January 2009 Grocery Challenge

LittleMissAspie

Cottage cheese is a cheap form of protein.

When you get further in and can up your carbs you could see if you have room for lentils or pulses.

elizabunny

Good Afternoon everyone!

MUST go shopping later as the milk is gone and DH won't fancy water on his cereal tomorrow. Bread flour nearly out too, so I am making a little list and hoping to get as much as possible, for as little as possible -I thought, if I wait until about 7pm there just may be a few 'whoopsies', but these have been a bit thin on the ground in our area recently. Popped into Mr S last week and the assistant was marking down the bread rolls -the odd thing was, she seemed to be staring at everyone who approached the bakery section...this was most disconcerting and had the effect of scaring most people off. When she finally disappeared, I dispatched DH (I'm such a coward) to check out the 'whoopsies' and just as he picked up a packet of rolls the assistant suddenly re-appeared:eek: . DH immediately dropped the packet and came sheepishly back saying that there was only a few pennies off and it wasn't worth it anyway. Now, I don't quite get this method of selling. Do the shops want to get rid of it at the end of the day or don't they? and if they do could they make the experience a little less intimidating.

Ok so rant over, I promise to do my best and try as hard as possible not to overspend my budget (although this will be difficult) and if I do go over I will be mindful of how much I am spending and try not to blow the top of the budget too much:rotfl:

Have a good day!

rumncoke

Quick update, spent total of £63 since last Wednesday in various places, taking advantage of offers etc. Need to stock up on meat at the weekend , (OH did a batch cook up of curry from meat in freezer) but hopefully I should just about manage to stay in budget, as only 1 more Tesco shop next Wednesday for this month.

I have updated sig.

orchid-96

The Bees what is the holiday camp that has closed down, I have had a few holidays in the devon area and was just wondering....

I am mulling over whether to order a fruit n veg box from my local delivery service that provides local food....you have to spend over £15 and the delivery is around £3.50...I have done it before and been pleased with everything its just with offers and stuff I can probably get it cheaper, but I would like to support more local businesses so will have to see how I am doing by next Tuesday (the day to book it for delivery Friday)

Well done everyone I say, even those over budget have probably spent a lot less than they would have if they hadn't been on gc...just call it practice

Hope everyone is well today...

rosieben

OrkneyStar wrote: »

... the Coop, still a supermarket but one which has been loyally serving islands and rural communities for years. ...

That's a really good point OS, there's always been a coop in our village since I can remember; I do urge coop shoppers to get the membership card for £1 if you haven't already got one. I don't buy very much at our coop as its expensive and poor choice (we're waiting for it be revamped and enlarged :j) but even so I had about £6 in vouchers this time, to use against the cost of shopping. Not quite as exciting as going with my gran to collect her divi but nice nevertheless;

... and I just realised I didnt allow for the vouchers in my budget so I'm off to update my figures

Redmel, my dd used to have the same problem with dgd's swimming lessons, so she took a couple of sandwiches, a flask of water (which is all my dgd would drink) and some fruit.

MRSMCAWBER

Just a quick one

I have just spoken to mum and apparently LIDLs prices seem to be on the up :eek: ..it seems bread flour has gone from 48p to 75p :eek: -so she went to ASDA instead .... there were some other bits... but the only other one I can remember is the beans n sausages in tins up from 28p last week to 48p this week :eek: ..
Just thought I would let you know whats happening

princess_leia_3

Well, just spend another £22 in Mr T, and I am distraught that I paid £1.28 for a cucumber that was so small its disgusting and I should never have bought it really but I can't get down to grocers today!! So I am definately growing them this year Havent updated sig yet but I think this will take me over but I do have a lot in now so I am hoping to hold off from doing any big chain shops til feb (might just need to get milk)
I have also decided to include takeaways in our budget in an attempt to get DH tuned in to the idea that they actually cost alot of money compared to real food

PurpleSkies

orchid-96 wrote: »

Purpleskies, how on earth do you manage on such a small budget :eek: I can understand (to an extent) the odd month but wow....

Obviously we all have different budgets for our own individual reasons, but I am interested to know any of you in a similar situation to me (me, dh, ds 6 and dd twins 2) how much you manage to do it on...am still buying nappies but much less (especially now one out of them during the day yay)......

