January 2010 Grocery Challenge

katenut

CherryPie wrote: »

I'll be buying The Sun for the next few days as I'm gonna book one of their £9.50 hols. Went on one last year to spain, and it was well worth it. Nothing flash don't get me wrong, but worth £9.50 and a few pounds for the tokens.

CherryPie, I was wondering what the Sun holidays are like - we're not used to anything flashy! I know they work out really cheap but I'm worried about how much we'd spend while we were away. OH buys the Sun every day so I'll have a look - might be the only way we can get away this year!

highland_fling_2

Good morning everyone,
first time for ages I don't have to scrape/de-ice/dig my car out for work.

Have hm soup in flask for lunch. Will need to go to shop today for bread and milk but at the moment doing well with budget. Long may that continue.

coffeeholic_2

Morning all - just checking in, another £4.23 added, after top-up of bread, milk and other bits at corner shop.

I have the week off work - promised myself I will look through those links on 1st pages after seeing that yummy microwave sponge pudding, bet there's loads I am missing out on.

Next shop will be on Wednesday, getting a lift again from MIL, hopefully the snow and ice will be a lot less worse than last week, it seems to be thawing out now I'm crossing my fingers that we don't get more snow falling!

Making veggie soup for lunch, I haven't made soup in ages so I am hoping it turns out ok, I'm just throwing things in and hoping for the best!

Have a lovely Monday everyone, stay warm! x

purpletent

I am finding this quite difficult. I must usually spend much more than I originally estimated. There are 5 of us. The thing that really adds up is buying coffees and things for the children when we are out. I do try and take snacks and sandwiches when we are out for the day, but getting these ready often adds to the pressure of getting out of the house!

I think that being organised is a skill that I need to develop. This includes knowing what I want before I go shopping. I did an Al*i shop yesterday (is there a ban on calling shops by their names on this forum? Noone seems to call them by their names?!). The difficulty is that I didn't really know what I would be able to get there as I usually use the major supermarkets. I only get free range chicken etc. This was not available. I was however really surprised that there was loads of really nice fish in the freezer section, so I stocked up. It was also good for basics - bread, juice, passata, nappies etc.

I have also done an Approved Food shop (after reading posts on these forum threads) and am looking forward to receiving my parcel this week!

Anyway, back to the budget. I have definately made cutbacks, but as I didn't really know what I would normally spend I may have to re-evaluate my target spend for next month, but I will keep it as it is at the moment - to see if I can actually do it. I am also amazed to read how little some people spend on groceries. I have included all coffees/snacks/takeaways and alcohol in my target total though.

Purpletent

ifonlyitwaseasier

morning all

so to update have spent £17ish over the last few days mainly on bread, milk, flour, and some veg.

Purpletent - not a ban, just different people have different nicknames for them, ie mrt for tesco's, etc

made some yummy burgers the other day, had a small pack of beef mince (400g i think) and grated 2 carrots into it, added some chilli powder, about a tablespoon of italian herbs and some salt and pepper, mixed and made into 6 burgers, they were lovely and OH has requested them again
i think i could have made more but as it was only the two of us and we are trying to empty the big freezer i thought we could have a treat and no oats or lentils this time


ioiwe

BigMummaF

brodie1 wrote: »

....I am lucky with having two really good veg shops, one always has reduced stuff at bargin prices.
Also my local butcher is....a lovely man but his meat is superb.My local deli come speciality foods shop is also great and lets me leave bags there if I have a lot of stuff to collect later even if I havnt shopped there that day:D
Jane

We had a shop-keep like this who unfortunately has now closed his store & proper butchers are more rare than hen's teeth around here :eek: Our closest farm shops are not any cheaper [that's without adding on the petrol to get there] & the stuff doesn't keep so is less attractive a proposition for me than using a handy 'supermarket'

katenut wrote: »

....I was wondering what the Sun holidays are like - ....I'm worried about how much we'd spend while we were away....

