February 2009 Grocery Challenge

Boodle

Baileys_Babe wrote: »

Just a thought, could you not extend your week beyond 7 days so you still qualify for delivery but have fewer deliveries a month. Not sure if this would work for you, but it may, it would also mean less delivery costs per month.

Thanks Baileys Babe. The only problems there would be that some stuff I would need each week might go a bit ick (salad mainly) so would then have to top-up weekly anyway, and storage is an issue. But a great suggestion if I'd had more fridge/freezer space

Flat_Eric wrote: »

I found your post very interesting.

I think part of the reason I have such a stockpile of food (and no money!) is that when I did a home delivery shop, I would spend enough to qualify for free delivery/or a certain amount off my shopping and thus spend accordingly whereas if I just ordered what I needed, my shopping would be much cheaper. I used to get "click happy" and things ended up in my basket (and being delivered) that I would never dream of buying if I was stood in the supermarket!! You know so easy because I didnt have to carry it home!

I also found that because I ordered so much, it would be a nightmare to sort when delivered and thus difficult to spot mistakes with my order until after the driver had left.

I dont have the grocery challenge cracked just yet but Im making good headway. I am much more aware of what Im spending, always hunt down the "whoopsies" when I go to the supermarket and double check and triple check my (shared) home delivery order for items that I dont really need and can be deleted. I am slowly getting round to the mindset of this is what I have in the cupboard, what shall I make with it rather than, hmmm what do I fancy for tea?! and then promptly going to the supermarket and buying it plus a basketful of stuff thats caught my eye.. I have lost count of the number of times I have gone to the supermarket for one thing and I have spend £30 plus!

I did think shopping daily would be a cheaper option but found it a tie visiting the supermarket every day. Im very indecisive so would write out a week's menu one day and rewrite the whole thing the next.

Unless I write a list when I visit the supermarket, I tend to wander round and thats when those extra bits sneak into the basket.

Things are improving and Im hoping that March (my 6th GC) will be my best yet

Thanks for sharing your thoughts Flat Eric I can see where you are coming from. I think I will stick to my weekly trip (which DH and I don't really mind anyway tbh) and hopefully get closer to my budget this month Good luck with your March GC!

jackie_w

Hi everyone,

I have totally felloff the GC for February. We decided to have a birthday party for my DH as it was his 40th. We only had it in the house, but, because it was unexpected, the food and drink came off the GC money and more.

So Im out for the rest of the month (whats left of it), and will be back in March.

Mrs M for March could you please put me down for £250. Thank you

Radish72

As I'm away at the boyfriends this weekend, this means no more February shopping

So I'm declaring £97 for February (batch cooking is the future)

Miss_Liquorice

So I lost the toilet roll battle, meaning I ended up spending £5-ish in Lidl (Boughts 9 toilet rolls then some shortbread and crisps as I didn't have cash on me and hate using my card for less than £5). I've still got £11 left this month, with 3 and a half days to go, and only need to buy in greens for the guinea pigs (they are eating a LOT recently. I think they know I'm trying to budget my food or something...). First month, and I may well be under budget!

I start an intensive driving course next week. I'm not sure whether to include that week into the grocery challenge, as after a day of 6 hours of driving I may not feel up to cooking! Still deciding what I'm going to do....

nickynoo08

Hiya everyone, picked up a few bargains yesterday taking me even more over budget:rolleyes:, an annual budget is looking more appealing every day. Been mulling over the figures but my annual budget (that we can afford) over the remaining months works out at the same as my current monthly budget i just need to try harder.
Not sure of my overall spend this month now because i think i've lost a recipt or 2:rolleyes:

SunnyGirl

Back from my last shop of February now so I'm declaring at £336.68

I knew I'd be over but still pleased to have fed all 6 of us decent home cooked food on that budget :T I've been having a think & am going to increase the budget so I can include all toiletries, cleaning products & household stuff in it too as I tend to go to town the day after I've done the food shopping. I'm nothing if not a creature of habit

Please put me down for £400 for March please Mrs M? Thanks.

OrkneyStar

Was out to town to post a DVD to mum and met friend for coffee . On the way home got 2L milk for £1.29, 2 fairy for £1.50, and 3 for 2 Heinz Beans at £1.38, spending a total of £4.17. Won't need anything else until the weekend when a new weekly amount is withdrawn (not sure how much but it will be £40 or less). Am happy with current budget figures (slightly under overall, some weeks more under and some weeks a little over which balances fine!)as stocked up on nappies (offer on in Tesco) and washing up liquid, among other things. In the process of making a shopping list for Sat and deciding where to get the stuff- although realising we don't need that much!

Well done those who came under, better luck next time those who did not.

BigMummaF

Does anyone else find some of the prices on mysupermarket.com are a bit off? I've looked for specifics--eg dried fruit if I know I'm going anywhere near a Julian Graves--& recently made myself a dedicated 'price book' for all of my staple grocery items. I updated it thios week when I thought I was going to our closest MrA [which is a 45-min drive each way]Anyhoo, it didn't happen so I went to our local MrT & picked up some dried mint; on-line price was £6/100g where SEL showed £5:50:confused: Is the difference due to the site charging extra for the convenience or m'be to cover the 'points' you can earn do you think?

hamish222

Well I think that a monthly budget would definatly be better for me as was within budget but went to Supermarkets to stock up for next few weeks as working and think yearly budget would be easier rather than deducting totals etc. I work shifts and I am sometimes off for long periods and othertimes am nightshift for 7 days in a row so not so easy to go shopping etc.

I am now going to include all food, cat food, toiletries and household cleaning but seperate budget for dh alcohol and take away (to encourage me not to have a lot).

My yearly totals will be as follows 3000 for main challenge (this is 250 a month but before did not include cleaning stuff, toiletries and cat food). Don't have figures for Jan so will just count them as 250 exactly for that month.

I am going to allow 240 a year for takeways and 420 on alcohol ( so 20 quid and 35 quid a month roughly)

I have loads in freezer enough for 3 weeks at least and have meal planned. I also have enough cat food for 3 weeks as special offers.

Really pleased with way budget is going apart from fact that misread sign in Tesco as stressed out as shopping with mum and bought 2 lasagne kits as thought they were on special offer (white sauce that could have made myself, red lasagne sauce that could have made myself and lasagne sheets which would have been 32p for tesco value) as labels were bit misleading. Cost me 8.18 for 2 . I won't be able to enjoy my lasagne for thinking about it.
On plus point as hubby tucked into his roast lamb dinner he said I love this we have never eaten so well its great:D . I fed him on takeaway and M&S ready meals in past.

brownbake

Our local Asda is doing 1 litre - 1000 ml or 100 cl for our European friends - bottles of Fairy washing up liquid for 46p!!!

The "flavour" is Apple - so presumably not popular but for a 1 litre bottle of Fairy - which is the best Washing up liquid this is quite a bargain. Just stocked up on 5 which should last the year!!

They also have another scent - Fairy pink petals - but only 500 ml for the same price 46p!!!

A couple more Asda bargains at the moment - 2 X 350gram Wyke Farm Rich and Creamy mature cheddar for £ 3. Normal price is £3.45 for 1!!!!

They are also doing Ragu sauces - all flavours at 2 for £1.00 - Single price £1.26!! I can't even get the raw tomatoes from Lidl at that price anymore - Ragu - 50p a jar.

HTH