August 2010 Grocery Challenge

LannyLee

I'm thinking of ordering from Approved foods, does anyone have any feedback/advice for me, as I've never done it before.

What sort of things do they have?

I'm assuming that even though it's 'best before' is up if it's in a tin/jar it's fine as long as you don't open them?

Thanks for any advice as we're doing everything we can to save all our money to pay off our CC, managed £150 this month & have got £750 for next month!

Gintotmelinda

Afternoon everyone! Just popped in to update my sig-how can I have spent soo much already? I have stocked up on a few things...pasta and OH's favourite blades in Mr M and there is pork, fish,steak and casserole in the (small) freezer. Have to be a bit more careful for the next couple of weeks. I want to try making a large chicken last several meals and must make some mince base up(haven't had any this week). Oh well I'm off to peer into the freezer for tea.

Take care

Gintot

wssla00

Hippeechiq wrote: »

This is it, but it's like a zillion calories, you have been warned

Woo! Thanks! Going to have soup tonight so that can be desert

gdyr1945

Approved foods - They have a lot of cakes/biscuits/crisps but also some very cheap sauces and drinks. It is a site that you need to check at least once a week to see if you want what they have. I bought some 2kg jars of Llyodd Grosman sauces and Dowe Egberts coffee at fantastic prices. I poured the sauces into individual portions and froze them. We use to have village shop and ate lots of 'out of date' stuff without any problems; just use common sense and your nose. There is a delivery charge of £5.25 for 28kg. Site is easy to use.

angelatgraceland

LannyLee wrote: »

I'm thinking of ordering from Approved foods, does anyone have any feedback/advice for me, as I've never done it before.

What sort of things do they have?

I'm assuming that even though it's 'best before' is up if it's in a tin/jar it's fine as long as you don't open them?

Thanks for any advice as we're doing everything we can to save all our money to pay off our CC, managed £150 this month & have got £750 for next month!

They are excellent but do check the date of each product that interests you before you order it. I try not to by meat products out of date personally. All my stuff was ok from them. Do jiggle your basket to get the best value from the delivery-remebering that those heavy bottles do top up the weigh of the parcel. However-their delivery prices are excellent value-I cannot fault them myself.

Just come home from a "day out" and only spent car park money, bridge toll, petrol and admission. We took packed lunches to keep us going.
I did have a couple of personal spends-a foundation brush for £3.99 and a book for 20p but I can deal with that! Oh and £1 for a packet of mars bars to share. Cheap day out!

cw18

LannyLee wrote: »

I'm thinking of ordering from Approved foods, does anyone have any feedback/advice for me, as I've never done it before.

I've had several orders from them, and no problems/issues with the items/delivery at all.

I still have stuff I bought from them several months ago that was already out-of-date, and it's all still perfectly OK

sofababe

Top up shopping today- £8.76 in L*dl and £10 in Co-*p on a 3 for £10 fresh meat deal. I got a medium chicken which looks more like large to me, 8 jumbo sausages and some delicious looking garlic and herb chicken legs. These will do us for 2 meals and the chicken should also do 2 or even 3, the sausages are very jumbo so should also make 2 meals for 2 people. This was extra spending but such a bargain as it will decrease my fortnightly Asda spend next week quite a bit :j

ellemm

Been sadly MIA from here lately....apologies....:o have got hooked on the comping thread

When you are next updating Mrs MCC please adjust my yearly total to £727.70-thanks

Have been sticking to the budget and still going well. Need to have a loooooog read back in the thread to see what everyone has been up to

WelshWoofer

Well, having been to the bank today to sort out my finances with the help of someone that knows what they're doing and realising that I will get paid tomorrow (hurrah, at last!) I'm in the position that my month-to-month dates have changed.

I'm now back to where I was a year ago with my month running from the 15th to the 15th (paydays). BUT I have been budgeting from the 1st for a calendar month for the past year (no paydays:o).
So that means that my grocery budget timings will have to change too.

I'm undecided as to what to do - should I count this month as half a month (until Sat which is shopping day) and then start again on the 15th with a new budget?
Might be the easiest way to work out where I am I suppose.
I do give myself mini weekly budgets to stick to so I know where I am (on target just).

Right, enough faffing - I've decided that I'll start again on Saturday with a budget of £165 (15th-15th). My signature will now reflect that - who said I can't make a decision!:rotfl::rotfl:

Hippeechiq

wssla00 wrote: »

Woo! Thanks! Going to have soup tonight so that can be desert

That's the only way to do it wssla00. Eat next to nothing for your main, so that it doesn't matter how many calories it is I hope you liked it.

jayII wrote: »

I agree with greent, it's a great post, and a great motivator, Hippeechiq!

Thank you jayII

Has an NSD after all today. Had a bit of a spur of the moment baking marathon this avo... Savoury Scones, Cheese Scones, Twinks Hobnobs, Weetabix Brownies, Ginger Cake, & Chocolate Stuff.....so called, because that's what the neighbour called it, when she gave the recipe to my Mum 45 years ago :rotfl:

Had HM - well, using a Thai Green Paste -Thai Green Chicken Curry with Rice & Garlic Bread for tea - nummy nummy. And now I'm pooped, so it's time to relax and "play" on here for a bit