March 2011 Grocery Challenge

SOT2011

Hi All,

just updating my total, spent £52.11 in Mr T on Sunday, bringing total so far this month to £55.22.

Feeling quite optimistic so far, and if I can keep it up might just make the challenging target I set myself for this month.

Bit cross with Mr T - high juice blackcurrant squash was 99p for ages and ages, then a few/several weeks ago they put it right up to £1.49. Didn't want to pay it, but it is one of my main treats and I get through almost a bottle a week, then I went in on Sunday, and it is showing as reduced to 99p as if that was a special discounted price!!!! If I hadn't been so focussed on my grocery prices because of this challenge I would never have realised.

Meal plan thrown out a bit by pancake day - forgot to include it in the plan, but by rejigging, we will be able to eat any meals to be made with the perishables before they go off, and it means I already have one meal in the bag for next week. Also had rubber chicken on Sunday, but not included any meals from it in the plan, so have frozen the letfovers and stock, again to use in the next weeek or two. Am really pleased that I haven't done what I would have a few months ago and end up leaving it in the fridge till it was too old and having to throw it away.

silvermaid

Hi,
This looks like a challenging thread.
I have never really had a 'budget' for the food.
When times are hard we have sausagemeat quiche and various thrifty recipes.
I always keep a shopping list on the go and also do a five week menu plan. I found we were repeating the same few recipes again and again (spag bol & chilli con carne).
I freeze all leftovers and try to make sure I include freezer meals in the menu plan.
Shall start adding up our monthly 'housekeeping' spends - hope it's not too scary

quintwins

morning all i'm expecting a nsd again today kids are still off sick, i don't think they'll be back til monday now, we just polished off 2 out of date eggs (boiled and mushed in a cup with butter, apropriately names egg in a cup and a much loved dish from my childhood) and the rest of the HM loaf that was going abit hard for breakfast, kids had bananas and bread sticks aswells, i need 2 pop more bread in the bm aswell, we have an amazing amount of food in, the next spend will either be sat or monday for spuds, was gonna make quiche for tea but that might be too many eggs in one day lol

Spiggle

Pinwheel wrote: »

Hi
... Not having much luck with apples at the moment, I always like to buy British Coxs and they are often on offer in Sai**Burys, either half price or bogof. ... Where do you all buy your apples? I've got L**l, C**p, S***sburys and a market twice a week, I wonder if I should try the market. ...

Oh Pinwheel, I long for a market once a week never mind twice! Do try the market as you will normally well outdo sm for price and posibly quality too. I don't know about the season but I would guess Cox's would have gone over by now. Let us know how you get on, I'm sure someone posted last week about an amazing haul of f&v for little money at the market.

helen_jelly wrote: »

... Spiggle - where are you, is everything ok, your posts are missed ...

Thanks Helen, :A those are very kind words. I am reading but feeling a bit quiet recently and I have been working some long days this week. I'm really feeling for Angel at the moment too and, a little selfishly, for myself as it's my lymphs that they think there is something in. I am going to head off for work again now and will try to log on and post tonight. Otherwise I'll be back on tomorrow as I have a day off then. :cool:

Welcome all the newbies, you've come to the right place.

Take care all,
Spigs

M0neysav3r

Aldahbra wrote: »

:A

I'm not doubting your word but I just don't see how it is possible to live on £30.19 for a whole week. Do you do top up shops in between? Presumably this is for one person? How many meals is that for? I mean is it evening meals only?

:eek::eek:Even so I must be doing something seriously wrong

This is for a family of 3

I did pop into L1dl the day before for milk (8pts), apples (1kg), bananas (1.4kg) eggs (10) and matches @ £5.82 but the £30.19 was for my main weekly shop and includes all our meals. I didn't need to buy any toilet rolls, cleaning things or toiletries this week either so it was just food.

