May 2011 Grocery Challenge

chocolateteddy

Just updated signature OMG £286.12 already this month and I still have a week to go. I thought i was doing ok but think I need to update more often so I can keep tabs on it. In all honesty I did use p a DTD voucher from tesco and bought a few more bits beens I was there to save me going again for a few weeks so have stocked up a bit and some spends are towards DD's 13th Birthday party, so I suppose about on target, at least I am watching my spends now.

elaine12022

I mainly shop at local small shops, we use farm foods (good for frozen fish), local butchers (half a lamb breast with peas tonight - lovely). I try and make my own bread (being lazy at the minute & using baking soda instead of yeast), occasionally make flapjacks(scrummy) and quick homemade soup at the minute is max half a stockcube, a few veggies (incl any lettuce going manky) thrown in, and cook for 20 - 30 mins, filling & cheap). We do buy 'unnecessaries' too!

I have with the inspiration from these threads (and my 1939 housekeeping book) cut down on my spending quite a lot.

For dish washing (and basic cleaning) I use olive oil soap ( I live in a soft water area) I have a huge bar which I think I started using before last Christmas.

I find supermarkets exhausting, and it's so easy to be tempted by things you don't need - even the small co-op in the village!

jollymummy

Thanks for this thread OP and for all who have contributed. I used to be very good at keeping costs low but since I'm back at work and have little free time, I am getting into lazy and costly habits!!

I also want to get some weight off so I'll follow the tip of not buying biscuits etc, if they're not in the cupboard I can't eat them.

It's funny as I think sometimes we buy things for our children and think it's what they want. My ds is 6 and I always buy him FAB lollies for the freezer. I made some apple juice ones last week, which work out a lot cheaper and he said Mum can we have these lovely fruity lollies all the time now

katholicos

Mum treated us to lunch out at a garden centre today. Yummy!

It wasn't an NSD for me but i didn't buy any groceries. Have had to review my financial situation, as i am not in debt now, but living very close to the breadline. I have run down a lot of my food stores from the pantry, fridge and freezer, so i think i'm going to have to brace myself for tough times ahead and hope that my veg and soft fruits in the garden grow, grow, grow!

While out this afternoon, we perused an indoor farmers market...i couldn't believe the shocking prices people were paying for bread loaves and bread baps...truly awful....i'm so glad I make my own...that reminds me, must add bread flour to my shopping list!

Hippeechiq

Hi everyone - hope you've all had a nice weekend

Weekend spends have brought me to £214.32 - so £25.68 to last me for the next 9 days.
Menu planned for the next 4 weeks this morning. For the first tiime in a year, my 7 week plan ran out the week before last and due to circumstances with DD I've not had the mental energy to do one until today. It was a hurried one, but at least it's done. It really is such a huge help to me just looking at the list on the fridge when I get up each day, especially when I'm often mentally exhausted. Am definitely going to try and make sure that doesn't happen again.

I've been very strict, and menu planned with what I already have in, instead of what I "fancy" but it's the odds and ends that "make-up" the meal that add up so quickly.

I've written a list of things I need for next week (keeping it to a bare minimum) , mainly f&v but they alone have totalled £11.60, and that doesn't include milk or bread Milk costs me £3 a pop as I buy 3x2L bottles at a time, but luckily I bought 3 yesterday, so that should last us for a few days....I hope!!

AlwaysHappy well done at coming in so close to budget :T and also ieimimiai - FAB result :T

To those who haven't finished this month yet - good luck on the final stretch!

quintwins

i guys i'm been mia all weekend i've been painting my bedroom, we decided it might help with our damp, even tho it would only be a temporary fix, were going to paint the whole house to amke it more liveable for the next few months til we can afford to move, was very expensive by the time you factor in paint and rollers, then we brought soem paint back and got a dulex paint pod because we are cleaning the whole house after all

gc wise, i got a pork roast while they were still half price and 37p carrots and some bleach on sat, not sure of the total but i used my card so will wait for it to come out of account think it was about £9 then yesterday i got soem frebrezze for my carpets which was £2.80, i still need some milk to see me threw the week, tea is cheese and brocolli pasta (sauce in in the freezer) and sausages

RonniesMummy

Hiya
can i be put down for £200 please
my months go 18th to the 18th so its a little confusing but i think i have it all under control!!
just going to read back over the thread now
Morning everyone x

jintyb

Hi folks,
Have been mia for a few weeks as I've been on hols. Have been lurking and reading though!
My "June" started today, so could you please out me down for £170 when the new thread starts? As always, thanks for all your hard work in running this thread, it is much appreciated.:A
I did a proper stocktake of my cupboards etc. yesterday and did a proper meal plan. As a result, my bill at a$da this morning only came to £22, and I am very pleased as I stuck to my list. Plus, I got a massive sack of cat litter which was whoopsied 'cos it had a taped up bit where the bag had burst. (what's a bit of parcel tape between friends when it's less than half price?;))
Also ordered the cat's food - he's on a special diet and I found a wonderful online site which is a lot cheaper AND free p&p.:T

No more shops till Saturday when it's Costco day!

Pixie_Fairydust

Right, going to be in for my 1st ever GC, could you put me down for £400 for June please (25th May - 24th June).

It sounds alot but after reading the thread for a few weeks now people have very wisely said start gradually, I would love it to be much less than this, but will see how I get on. We are 5 adults (3 teenagers, 1 is pregnant) & 2 cats & my lovely garden birds.

I find I can only really cope with doing a shop on a weekly basis, I generally shop at A$da, but will have a mooch around our local Mr T to check out any bargains you lovely lot tell me about!

Mr T at the moment have lots of 3 for 2 offers;
Value shampoo 3 for 48p
Value conditioner 3 for 42p
Head and Shoulders conditioner 3 for £1.08
Trattatoria Verdi pasta sauce 20p (got 10!)

I agree that Aldi are great for fruit and veg, much cheaper than the big S'markets, I find I can't do my whole weekly shop there, so I just use it for bits and bobs.

Mr A or Mr T value laundry liquid is very good, so is the basics fab cond.

Mr T value dishwasher tablets came out very highly in a Which survey.

I have started buy the value toilet tissue also, we get through about 20 per week, but that works out to less than £3.

Have a great day :T
Pixie

quintwins

Pixie_Fairydust wrote: »

Trattatoria Verdi pasta sauce 20p (got 10!)

Pixie

thanks for that i saw that in another thread the other day, but i completely forgot about it, so i'd added 15 jars to my order coming on the first will make some very cheap meals with all my value 9p pasta