last year. I switched to potato starch and it seems to cook the same. Great haul. I need to rein it in too. Always have an on-time message. Have a great weekend!
Most corn prices are going up due to the drought last year, and Iowa got hit with a really bad storm. The price of corn chips almost doubled, my husband used to eat a lot of them. After he saw the price he won't buy them anymore.
Enjoyed your haul Jane. One thing I don't compromise on is good strong binbags . I remember trying to save a few Bob buying cheap ones ,they were dreadful .split and were like paper 😮
Jane, I'd go canny here. I'm in the grocery industry here in the USA, and I'd caution you to be aware of severe weather impact to commodity and produce crops. May get pricey going into the autumn. Have a good weekend.
I am currenntly using some of my preps as we are moving house in a few weeks. That said it is helpful financially to not have go buy much other bread, milk and veggies.
Hi Jane and Mike I feel so relaxed watching your videos thanks to you. I live on my own and I do the same regarding shopping but I buy some items to my only grandson. Yes it is an extra expense. Well thanks and take care ❤
Hi Jane and Mike, I watch all your videos. I am in South Australia. Prices have and continue to go up and up. I keep a very well stocked pantry and add any opportunity I have, also I do a fair few trades, pick road side trees... keep chickens. It is very interesting seeing your prices.
Hi Jane - I just want to tell you that I am amazed at how much cheaper your prices are than what I pay, here, in my American suburb of Cleveland, Ohio ! So surprising! 👏👍🙋♀️🥰🇺🇸‼️
Some great things there! Well done. We live in west Ireland, a lot of things are now almost double the price here, sugar has gone up from 89c to 1.69 (cheapest). Dairy - don't get me started on that or chicken or fish. Bulk isn't always the solution you're right. We learned this from having stockpiled in the pandemic, but we didn't manage to eat it all so some was given to food banks etc. 💜
Some good deals there. I cook very simple meals in the summer months and we don't mind eating the same meal two days running sometimes. Chicken and pork are good value in the UK at the moment and I also cook vegetarian once or twice per week.
Hi my best Christmases were the few years as teenager I went to the midnight service walked home with friends through the snow talking and looking at stars. The presents did not matter. This Christmas our highlight will be our grandchildren running round the house with their iPhone showing us there presents and listening to the story of what family member they will be spending Christmas with. We can very seldom spend our Christmas with them as we are down in Africa, so we will stay at home and have our Christmas lunch, not Turkey probably curry and cheese board and pâté for lunch. Merry Christmas all enjoy your Christmas
I agree on the increase of corn flour/cornstarch! Oh my! I had to buy two boxes as I was using my last box. I sorta use the same purchase rule as you. I finally found an acceptable price at LIDL for $1.49 USD. I bought two boxes!
I have a 2 year stockpile of dishwasher detergent, shampoo, soap, laundry detergent, body wash, cleaning products. Bought when it was on special. I’m sharing some of it with a friend if she needs it and my daughter and I are using it up. I’m half annoyed I have so much and half thrilled I have it to use and share, as times are increasingly tough with interest rate rises and a unexpected covid job loss. Some months it’s barebones budget food and bills only so I am happy I have this to fall back on. But, no more until this is completely used up. 2 boxes of dishwasher powder and some laundry detergent went to my friend last week as she was almost out.
Just love your awesome, educational, fun and practical tips! I'm watching your videos for a while now and learned a lot. Did not know you could get potatoes in a tin. Great tip to use margarine for baking. We just have to stop and think about what we think we need to spend money on! Indeed what is in the pantry or freezer, what can be a substitute and what grows in the garden and community garden. What I would love to see is that you add New Zealand dollars to the collection. That is where I am and I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one from NZ watching your videos. Thank you!!!!
We're having pantry and freezer surprise here until I get my stock levels down - unless I see a real genuine bargain. It's actually fun as it makes you get creative. I'm moving to your approach too Jane - less on hand, buy what you really need, which I think will lead to more control, less waste and less stress for me. Great video as always. *JANE* - do you ever make polenta? It's gluten free, cheap, and leftovers fried in a little butter means you can cook it for twice. I make it with half milk, half water and a pinch of chicken stock powder - it's really delicious!!
If someone unexpected turns up at meal time and the menu for that day is soup or stew add in a tin of chickpeas, mixed beans or butterbeans and there will be plenty for everyone.
This is how I shop, always have. I get that people prep and panic buy. but shops usually always have stuff, and bulk buying doesnt save that much, so good decision I would say. PLus, it seems to me that people can accept and deal with most of their decisions, so when you do full freezers it works but then something changes so you can try another way and also you can accept that decision before weighing up which works best.
Love those kind of peaches. Here in N. California, we call them donut peaches........ Our fig tree is loaded with figs. They don't even make it in the house... I just stand by the tree and have a snack...
I’m also eating out my freezer and trying to meal plan from there and pantry. I found rice flour that needed to be used up so I’ve been adding it to my baked goods so it’s not going to waste. No more recipes that require random ingredients I’ll get stuck with, for me! It would be interesting to see your meal plan alongside haul.
Another great video, I like to have choices in my menu plan, I am in the process of making out my grocery lists for my monthly meal plan. I am going to do grocery pick up for my staples as I am still not in control when I get into a grocery store. I also get my husband to do some of the groceries as he doesn’t buy any extras
It is hard when there are just two of you when it comes to bread. I'd buy a loaf or hamburger buns only to have them go bad before we finished them off. I now make my bread dough, leave it in the fridge and depending on what we are eating that day I just take a bit and roll it into whatever shape we need it for. Plus I know there are only 5 ingredients in it.
Bread freezes well if you freeze it on the day you buy it. Just let it defrost before eating or pop it straight into the toaster. But freshly baked is definitely a good idea and healthier
Absolutely right about Sensodyne, no substitute and non-negotiable, one of the things I'm grateful I live in modern times for. The big tubes in Lidl oftem seem the best value. I need a trip to Lidl soon, I like their in-store bakery bread, and the diy slicing machine! It's quite a long drive though, and best combined with a trip to Action, so takes some planning, and I do find it tempting to over-buy once there, so I've taken to doing your 'take a moment and reflect' before going in🤔, which seems to work🙂.
I no longer add to my pantry as I think I now have plenty of supplies to last me for the next 6 months. I am now eating my pantry and my freezers and only buy the minimum I need like milk, cheese, butter etc and ofc the odd biscuit for a treat! I am saving any money saved into an emergency fund after seeing how you two control your money. I was shocked recently to open up a bag of flour that I had stored carefully and put in a sealed container...and still I found weevils! They are obviously in the flour when you buy it so there was nothing more I could have done I suppose? That went in the bin and I went and checked all my other flours and thankfully they were all weevil free... My brother and his family are visiting from Texas for the next 3 weeks tomorrow and yet I won't change a thing...in fact it will use up my supplies that need rotating the soonest so I am happy :) The prices here in the UK are still rising and it's shocking, but I am glad I only have to cope with the rising prices on what I do buy now. Also we have a kitchen garden that's overflowing with all beans/peas/squash/potatoes/carrots/tomatoes now so I buy very little veg too, and I can't wait for when we go foraging for wild blackberries for my freezer again. Love your videos and enjoy the advice and ideas you offer and really enjoy trying some of your recipes, delicious !
I wish my Lidl by me would open up soon. I've been watching for the grand opening since winter. My sister in law has one by her home down the New Jersey shore and she loves it.
I saw a vodeo tgat showed mixing a stick of butter and 1/2 cup oil, I think, to maje spreadable butter. It's supposed to be cheaper, especially if tge stick butter was on sale.
I've got years worth of womens hygiene, probably no need to by again in my live. Toilett paper and washing products, Shampoo and soap will last at least 1,5 year. My food stock might last 3 month if I only used this without buying new stuff. Cat food maybe 6 month. This gives me some security and peace of mind.
We are not buying groceries for a couple of weeks due to a lack of funds so we are using this opportunity to use a lot of what we have stored , especially if we have had it for awhile. Im curious, have you ever been to the US?
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As frugal as you both are I am so surprised you get judgement comments. Enjoy those cookies with your hot beverage whilst deleting mean comments.
You help many of us and are appreciated!
Well said!
I agree! The money you save processing all that wood for your heating well outweighs the little bit you spend on a few cookies or bottles of a beverage you like to drink in the summer or any other beverages you purchase. I'm really surprised that anyone begrudges you these few treats that you do by yourselves. You clearly take care of all of your necessities and contributed to significant amount for savings into your budget and you still manage to stay in your food budget while buying these few extras so I would just skip right on over any comments like that or I'm sure it is quite easy for you to block someone if they get too awful. Hello to the adorable Mary & Dolly!
