October 2008 Grocery Challenge. Please read first two posts.

kj*daisy

Just updating as been spending for 3 weeks now:


Grocery challenge: £300 TOTAL £203.90
Takeaway and meals out : 10.45, 4.70, 10.00
Veg box: 10.45, 11.95, 11.95
Supermkt: 61.50, 27.97, 64.93


So got a veg box next week so another 11.95 , so £90 ish left which should be plenty (have visitors next weekend so will spend a bit more than usual) but means I can't shop again until 1st November. Another Veg box comes on 31st Oct but not charged until a few days later! Certainly better than last month as got loads for my £64.93 in Sainsburys today as was stocking up on meat, tinned fish, tomato's, pulses and baked beans were on offer so got 8 tins now!

Cooking day tomorrow to stock up the freezer.

All the takeaways and meals are because it was my birthday too.

greenbee

I have the same problem, and have come to the conclusion that I need to keep away from supermarkets. If I stick to the farm shop/village shop/health food shop I spend a lot less, and TBH, I don't really miss anything. I only go to the supermarket if I'm feeling lazy, come out feeling exhausted and headachey with loads of stuff I don't want, and more to the point, is bad for me!

jenster

same here

also go to tescos JUST for a loaf of bread - cos i moan at paying 1.50 in the local shop but is it cheaper cos in tesco's that loaf would cost me 20 quid LOL

[Deleted User]

Always have a little book with what you actually need only written in it
plus only take enough cash to buy whats on your list
Never take cash cars/credit cards far too easy to be tempted.
Never use a trolly, only a basket then when it starts to feel heavy you know you have bought more than enough.
Always have something to eat before you go to a supermarket empty tums make you buy stuff you really don't need.
Time yourself and see how quick you can get around and get all the stuff on your list and be out again
Good luck

gtx

DH (the D's under review) spent £3.66 at mr a last night on nothing!

sig updated

cw18

H's -- who needs them ?!?!?!?

:rotfl:

(sorry to any menfolk following this thread, but the H's do seem to be causing more than a few 'hiccups' in the GC budgets )

Easiest way is definitely to restrict H's mobility, and reduce the money he has control of to less than he'd like for just beer and fags -- and make it clear he won't get reimbursed for anything he spends that doesn't fall into the budget contraints.......


Has worked a treat with mine (though I hasten to add I'm not responsible for the health problems that have restricted his mobility!!!)

gunsandbanjos

Not managed to keep track of my spends this month:o However i think i'm actually doing pretty well! I know my weekly shops have not been more than £30 with maybe an extra £5 for a top up midweek.
Freezer beginning to empty which is good, can restock it next month maybe. Still got loads of tinned toms etc so good for a while:D

OrkneyStar

My tips (which may have already been said!)
1. Join, or check out at least, the grocery challenge.
2. Use CASH only and take a list with you (meal plan so that you can easily make a list- there is a meal planning thread on here too).
3. Go down a range, eg brand to shops own, shops own to value etc.
4. If you do go down the internet route check the boards for free delivery codes.
Good luck.
x

mama67

Mrs M, we made jam thumbprints a couple of weeks ago at the school cooking club that I run; I found the recipe in an old Bero recipe book.

OrkneyStar

Hello everyone :wave:
Went to Tesco, Coop & Lidl yesterday- mainly for bread, fruit for DH, some cheese, some juice & a big Cravendale (now £1.76 though!). Is is me or is anyone else finding that deals are not that great just now, and the reduced prices on deals are actually more than what the normal price was a few weeks back ? :mad:
DS is still going through milk/cravendale like there is no tomorrow so that is costing us a packet alone.
DH is eating kiwis and satsumas in a similar manner, and now he is back to work next week will go through a lot of fruit, bread and cold meat as well. I think I will need to think of some different sandwich fillings for him, ideally cheap ones lol.
We am still eating lots from freezer, due to meal planning, but eventually of course that will need to be restocked too . That will be next month though :rolleyes:.
Ok, hope everyone is doing ok, weather is awful here (for a change- NOT!), bye for now
x OS