If you were to stock up for 6 months, what would you buy?

nesssie1702

Fayjmck

Hope your planning is all going well? I can relate to your shop, as I live on an island too. Love getting away to check out other supermarkets. The mysupermarket website is useful - pity it doesn't check Morrisons though, as I found a few bargains there the last time I was off island at the beginning of March. Our Citroen Berlingo comes back pretty full each time we're away, by the time we've visited Ikea and Dunelm as well as done the rounds of the supermarket. Friends in Inverness just can't get their heads round the fact we shop on the mainland - so I have to keep reminding them that I don't have access to the shops that they do on such a regular basis.

I have a well stocked store cupboard with lots of things in it that I can't get here, or that I can get here but end up paying a premium for. We were in Waitrose in Edinburgh and had a great time looking at things that we can only dream of getting here! Likewise, Asda in Perth, where I picked up a new Egyptian Cotton KS duvet for less than £20

Depending where you're going? Try having a look in Semi-Chem for some household stuff as well as they can be competitive on some things. Poundland is my DH's favourite place when we're away as he loves a wander in there.

Another of my non-food shops is TK Maxx - some of their kitchen ware is great. The last time I was away, got a couple of new baking trays that are good quality and they didn't break the bank. It's not all clothes in there!

Someone mentioned Ikea tealights in a previous reply - all their candles have shot up in price recently. 100 tealights used to be £1.49, but it's now up to £1.99 (still cheap though) Their scented candles used to be 99p and are now up to £1.39 each which is a fair hike.

Happy shopping and hope you've got your list down to a fine art!

Pippilongstocking

Violetta wrote: »

Is it worth getting a few cartons of long life milk? Not as good as fresh I know, but I like to have 1 in the back of the cupboard just in case. The chinese supermarkets are good for spices too, I always get cinnamon and ginger from there, cheaper than supermarkets for 4 x the amount.

Good ideas - we usualy buy reduced local milk and just freeze it works pretty well but iwll have a look for the spices you mentioned in the chinese supermarkets.

thanks xxx

Just back from my flying visit (by plane) to Inverness and have now been in a poundland - seems pretty cool, they had 1.5kg bags of sugar for cant remember it worked out at 67p/kilo. Seems like an ok place - didnt buy anything too busy oohing and ahhhing at stuff - far too much choice. xx

Ta for the good ideas - trip in about 10-14 days time I think

Pippilongstocking

Houtson I Have a Problem

I need to seriously look at the freezer contents and do a decent meal plan for April if I can even think of shopping for my mega shop - thought about this in a very grown up manner last night

Disaster struck yesterday - now new lodger chap isnt coming and his £600 quid isnt winging its way into my account (rent+deposit) I don't have a swashing around extra bit of money to use as my six month shop pot

Budget for the 6month shop was £300 - food + £100 for other bits clothes etc

I may need a rejig -


Thinking about an April meal plan - almost ala Maz thread (feed your family on 20 quid) but with the contents of the freezer and my purchases south.

If I can meal plan for the month - and THEN use the £200 for April groceries for my mega shop + £100 last payment from the old lodger I can probably do my 6 month shop without putting anything on the CC (and keep that for emergencies)

Sorry if I am losing anyone its making sense to me. (sort of)

Rather than slapping a six month shop on a CC - I should maximise the stuff I have in already as my April groceries - do the store cupboard challenge bit and improvise

THEN

I can use April money and other cobbled together money for the mega shop
(I figure with cash in my hand I am more likely to stick to my list and make hard choices....) Its probably the only time til August I will be away with a car - and it should long term help the finances if I can do this shop.....

ANy thoughts on my rambles?
(You can tell I am worried can't you?)

rosieben

I think you're absolutely right to want to do it without putting anything on cc so eating from store for April is an excellent idea! :T

If you need help with your meal plan, post a list of what you have in, I'm sure peeps will come up with lots of useful (and frugal) ideas mbaz £20 thread is inspirational!

Pippilongstocking

rosieben wrote: »

I think you're absolutely right to want to do it without putting anything on cc so eating from store for April is an excellent idea! :T

If you need help with your meal plan, post a list of what you have in, I'm sure peeps will come up with lots of useful (and frugal) ideas mbaz £20 thread is inspirational!

Thanks Rosieben - I am a bit panicked - I know on the scale of things its not a big breakdown - but having done my budget for someone moving in today - I am a bit upside down at the moment.

I will go through the freezer and make a list

I know I do all the boring stuff always (same stuff) so some inspiration might be very well needed. I know I have between 20-23 portions of 'meat' in - I wrote a list last night on the freezer door with my dry board pen - its a sight but its hilarious.

We are also off on school hols as of tonight - DD is at home with me for the week before we all go south next friday - then she's with a pal for two days then both kids fly to france to see their dad on the 6th for 8 days- I am on a course so no food needed that week at home.

DS goes tonight and has a bag of cupboard stuff with him for his trip to help out.

So we aren't all at home again until the 14th April - so its probably better to plan the month and see how we go.

Will post a list of stuff in a bit - you think here or on OS board?

OrkneyStar

fayjmck wrote: »

ailuro2 vbmenu_register("postmenu_19723527", true); - good points - we have a wee boots but no M and S

mardatha vbmenu_register("postmenu_19727215", true); - there is alot of fog in the summer if it gets warm ironically the summer mists come in. Orkney and shetland aren't (sometimes) very expensive to fly too from Edi - takes about 1hour 10 to here and about 2 to shetland. Or the Aberdeen boat isnt' too bad either - its really worth a look its gorgeous and steeped in history.

List being revised and trying to monitor (loo rolls, squash consumption and sugar - stuff like that)

How many folk actually 'know' how much stuff they use?? I thought I did until I had to try and quantify it!!

All help v much appreciated!!

You can fly from Glasgow too and Aberdeen .
We used to do the Aberdeen boat but tbh I prefer Scrabster route now.
oh no lol I am reading up on this thread (its great) but its making me want to go away over the water to Wick again!
Hmmm, wonder what the forecast is like....if its calm seas then we're on that boat whether DH wants to or not!
x

*Chattie*

Somerfield have Galazy at 79p at the moment, I'm going to stock up for 6 months :T

rosieben

fayjmck wrote: »

... Will post a list of stuff in a bit - you think here or on OS board?

I think OS would be a better place for this, how about adding to the Store Cupboard Challenge thread?

lizzie09

Mmm Galaxy for me... & I think I'll add Coca Cola (3 for £3) in Tesco for my coke guzzling household!

Pippilongstocking

OrkneyStar wrote: »

You can fly from Glasgow too and Aberdeen .
We used to do the Aberdeen boat but tbh I prefer Scrabster route now.
oh no lol I am reading up on this thread (its great) but its making me want to go away over the water to Wick again!
Hmmm, wonder what the forecast is like....if its calm seas then we're on that boat whether DH wants to or not!
x

HI Orkney star

We tried the willow chippe - very good - and so handy!!

Hope you get your trip sorted soon - I have my budget now - £300 and have cleared spaces in the cupboard and the garage - hurrah

We are going via Scrabster the way down - might do Aberdeen on the way up - not sure yet - probably taking darwin - but working out the petrol

He's heavy on petrol - but work are paying - and he's fun to take away - but I need to do the sums as the citreon is economical, roomy and I guess then rather than breaking even on the petrol I would make some money back.

BUT DD said - well being sensible lets take our normal car as its crazy fun to take Darwin but a bit silly

I LIKE SILLY though...................................:D:D