Agree. There seems to be a lot of what I call ‘toxic perfectionism’ about. It’s not healthy.
People who make rude toxic comments make me cross. I was brought up to believe if you had nothing nice to say don’t say anything but I do find today some people are down right rude and have no manners. People say it’s sign of the times but it is not right. Rude aggressive people should not be tolerated and their parents should be ashamed of the way they allowed them to turn out. Good manners cost nothing. I refuse to interact with people like that and if I had comments like that I would just delete them, I would not react as that makes them think they have got the better of you.
I am doing similar. I had gone full tinfoil hat and stashed food away for the apocalypse - only to realise stuff was going over date and potentially being wasted or less good quality. So we're eating down stores and spending as little as possible!
Well done!
I’ve finally come to the conclusion that things like canned soup are just fine. I have a busy schedule and if it keeps me from getting carry out (take away) or hitting the drive thru, it’s just fine. Even a can of ready to eat soup (not condensed) that is $3 is still cheaper and healthier than fast food. Same with instant coffee.
Endeavour to batch cook stews while using as little meat as you can and freeze. I freeze in glass jars (jam jars). NEVER fill jars to the top since any liquids expand in the freezing process. Take out of freezer the night before and you have a meal only requiring heating, saving gas/electricity. If vegetarian cooking use, chilli flakes/ condiments to enhance flavours.
Great deal on those peaches. And the grain breads here are $6 or more, so good price for the special bread. Buying all of those specialty ingredients to make that bread would be extremely expensive and then you would need to use it quickly so it won't go bad. Being frugal doesn't mean that we owe anyone an apology for when we choose to buy something that simplifies our life today, or that we just plain want!! It's not their money.😊
So true!
You hit the nail on the head when you said money in the bank instead of an excess in the pantry! Thank you for this.
I agree that there has been a big shift in this in the last 18 months.
I had previously stocked up when things have been on offer prior to the massive inflation we have seen. For example I stocked up on Olive oil when it was £4 and it has increased 50 percent plus, when interest on savings were less than 1 percent.
Now we are back to offers all the time on and off, and prices are stabilising, so there is less advantage of 'buying to save money'.
I've been ":shopping" the larder/ freezer/ pantry/ cellar and I've kept a note of costs. I have been advance planning for food and decided to shop alternate weeks instead of every week. This was our in-between week and we spent just short of 33 euros. What is most interesting is that the biggest proportion of the shop was from our home stores, and added together, our "bill" for groceries/ animal feed and household items (cleaning etc) was 40 % less than usual. Not quite the half you achieved, but still, I was delighted with that. Our 33 euro shop involved a cat food stock up so if you deduct that, we spent even less at the shops. I have our meal plan in place to reflect what we've got to hand, and I am aiming to spend half of what we've been spending weekly. As an aside, we've just sorted out better shelving for storage that's also helped a lot. The last big job is to update and log our supplies (lots have changed location)The 40 % saving allowed us to gift a litre of good olive oil to friends plus take 3 bottles of wine to friends also. . Thanks for sharing. PS- I see good pork is settling down to around 6 euros per kilo now in France- Happy Days!
Thanks for watching
People will say annoying things no matter what you say in the video. You are awesome. Thanks for doing this channel!
Thank you too!
Jane, I have become addicted to your videos, lol. I also need to spend less money on food, I overbuy, not because I am building up a stock but out of habit. Meal planning and shopping with a list helped me reduce my grocery bill. My next step is to integrate what I already have into my meal planning and buy only what's missing.
I watch all of them!
Wonderful!
Love your supermarket visits. Interesting to compare goods and prices with what we have here in New Zealand . The government have just signed a new trade agreement with the EU so it will be interesting to see if we get more goods from Europe. I find it a bit of an oxymoron, we are trying to reduce our carbon footprint but we import the most basic things eg biscuits ftom Holland and pikelets from Australia and cream cheese ftom USA when we already produce and export those same goods from here just to fullfil our free trade obligations.
