March grocery challenge

halloweenqueen_2

Delia smith book in a charity shop, come on lets be having you!! Where are you!!:D

tiff

Trow wrote:

TIFF FOR PRESIDENT!

Okay, maybe thats pushing it - but with her grocery challenges and her help and tips she has enabled people to save money all year round - I reckon we should reward her by nominating her for post of the month (and hopefully knackering her budget for April ).

Anyone with me?

But I dont feel worthy, I just start the threads and learn from advice from others I appreciate being appreciated though

mrsmab59

tiff wrote:

But I dont feel worthy, I just start the threads and learn from advice from others I appreciate being appreciated though

Please don't underestimate your talents in starting these threads...and that's directed to everyone who has started threads on this forum. I'm sure I can't be the only person who has changed their attitude from one of "it's too difficult, I can't do it" to one of positive optimism after reading how other people cope and manage to stay cheerful whilst they do so.

My thanks go to you all because you are all stars

Janeryan

Yes I too aprreciate all the helpful hints & tips(& encouragement) form everyone who posts.

Been shopping and total bill came in at £42.73-spent yesterday doing inventory of freezer & cupboards so have vague idea of meals for rest of week-by the end of next week I hope to have a firm meal plan in place so hopefully bill will be same or less next time.

Jane

Sarahsaver

recovering_spendaholic wrote:

Hello - I am new to this site (was referred by a friend at work) and since knowing about it my kids think I've left home!! I am intrigued by this grocery challenge and would love to join in but currently I spend about £120 :eek: a week for me and two kids (14 and 7). I just can't understand (and you are all welcome to think I am a total idiot - I do!) how anyone can spend £20 a week on food. I shop at Tescos and can spend over £20 just in the produce aisle. Do you all buy produce in greengrocers? Sorry but any hints and tips would be really welcome.

Only have 20 quid in a purse which HAS to last all week.
Write a shopping list then 'unwrite' it - i.e. dont need bread if i have flour I can make it, dont need instant coffee theres a bag of ground coffee lurking at the back of the cupboard. I get fruit and veg from a local market, except today I got some tesco value carrots because me and they were in the right place at the right time.
Use vouchers. I had a fiver's worth today!
My budget includes toiletries, so I either get the value/economy stuff, make soap and detergent, or else I have loads of original source stuff from a £3 magazine subscription ! I hosted a body shop party in January as the host gets free gifts and half price products.
I get whole chickens, joints of meat etc for sunday dinner because it will last 3 days. - roast - curry - soup!
Never throw out leftovers. Be creative with it.
Use this forum and you CAN do it!

Moll

KTFrugal wrote:

You don't have to buy special bags from Lakeland. Wrap your veggies in cloth, such as old napkins or tea towels and then store them in the fridge.



My Mum always used to do this , but wrapped hers in newspaper ,and they lasted for ages and ages

Mollx x

DingDong_3

Moll wrote:

My Mum always used to do this , but wrapped hers in newspaper ,and they lasted for ages and ages

I'm willing not to use the green lakeland bags, but how can you have your newly washed cherry tomatoes, lettuce, normal toms, cucumber and carrots, brocoli, and other veg all wrapped in newspaper? Surely my hands would get covered in newsprint every time I wanted something and it doesn't seem as convenient as just getting a bag out... I don't like using plastic though because I want to be as green as I can.

I also have problems with potatoes. My flat is very warm. So much so, I never have the heating on even when it's snowing outside. Potatoes last 5 days out of the fridge, and 1 week in the fridge. With these green bags, they last abut 2-3 weeks in the fridge. I have no cold storage area so what is my best option?

Just had spag bol cooked from scratch for the 1st time. Delicious!!

Moll

DingDong wrote:

I'm willing not to use the green lakeland bags, but how can you have your newly washed cherry tomatoes, lettuce, normal toms, cucumber and carrots, brocoli, and other veg all wrapped in newspaper? Surely my hands would get covered in newsprint every time I wanted something


she didnt wash them till she needed to cook them ,
never wrapped toms . but always wrapped the root veggies like turnip/swede. cabbage etc, also apples . , and just washed them before eating them ,

your flat sounds so warm tho , that if they are keeping for longer in the bags, id stick with those

marsha8

jessielicious wrote:

Have just been looking at everyone's shopping budgets, and I'm ashamed. My borfriend and I live together (plus rabbit), our shopping bill has been creeping up, and is now hitting about £100 per week! For two adults! I'm obviously doing lots of things wrong, I need advice. Where do I start? We shop at Sainsbury's because it's nearest but could go a bit further to Asda - would this save us much? We buy a lot of fruit and veg (accounts for about £30 of the total shopping bill) but I don't know of a market nearby. I would really appreciate some help, you are all really good at this!

Although I have a Sainsburys just around the corner I drive to Asda(about 8 miles away) because I find them much cheaper but I'm not so sure that the fruit & veg quality are as good.I have a farm box delivered with fresh, organic produce (lovely) & pay £7 for a minibox.I don't buy supermarket fruit & veg anymore,even the organic seems to come from abroad.

Talon_Karrde

i've heard about these farm boxes, do you have any contacts for these??

cheers!