We've done these holidays & have always been to places like H4ven or H0seas0n, so you still have all the facilities but pay considerably less for the accommodation. There is no reason to spend any more while on this type of holiday than you would on any other --maybe save you some as the majority are self-catering.

purpletent wrote: »

I am finding this quite difficult....I do try and take snacks and sandwiches when we are out for the day, but getting these ready often adds to the pressure of getting out of the house!I know what you mean! Perhaps you could make up some bottles of squash & put a few snacks & a bit of fruit into your shopping bag the night before you plan a day out? Alternatively, retrain the Gang to NOT expect a feed simply because they are away from the house! I know what you mean tho, as me muvva & I go out just two or three times a week & we are out all day

....is there a ban on calling shops by their names on this forum? Noone seems to call them by their names?!) I think it started as a way of getting around advertising, nothing more sinister than that & sometimes a lot quicker than typing out the full name....The difficulty is that I didn't really know what I would be able to get there....I was however really surprised that there was loads of really nice fish in the freezer section, so I stocked up. It was also good for basics - bread, juice, passata, nappies etc. We only have Lid1 within reachable distance & me muvva has been very surprised with the bits she has had--praise indeed for her My trick is to have a list of what I HAVE to buy, check on mysupermarket.com the night before for prices in the big four & jot them down, then have a good mooch around the other places first & if it's cheaper--result! Only real down-side is having the time TO mooch..

....I have definately made cutbacks, but as I didn't really know what I would normally spend I may have to re-evaluate my target spend for next month, but I will keep it as it is at the moment - to see if I can actually do it. I am also amazed to read how little some people spend on groceries. I have included all coffees/snacks/takeaways and alcohol in my target total though.
Purpletent

This last paragraph is exactly what the rest of us feel when we first start on here so please don't be disheartened It is very easy to get caught up in a family of five spending thruppence-h'apenny while your family of five is spending a squillion, but you have to remember that everyone is different, with different life-styles, different tastes & different appetites. As long as you are able to keep food on the table & a roof over your heads, everything else is just a bonus.x

Beki

just updating again - running total of £85.29 out of £175 now

i'm not sure that i'm going to be able to get in under £175, but this is the longest i've actually stuck to a GC so far, so i'm quite proud of that by itsself!

gonnabedebtfree

hi all can i join this challenge please? i have my reciepts from the beginig of the month so mine has started from the 1st jan. i will give myself a budget of 350 as this is my first month, and everything i get from the supermarket is included ( baby milk, nappies etc ) and see how well i can get on. ill update my sig now.

mrs-moneypenny

havent had the puter on over the weekend but just popped in to update my sig as i did a biggish shop at MrT over the weekend.

hoping today is an NSD

poppy-glos

went to mr t to buy a few bits, £16.32 spent, got taken over by the 'oh my, the shelves are empty, what i am not going to be able to buy (at reasonable price) when i need it' fairy.. , she won over the 'buy only what you need today or things that are whoopsied you will use later' goblin.

so todays bought the last bag of value plain flour, one of the last 3 of value sr, six packs of the nooodles dd likes, more of the instant whip 6p she likes...

bought reduced price tins of pineapple cubes for the storecupboard,

bought fresh veg to make a curry, first fresh veg buy since all the whoopsies on xmas eve so quite pleased with that.

deliberated over the marmite purchase, this is so much the effect of using this site, before would have bought the one jar that was there rather than wondering if dd should go without til they get the 500g jars back in... bought it in the end, the shelf edge said 99p per whatever for the 500g and 1.19 for the size i bought, but it is good for her and she has it most days..

bought two whoopsied goods, mince pies at 25p for six (they had palette loads but only bought one due to our waistlines..), and organic chestnut mushroom punnet for 55p.

now looking at my totals need to really concentrate to come in on budget this month, we are out for a few meals next weekend (family celebrations), and have 12 coming to lunch the weekend after... both of which i count in my total.

i'm thinking about creating a couple of spreadsheets (or merged into one), one with the cost of each purchase (with a note if i find it cheaper anywhere else i shop), and also a recipe one so i know how much each recipe costs to make, has anyone else done this? the idea being i will be more aware when meal planning what is most economical... (yes, will balance it with healthy diet, dd will not live entirely on custard creams and value noodles..).

keep warm everyone

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