Enjoy your channel, lots of interesting info and just enjoy seeing your life so far away. I'm in the U.S. I have always been a listmaker, budgeter and thrift shopper but after being widowed a few years ago, my income was cut in half so I had to be more careful. At 70 I no longer care about my clothing size but did decide to lose weight for my health. According to research I have done they have found whatever diet you follow, the people who live the longest eat less food and so Ive lost 70 lbs so far and i'm still going. The easiest thing for me was to fast ( which also has great health benefits) so I usually fast a couple days a week (one day at a time) except for holidays and vacation . I eat whatever i want on my eat days but mostly eat healthy meals made at home. An unexpected benefit has been spending less money on food. I plan to cut my fasts down to one day a week or every other week once i reach my goal weight. Keep up the good work. You have a lovely home.
Thanks very much
I too have over bought for my stockpile, and it’s only me here! I love seeing your grocery purchases. The packaging and prices are so different than ours.
Thanks very much
ITS summer, you have a wonderful garden to enjoy. Great idea the bolognese sauce and everything that can keep you out of the kitchen. When winter arrives you will have time to cook. Jane and Mike enjoy your beautiful garden with those furry babies. Happy summer from Spain. ❤
Thanks for the tips!
I don't meal plan before shopping. I do check the pantry and refrigerator. But if I make meal plans before shopping, then
many of the meats or fish are not on sale. So I go to the store, and buy what's on sale, and then make meals out of those
items. Of course, I've been cooking for 50 years, so I can make a decent meal out of most anything.
Our stores don’t have sales and there’s no shortages. Thanks for watching
@@FrugalQueeninFrance : our stores raise prices then create a "sale". The sale price is what they should charge
in the first place. Thanks for your great presentations. USA
You got some great deals. I find it interesting on how similar items here in Canada are packaged so differently there and often the ingredients you have are of a much higher quality than here.
It is such a shame people nit pick on purchasing premade items. In my humble opinion, there is nothing wrong in purchasing bread, cookies and the like. For those who grumble about what you buy with your money, I would like to see their cupboards. Bet there are lots of premade items in them.
Have a great day
Thanks for watching!
We discovered we have too much in our pantry and freezer to be able to buy more. So we are eating it down until we have a couple weeks worth of food instead of many months worth. Our children don't come to visit as often so it's just the 2 of us. Being elderly we don't eat a lot so it's just becoming too much. It helps spread the available money around to other areas where prices have gone up drastically. And today we bought a new to us car, so we want to put more money back in the bank to replace what was taken out for the car purchase.
Totally agreed. Ive builted up my pantry. Going to market just to get fruit, cheese, coffee/water (for my son). I'm cooking a roast chicken, leftover quinoa, spinach/leeks.
We do the same thing, Jane. We will have a back up or two of an item, but we don't keep a large stockpile of foods. Other than, during hurricane season. We keep a small stockpile non perishables for that. Then when we pass up hurricane season, we re-absorb it back into our normal pantry supplies.
Thanks very much
Excellent video Jane.
I like to meal plan, helps with anxiety.
And my list, it's good to follow, so I have what I need.
I am a one person household and one pet.
Doing what I can.
Thank you for what you do🌻
I am always fascinated with your shopping hauls. I can't remember the last time I could buy a load of bread for under $2 and those peaches were terrific. I just paid $3.99 a pound and, yes, they were a great and I only got 3! I wish people didn't feel like the rest of us want to see their nasty comments. Thank goodness most of appreciate your hard work and good advice.🌹I am in Western Oregon USA, and I do mostly go for organic fruits and many veggies, and only have me that I mostly cook for so I know that makes me very fortunate. I honestly don't know how people with families feed their own given the rise in prices. I have noticed 25 to 30% increase in goods so they are not going in my cart unless there is no option! I also and eating through my freezer and pantry. 😎
Thanks for watching
The flat peaches look interesting! I've never seen those. We always buy peaches to can or freeze from a local Amish store. The peaches come from Southern Illinois or the Bootheel of Missouri area. This year they lost 95% of their crop due to a late freeze. The owner of the Amish store said they were not taking orders this year because of the much-increased cost. I still have a few jars left from last year and I think they will be used for special occasions! We got a call from the lady who owns the store earlier this week and she was taking orders for sweet cherries....$28 for a 28 pound box! They were overstock from a grocery distributor. I split a box with my daughter-in-law. They are delicious! I put up 12 pints of cherry jam and syrup. Like you, there are just two of us, but we do have a lot of company. I watch what I spend and buy only what we need, unless there is a really good deal!
