In this day and age I think we all strive to save money were we can and be savvy shoppers. As a Mum I am very wary of how much I spend each month on all that we need as a family, and it is the grocery shopping that takes up most of my budget.
I am always thinking up ways to save money wherever possible, and that might mean making homemade pizzas or fish and chips instead of buying take away versions, which is a massive saving. I also shop around to get the best deals wherever possible on my groceries, and meal planning also helps keep costs down.
I was recently sent a Sodastream to review which was very exciting, as I can remember these when they were first launched (yes, I am that old!!). However, the brand has changed its ethos now. Gone are the fizzy, sugary pop flavours of the 1980’s and instead it is all about making water sparkling,which is a much healthier option for kids of today. I must admit that I do not allow my boys to drink fizzy drinks BUT I am happy for them to drink fizzy water, mixed with some squash cordial. I made a little video of our new Sodastream, and you can see how excited the boys were about the prospect of being allowed a fizzy drink!
For anyone who is a big drinker of fizzy drinks, then a Sodastream is a great investment because after the initial payout for the machine, the savings would be big.
Talking of savings, here are 10 ways to save money for your family, devised by money saving expert Sue Hayward
1. Switch supermarket brands – If you always buy brands, swap them for supermarket versions. And if you already buy those, give the ‘budget’ version a go. Swapping brands in your trolley can knock a third off your bill and save £1,700 a year.
2. Buy ‘wonky’ veg – Buying boxes of ‘wonky veg’ or budget brand salad and vegetables can save over £100 a year. They may not look pretty but once sliced and chopped you won’t tell the difference in a salad or stir fry.
3. Plan ahead – Pack drinks and snacks for days out to save tantrums in traffic jams or forking out at swimming pool vending machines. Stock up on multipacks of juice cartons as these can cost £1 a go at petrol stations or cafes; that’s equivalent to £200 a year.
4. Stock up on frozen food – Frozen mince and fish are great for quick dishes like bolognaise or fish pie and save money. You’ll pay £5 for a fresh pack (500g) of lean mince in Tesco, but the frozen version is £2.80. That swap alone saves over £50 a year.
5. Switch your fizzy drinks – Try using a SodaStream for fresh sparkling water on tap, making water more exciting, as well as keeping the kids entertained. Add your own choice of flavours or fresh fruit like a slice of lemon and save £300 a year.
6. Stop those impulse buys – Never go to the supermarket without a list, or when you’re hungry and save £150 a year. Chances are, you’ll end up with a trolley full of ‘impulse buys’ and there will probably be an expensive sandwich in there too!
7. Ditch your Friday night takeaway – You won’t get much change from £40 ordering pizza for four so if you still want that weekly treat, stock up in the supermarket for under £10. This would save over £1500 a year.
8. Stock up on supermarket ‘meal deals’ – Find out about meal deals where you can pick up the mains, sides, dessert and wine. You could bag up to £20 of food for £10 and freeze what you don’t need. This saves £120 a year if you did it once a month.
9. Save on waste – We throw away around £50 of food every month and doing a ‘big shop’ once a week may mean fresh food won’t last. A supermarket delivery pass costs £6 a month and saves time and money as you can do two smaller shops each week, saving you over £500 a year.
10. Shop late in the day – Most supermarkets start reducing the prices of fresh food from midday onwards if it’s got a short shelf life. Check the bargain sections in the fridge aisles for those yellow stickers! From midday you can get around 25% off with discounts of up to 75% from 7pm onwards. You can easily save at least a couple of pounds a week popping one or two items in your trolley ready for the freezer which adds up to around £100 a year.
You can see more in this video Sue has presented too
What changes do you make to ensure you are a savvy shopper and saver?
I was sent a Sodastream for the purpose of a review .