February 2009 Grocery Challenge

Hawthorn

recovering_spendaholic wrote: »

Ok, here's a few adjustments I would make

4 or 5 x 2L Cravendale milk (£6.64/£8.30)
pack of 9 toilet rolls (approx £4.50) - Go to Lidl instead. They do packs of 20, recycled for about £1.30
2 packs of kitchen roll (£2.10) - Buy washable cloths instead
12 tins of dog food (dog has colitis and has to have the same sort) (£6.50)
2 tubs of Flora (I try and get this in bulk when it is on bogof) (£1.00)
1 dozen free range eggs (from local shop) (£1.50)
8 yoghurts (tend to buy muller on offer) (£3.00)
2.5kg potatoes (currently 69p in Aldi)
other fresh fruit (about £5.00)
salad stuff (about £5.00)
bread (currently using Aldi breadmix so £1.58) Bread flour is 68p per 1.5 kg from ASDA. Yeast is around a pound mark, if you buy the non sachet stuff
naan bread for curry (£1) Naan bread, dead easy to make....there'll be a recipe for some on here
squash (2 for £2)
Sanitary protection (me and DD1) (£8.00) You could use a mooncup or washable san pro? Do you use the branded ones? Lidls own are very good, and cheap.
cheese - whatever is on offer (about £4.00) Use mature cheddar if you can. You need less as it's a stronger flavour. Asda are doing Brue chapel - 600g for £3 at the moment, and you can freeze it.
Stardrops (85p)
Surf (2.60) Add 50g soda crystals (about 65p per kilo?) to the wash - use less powder
washing up liquid (usually get 2 for £1 so 50p a week)
bleach (usually get 2 for £1 so 50p a week)
flour (about £1)
Stork for baking (buy in bulk works out about 30p a week)
caster sugar (89p in Aldi)

.

Otherwise, make sure you are getting value for money. Regarding fresh fruit - the value stuff isn't always the cheapest. They do prepacked for around 75p for is it 6-700g? Loose, there are nice apples, for 37p a kilo at Asda

Hope these ideas are some use to you.

Hawthorn

VfM4meplse wrote: »

Quite right, you need a variety of foods so I would suggest introducing that old favourite cornfalkes into your evening meal menu :rotfl:

You know, it's funny, when I was little, I would say 'what's for tea mum', and the answer would be 'iffits'. Now I know that means, if you get it, you get it, if you don't, you don't.....but for YEARS I thought iffits were shreddies :rotfl:

chickalicious

The best way to save money is to shop like your on benifits, ie work out how much ready cash one would have for kids etc if you were un employed, (do not include cost for travelling to and from work, school meals) then take out your monthly bills and generally whatever is left over would be what you would have for food clothes etc. Then you can see what you can eat for the ammount you have left, yes it does involve a certain ammount of meal planning, but it will also allow you to see how much food you are really wasting, and to be honest with the current climate anyone could be reduced to living on a reduced income at any point.
plus once you have tried it you may have an idea of how to reduce your shopping as nothing makes you shop smarter than not having the money to shop foolishly with,

pigpen

If you do your shopping online go through mysupermarket.co.uk ... it gives ideas of alternative products which are the same but cheaper.. plus ipoints plus whatever codes you can find to use and nectar/clubcard points.

I always shop online it does save a whole heap of money.. I do find it a bit upsetting that I don't get to peruse the reduced sections but I also don't buy all the junk I would if I went in the shop... like prawns and ice cream and crisps etc. I stick to the basics which will feed the family.

Where possible I buy value brand products.. though some are a bit nasty so I'll buy the shops own or the next cheapest brand.. sometimes it is worth checking the prices out though as the value brands are not always the cheapest.

I buy loads of cereal.. shops own brands usually it all goes down same way and the childrne have never been spoilt by labels so don't care they are just happy to be fed!

Cats eat anything.. they are scavengers by nature.. They don't much like gravy as it makes their whiskers sticky but they'll wait until one of the other licks it all off then go eat the bits lol. Asda Tiger or tesco premium and kitekat if there is nothing else.. they eat mice and birds they don't care so long as they are fed!

I always get value brand crisps.. less fat, less salt, less flavourings and on the whole less crap than branded crisps.. much better for the children. They aren't cheap and nasty they are actually better for them than the 'healthy' versions! Go packet reading it is great fun!

toiletries... boots points!! online freebies, stock up at christmas and birthdays and 3-4-2 offers.
sanitary stuff.. mooncup for me, boots pads for DD1 (99p and she likes them after trying everything else)
cleaning stuff.. flash spray (last 3 months), stardrops (lasts about a year) and 5L of domestos (lasts about a year).. as you can see I don't do much cleaning! Harpic.. I go through a bottle a week!

I am not averse to feeding the children sausages and oven chips on occasion!! Especially nights I am at college!

AuntieH

Only £25 this week so I'm on £214 with only 12 days to go so looks like I'm on target!

Lalaladybird

pigpen wrote: »

If you do your shopping online go through mysupermarket.co.uk ... it gives ideas of alternative products which are the same but cheaper.. plus ipoints plus whatever codes you can find to use and nectar/clubcard points.