Thanks for sharing your life in France.
Thanks for watching
What a great deal you got on the cherries. The lowest price I've seen in my area is $2.99 a pound.
We also ended up with too much food!
I am eating from the freezer for a second week and will then just shop for one week at a time!
I have always done this with a meal plan and a list!
Great idea!!
This is the first video of yours I've seen, and I'm happy TH-cam decided to show it to me! I've been trying to be more frugal with groceries, but most creators I've found make tons of freezer meals and canned foods. I live alone and don't need a year's worth of food in my freezer. This video has validated my idea of being frugal, by not buying more than I need. I look forward to your future videos!
Welcome!!
Jane, can you do a video where you go from meal planning to working out what you need and then shopping for it?
How interesting to see your hauls! I live in Canada and the prices are quite similar - granted I only go to cheaper stores, liquidation sales and factory outlets. I cannot wait for your cheaper hauls - also super nice you broke down the prices for your international audience ❤
I appreciate that you give us the cost of what you buy in US dollars. Diane
And Australian dollar too.
Here in the States, we usually have a choice of block cheese or shredded, of the sale price. Maybe that’s why people wonder about your buying the shredded over block.
Fabulous price on the peaches! Your food is ‘cleaner’ in Europe which is sooo nice! Fewer chemicals and GMO’s and who knows what nasties. ack!
And, Sensodyne really is the only toothpaste that works for people with intense sensitivity issues! I’ve tried them all!
Making your zucchini fritter recipe (that you taught us last summer) for dinner tonight. I’m using up shredded zucchini from the deep freezer, another week or two and I’ll be getting fresh ones from the garden.
Delicious
I bake our bread and most dessert or snacking treats also, but in the summer heat? I often buy bread until it gets cooler again, or I might bake if we have a rainy weekend. Even though I regularly bake cookies, I love Speculos cookies… they are just yummy! Definitely should not be given any grief over buying things on occasion.
Thanks for watching and commenting
Thank you for sharing your perspective and strategy! Many people are pretty well stocked up. Planning menus is calming! Helps us to prepare ahead, and make good decisions!
You are so welcome!
I like the idea of meal planning first, then buying, especially in summer when one often doesn’t want a heavy meal.
Speaking of price increases I am on a yearly average electric bill so no big swings in the rate. I just got my notice and my bill has increased by 49%.
That's a great increase
I’m so excited to see how this plan works
Thanks Jane and Mike. Another interesting video. We are doing a similar thing, trying to eat mostly from the freezer and pantry. Like you, I would like to defrost the freezer and start restocking before the winter.
Great idea!
I agree with you about the Sensodyne.
Enjoyed seeing your supermarket haul! I like the idea of jam sugar! I have never seen any here in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania,USA. Lidl has good prices here and so do Aldi’s. I find when I buy less and less often that I am more creative in the kitchen. Thank you for all your inspiring posts! I appreciate each and every one of them!
Thank you! You too!
Sh we could get Jam Sugar here in the USA. We have to buy the sugar plus the pectin. Both are getting so expensive its almost cheaper to buy jam and preserves in the store.
Yes, the food prices are killing me!
Like you, I have a stockpile, so I am only buying fresh fruit and vegetables, dairy products, and very occasionally meat. I still feel rather beat up when I leave the supermarket, as if someone has robbed me. After visiting my sister in another state recently, where prices are considerably lower, I am tempted to shop there for my shelf stable items.
Love your content. I do stock up as long as I can afford it. I have a working pantry albeit very large. We also have an enormous garden and can many items. If I had to I could go a good month without restocking and still be OK. On a side note I have 14 grandchildren who visit frequently and stay for dinner. So I enjoy it much and am always prepared with having a large pantry. I love knowing that if I couldn’t go shopping I’m good for several months. Have a great and blessed day.😊
That's a lot of mouths to feed. There's just the two of us
Peaches here in the US are sparse this year ; we’ve figured they are equaling about $2 per peach. ( not supermarket) prices
Thank you Mike and Jane.
As a shopper who buys out of anxiety,
I am taking the bold step of shopping with a meal plan, a grocery list and "without the Jones".
I can do this
Take care
Take care
You can do this!