I don't really know to be honest! It's only myself that I have to buy for so I try and spend about £10 a week (or less if I can really stretch it!)
I guess it's just because I tend to stick to value products that I can buy the "economy" size of.
My usual meal plan consists of porridge for breakfast with value oats, for lunch a sandwich (hm bread usually with whatever cold meat was on offer) or hm soup with whatever veg was on offer (or woopsied) made in a big batch then frozen, and dinner is usually whatever I find lurking round the cupboards or in the back of the freezer because I've been terrible at meal planning recently! So it's all a bit boring but I try to vary it as often (and cheaply!) as I can.

I've spent to little this month because I've been subconsciously stock-piling my freezer meals! I could actually survive for about a week without doing any cooking since I have so much in there!

I don't include any meals that I have out and about. So any lunches at work or meals out with friends don't go in the budget. But this is quite rare anyway, especially this month as everyone's skint! I did used to add this to my grocery budget but since a nice meal out usually costs more than a week's food(!) I now add meals out to my "social" budget.

Writing all that makes me feel like a right skinflint! Although I am trying to save up for a few things so I just need to remember my goals!

OrkneyStar

Kiwisaver wrote: »

Stretching the last of my few dollars out before I will admit defeat. $1.99 spent today on a bunch of spring onions.

Just bread, milk, rolls and some fruit to get now.

Spent most of day mulling over bank statements and wondering how I can make this easier for myself, because have two heavy months coming up with visitors staying for a whole MONTH mid February til mid March. The downside of being an expat is everyone wants to come for very long FREE holidays and expect you to be in holiday mode too, eating out, entertaining, alcohol, BBQs etc.

They go home having had a lovely cheap break and I end up run ragged, waiting on hand and foot, whacked and poor! :eek:

Maybe when they invite themselves (I presume they are inviting themselves ?) you have to somehow, subtly, say that they are very welcome and although you will happily do some things with them, you won't be able to all the time (blame it on being tired or something else if you don't want to say you can't afford it!). I do sympathise as I have heard people say the same thing in Orkney!

rosieben wrote: »

That's a really good point OS, there's always been a coop in our village since I can remember; I do urge coop shoppers to get the membership card for £1 if you haven't already got one. I don't buy very much at our coop as its expensive and poor choice (we're waiting for it be revamped and enlarged :j) but even so I had about £6 in vouchers this time, to use against the cost of shopping. Not quite as exciting as going with my gran to collect her divi but nice nevertheless;

... and I just realised I didnt allow for the vouchers in my budget so I'm off to update my figures

Redmel, my dd used to have the same problem with dgd's swimming lessons, so she took a couple of sandwiches, a flask of water (which is all my dgd would drink) and some fruit.

Our little Coop is not great but we have three on the island, the other two are bigger, one in main town and one out in West Mainland (which we pop by if out for a drive that way). The Coop card is great I became a member for free and got £20 cash for joining as a member of staff offer when I worked there)- also they are doing double points on green dot stuff just now (healthy options mainly). I remember we had a Coop shop, butcher, shoe/clothes shop and furniture shop (which filled with toys at Christmas) when I was growing up in Lanarkshire, I like the Coop ethic too.

yummymummy05

Ok having done so well in January february is failing and I don't get paid 'til tomorrow!!

MIL went to Mr A's on tues and got me 2 packs of Parsnips @37p each and a whopsied bag of winter veg (1 small swede about 4 carrots, 3 parsnips and an onion) for 42p. As i didn't ask for these and haven't paid her yet I'm counting it in Feb's budget!!


I did the monthly big shop for feb today as I have friends over tomorrow and couldn't wait 'til monday (shopping at the weekend is a no no - oh and ds come too and we always overspend by miles - plus they can see what own brand stuff I put in!)

So I went to Aldi first and spent £7.28 - was pleased with that
Then to Mr A's and spent £18.34 not bad was doing well
and finaly to Mr T's and this was where it went horribly wrong and spent £88.55 all in all £115.33 add that to the £1.16 only leaves £64.67 for the month!!!!!

at Mr T's Sanex (lge one) is BOGOF, VO5 Rework Fibre Putty that OH uses is 2 for £4 and fructis conditioner is "special purchase" at £1.96!

Accidentally picked up a broken box of ob frosties £1.25) they reduced it the manager leant over instead of putting in 90p she accidentally typed in 30p!!!! that along with Kellogs shreddies down to 99p (ob one is £1.30 ish) meant i really got 2 for 1!!!!!


Sorry for the long post - in essence although I don't have much money for feb I do have quite a bit in the freezer and did do a bit of stock-pilling so I will see how I go but may decided to go for annual budget!! Just off to update sig!