May 2009 Grocery Challenge

fletch3163

Frugalswan mentions dampened enthusiasm. Mine feels like it's been sucked right out:mad:

My DH is fighting my plans for our financial safety. What is that? He says he's fed up every penny being a prisoner. I think the problem is (thankfully) we have a choice to do this, it's not a need. BUT, if one is EVER to survive this climate then we need to be more canny with our spending habits. Why give it to Asda, or Tesco, or anyone, when it can be in our bank account? Am I too strict? Can a person be too frugal?

I still spend more than I believe we should (over £400 pm on shopping). I watch others do it on MUCH less with more to cater for.

DH got £240 cash for his clapped out car just over a week ago. Half of the money is spent, by him, and he can't account for much more than £20 of it. He doesn't gamble, rarely drinks, he just frittered. He's not ashamed to admit that. He thinks there's nothing wrong with it and when it's gone, it's gone. The money itself is almost irrelevant. My upset is his blatant disregard for it. I think he should be ashamed of himself.

So, do I quit the greater cause and go with the flow? Do I go back to ready made heaven, order-out convenience, M&S quality? If I do it's for no other reason except to say "told you so". Sorry for the rant

BigMummaF

MRSMCAWBER wrote: »

Afternoon all
A quick update for me -hubby has stopped of at ALDI on the way home to pick up the few bits I wanted...he came in chuntering that he is sure the prices have gone up :T-not :T for the price increase but for hubby noticing ........hope everyone is having a good week:D

Morning Folks & apologies for chopping MrsMc This bit caught my attention for several reasons, the main two being a/the offspring are beginning to notice [STRIKE]when[/STRIKE]IF they pick up a bit of shopping for me & b/ erm....how can I put this...:rolleyes:...I don't want to be taken for a sarky so-n-so!...:think:...oh balooga! Here goes!
I've obviously been spending too much time with the more dedicated msers amongst us:rotfl: for I have begun to keep spreadsheets of various spends. It's still a work in progress as I am very new to the idea, but at the mo it's working for me so that's what is most important right? Anyhoo! To get to the point, I'm recording the size--as in weight where possible--alongside the price of things, so as I can keep an eye on the more crafty practises that some manufacturers try to pass off. Remember when Mars bars were a goodly size & how many bakewells in a box till they 'improved' the recipe? I have an idea that even more pack sizes will shrink, to fool us into believing the prices are stable :mad: & we're "heading out of the recession"!

Cornishpixie_2

fletch3163 wrote: »

Frugalswan mentions dampened enthusiasm. Mine feels like it's been sucked right out:mad:

My DH is fighting my plans for our financial safety. What is that? He says he's fed up every penny being a prisoner. I think the problem is (thankfully) we have a choice to do this, it's not a need. BUT, if one is EVER to survive this climate then we need to be more canny with our spending habits. Why give it to Asda, or Tesco, or anyone, when it can be in our bank account? Am I too strict? Can a person be too frugal?

I still spend more than I believe we should (over £400 pm on shopping). I watch others do it on MUCH less with more to cater for.

DH got £240 cash for his clapped out car just over a week ago. Half of the money is spent, by him, and he can't account for much more than £20 of it. He doesn't gamble, rarely drinks, he just frittered. He's not ashamed to admit that. He thinks there's nothing wrong with it and when it's gone, it's gone. The money itself is almost irrelevant. My upset is his blatant disregard for it. I think he should be ashamed of himself.

So, do I quit the greater cause and go with the flow? Do I go back to ready made heaven, order-out convenience, M&S quality? If I do it's for no other reason except to say "told you so". Sorry for the rant

I have a hubby with a similar attitude to money. I personally would carry on and not let it get to you, as he is entrusting you to be responsible for the housekeeping. After all we're the more sensible ones. My hubby complains and every now and then ventures to Mr A and gets his fav. bread, cooked meat and cheese, and I tend to say fine but that won't feed the kids. . I'm sure he will come around, maybe just not mention it, or buy a few better quality things and pace it out in the menu's. (so he thinks he's getting something;)). Perhaps you could readjust your secret menu, I always ensure we have something nice at the weekend as that's when he's home, then a couple of slumming it (pasta, fishcakes, jacket pots), in the week when he's too tired to complain.:D. Eventually like Del boy "They'll know it makes sense":rotfl:. Good luck

Vixstar

Well I've managed to do just my weekend shop since last weekend so I'm pleased with that as I was starting to pop to Mr A several times a week. Updated my signature with my lastest spends which consisted of a lot of bbq food and additions to my yoghurt mountain! Still got an overflowing freezer so need to start working through that otherwise my grocery spends this month'll be unrealistic as I won't have bought any meat and then next month I'll have to buy loads.

kezlou

Hiya Frugalswan my partner is the same, i am not not trying to pay bills, rent, food etc but at the same try and get us out of debt and save up for paying for his gas qualifications that he has to take in 2010.
He laughs at the meal plans i make, complains because i say no we can't do that, but then whines when we have no money.
"Mine feels like it's been sucked right out:mad:", that how i have been feeling since he has been out of work.
No need to apologise for a rant, i think this is the best place to do as i'm sure were all going through the same thing one way or another.
My partner thinks he shouldnt have to go without the food he likes, and that i only buy/make food i like. Ahem i don't really like meat, yet most of my meals contain meat. hmmm seems i cook less for me more for him.