@@dennisealexanderhale1300 thank you Kindly, I will definitely give it my all
People are really beginning to feel the pinch, cash flow problems. I read an article that people are not just switching to cheaper brands, they are cutting back on buying altogether. The article said that lots of people are only eating two meals a day and measuring out their amount of food they do have. We haven't really been grocery shopping for a while now. Only getting the true sells now I have a big wooden bowl of fresh veggies from the garden. We will be eating most of those this week.
We are cutting back, it's not harming us thus far
I actually know someone who's watering full fat milk down.
This sounds like a good plan. I spend too much on groceries getting more than I need and things end up going to waste.
I get you Jane! I have so much stuff in my cupboards and freezers, so pointless. Thanks for your time 😊
You are so welcome!
Great video Jane. I too am living out of my pantry and freezer during this no spend July.
We actually go to a food project that takes donation for food from grocery stores that are no longer eligible for sale, and build our menu around that. We have saved so much money just doing supplemental shopping and feel good about reducing food waste.
Great video! It sounds like a much more manageable way to shop. It is stressful trying to always stock up - you need plenty of freezer space, and you have to always make sure to use the oldest items first. Some people are really good at it. I am not one of them. :)
It really is!
I’ve also decided to stop having huge stocks in - it doesn’t work for me either. I’m wading through it and then going to do the use one and one spare in stock. Oh the space I will save!!
I'm glad I'm
Not the only one
Yet another amazing video Jane and Mike - I'm still 'enjoying' my No Buy July and loved seeing how you saved money by redeeming store points. I do the same here in New Brunswick, Canada. Most times I use my Optimum Points to get a huge turkey at Christmas - loads of leftover turkey that my daughter and I share plus one of us always makes a turkey soup/stew. Not wasting a thing!! Thanks Jane - you make such a difference in our lives 💜
Wonderful!
We are doing the same. Mealplanning and I shop once a week, I only buy what we need. these days there is less and less interesting offers in the grocery stores. I have food in the pantry, but we are rotating it. We are also eating out of the freezer. And during this cost of living crisis, and inflation, I use less meat in our recipes. When we have other meat, I slice the meat, chicken breast for example. We do not need one each. I was lucky this Friday, I ordered two bags on "TooGoodToGo", one from a grocery store, and one from 7eleven. The grocery store one was a score. A big loaf of bread, cakes, salads, a saladkit, and 2 pizzarolls. The one from 7eleven had 2 big baguettes, 3 croissants, one with chocolate, and vanilla buns. I froze a lot of the cakes, had the salad for lunches and dinner yesterday, The boys had the baguettes and some cakes throughout the weekend. I paid around £3.50 per bag. A treat for the weekend. 🙂
Not sure why, but corn starch has doubled here in the last year. I switched to potato starch and it seems to cook the same. Great haul. I need to rein it in too. Always have an on-time message. Have a great weekend!
Most corn prices are going up due to the drought last year, and Iowa got hit with a really bad storm. The price of corn chips almost doubled, my husband used to eat a lot of them. After he saw the price he won't buy them anymore.
Enjoyed your haul Jane.
One thing I don't compromise on is good strong binbags .
I remember trying to save a few Bob buying cheap ones ,they were dreadful .split and were like paper 😮
Jane they dust the shredded cheese with flour to keep it from sticking together. I have such a bad gluten reaction if shredded cheese is used.
In France???? I can clearly see the label that says it's potato starch. I check labels.
Oh good! Here in the USA I've been sick because I didn't read the label on a bag of shredded cheese 😔.
Jane, I'd go canny here. I'm in the grocery industry here in the USA, and I'd caution you to be aware of severe weather impact to commodity and produce crops. May get pricey going into the autumn. Have a good weekend.
If I were in the US. Our food is all very local,
I am currenntly using some of my preps as we are moving house in a few weeks. That said it is helpful financially to not have go buy much other bread, milk and veggies.
Hi Jane and Mike I feel so relaxed watching your videos thanks to you. I live on my own and I do the same regarding shopping but I buy some items to my only grandson. Yes it is an extra expense. Well thanks and take care ❤
Wonderful!
Hi Jane and Mike, I watch all your videos. I am in South Australia. Prices have and continue to go up and up. I keep a very well stocked pantry and add any opportunity I have, also I do a fair few trades, pick road side trees... keep chickens. It is very interesting seeing your prices.
Thanks for sharing!!
