June 2009 Grocery Challenge

SunnyGirl

cw18 wrote: »

You can only join Costco if you have a business or work in a specific job I don't qualify for one just now, but a friend (who has one for her Brownie Pack) is hopefully going to get me on her membership as an additional card holder - for which I'll pay the fee for my card, and be available to pick bits up for her if needed (which isn't likely),

I may qualify for one in my own right by the end of next year though - I'm considering taking up child-minding, and that would mean I'm entitled to my own :T

My husband runs his own removal & storage business so we'll be using that for membership. The only thing that worries me is going in there and practically blowing the budget in one fell swoop I can be terrible for bulk buying 'a good offer'

Good luck with the childminding if you decide to take it up.

angelatgraceland

Well Ive just topped up with fuel so thats £28 gone-tho it will last the month. Salad with everything this week as its growing well in the garden so thats a bonus. Made some parsnip soup last night which was my lunch today and it was lush. Just remember that I have to add car tax to May spends and M.O.T. due this month! Guessing now that I will be a bit over but it will balance out again next month. Just need to resist takeaways when people ask for the. DH asked for chips last night-well yes-he got oven chips! Went to Mr M today and stocked up on bread-bogof loaves on offer there-work out at 49p each I believe so got 6. Thats this weeks. They also had a pack of 12 rolss for either 49p or 59p-can't remember. I think muller rice was on offer at Asda-cant remember details but it was the 6 packs-2 for £4 or something-worth checking their website. I still have to get liquid wash -I keep forgetting it as I stock up when its on offer. I notice value washup liquid has been reduced to a 750ml bottle and price doubled in Co-op-so no longer worth bothering with.Oh-got some fruit n fibre in Asda for 64p and its excellent! Also got some more bran flakes for 70p to make branflake loaf.

LydiaJ

angelatgraceland wrote: »

I also use them and Im also not sure about them. If its really grubby I use powder-if it needs a nice smell I use liquid and if its barely dirty then "balls"!
I know I can add something for a nice smell if I stick around for the final rinse and I dont use softeners-never needed them and they smell too strong. Unfortunatley the eco balls dont give the fresh smell of powder. I sometimes wonder if just using water would be the same-regardless of the scientific details! Sometimes I think we are all being "blinded with science" as my dear Dad used to say!

We're not being blinded with science, we're being blinded by non-scientists who use scientific words and hope they'll impress. When real scientists do experiments with laundry balls, the result is not quite what the manufacturers imply!! See http://www.hollings.mmu.ac.uk/~dtyler/ecochallenge/LAUNDRY_BALLS.htm

The first published systematic tests described in enough detail to be able to assess their shortcomings were done by a group known as 'Nirvana Research', and the results reported on their website.[7] The Nirvana trials compared soap (brand unspecified), plain water, and 'The Laundry Solution'. A 100% cotton cloth was cut into three strips, each soiled with sidewalk dirt, bicycle chain grease, ketchup, mustard, olive oil, felt tip pens, ball point pen, cloth marker and coffee. The strips, washed under identical circumstances at the same (unspecified) temperatures, were then judged by people who did not know which was which. The soap-washed strip was pronounced much cleaner than the other two, which were rated about equal. Then, apparently, TradeNet, the ‘Laundry Solution’ distributor, threatened Nirvana with legal action for their pains.

JayJay14

My OH has just got the membership to Costco - he was in Sheffield last week and I asked him to have a go, he's an accountant so qualified on the jobs list. I haven't been yet so we re making a special trip on Saturday, not very OS but we will in future only be going if we are in the area (or Leeds or one of the others) - I can't wait:D

I have to admit I am making a list of things to check and am expecting a blow out (and having heard so much about the cakes I can see a 'treat' in the offing.

On the GC front I have had another NSD so I am quite happy at the moment.

cw18

SunnyGirl wrote: »

My husband runs his own removal & storage business so we'll be using that for membership. The only thing that worries me is going in there and practically blowing the budget in one fell swoop I can be terrible for bulk buying 'a good offer'

As long as you have the money in the bank to allow bulk buying of things, then do so to make full use of the offers - and split the cost over however many weeks/months the item will last.

JayJay14 wrote: »

and having heard so much about the cakes I can see a 'treat' in the offing.

The iced Danish Pasties are to die for -- just a shame they only come in trays of 12, as a full tray (kept hidden so no-one else knows I have it) never lasts more than 36 hours in this house :eek: (Would love to be able to buy just a couple)

Sunny_Donny

Hi All
£10 over in May, so declaring at £170.
June - please put me down for £175.00
starting to stock up on stuff for OH's birthday party in August, so additional stuff for freezer.
Defrosted freezer in cellar yesterday, so now I can fit loads in. Struck lucky in Mr T's on Monday night with lots of meat reduced - it is all in the cellar freezer and Mr Netto had a large chicken reduced to £1.50 that just fell into the basket too,
Hope you are all well.
feeling cold this evening, will have to put a jumper on. Got used to being warm and toasty in the the lovely sunshine we have had for the past week. Please come back!!

sistercas

scotsaver wrote: »

Also made some Coconut flapjacks today,

they sound lovely, any chance of posting a recipe please

spent just under £5 on fr eggs icing sugar, bread, and other bits for DD's cookery lesson at school

Cheapskate

Hi folks
May's GC was abysmal - didn't dare give total! June's has to come in on target - baby #5 due in Oct & desperately need to get back on track for when I've even less money! :eek:
Please can you put me down for £400 for June & I'll try really hard to stick to it?

Trying to empty freezers this week, one needs defrosting, so I can plan/buy smartly over the summer ready for new bean. Got a couple of Sun coupons for money off in Morrisons, even that little will help.
Back before the end of the month!
A xo

before_hollywood

:hello:

count me in for july with an £80 target for me only, although it will be a 'dont tell the lodger' challenge, we are moving into my new house but she doesnt realise i am an mse'er

<- :eek: with a postcount like that how can she not have worked it out lol

huston_kw

well hello all, I'm doing good with keeping out of food shops as I've joined the flylady thread so that's keeping me busy, busy, busy! :j

But I, like many have said am addicted to food shopping, I LOVE IT, I would take a trip to Asda over clothes shopping any day.

I remember about two years ago when visiting his family we popped over to Asda in Gateshead and it was huge and had a cafe, I was like OMG when we move up here, we can have a day out here, do the shopping have a bite to eat, he was like NO KELLY, this does not constitute as a day out, I was very sad!!! We moved here last September and I still haven't convinced him it's a good idea.sign.

well, mine was nearly a NSD, but it was DD(4) ballet class so 2 quid added, it should of being 14 but I've not being drawing money out so didn't have enough for the full term so it will be extra 12 for next week. oh well, sending everyone lots of luck with the challange!!!