July 2009 Grocery Challenge

SunnyGirl

cw18 wrote: »

Today is younger DS's 18th birthday, so I decided to do a surprise birthday tea for him, me, DD and GDs £7.98 of the cake spend was on a rich fruit cake for his main b'day cake as he's not keen on sponge ones, but the look on his face when he realised what type it was made it well worth having forced myself to part with the money for it

He's really, really good about not asking for treats or expensive food items - to the point my friends find it hard to believe - so I reckoned he deserved to have his favourite type for a 'big' birthday:A

What a lovely sounding young man :T He, and you, did deserve a treat IMHO hope that you all enjoyed it. Belated 18th wishes to your DS too!

DrFluffy wrote: »

£3.40 today - mushrooms, eggs and milk.

I've not bought a chocolate bar for almost 3 weeks!!!!

You're doing very well on your first challenge Dr Fluffy :j As soon as I read your post though I wanted chocolate .... now :eek:

mouseymousey99

Hello Randomer, Don't be hard on yourself, you'll get loads of help on here. If you tell us the sort of things you buy and cook, I'm sure we can all help. Martin did a prog lately where he suggested you keep going down a brand when you go shopping that may help too?
I know what you mean about all the 'extra' trips - you always come out with a basket full don't you. What helps me is doing a big shop (I get it deliverd). It may cost more at the outset but in the end it saves as I don't have to keep going out. If you can make a few things you save about a third on shop bought (Not to mention it tastes much better)!
Best wishes Mx

Natty68

Ooops forgot to update my signature for last weekend - I was good and only managed to spend £38.24 on groceries, but somehow I managed to spend £30.00 on various other bits on Saturday..oops!! Tuesday I spent £5.00 on flowers for mums grave, and £10.00 on fish and chips as well. Will update my signature now

randomer

I managed to get a free fridge/freezer which I shall fill with standards like spag. bol. and use the extra on milk and bread.

I suppose I am being a bit hard on myself but it's been a real wake up call. I sort of rebelled against parents, who like many who lived through the war ,were careful with money and just spent what I wanted.
We have cut in half a 3000 O/D this month by being careful,buying cheaper brands and not buying things like magazines and shower gel! Soap only for randomer!:o

phizzimum

Olliebeak wrote: »

If you can buy enough bread and milk for the week/fortnight/month and have enough space to put it in the freezer, that's the way to go.

It's going out for bread and milk midweek that often pushes up the spending.
.

this is sooo true!

I always have a carton of long life milk in the back of the cupboard - I know it doesn't taste exactly like fresh milk but it's fine for a cup of coffee or in porridge - anything to avoid that extra trip into temptation at the supermarket!

jayII

randomer wrote: »

I managed to get a free fridge/freezer which I shall fill with standards like spag. bol. and use the extra on milk and bread.

I suppose I am being a bit hard on myself but it's been a real wake up call. I sort of rebelled against parents, who like many who lived through the war ,were careful with money and just spent what I wanted.
We have cut in half a 3000 O/D this month by being careful,buying cheaper brands and not buying things like magazines and shower gel! Soap only for randomer!:o

Well done randomer! That is an impressive saving, just imagine what you'll have in the bank after a year of being careful!

phizzimum

if you said to people "I'm going to use soap instead of shower gel to save money" they'd laugh at you (well my friends would!) - but really, what difference does it make? you're only in the shower a couple of minutes, getting clean is the main thing.

I'd rather scrimp on the everyday things so that I can treat myself once in a while to something I can really enjoy.

good for you randomer!

randomer

thanks it is a bit like the first week of a diet when you lose loads of weight! Now I have to go for a healthy amount of pound control every week!

absolutebounder

French housewives tend to food shop almost every day and that way their food is fresh and tasty. its OK I suppose saving money by shopping once a week if you like serving crap. french women are also much more aware of how to cook, what to cook and when to cook plus they also know where their food comes from

randomer

I never have and never will be "serving crap" In addition to buying, preparing and freezing food which I buy from a local butcher and supermarket I also top up supplies with veg from an allotment, fruit from a local organic cooperative and fruit which is delivered every day to a local greengrocers.
Mon Dieu!