I always shop online it does save a whole heap of money.. I do find it a bit upsetting that I don't get to peruse the reduced sections but I also don't buy all the junk I would if I went in the shop... like prawns and ice cream and crisps etc. I stick to the basics which will feed the family.

Where possible I buy value brand products.. though some are a bit nasty so I'll buy the shops own or the next cheapest brand.. sometimes it is worth checking the prices out though as the value brands are not always the cheapest.

I used to shop online (Tesco) when my dd was a really small baby and it was fantastic...I loved it, I used to find free delivery coupons and was very good at keeping the cost down but now my local Tesco has stopped their value products being available online :mad: so not only can I not go to the lovely reduced shelves but I would have to go up a price band too :eek: Anyway, a wander round Tesco is a treat for me these days :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Great advise though :T, what r u studying pigpen?

Buddingblonde - great to read your weeks menu, thanks for posting, you have given me some ideas:T

recovering spendaholic - can you stand to buy value toilet roll/kitchen roll/washing powder/cheese/sunflower spread etc? I do and it is fine. Also, I gave up buying squash (just drink water) and I'm still trying to get my bill down :rolleyes:

JenniO

Originally Posted by recovering spendaholic

Ok, here's a few adjustments I would make
Here's my 2 penneth:

4 or 5 x 2L Cravendale milk (£6.64/£8.30) - this is a lot of milk - even sticking to 4 a week would save £1.70 going by your figures
pack of 9 toilet rolls (approx £4.50) - Go to Lidl instead. They do packs of 20, recycled for about £1.30, ASDA smartprice toilet roll 9 pack is currently £1.17
2 packs of kitchen roll (£2.10) - Buy washable cloths instead - totally agree!
12 tins of dog food (dog has colitis and has to have the same sort) (£6.50)
2 tubs of Flora (I try and get this in bulk when it is on bogof) (£1.00)
1 dozen free range eggs (from local shop) (£1.50)
8 yoghurts (tend to buy muller on offer) (£3.00)
2.5kg potatoes (currently 69p in Aldi)
other fresh fruit (about £5.00)
salad stuff (about £5.00) - can you perhaps grow some lettuce in the spring/summer? it is is the easiest thing in the world to grow!
bread (currently using Aldi breadmix so £1.58) Bread flour is 68p per 1.5 kg from ASDA. Yeast is around a pound mark, if you buy the non sachet stuff
naan bread for curry (£1) Naan bread, dead easy to make....there'll be a recipe for some on here
squash (2 for £2) - can you find a substitute for this expenditure? ie. slice of lemon (slices can be frozen!) or just water or make lemon barley water or something?
Sanitary protection (me and DD1) (£8.00) You could use a mooncup or washable san pro? Do you use the branded ones? Lidls own are very good, and cheap. Have you thought about cloth washable pads as well?
cheese - whatever is on offer (about £4.00) Use mature cheddar if you can. You need less as it's a stronger flavour. Asda are doing Brue chapel - 600g for £3 at the moment, and you can freeze it. ASDA also do 3 blocks of cheese for £4.00 so could this last for 2 weeks?
Stardrops (85p) - How about switching over to 'green' cleaning and using vinegar, lemons, bicarb, tea tree oil instead? There are good threads on this or you can PM me and I can send stuff over.
Surf (2.60) Add 50g soda crystals (about 65p per kilo?) to the wash - use less powder. You could also buy a value washing powder and mix the three together in a large tub which would also bring down the cost.
washing up liquid (usually get 2 for £1 so 50p a week) - why not buy a box of soap flakes and boil up some homemade soap 'goo' instead? I'm talking pennies a week here....you can find the recipe for it on this site or again PM me.
bleach (usually get 2 for £1 so 50p a week) - I refuse to have bleach in the house and I am still alive and well. Surely you don't need this?
flour (about £1) - is this the value brand? if it is, are you going through 3 bags of flour a week. I'm only asking, if you are, then that's fine!
Stork for baking (buy in bulk works out about 30p a week)
caster sugar (89p in Aldi) - you can buy this for less money somewhere. I know Tesco may still (they used to) do a 3 kilogram bag of sugar and it came to around 72p instead of your 89p.


Anyway, I'm only trying to help, not 'nit pick' at your spending. I think it is shocking how food prices have risen and we are having to rack our brains how to get the shopping down back to the level we used to be able to spend on.

kunekune

We had to go to sainsburys yesterday to swap a broken dvd player, and I ended up getting some things I'd forgotten in the ocado shop: two lots of cheddar, 3 lots of orange juice, some pomegranate juice (DS's choice), and some toothpaste. Total spend £15. I'm not including some stuff that doesn't come out of the grocery budget. I've decided that putting the packed lunch stuff in to the budget this month, when it doesn't normally include children's lunches, is what is going to send me over, so I'm deducting the extras I bought from the total for the same of consistency. After all, if I come in within £50 of the target figure, it will still be the cheapest month I have ever managed.