In the US, I've seen those called donut peaches. Good haul! Grain breads are so expensive here, you got a good deal.
Yes they are!
Hi Jane - I just want to tell you that I am amazed at how much cheaper your prices are than what I pay, here, in my American suburb of Cleveland, Ohio ! So surprising! 👏👍🙋♀️🥰🇺🇸‼️
Some great things there! Well done. We live in west Ireland, a lot of things are now almost double the price here, sugar has gone up from 89c to 1.69 (cheapest). Dairy - don't get me started on that or chicken or fish. Bulk isn't always the solution you're right. We learned this from having stockpiled in the pandemic, but we didn't manage to eat it all so some was given to food banks etc. 💜
Some good deals there. I cook very simple meals in the summer months and we don't mind eating the same meal two days running sometimes. Chicken and pork are good value in the UK at the moment and I also cook vegetarian once or twice per week.
Sounds great!
Love seeing the products and prices! Those peaches looked great!
Thanks very much
Hi my best Christmases were the few years as teenager I went to the midnight service walked home with friends through the snow talking and looking at stars. The presents did not matter. This Christmas our highlight will be our grandchildren running round the house with their iPhone showing us there presents and listening to the story of what family member they will be spending Christmas with. We can very seldom spend our Christmas with them as we are down in Africa, so we will stay at home and have our Christmas lunch, not Turkey probably curry and cheese board and pâté for lunch. Merry Christmas all enjoy your Christmas
Thanks Moira
I agree on the increase of corn flour/cornstarch! Oh my! I had to buy two boxes as I was using my last box. I sorta use the same purchase rule as you. I finally found an acceptable price at LIDL for $1.49 USD. I bought two boxes!
Jam sugar -- sugar with pectin in it -- is new to me. Very interesting!
I bake a treat for us on the weekend maybe almond cookies
I have a 2 year stockpile of dishwasher detergent, shampoo, soap, laundry detergent, body wash, cleaning products.
Bought when it was on special.
I’m sharing some of it with a friend if she needs it and my daughter and I are using it up.
I’m half annoyed I have so much and half thrilled I have it to use and share, as times are increasingly tough with interest rate rises and a unexpected covid job loss.
Some months it’s barebones budget food and bills only so I am happy I have this to fall back on.
But, no more until this is completely used up.
2 boxes of dishwasher powder and some laundry detergent went to my friend last week as she was almost out.
It's amazing to see the price differences between here and there!
Just love your awesome, educational, fun and practical tips! I'm watching your videos for a while now and learned a lot. Did not know you could get potatoes in a tin. Great tip to use margarine for baking. We just have to stop and think about what we think we need to spend money on! Indeed what is in the pantry or freezer, what can be a substitute and what grows in the garden and community garden. What I would love to see is that you add New Zealand dollars to the collection. That is where I am and I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one from NZ watching your videos. Thank you!!!!
Thanks so much for watching
We're having pantry and freezer surprise here until I get my stock levels down - unless I see a real genuine bargain. It's actually fun as it makes you get creative. I'm moving to your approach too Jane - less on hand, buy what you really need, which I think will lead to more control, less waste and less stress for me. Great video as always. *JANE* - do you ever make polenta? It's gluten free, cheap, and leftovers fried in a little butter means you can cook it for twice. I make it with half milk, half water and a pinch of chicken stock powder - it's really delicious!!
I have never seen jam sugar! I alway learn something! Thank you!
The peaches are so pretty! Enjoy your outdoor time. That’s what this season is for. I bought tea cookies as well. Baking is a winter sport, lol.
If someone unexpected turns up at meal time and the menu for that day is soup or stew add in a tin of chickpeas, mixed beans or butterbeans and there will be plenty for everyone.
Pèrfect!
This is how I shop, always have. I get that people prep and panic buy. but shops usually always have stuff, and bulk buying doesnt save that much, so good decision I would say. PLus, it seems to me that people can accept and deal with most of their decisions, so when you do full freezers it works but then something changes so you can try another way and also you can accept that decision before weighing up which works best.
Thanks very much
Love what you say about more in the bank over more food in the house 😊
Yep. It's more useful to me there.
Two cents 😂 Loved how you said that!
GREAT CONTENT!🐕🐕
Love those kind of peaches. Here in N. California, we call them donut peaches........ Our fig tree is loaded with figs. They don't even make it in the house... I just stand by the tree and have a snack...
