With global food prices forecast to remain high for the next ten years, I thought I would put together the most effective ways I find to save money on our food bill.

(1). Menu Plan
This recommendation would be no surprise to anyone who reads this blog regularly. But by planning what meals you will have through out the week you can save on wastage, additional trips to the supermarket and on take away food as it is too late to get the ingredients required for the meal.

(2). Shopping List
Even if you don’t menu plan, you should never go to the shops without a shopping list. On the rare occasions that I have done this, I come home with things that I don’t really need and without essential ingredients.

(3). Markets
Buying fruit and vegetables at markets is so much cheaper than from the supermarket or the green grocer. Just check out the savings that I make weekly by (Mr Infrastructure) making a weekly trip to the market.

- 4kgs Apples at supermarket = $19.92 (my kids eat lots of apples )
- 4kgs Apples at market = $10.00
- .75kg red capsicum at supermarket = $7.27
- .75kg red capsicum at market = $2.99
- 2kgs carrots at supermarket = $5.34 (they also eat lots of carrots!)
- 2kgs carrots at market = $2.80
- 2kgs butternut pumpkin at supermarket = $7.92
- 2kgs butternut pumpkin = $4.00

On these items alone we saved $20.66. This week’s shopping list had another seven items of fruit and veg on that we would have made savings on. Even if you deduct the extra petrol it costs (approx $3.00) to drive to the market, we are still so much better off.

(4). Specials
Supermarkets in Australia have weekly specials where items are reduced quite often significantly. When things like our favourite cereals, pastas, crackers etc come on special I will buy a large amount of these items. Mr Infrastructure for example eats Just Right Breakfast Cereal every day. Usual price is $8.71 for 890 grams. When on sale the price can reduce to as low as $5.

(5). Do some math
Quite often some items although on special will not necessarily be the cheapest item of its type. Calculate the per kilo price or price per unit and see what is really the cheapest. Ask yourself do you have to have that particularly brand. (Mr Infrastructure will accept no substitutes on his cereal!)

(6). Buying the generic version.
This is not as easy as it once used to be. The supermarket that I shop at now has a number of different generic brands for the same item. I have test run a few and depending on the item, I may a different brand of the generic range.

The price difference is significant and I find that on the basics there is no difference in the quality and you can make savings like this:

- 2kg generic brand self raising flour = $2.00
- 2kg premium brand self raising flour = $5.48
- 2kg generic brand sugar = $1.61
- 2kg premium brand sugar = $3.33
- 60m generic brand plastic wrap = $2.26
- 60m premium brand plastic wrap = $4.44
Total savings of $7.38

(7). Emergency Items
In our house the food budget includes any monies we spend on food including take away. I like to have supplies of some handy quick feed items, for those emergency situations when you need to find something for the kids to eat in a flash.

Three cans of Spagasaurus (dinosaur shaped spaghetti in sauce) cost me $4.50. This is very cheap compared to the minimum of $20 it would cost me if I was to buy fish and chips for the kids. And the other bonus it that I don’t have to leave the house for it.

(8). Toiletries
Shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, nappies can all be more expensive at the supermarket. If you have a discount chemist or like store near by, try and purchase them from those stores instead of the supermarket.

(9). Online Shopping
I use online shopping and to reduce the impact of the delivery fee I make sure that it is always for a fortnight and stock up on cheap items. The advantages of on line shopping are that you can manage the total as you go along and it is very easy to make cost comparisons of the different brands. It also saves me time and as they say “time is money”!

(10). Try New Supermarkets
This is one that I am only doing myself this week. ALDI have been within 10km of me for sometime yet, despite all the rave reviews I have heard from friends, I have still been either on line shopping or using my regular supermarket. They have amazing specials and their standards prices are apparently much cheaper. I am looking forward to checking out ALDI this week.

How do you keep the family food bill down?

Technorati Tags: family menu planning, food, shopping

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Before I go shopping, I like to write down what the requirements for each child are. There is so much choice available, that I can get overwhelmed when I am in the stores and buy things that they don’t actually need, just because I love it!! Taking the time to do some planning for this kids clothes shopping, also means I am far more likely to stick to our clothes budget.

For example to complete her wardrobe for the upcoming winter Possum, only needs a few things, as we still have a stash of great hand me downs from generous friends. They include some beautiful dresses and skirts which I am hoping she will eventually want to wear. There is also some clothes which still fit her from last year, so I only need to get:

- 4 basic long sleeve t-shirts (black, white, pink, ?)
- 2 pairs of basic jeans (denim, light and dark)
- 1 warm hoodie (pink at her request)
- 1 warm jumper (any colour but pink!)
- 3 pairs of warm tights (black, blue, pink)

To update Babagansouski’s wardrobe he needs a only a couple of things as well. He has majority hand me downs from his older brothers, but not everything is fit for wearing so he will need:
- 5 pairs of socks (there has been a disappearing act with the warm long socks I think)
- 2 long sleeve t-shirts (grey, blue)
- 2 warm jumpers (grey, blue)
- 2 pairs of jeans/long pants - his brothers were pretty rough on their clothes (light and dark denim)

You can see in the above lists, I have even detailed the colours of each item. The reason for this is that I have in the past, purchased items because I have found them aesthetically pleasing, but they match with nothing when I get them home.

I have not made an audit the older boys yet, but will do that next week and see what they require. I find it easier to split the shopping into two expeditions. If I have children with me (and I do like the kids to have a say in what they get), to have to look across four different clothing sections gets me a bit scattered, so by reducing the scope of the expedition I find I am more effective and efficient with the purchases.

