Cutting back and throwing out!

Hubby has elected to start working a four day week ahead of his eventual retirement in a year or two, so I decided I would start the year by budgeting my weekly food shop and cutting back on unnecessary items, having seen one or two of your pages on frugal living. I planned all my meals for the next two weeks and made a note what was in the freezer and went to my local supermarket armed with a strict list of what was required. So far so good. I stuck to my list for the first few aisles (fruit and veg) after which things started to go downhill. I could be tempted with that over there, and I really do need this here etc etc. I think we've all been there! Anyway, at the checkout I was quite heartened with my efforts and managed to save a good £20 on my shop, even though there were a few 'extras' that I didn't really need.

On returning home, and in the middle of putting the shopping away, I don't know why but I decided to give my food cupboards a bit of a spring clean and throw out anything redundant or nearly at the bottom of the jar etc. Well, if you could have seen the stuff that I cleared out - I am embarrassed to say I filled a black bin bag comprising almost empty packets of pasta; ketchup and sauces with just a squirt left,  not to mention the out of date jars of Chinese sauce mixes and bottles of wine vinegar that were only used for one particular recipe. I couldn't believe what was lurking at the back of the cupboards. Tins and jars that were well past their sell by date - it just goes on.

This exercise has certainly confirmed my need to start economising and buying exactly what I want. Now I'm beginning to feel guilty and perhaps I will save up all those nearly empty pasta packs albeit different shapes and sizes,  or even retrieve the ones just thrown out!