October 06 Grocery Challenge

furndire

I've got to agree about Makro. I notice a lot of people think they have a bargain, but when you add 17.5% vat its not. I used to get my soap powder there, but I tried the Aldi liquid, and its fine - you can use a shorter/cooler wash with liquid than powder, as sometimes I found the powder didn't dissolve properly - left white marks. We also used to use Charmin loo rolls, but found that they were leaving bits and dissolving were they shouldn't - so went on the Aldi recycled ones, a lot cheaper, and they don't disintegrate.

EagerLearner

I stopped buying gel tables for clothes washing and now buy powder as it's cheaper, but I worried about white marks - now I pour hot water in the drawer at the beginning of the wash and - no more white marks!

kiwi88_2

GottaGetSortedOut wrote:

Washing powder is 11-99 Fairy 90 washes.
:j :beer: :j

Hi There,

Well done with all that some great savings:T :T

A tip found on this site which I've been using for 2 months now is mixing a packet of washing soda crystals at 50p for 1kg with the washing powder I use. It extends the length of time between buys and it also brightens my whites. I've worked out that I will be buying 2 boxes less a year saving about £10 as we buy Tescos own brand (not the value because I need a bit more umph)

FrugalAussie

This week started very well but dispite my best efforts to keep him away my son came shopping with me and so I spent more than I wanted to. I think next week will also be an over budget week as the boy (17) eats an incredible quantity of food so I will therefore have to be very organised in week 3 (when kids go back to school) and have a cupboard challenge in week 4.

Good news is I took lunch and snacks to work everyday, did not buy any take away coffees, no bottles of wine and only 1 magazine, so have made some savings there and I have started to lose weight so on average a pretty good week.

I think I'll now get into the kitchen for half an hour and get tea and a loaf on so there will be no need for take away tonight!

kiwi88_2

Hi All

Just done my second week shop instore and OMG £151.59 :eek: Took a deep breath, DH paid and we left.

Got home and sat down with the till reciept and worked out that we haven't done that bad. "How so?" you ask. Well I had gone to tescos having done a monthly menu plan, my first after checking storecupboard and freezer So £151 for a months shop not too bad.

It also included £20 of pressies. We should only have to buy milk and bread but if I can get back to using my breadmaker not even bread so actual shop £131.59 :T

October Total so far

Wk 1 1st-7th £92.45
Wk 2 7th-end of month I live in hope £131.59

kethry

ok i know we're halfway through October but i get paid on a 2 weekly basis.. so i'm gonna join in for the next 2 week period (which starts on Wed 11th Oct).

wish me luck!!

keth
xx

WelshWoofer

I had my first spend of the month today (been away and living out of the freezer for the past 7 days).
Just 6.50 in supermarket today buying lentils, spices, cheese and some fruit for the next few days teas.
Hopefully, we can get by until next weekend without having to top up so I may even make it to the middle of the month on less than a tenner! I not usually this good!

JillD_2

We're doing ok so far i think. Pay day os 24th dso month goes 24th Sept to 24th Oct. Did a massive shop at Asda yesterday and it came in at £85 which also included £11 on food and wine for feeding some friends a 3 course dinner last night. Still cheaper than a night out, and should really come from the entertainment budget I suppose!

At £160 for the month so far, and hoping that one more big shop of £65 or so plus a smaller one of £25 will bring us in at £250 which is bang on budget!

Might try a storecupboard chappenge for the last week.

Annie021063

I wanted to say how motivated I am by this money saving thread. My power bills were horrendous last winter and I'm determined to reduce them this year. I have made the first step at reducing my water bill by applying for a meter to be fitted. I have told the family that we will hold out until Novemeber before we put heating on. I already picked up one hot water bottle at a jumble sale.
I would love to start the grocery challenge for October but as it's the 9th 1/3 is gone already and I'm not 100% what i've spent so could I start from now? I would like to spend only £80 by 30th October (approx £26.50 per week) we are a family of 4 but have 2 full freezers (thanks to tesco R&R policy) so it will be fruit/veg and other essentials.
Look forward to reading the thread from now on.
Annie

jo101_2

Hi
Ok, Im going to have another bash at this, for the past 2 months I have signed up for this and failed miserably, I just seems to get bored by week 3 and bury my head in the sand as to how much I am spending, so hopefully I will see it through this month.

There are 4 of us, 2 adults and 2 hungry little ones, I am hoping not to spend more than £300 for food, toiletries and cleaning items.

My month runs from the 10th Oct to 9th Nov.

Good luck everyone

Jo