January 2009 Grocery Challenge

sazzledazzle

Popped into tescos this morning on way to work to get tights and then thought it would be good idea to buy pot of coffee for work rather than buying coffee from machine, some cordial to encourgage me to drink more water not buy fizzy drinks, some ready meals for £1 each so got three days lunch at a £1 a day thats good for me as normally spend min of £2, special K as going to have breakfast every day to stop me snacking. Spent £15.88 but should save at least £10 just on not buy coffees at work this month.

kunekune

Is your problem with stocking up on BOGOFs, when there are limited numbers available, or with large stockpiles generally? I can see the objection to the first, though I'd imagine most supermarkets have controls of some kind on this. And I don't see how they can say "only people who are struggling financially may buy these". But I'm not sure what's selfish about having a well-stocked fridge, freezer and pantry or what it has to do greed. One reason I do it is because I'm time poor, and I've worked out it's more efficient to shop big and less often. Another is that cooking is my main hobby, and so I have more individual kinds of food than someone who eats to live. Then again, quite often I've found I have huge stocks by accident rather than design - oops bought yet another tin of coconut milk - and I can't see how having 11 tines of baked beans iin my cupboard is depriving anyone else, or keeping prices high.

wornoutmumoftwo

I only buy BOGOF is it is something that will last and that I will deffinately use. I did go OTT with the weetabix 2 for £2 offer as I never buy it usually due to cost but stocked up with that one (10 boxes over a week).

We still have two boxes left and I bought them ages ago.

Frugaldom

mouseymousey99 wrote: »

Must admit I felt a bit 'uncomfortable' about something on another thread somewhere. It was about people buying things when they are BOGOF etc etc - one person was saying how they bought (what seemed to me) to be huge amounts of stuff. I can't help thinking oh god that's so greedy. Talked to OH & he says I have unclear vision of modern life! I agree wholeheartedly re keeping a 'larder' of things, but just seems to me that some people are so greedy?? (Please don't shoot me down - I'm not talking about anyone on here - it was an observation).

I stockpile because I can't just walk to a local shop and get what I need (10 mile round trip to nearest). I don't have a huge income, so I would take advantage of any offers I could get but living in a rural community means less choice. In the long run, we all need to eat and we all need to learn to live within our means to avoid the scurge of debt. How people choose to do that is their own free choice and it's one that we are so lucky to have, especially when other countries appear to have neither freedom nor personal choice. No offence, as this is not meant to be retaliatory, only my personal view

mags50_2

Hi all
Thought I better report in
Feeling quite pleased with myself. My Asda order arrived today, ordered some shampoo etc. from Avon (bargain prices), my freezers are full and my store-cupboard is well stocked....so I think that we will be under budget (crossed fingers) this month.
I know, I know...we haven't even got through the first week yet ... but here's hoping!

And am I the only one who had the biggest smile when she opened her bag from Asda with the Stardrops in.... yep...I know...sad isn't it??!!!:D

angelatgraceland

mouseymousey99 wrote: »

Must admit I felt a bit 'uncomfortable' about something on another thread somewhere. It was about people buying things when they are BOGOF etc etc - one person was saying how they bought (what seemed to me) to be huge amounts of stuff. I can't help thinking oh god that's so greedy. Talked to OH & he says I have unclear vision of modern life! I agree wholeheartedly re keeping a 'larder' of things, but just seems to me that some people are so greedy?? (Please don't shoot me down - I'm not talking about anyone on here - it was an observation).

It really depends why they do it I think. Look at the wider picture. If you are simply consuming double then it is greedy. If you are being frugal and using it another day then its not. Why spend twice as much money by not buying bogofs? However-I dont really like the whole idea of bogofs as they do encourage overeating. You may also end up with a surplus of stuff you wouldnt normally buy. I much prefer to buy just one item half-price and decide how many I wish to purchase. This idea seems to be catching on with the retailers who are reducing items now and there are less bogofs.

kayharcombe

Just a quick update, have spent 55.14 so far on groceries, which is a biggish chunk out of 150 budget for month, but 22.83 was for approved foods, so things that will last a month, still have plenty in pantry and freezer, and really need to reduce stocks so if we move later in the year its easier.