Last night's casserole with dumplings was a big success but there isn't a lot left - the plan for the leftovers is to defrost the venison & chestnut casserole that was a previous week's leftovers, and then make four little pies. With some pastry and lots of veg on the side I reckon the two casserole-ettes will feed four of us. Tonight though we are having roast lamb.

mrs-moneypenny

got a £20 aldi shop from the weekend to add to my totals. hoping to not spend much this week, its 1/2 term but DH is having to work so nothing exciting (or expensive) planned.
eldest DS has a couple of mates round later and teeneage boys tend to have hollow legs so i better sort something filling out for their meals:rotfl: . i think its mostly going to be a gaming and film watching excercise on their part with occasional meal breaks;)

recovering_spendaholic

JenniO wrote: »

Originally Posted by recovering spendaholic

Ok, here's a few adjustments I would make
Here's my 2 penneth:

4 or 5 x 2L Cravendale milk (£6.64/£8.30) - this is a lot of milk - even sticking to 4 a week would save £1.70 going by your figures
pack of 9 toilet rolls (approx £4.50) - Go to Lidl instead. They do packs of 20, recycled for about £1.30, ASDA smartprice toilet roll 9 pack is currently £1.17
2 packs of kitchen roll (£2.10) - Buy washable cloths instead - totally agree!
12 tins of dog food (dog has colitis and has to have the same sort) (£6.50)
2 tubs of Flora (I try and get this in bulk when it is on bogof) (£1.00)
1 dozen free range eggs (from local shop) (£1.50)
8 yoghurts (tend to buy muller on offer) (£3.00)
2.5kg potatoes (currently 69p in Aldi)
other fresh fruit (about £5.00)
salad stuff (about £5.00) - can you perhaps grow some lettuce in the spring/summer? it is is the easiest thing in the world to grow!
bread (currently using Aldi breadmix so £1.58) Bread flour is 68p per 1.5 kg from ASDA. Yeast is around a pound mark, if you buy the non sachet stuff
naan bread for curry (£1) Naan bread, dead easy to make....there'll be a recipe for some on here
squash (2 for £2) - can you find a substitute for this expenditure? ie. slice of lemon (slices can be frozen!) or just water or make lemon barley water or something?
Sanitary protection (me and DD1) (£8.00) You could use a mooncup or washable san pro? Do you use the branded ones? Lidls own are very good, and cheap. Have you thought about cloth washable pads as well?
cheese - whatever is on offer (about £4.00) Use mature cheddar if you can. You need less as it's a stronger flavour. Asda are doing Brue chapel - 600g for £3 at the moment, and you can freeze it. ASDA also do 3 blocks of cheese for £4.00 so could this last for 2 weeks?
Stardrops (85p) - How about switching over to 'green' cleaning and using vinegar, lemons, bicarb, tea tree oil instead? There are good threads on this or you can PM me and I can send stuff over.
Surf (2.60) Add 50g soda crystals (about 65p per kilo?) to the wash - use less powder. You could also buy a value washing powder and mix the three together in a large tub which would also bring down the cost.
washing up liquid (usually get 2 for £1 so 50p a week) - why not buy a box of soap flakes and boil up some homemade soap 'goo' instead? I'm talking pennies a week here....you can find the recipe for it on this site or again PM me.
bleach (usually get 2 for £1 so 50p a week) - I refuse to have bleach in the house and I am still alive and well. Surely you don't need this?
flour (about £1) - is this the value brand? if it is, are you going through 3 bags of flour a week. I'm only asking, if you are, then that's fine!
Stork for baking (buy in bulk works out about 30p a week)
caster sugar (89p in Aldi) - you can buy this for less money somewhere. I know Tesco may still (they used to) do a 3 kilogram bag of sugar and it came to around 72p instead of your 89p.


Anyway, I'm only trying to help, not 'nit pick' at your spending. I think it is shocking how food prices have risen and we are having to rack our brains how to get the shopping down back to the level we used to be able to spend on.

Thanks JennieO and Hawthorne for these suggestions. I am not sure I can bear to use value toilet paper but I will give it a go! I will try and stick to 4 cartons of Cravendale but DD1 drinks loads and loads of milk - it drives me nuts!
Sanitary protection is non-negotiable as I have terrible flooding and DD1 has a bad time too. I have to count this as a necessary expense because otherwise I have ruined bedding and upholstery and that brings more expense.
I love mature cheddar but DD1 will only eat red leicester so I tend to buy that for eating and mature for cooking.

I agree about the washable cloths instead of the kitchen roll, and I know that I don't really need the bleach, that will be a hard habit to break though:o

I am going to really try and reduce what I spend this week and see if I can get it down to a more manageable level. I have tried the grocery challenge before and failed miserably each time but I am going to give it another go for March and practice some strategies for reducing spending before then! I am sure I could manage for quite a while without buying meat or storecupboard staples as I have loads in.

I have found that online shopping makes me spend MORE:o I go around the site and find all kinds of offers and stuff which I wouldn't see if I shopped instore with my list - I get carried away online!

Thanks again for the suggestions and I will give them a go.