They're delicious
Thank you Jane - love seeing the products they have in France. Enjoy your weekend
Thank you! You too!
Great video as always! 🥰
Thank you! 🤗
great video. I have been using all of your suggestions , just wanted to say thank you.
You are so welcome!
I’m also eating out my freezer and trying to meal plan from there and pantry. I found rice flour that needed to be used up so I’ve been adding it to my baked goods so it’s not going to waste. No more recipes that require random ingredients I’ll get stuck with, for me!
It would be interesting to see your meal plan alongside haul.
Such a refreshing outlook, thank you!
You are so welcome!
This was a great video thanks
Another great video, I like to have choices in my menu plan, I am in the process of making out my grocery lists for my monthly meal plan. I am going to do grocery pick up for my staples as I am still not in control when I get into a grocery store. I also get my husband to do some of the groceries as he doesn’t buy any extras
You can do it!
Those china flat peaches are the nicest peaches I've ever tasted. They are to find where I live so I might need to grow them myself. Love your prices.
It is hard when there are just two of you when it comes to bread. I'd buy a loaf or hamburger buns only to have them go bad before we finished them off. I now make my bread dough, leave it in the fridge and depending on what we are eating that day I just take a bit and roll it into whatever shape we need it for. Plus I know there are only 5 ingredients in it.
Bread freezes well if you freeze it on the day you buy it. Just let it defrost before eating or pop it straight into the toaster.
But freshly baked is definitely a good idea and healthier
Excellent! Thank you
You are welcome!
Absolutely right about Sensodyne, no substitute and non-negotiable, one of the things I'm grateful I live in modern times for. The big tubes in Lidl oftem seem the best value. I need a trip to Lidl soon, I like their in-store bakery bread, and the diy slicing machine! It's quite a long drive though, and best combined with a trip to Action, so takes some planning, and I do find it tempting to over-buy once there, so I've taken to doing your 'take a moment and reflect' before going in🤔, which seems to work🙂.
👍👍👍
You can freeze cheese btw
I no longer add to my pantry as I think I now have plenty of supplies to last me for the next 6 months. I am now eating my pantry and my freezers and only buy the minimum I need like milk, cheese, butter etc and ofc the odd biscuit for a treat! I am saving any money saved into an emergency fund after seeing how you two control your money.
I was shocked recently to open up a bag of flour that I had stored carefully and put in a sealed container...and still I found weevils! They are obviously in the flour when you buy it so there was nothing more I could have done I suppose? That went in the bin and I went and checked all my other flours and thankfully they were all weevil free...
My brother and his family are visiting from Texas for the next 3 weeks tomorrow and yet I won't change a thing...in fact it will use up my supplies that need rotating the soonest so I am happy :)
The prices here in the UK are still rising and it's shocking, but I am glad I only have to cope with the rising prices on what I do buy now. Also we have a kitchen garden that's overflowing with all beans/peas/squash/potatoes/carrots/tomatoes now so I buy very little veg too, and I can't wait for when we go foraging for wild blackberries for my freezer again. Love your videos and enjoy the advice and ideas you offer and really enjoy trying some of your recipes, delicious !
Thanks, it's always advisable to sift flour before using it.
I wish my Lidl by me would open up soon. I've been watching for the grand opening since winter. My sister in law has one by her home down the New Jersey shore and she loves it.
The flat/ wilde peaches are super delicious, enjoy them!
They are!
I saw a vodeo tgat showed mixing a stick of butter and 1/2 cup oil, I think, to maje spreadable butter. It's supposed to be cheaper, especially if tge stick butter was on sale.
I've got years worth of womens hygiene, probably no need to by again in my live. Toilett paper and washing products, Shampoo and soap will last at least 1,5 year. My food stock might last 3 month if I only used this without buying new stuff. Cat food maybe 6 month. This gives me some security and peace of mind.
We are not buying groceries for a couple of weeks due to a lack of funds so we are using this opportunity to use a lot of what we have stored , especially if we have had it for awhile. Im curious, have you ever been to the US?
Thanks
Love your videos. It's like a visit with a friend
Glad you like them!
My favourite video. I’m poised with pen and paper !!!!
Fab 💖💖🥰
love donut peaches!
I wish we had Lidl, but we do have Aldi and the FoodFresh app.