SWEAT FREE
I do like to buy sweatshop free clothes were possible, but it is much harder to find the things that I want in a price range I can afford for all of their clothes. Here are a couple of places around Melbourne that you can purchase sweat free:

Qualitops - 466 Smith Street, Collingwood. Victoria. tel:03 9417 7288
They manufacturers 100% Australian made garments. and are accredited to use the “No Sweat Shop Label”. They have a plain line of the basics. I actually went there to get a hoodie for Possum, but they won’t be in until April. They did have a great slim fit women’s hoodie for $40, but I had to stick to planned shopping and will go back another time to check one out for me.

Friends of the Earth - 312 Smith Street Collingwood. Victoria. tel: 03 9419 8700
The long sleeve t-shirt and t-shirt in the photo are for Babagansouski and they came from FOE. They have a small range for children aged 0 -2, all of which is sweatshop free. They also stock a No Sweat Sneaker (looks like Converse low cuts) for $60 and start from a boys size 1 through to mens and womens. It would be advisable to call ahead if you are interested in the sneakers, to see if they your size in stock.

Hunter Gatherer - 274 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy. Victoria. tel: 03 9415 7371
This a shop of the Brotherhood of St Lawrence. The stores are social enterprises selling recycled vintage clothing and new, No Sweatshop accredited, clothing. They have children’s wear under their own brand which includes long sleeve t-shirts and dresses for children aged 0 - 3. They also have amazing vintage clothing for adults and a small section for children which is always worth a look.

Oli B Designs (online).
They stock a range of Australian made, unique clothes for children aged 0 -5. They have those gorgeous chenille pants, dresses etc, made from recycled bedspreads.

If you know of any others sweat free retailers, I would love to hear about them!

CRAFTILY INSPIRED
Lots of these clothes would be sweat shop free as well, as they are mostly hand made.

Meet Me at Mikes 63 Brunswick St, Fitzroy. Victoria. tel: 03 9416 3713
It is just a world of crafty goodness in that shop. The above link is to there online store, but if you get a chance, go to their Fitzroy store and have some fun checking everything out. They also have a blog which can keep you abreast of their very interesting goings on.

ONLINE
The good thing about planning the winter wardrobe now, is that I have the time to look online and wait for the goods to come as winter is not yet upon us. Here is just a small selection of great crafty based clothing sites that are out there selling unique and well made kids clothing:

SallyJane Designs
Made by a Melbourne mum, there are great long sleeve t-shirts with a block of vintage inspired fabrics from Australia and the United States, sewn neatly on the front. Babagansouski has a couple that he is almost too big for, but I am squeezing him into as I love the Cowboy and Indians and the Old Aeroplanes fabrics!! (I am ordering him some new ones.)

Chew Chew’s Closet
One-of-a-kind custom creations, ranging from classic vintage to modern designs.

Ree Bee
For ages 0 - 6, clothes which are designed to be wearable, durable, original and affordable.

Conscious Clothing
“Specializing in hemp, organic, wool, soy, bamboo, and recycled fibers for men, women, and children. The less impact on the earth, the more fashionable on you!”

Tin Tank Clothing
Hoodies and t-shirts for the boys.

The last few sites area all from Etsy, which is the “go to place for all things handmade”. Note that the prices are in $US.

As I stated at the top of this post, I don’t buy all the kids clothes from these places (but wish I could!!!). I do buy some of the basics from a large chain store, which I think has pretty much all their clothes made in China. Planning though, has allowed me to become much better in my shopping habits, taking a less in quantity, but more in quality approach to the kids clothes. I will keep working at this!

Technorati Tags: children, clothes, shopping

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When I woke up this yesterday morning I was a mother with a mission. I needed new bras and I was going to get them that very day! This however meant that I would have to take all four children with me. My kids are actually pretty ok to take shopping, but getting fitted for bras was probably going to push their patience to their limits.

With this in mind I strategically moved through the following plan with the kids:

(1). Set up the expectations.
When we sat down and ate breakfast, I explained to the kids that we were going to go shopping today. We needed to go bra shopping for me and we would purchase the extra items (like pencil cases) that the older boys needed for school, once my purchases had been made. I also explained that once this was completed, we would go home via the bread shop to get some bread and that they could choose a roll each for lunch.

(2). Go in the morning.
I have taken the kids shopping in the afternoon before but find that this is usually less successful than the morning for two reasons; firstly we are all a little tireder at that time of day and secondly, the shops tend to be busier.

(3). Fed, Watered and Toileted .
We have early risers in our house, so for the younger children breakfast was at 6.45am. I made sure all four had morning tea and a drink before we left. Then as a last task before leaving, I made sure that we all (including mum) went to the toilet.

(4). Stick to the task.
After a longer than expected session in the fitting room, we moved through the women’s fashion department and a pair of bathers caught my eye. I started to walk over to have a look (because I also need a new pair of these as well), but stopped myself pretty quickly. I had already asked quite a bit of the kids. I achieved my goal for the day, and I needed to stick to the stated expectations and move on. There have been times when I have not done this and it has generally not worked out well!

(5). Don’t rush their purchases.
For the 6 year old choosing the right pencil case is probably as important to him as my bras were to me. The fact that I think it is doesn’t matter whether he gets the one with the green background or the yellow background is irrelevant. I need to be interested and let him have his time, so he can be happy with his purchase. We all regret those purchases made in haste!

The expedition actually went really well. There was one moment at about 11.00am though when I found myself in a fitting room with four children and a pram waiting and waiting and waiting, for someone to help properly fit me, that I did ask “Why did I do this to myself?” But that was short lived and we all came home from the experience unharmed and still in good spirits. I just need to squeeze in some time to go back and check out those bathers!

Technorati Tags: parenting, Planning, shopping

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