Well this week i have a whopping £27.63 on salad stuff from sainsburys,, homebargains. Including milk form the corner shop cant believe the prices at my local have shot up again.
Oh and paid up till the end of the month with the milkman, so thats another load off my mind.Its only 1 pint of full fat milk a day for the boys but they deserve it, the rest of the time they drink semi-skimmed and juice. (another thing OH complains about as he likes full fat milk and i dont.)Sorry ranting again.

So so far so good. Full of flu at the moment so haven't had any alcohol since last week, which i have sneaky suspicion is why the bill so low up to now :rolleyes: but we shall see.

Have a good weekend all.

jinky67

spent £ 4.30 the other day.....updated siggy already

nmlc

Frugalswan, Kezlou and others

My DH is the same, one evening last week I'd made "bangers and mash" with veg and gravy and HM Apple crumble and custard for dessert - why do we have to have sausages why can't we have "proper" meat! OH feels that a meal is not a meal without meat. Meat seems to have gone up a ridiculous amount in the last couple of months. I had hoped to be able to stock the freezer and then only buy whoopsied meat for re-stocking - I've visited our local supermarkets at all different times and never seem to be able to get very good items adequately reduced - guess the manager must be good at ordering stock! This month is really bad am already overspent by 20p and have this week and next to go - so damage limitation is the only way to go for me! Have made a loaf of chocolate bread and will be making mince pies, bakewell tart and choc chip cookies in a while so pack-ups sorted for next week. Am going to start using the butchers again for all meat products as seem to be able to restock better from there and get into a situation at the end of month when money's tight - I still have plenty of meat etc left to produce meals.
Keep safe and well
nmlc

Changingme

Just done this weeks shop and spent £70.32 worked out have 12 meals in freezer.Brought sausages in Tesco called Riverway Foods BOGOF so 24 for £4.00 pounds,also noticed they've put the price of the grated mozzarella the 250g bags back up to £1.44 its only been £1.00 the last two weeks.
Happy shopping.:rolleyes:

WelshWoofer

Morning all!
Just back from my trip into the local town for supplies and am very pleased with myself - got a few toiletries from the pound shop (all branded and a pound!), a few bits from Farm Foods and the rest from Sainsburys. Spent £3, £2.28 and £18.23 so £23.51 in total - flipping miracle for me!!!:j:j
I usually spend £40-50 a week in Mr Ts and so am very chuffed that making a little effort, writing a list and going to a few shops has made a difference. Granted, I didn't need as much as usual but was still very happy with the whole expedition. The Mr S bill could have been about £3.50 less but I felt sorry for OH and bought him some nice fresh burgers and the dog a chwy treat thing.

Yeah me!!!

clutterydrawer

fletch3163 wrote: »

Frugalswan mentions dampened enthusiasm. Mine feels like it's been sucked right out:mad:

My DH is fighting my plans for our financial safety. What is that? He says he's fed up every penny being a prisoner. I think the problem is (thankfully) we have a choice to do this, it's not a need. BUT, if one is EVER to survive this climate then we need to be more canny with our spending habits. Why give it to Asda, or Tesco, or anyone, when it can be in our bank account? Am I too strict? Can a person be too frugal?

I still spend more than I believe we should (over £400 pm on shopping). I watch others do it on MUCH less with more to cater for.

DH got £240 cash for his clapped out car just over a week ago. Half of the money is spent, by him, and he can't account for much more than £20 of it. He doesn't gamble, rarely drinks, he just frittered. He's not ashamed to admit that. He thinks there's nothing wrong with it and when it's gone, it's gone. The money itself is almost irrelevant. My upset is his blatant disregard for it. I think he should be ashamed of himself.

So, do I quit the greater cause and go with the flow? Do I go back to ready made heaven, order-out convenience, M&S quality? If I do it's for no other reason except to say "told you so". Sorry for the rant

I think there is a happy medium to be attained, and the specifications of that depend on people's individual circumstances. To me, if i have a little spare money, I wouldn't put every single penny in the bank at the expense of having some enjoyment out of it, but nor would i fritter it all away on things that weren't valuable to me. eg it would make more sense to save up the money i would otherwise fritter on magazines etc, and get somethign really worthwhile like a weekend away. anyway I hope you and your DH can come to an agreement soon and that you can rediscover the fun in OS...cos it *is* fun sometimes, seeing how far you can stretch stuff. (I don't get out much!)