October 2008 Grocery Challenge. Please read first two posts.

Magentasue

Look on the Vouchers board for Tesco codes to negate the delivery charge. I can be weak willed online or in store.

Only foolproof way for me is to take cash.

I try to avoid more than once a week. As soom as my teens were old enough to bring some milk home on their way home from school/college, I used that as a way to avoid quick shops. It was always milk that wouldn't last the week.

JenC

Fab thanks, will head over to grocery challenge now!

suzybloo

I would also just take cash out and work from a list rather than just purchasing things as you see them. You could possibly go to mysupermarket.com and put your list in their and it will let you know how much you are likely to be. As Pink Princess says check the shopping/spending forum for money off codes for Tesco and at least you will not have to pay for delivery, Good luck!!

Triker

Horrible isn't it, it's like a compulsive addiction, I can completely sympathise.;)

I do exactly the same, I have to buy soooo much stuff, just in case, of what I don't know. I know I like a full fridge and cupboards but then I'll overfill.

I've just recently cleaned my fridge, I filled a bin bag of stinking rotten out of date food that I bought the week previously, all reduced, all wasted, all binned.

Not moneysaving at all I'm afraid to say.:o

Anyway, I am better than I was. I find trying to plan our meals helps tremendously.

I bought a Remoska, long thread on Old Style that'll explain their wondrous beauty.:D. The remoska is now sitting happily alongside my slowcooker, another great essential, oh and my Panasonic breadmaker, another essential, well in my house anyway.

It's lovely to come home from work and know that tea is either ready -slowcooker- or ready to go -remoska- and nothing needs to be thought too much about.

Good luck and welcome to the Oldstyle [STRIKE]obsession[/STRIKE] board that you'll no doubt come to embrace and love.:T:D

deebee

..and you can alwas join the MOCs club, and start using coupons against your shopping, it can make a huge difference in Tesco, hav a look at the coupons and vouchers thread

elona

Triker

Are you me????

My Panasonic sits next to my slow cooker and Remoska as well. In each case I agonised over buying them and waited till I got a good deal but they are fantastic.

DH actually groaned aloud when my Remoska was delivered but I have used it at least once a day since I got it and DH has just asked if I can show him how to use it!!!

champys

JenC - and what about meal planning? If you can find a little time to sit down each week and write down what you are going to cook/eat every day for the next 7 days, then make your list and stick to it, you should not need to go to the shops more than once a week. It saves a fortune, I swear by it. (If only I could dissuade DH from accompanying me on this weekly mission - he insists on picking up those little extras.......)
Anyway, if you think it is difficult to imagine different meal ideas for 7 or more days in a row, just keep an eye on the menu planning thread on this site, which comes up every Thursday. It will give you lots of ideas. If then you decide to also post your own menu plan, it will help you to stick to it.
Good luck - you can do it too!

echelon101

1. List
2. List
3. List
4. Cash
5. Loyalty card
6. Coupons
7. Look down not up or in front at shelves

Triker

elona wrote: »

Triker

Are you me????

My Panasonic sits next to my slow cooker and Remoska as well. In each case I agonised over buying them and waited till I got a good deal but they are fantastic.

DH actually groaned aloud when my Remoska was delivered but I have used it at least once a day since I got it and DH has just asked if I can show him how to use it!!!

:T:j:rotfl:yey, I forgot to mention my lean, mean machine, the magic bullet, kenwood patissier and my most recent find, the JML Vee slicer which I found in a charity shop on friday.:D


My DH had to watch the electricity meter sloooooowly going round in order to convinced of the Remoska's magical properties.;):rotfl:

pandora205

This is what I do on a good week:

look in fridge, freezer and cupboards first
make a menu plan for week based around what I already have, and starting with stuff likely to go out of date
buy most stuff at Aldi
go to market for fruit and veg (when I have time)
only visit Tesco and/or Cosco once per month, mainly for value products and BOGOFs
make sure I have long life milk and bread mixes/ingredients to bake bread for during the week so I don't need to shop
always take lunch to work
use up stuff at end of week, e.g. make soup or stuff to freeze

Useful forums and threads here include Oldstyle recipe collection and no spend day challenge. There are also threads about best value purchases and sites to compare best price in supermarkets.

By doing all of the above I've halved my grocery bill. I used to spend about £140 a week for a family of 4. Now it's about £70 and we eat more healthily.

Good luck - it's easy to do when you start, though it can become obsessive!