Sams shopping saga....... (very long post!)

sammy_kaye18

Ok Christmas has rolled around again and even though ive been really good with the gift buying and come in under budget im still struggling and have £10 to make it through to friday with.

* My electric has just gone onto emergency which means i have £4.
* My gas meter has £5 on it still and £2 emergency luckily
* My washing machine blew up this morning (near enough literally!)
* My bf has done no Xmas shopping - our son is sorted by me , his other son
has one gift and he hasnt brought me anything yet

The money i have coming in on friday is £226 (child tax and child benefit) and this has to cover the food shop, presents, gas and electric (until pay day on the 7th January)

So am planning
* to budget bfs money for his son to £60 (he already has a PS2 game - cars
from us) and will get him a few more bits in the sales (his birthday is
January 16th) and £20 for me - ive told him exactly what i want!
* Gas and electric are having £20 each
* Food - £50 max

also must add that luckily i work in the coop and as a Christmas present they are giving us things in the shop of our choice to the value of £12 - although we arent sure if we will get these before or after Xmas - ive chosen £3.99 large whole chicken and a £8 top side beef roast - totalling £11.99!!!!! so hopefully i shouldnt need to include meat in the xmas shopping! (might get a chicken just in case it doesnt appear until after Xmas though!)

anyway im using this page to sort of plan the shopping i need to do - bearing in mind im venturing to tescos on 22nd december!!!! i think ill be lucky if i get most if any of it. Please feel free to leave comments suggestions though

In my store cupboard i have a few things (left form the sotre cupboard challenge)

cupboard
plain flour
self raising flour
icing sugar
bicarb of soda
rice - 3kg
pasta - 2kg
beans x 3
spaghetti x 3
lemon curd
milkshake mix (one banana, one strawberry)
gravy granuales
1 tin of tomatoes
custard powder
potatoes
jelly granuales

fruit bowl
1 clementine
2 apples

christmas cupboard
box of after eight mints
cake mixes
trifle mix
marshmallows
choccie biscuit selection box

fridge
bit of cheese
milk
2 eggs
raspberry jam
butter
about 4 rashers of bacon
swede
carrots
mushrooms- all looking past their best i must say so need using asap - im thinking soup

freezer
frozen whole chicken - needs using soon!taking out tomorrow for wednesdays tea3 turkey steaks
smilie faces
half bag of frozen peas
20 sausages
2 frozen garlic breads

Other stuff
35 nappies
1 pack of wipes
bottle of baby shampoo barely used
bottle of musle soak radox
5 tins of dog food
half a bag of dried dog food


So i figure i shouldnt need too much really with what ive got but heres my shopping list

cupboard
granulated sugar - 72p
tea bags - 29p
coffee - 78p
malt loaf - 69p (BOGOF)
sultanas - 59p
squash - 2 for £2.50
jaffa cakes - 2 for £2.00 (48 bickies!) - can always leave these off
rice crispies - £1.09
frosted flakes - £1
cornflakes - £1

fruit bowl
clementines - 99p (coop)
bananas - £1.09
apples - £1.37
pears - £1.28

fridge
12 eggs - £1
cheese - 97p
yoghurts - 10 (5 for £2) = £4
milk - £2 - ICELAND - 12pints
butter - 91p
carrots - 68p 1kg
swede - 49p
onions - 28p
potatoes - 89p - 2.5kg
bacon - 1.77

freezer
mince - 800g - £1.48
chicken - £2.69 (incase coop stuff isnt here yet)
pizza - 3 for £3 - ICELAND


other
12 tins of dog food - £3.68
bag of tesco value dog food - £1.40
toilet roll - £1.13
washing powder - £3.74 for 3kg
dog wormer £3.58

TOTAL 48.16

nicola1982_2

Why not have a couple of 'wartime living' days? You don't switch lights on after a certain point (either go to bed early or use candlelight), ration style food (no imports, limited meat, no treats), play board games or read for entertainment.

I find that doing this not only saves cash but it's also quite humbling - reminds me of the struggles my grandparents experienced and how lucky we are today.

hollyh

Hi

Just wanted to say good luck on your challenge, and also wanted to ask what yogurts you buy?

yoghurts - 10 (5 for £2) = £4

£4 seems a lot to pay for 10 yogurts.
I buy the tesco value one's that are 8p each they're really nice and come in a good sized pot.

heather38

on that offer i bet they are muller corners yum!! why they always offer them as 5 and not 4 or 6 is beyond me but never mind

mouseymousey99

Hello Sam, Yip its tight hon, but you seem to be in control. just a thought how about some scones to pad things out - shove them in the oven when you are using for something else.8oz flour, 1 tablespon sugar, 1/4 pint milk, about 2oz butter or marg. Also some pancakes or drop scones?? Get bf to make em !!!!

Toxic_Lemon

Why are you buying dry dog food AND tins? Can't you just stick with a complete dry dog food? Tins usually give them wind, anyway! :eek:

You could make your own butter by buying some reduced cream (there's a thread on here for how).

I'd forget the washing powder and buy some Stardrops for 75p instead.

Did I miss seeing bread?

I make a litre of yogurt for just over £1.

iceicebaby

Can you wash clothes in stardrops then ?

Toxic_Lemon

iceicebaby wrote:

Can you wash clothes in stardrops then ?

Yes and also good as a stain remover/pre-wash treatment, too.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=2059818&highlight=washing#post2059818

See post #195

keatergreyhound

wow 12 pints for £2 from iceland
I get just under 8 for that in my branch

Mics_chick

Sammy: do you have a credit card that you could use to get your shopping in before 22nd?

Toxic: How much Stardrops do you use for an average wash then?

Yategirl

a thought on dog food... the larger branches of Tesco sell "Gusto" dog food 10Kg for £5.50 (it is 42p more than what you are buying but will last at least 3 weeks.....).

We have just changed our dogs onto it following a recommendation (we were spending £16 on a 15Kg bag now we get 20Kg for £11!) .. I was sceptical as one dog as a "funny" tum and most dog foods "upset" him but this one - no problem!

Also.. do you need the wormer? Could you not delay it till money is a bit easier?