From Mr A I purchased the following:
Pears
Broccoli
Carrots
Potatoes
Clementines
Garlic
Meatballs
Smoked Salmon
Pork Joint
Whole Chicken
Lamb Mince
6x fromage frais
Creme Fraiche
Single cream
Natural Yoghurt
2x Sour cream dips
Ham
Garlic Bread
Mini swiss roll cakes
Thai soup
Passata
Apricot halves
Gravy granuals
Beans
Marmalade
Jam
Tuna Chunks
Apple Juice
Yeast
Discovery fajita seasoning
choc digestives
Ketchup
bread flour
bicarbonate of soda

Where possible everything is the 'green and white' range

Out of all that we shall have the following meal wise;
Pork & apricots with rice (had this last night with another portion for the freezer and still half the pork joint left, had rice already)
Sweet & Sour chicken & rice (again already got most of the ingredients)
Spaghetti Meatballs & garlic bread (have the pasta)
Chicken Fajitas
Chicken & Broccoli pie
Salmon Pasta
& probably roast pork

There are loads of veggies added to those meals too.

We make our own bread and tend to have toast for breakfast or porridge, although we do have boxes of cereal too but they're going off for sandwiches we have ham, cheese (already have a slab from last week) Tuna, chicken or egg mayo.

I never thought i'd be able to stick to a budget but by meal planning it really helps, for the first time this month i've meal planned for the month and that way I can buy things that i see on offer (like the lamb mince that was reduced yesterday, as i know we have morrocan lamb coming up next week). Then work out what you will need to buy and stick to it (I didn't plan to buy the cakes but my little helper deserved a treat)

HTH

Edited to say - Thankyou for bringing this to my attention as i went on asda site for price guarantee thingy and also got a 0.77p voucher So my shopping was actually less than £30 lol

tigerfeet2006

I think I need to get on board. My weekly shopping bill has been creeping up to £100/120 a week for 5 of us. Will not do it officially this month but will just keep an eye on things and see how I manage for the rest of the month and try and come up with a figure for next month.

Just done a supermarket shop via MySupermarket, Sainsbo's came up cheaper at £84. I looked through the menu list on this thread and a few of my standards. I like to be able to do a couple of slow cooker type meals a week for when we are busy with clubs etc. That total includes cereal, pack lunch stuff, fruit and main meals.

So the menu plan for this week Sat-Sat is....
BBQ Cannelini beans and sausages and mash or HM bread
Belly Pork and rice
Spag Bol. (I am going to bulk out with grated carrot. Also went for frozen mince as it was cheaper for more so that will do for a chilli next week.)
Falafel Burgers and chips and sweetcorn
Chicken and veg (will do in the SC. Usually put lemons in cavity and herbs, garlic & salt on the top.)
Cheats Chicken Cassoulet and rice (will use meat from roast)
Harry Potter Stew

I have two children with Gluten Intollerance which makes things a bit more expensive. All 3 of mine have packed lunches and I try and make cakes etc. I do have a breadmaker and must try to get back into the swing of doing it again, especially the GF bread as Genius GF is £2.83 for a 600g loaf and I go through 2 a week.

Chloris

Hugs Spiggle. I have always loved your posts.

Mr M for some of the weekly shop £26.60. Have updated sig. Will be going back later in the week for the rest. (We have some money off vouchers hence splitting the shop.)

I will attempt to make smoked haddock kedgeree tonight, but it never turns out right for me. Will look for a new recipe.

nat21luv

How does frozen basics mince fair to fresh basics mince nowadays? I used to buy frozen years ago but every bite seemed to be grizzle and it started to turn my tummy! I find the fresh mince lovely, no grizzle so was wondering if the frozen has improved?!

cookiemum

Small spend on dog treats, £3.20. Away this weekend so dog in kennels so guilt treats!

Planning to make chicken pie tonight with reduced M&S tinned chicken. Doing my bit for National Pie Week!

Keep up the good work:)

tigerfeet2006

nat21luv wrote: »

How does frozen basics mince fair to fresh basics mince nowadays? I used to buy frozen years ago but every bite seemed to be grizzle and it started to turn my tummy! I find the fresh mince lovely, no grizzle so was wondering if the frozen has improved?!

Don't know really. I am taking a gamble to try and get my shopping bill down and hoping all will be fine. I didn't go for the really cheap basics mince but the next one up. So fingers crossed