March 2009 Grocery Challenge

xx_Jo_xx

I am not doing very well at all - since Ive started trying to save money - I have become totally disorganised and spending even more!!

Im buying between different shops for better produce/prices etc, but then cos Im in ALL the shops, Im checking out ALL their Offers and ALL their Whoopsies!! Im obsessed and need to stop! Then because Im distracted, I forget things that I actually went in for - like Washing powder & fabric Softener, which means ANOTHER trip to the shop and more temptations!!! :eek:

bought a load of lovely bread and rolls (reduced - obviously) and made them up into sandwiches/rolls and froze them individually for little ones packed lunch. Also bought reduced scones, pancakes, crumpets and froze them too!! Freezer is now packed to the gunnells - I couldnt even fir anything into it if I wanted to and I still find myself nosing round to see whats on offer!!!

Ive just read KezLou's post and am sitting thinking " Mmmmm red grapes, 69p" - there is no room in my house for any more food!!!

STOP SPENDING JO!!!! REMEMBER THE POINT OF THE CHALLENGE!!!!!!

Someone tell me off please!!! xx

rosieben

xx_Jo_xx wrote: »

I am not doing very well at all - since Ive started trying to save money - I have become totally disorganised and spending even more!!
...
Someone tell me off please!!! xx

ok and I have only 2 words to say to you ............................
...
...
...
... shopping list!

MRSMCAWBER

rosieben wrote: »

ok and I have only 2 words to say to you ............................
...
...
...
... shopping list!

Im sorry -but that little icon made me chuckle -never seen that one before :rotfl:
XX_jo_XX -I went through a phase of doing similar to you in the begining ... I would pop out almost daily on a "whoopsy" hunt and to pick up any bargains -but I soon realised I often ended up spending more than I needed ...
I have now reversed it and find that I do decent shop once a month and occasionally twice -then hubby picks up the bits of extras like milk, lettuce etc on his way home (he passes ALDI anyway) although it probably only works as I have a hubby that will only get what is on the list :T

reb

xx_Jo_xx wrote: »

I am not doing very well at all - since Ive started trying to save money - I have become totally disorganised and spending even more!!

......STOP SPENDING JO!!!! REMEMBER THE POINT OF THE CHALLENGE!!!!!!

Someone tell me off please!!! xx

Consider your hand smacked! LOL!:p

MMmmmm I am a bit like that. Try to have some no spend days....ie stay away from the shops!! Tis fun. But remember there is nothing wrong with having a store. In my mind it's a really good idea. But you do have to try to not do what you are. Good luck!

And......when you have succeeded tell me how you did it please. LOL!

jtb2412

XX_jo_XX can only echo what others have said - shopping list !

Have just been to the butchers and got my meat order for the month. It came to £75 and I've just (out of interest) popped a like-for-like order on the Mr T website and it came out at £77.99 so the butchers is cheaper and much nicer

Now I have everything I need for the month - will only have to do bread, milk and veg top up. Keep repeating to myself "I will not be going to do a main shop again until April" :rotfl: .

I'll adjust sig shortly once I've totted everything up.

TTFN xx

tessie_bear

rosieben wrote: »

do a search on ebay for 'mini loaf tins' - there are several types and sizes for sale.

there's also a 'mini loaf pan tray' here

thankyou for that...iv just ordered one

Savvy_sewing

Well I had my ASDA delivery today. £156.09:eek: But I am hoping that it will last us most of the month, with the stuff that we have in the freezer and the cupboards. Now I must try harder to stop the wastage. With most of us being ill, and then I went away for 5 days, there was food that we had to throw out!! (Why do kids not see whats in the fridge infront of them!).

Julimk

Went to Mr T this morning & got some lamb’s liver, lamb neck fillet, stewing steak & chicken breasts at 1/3 off, so they have gone into the freezer for another time, together with some half price sausagemeat & 3 chunks of paneer, which were 20p each, which I got a couple of days ago.

There was already 2 packs each white fish, smoked fish, sausages, and 1 pack each of mince, stewing steak, turkey breast & chicken breasts in there. And still over 60 HM meal portions! So there really is plenty in!!:D

I’m half way through my month & not a lot of money left in the budget, but will really only need milk and possibly a couple of other little bits. Did buy some more milk today anyway, and also a couple of litres of the ‘discount brand’ OJ (48p a litre), petit filous (75p) and a couple of cans of Prince’s tuna (half price), sugar & flour.

madmittens

Hi everyone

Just spent £13.71 in Mr T, on not very much. Good thing there's plenty in the freezer. When are we going to see the effects of deflation that everyone's talking about

Also spent £4.60 on cat food (forgot to add to siggy!) at the agricultural merchant earlier today - one of the rescue cats is not coping too well with tinned food (and the others won't eat dried food) so I'm trying every brand I possibly can in the hope of finding something that suits him, before I embark on the expensive special-food option.

orchid-96

Not doing too bad so far, have updated sig as spent a few pounds when I was in Morrisons yesterday - I went in for a friend who has broken her ankle and could't resist a few bargains!! they have the Happy eggs (fr obviously) on offer for £1 for 6, some nice teabags for 1.00 for 80 and club biscuits for 67p was also desperate for foil so got that too (has anyone else noticed that the supermarkets seem to have dispensed with the nice cheap basic one at around 40p? cheapest in Morrisons was 80p basic one...

Anyway on the subject of shopping too much for bargains and whoopsies, I certainly did this in the past and thought I was doing great BUT I have now discovered the secret.....NSD's no spend days!! there will always be offers/whoopsies, especially if you are flexible with your shopping list.....I do buy some offers in bulk (like cheese / meat) but otherwise I really feel like I spend much less by just shopping less....well thats me anyway...

Hope you are all enjoying the March challenge so far :beer: