[Ngeru]

Came across a great website today for anyone looking to cut the shopping costs or struggling to make ends meet:


About
Lyn Webster has restricted her family grocery budget to just $100 a week, hoping to save $12,000 in a year to invest in a rental property.

Lyn is charting progress in her weekly column in the Taranaki Daily News

http://pigtitsandparsleysauce.co.nz/

[BkyMonster]

It's interesting that she is selling tips. Most of the tips are actually on the internet in regards for uses for vinegar and baking soda.
http://www.vinegartips.com/Scripts/
http://ultimatemoneyblog.com/unique-uses-for-baking-soda there are lots more pages like this one with other uses as well. In addition just Googling for DIY-(product type here)- will yield lots of results.
Enterprising of her at least. I am curious what she is making laundry powder out of as one of the products I used in the US to make my own is not cheap here at all.

[newarrival]

I just read across the first lines in her blog..., and I was wondering if there are actually any "normal" people out there who go to the supermarket with no plan/ list/ whatsoever at all, having, as she out it, unlimited funds available....
I t seems that that sort of shoppers might be quite rare in these times?:uhoh

I admit that I am not always sticking 100% to my shopping list, but I also found that after a while, you usually know what you spent for the groceries, give and take a small amount? Except, of course, if there are any special events you have to cover.

[Ngeru]

Well I would have been one of the 'abnormal' ones then, there are a lots of us, for sure. :laugh

In the UK I used to happily go along to the supermarket and fill up my trolley with goodies and not even care about the cost. I wouldn't have known how much a bag of sugar was supposed to cost, or anything else for that matter. If I wanted or needed it, it simply fell into the trolley. I don't actually see too many people here walking around the supermarkets with lists, so it's not as 'abnormal' as you might think.

It takes a certain amount of re-programming and effort to change the habits of a lifetime. For me these days, the motivation of sticking to a list is borne purely out of necessity and I would far rather it didn't have to be like that.

[YouMeAndThree]

It's interesting that she is selling tips. Most of the tips are actually on the internet in regards for uses for vinegar and baking soda.
http://www.vinegartips.com/Scripts/
http://ultimatemoneyblog.com/unique-uses-for-baking-soda there are lots more pages like this one with other uses as well. In addition just Googling for DIY-(product type here)- will yield lots of results.
Enterprising of her at least. I am curious what she is making laundry powder out of as one of the products I used in the US to make my own is not cheap here at all.

My thoughts too.

I'm sure she charges a fee for her 'in-house' lessons too.

Good for her though, but I won't be sending off for a copy :)

[dilanium]

I am curious what she is making laundry powder out of as one of the products I used in the US to make my own is not cheap here at all.

What were you using to make Laundry powder?

[Leo]

Since we're on the topic of laundry powder, I did a little research and was amazed to find 10 Homemade Laundry Soap Detergent Recipes neatly listed on a single webpage :nice1

http://tipnut.com/10-homemade-laundry-soap-detergent-recipes/

Hope this post doesn't get me into trouble with those in the Laundry Detergent business :D

[Ngeru]

Amazing really and ironic that a money saving website asks you to pay money for their secret information. I didn't actually realise this at first, nor the fact that you can sign up to 'franchise' the business and you too can jump on the bandwagon and earn some money. :eek:

I just read a few of the diary entries, so my apologies.

[BkyMonster]

What were you using to make Laundry powder?

Basically borax and baking soda. Works well and in the US Borax was stupid cheap and better for the groundwater. Here I can't find it, but was told that it runs something exorbitant per 100g. I also used it for dishwashing powder with great results.

If anyone has seen it (Sodium borate, or borax) I'd be happy to be corrected.

[newarrival]

Well I would have been one of the 'abnormal' ones then, there are a lots of us, for sure.

In the UK I used to happily go along to the supermarket and fill up my trolley with goodies and not even care about the cost. I wouldn't have known how much a bag of sugar was supposed to cost, or anything else for that matter. If I wanted or needed it, it simply fell into the trolley. I don't actually see too many people here walking around the supermarkets with lists, so it's not as 'abnormal' as you might think.

It takes a certain amount of re-programming and effort to change the habits of a lifetime. For me these days, the motivation of sticking to a list is borne purely out of necessity and I would far rather it didn't have to be like that.
Yesterday 08:33 AM

Well, even if the topic is now a different one;), I feel I need to answer this reply. I never thought we were not "well off' in Germany, but even there I used to go shopping with a list and I knew where to buy what for the best price..., maybe it has something to do with my age :D or the way my parents brought me up... (same goes for the in- laws, then).
Regarding the shopping lists- I, on the other hand, see lots of people with shopping lists or adding up their groceries.., though I have to admit that there were more of them in Dunedin at Pak'n Save then her at New World.

[dusk]

I write a shopping list but it's generally quite vague: veg, chicken, dinners, cat food, coffee, so that I can go round and spot the specials :)

[dilanium]

I found borax on trademe:
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Home-living/Laundry/Other/auction-231618781.htm

[BkyMonster]

I found borax on trademe:
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Home-living/Laundry/Other/auction-231618781.htm
Thanks for that :nice1 I can't rep you though.
I'll add that seller to my favorites.

[dilanium]

Does that seem more expensive than it was in the states?

[BkyMonster]

About the same, maybe a bit more but certainly far more reasonable than the $17 NZD per 100g I've heard. In the US I'd pay maybe $2 for a 1kg box. That would last for months when mixed up. 4.5kg of that and a few other purchases would set us up for laundry for the next year at least.
I've found washing soda (though never used it previous) at Bin Inn for $2.10/kg as well

[Gran]

This is a useful website, although oriented to USA needs,
http://www.stretcher.com/index.cfm
Maybe if things get tough enough we can go in for dumpster diving. Looks like fun.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZlYDX3t2ss
Good for a laugh anyway.
I have always used lists, being an older been there, done that character.
Gran