This is a very tight budget for us, trying to get a good head start on 4k challenge, so am not going to worry too much if i go a bit over, i usually spend over 400 so I will be chuffed even if i do go over. It wont usually be this low for 1 adult and 3 kids, just having a storecupboard month

Sylvan

nykmedia wrote: »

I stockpile because I can't just walk to a local shop and get what I need (10 mile round trip to nearest). I don't have a huge income, so I would take advantage of any offers I could get but living in a rural community means less choice. In the long run, we all need to eat and we all need to learn to live within our means to avoid the scurge of debt. How people choose to do that is their own free choice and it's one that we are so lucky to have, especially when other countries appear to have neither freedom nor personal choice. No offence, as this is not meant to be retaliatory, only my personal view

Same here. For the past 25 years or so I've lived at least 20 miles from the nearest shops and for the first 8 years of that I was a single parent working full-time, so I got used to doing a big shop every couple of months. Then there's the need to plan for times when you're snowed in, ill or without transport. And there are so many things we just couldn't afford to eat if we didn't buy them when they were on BOGOF or whoopsied. I can no longer go shopping on my own and I feel guilty making DH do so much, in his half-hour lunch break, when he hates shopping, but I resent the petrol we use if we go out at the weekend almost as much as I resent using the wheelchair:mad: - so when I'm feeling good and have strong lads to pack and carry stuff I spend as much time as possible raiding several different stores and I make no excuse for shopping around to harvest the offers from each. For the last month or so we have been in town every week (which is highly unusual) and MrM and Mr A have had a few of my storecupboard staples on offer so we probably have up to 6 months supply of some of those few items now, but we never took so much at a time that there wouldn't be sufficient left for others. (6 months isn't excessive either - DH was ill for longer than that last year so neither of us could drive the distances needed to reach civilisation ("public transport" doesn't exist) and, oddly enough;), no-one will deliver to the back of beyond.

Half the time the supermarkets "run out" of things that are on offer within the first day or so and don't get more in for the rest of the offer period. (For instance the Branston Baked Beans at Mr T. The day after the offer started they were "Out of stock at the warehouse" - at several different warehouses...) I'm sure they use this as a ploy to entice people in, without actually having to sell the goods cheaply.

reb

highland_fling wrote: »

hi everyone,

Re hoarding food, have just discovered six packets of dried pasta that I had hidden and forgotten about!!! Hopefully as I become more organised this type of thing will no longer happen.

I always have loads of pasta in and I sometimes forget to rotate it correctly. I have used pasta that has been years :rotfl: out of date........I'm still here to tell the tale.....I think! Loads of stuff is fine years after the SBD, it's just a legal requirement on all foodstuff.

Someone else was saying that they would rather pay money off their debts than have a store cupboard. You only pay once for a store cupboard....if you rotate it correctly you NEVER chuck anything, you just replace to keep it at that level as you use it. We lost our business a few years ago and had no money coming in for over 4 months. We lived on our store.

I also make jams chutneys in time of plenty and especially if I can use foraged stuff for when we are not so well off.

LONG LIVE THE FOOD STORE! AND FORAGING! LOL!!

I do admit to having to chuck out the sausage meat that I bought at christmas for the same reason as someone else said.......It got left out of the blooming fridge. Aargggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!

orchid-96

Hi all, am trying to keep up with this thread as reading your posts helps to keep me on the straight and narrow....

I wonder if any of you can help, I have got a tesco order coming tomorrow (am only doing it as I got a free £10 off voucher as they messed up a bit on my christmas order) so with delivery its like £6 towards the bill, (no min spend) so am getting stuff there that I can't get anywhere else (like their value dishwasher tablets etc.) anyway I have noticed they have an offer for 3 meat items for £10 which seems good value, has anyone else picked these up? I feel a bit bad as I was going to get some chicken and I usually like to buy the 'happy' chicken where possible, but am soooo skint and in need of cheap meals for my family....anyway just wanted to know if anyone else has got this deal and if it is a good one...

Thanks