September 2011 Grocery Challenge

MummyEm

I tried an AlD* for the first time today. I normally shop in Mr T and Lid* but a new ALD* has just open near my mums so dropped this kids off this pm while I shopped - very handy!! Only spent £51.45 which I was very impressed with as that should take us through to weds/thurs with what we have in the freezer already. That even included quite a few lunchbox treats for DD as she starts having pack ups for school this week and I find these normally push the price up loads so quite impressed over all. Will still need to buy a few bits that they didn't have - white vinegar, stain remover (I like a particular brand), crisps (DH like v. posh ones), DH's cereals (will eat Mr T bran flakes but haven't progressed to other shop own brands, yet!) and ham. I wasn't overly impressed with the ham they had, didn't look that great. I bought one pack of wafer thin stuff the kids like for sarnies but will buy some for DH from elsewhere in the week as I don't think I'd have been able to convince him about what was there.

Really pleased with the total so far, £150 at one third of the way in to the month, this is the best I have ever done! Just hope I can keep it up, would be great to be able to add some extra cash to the 100 day challenge at the end of the month from the grocery budget!!

Long_tall_sally

More spends today at Mr T using a £6 off £40 but somehow still managed to spend £47 even with that voucher!

JIL

emmad5689 wrote: »

Does anyone know if you can use shredded letters, papers etc for gerbil bedding??

Do gerbils chew their bedding? If they do then you may have to be careful with any ink on the paper and the chemicals in them. But i am sure that if you are careful and use blank bits of the envelopes, letters etc then they would be fine.

quintwins

i'm gonna up my budget back up to £200, i know it's naughty but we went to makro today and i spent £82 however only £43 of that is mine, but i also have a £9 off £60 tesco voucher to use that i don't wanna waste so i'll be def over if i don't up it got the kids sweets and juice and 5kg of chicken breast and 1.5 kg of mince, gonna do a big stock cupboard stock up with my voucher i've my list done already even tho i'm not going until fri lol

sonastin

Flat_Eric wrote: »

Our of interest, saw the feature on bbc watchdog about the shrinking food (mullerli&es and cather*dral c*ty in particular). would you rather pay more and get the same (size) item or pay the same price and get a smaller item ?

It depends what it is I guess. If its "ingredients" like cheese or butter you use an amount for whatever it is you're making with it so smaller packs just make you shop more - might as well pay more for the same amount. For discrete items like yoghurt or chocolate bars, where you just use a pot or a bar or whatever, a slightly smaller amount in each item would have less effect than paying more for each one.

medsdemon

Ended up not being a NSD like I thought it would be, but since we ate in instead of dinner out then it really saved us £. Nipped into Mo**isons on way home after our day out walking absolutely starving and craving meat and bought steak for dinner and a bottle of our favourite wine which was on offer. Did pick up some whoopsied bits- a bread loaf and 2 packs of bagels for the freezer for 9p each:j. That'll keep me in bready products for the rest of the month:p.
NSD today though and planning more next week.

FoxFace

Today is definitely a NSD (not like yesterday ).

In a short while I am taking my boys and the dog for a nice long walk... going foraging as I think I know where we can get some really nice berries and such

DH has taken his chilli and rice to work, with strict re-heating instructions... ooo and it's Toad in the Hole for dinner tonight, can't wait! :heartsmil

meg72

Should be my shopping day today but not going as am not at home. I am staying with my brother in birmingham as our mum had a fall and broke her hip, it would cost me too much in train fare to travel to see her in hospital.

Islandmaid

Hi all,

Going to get into the kitchen today and make some Cornish pasties, flapjacks and will cook the huge chicken for roast and will make a chicken,ham and leek pie for later in the week.

Did an approved food order for about £50 last night, and will do the 2nd purse thing with the order as the bargins will only be bargins if I do, I will use the 'earned' money from 2nd purse to go towards the dreaded Christmas spend :T

Weather is great today, no sign of the hurrican as yet:o

Have a great day all x

highland_fling_2

Good morning all,
miserable day here. Have washing drying indoors, I don't have a tumble dryer. Hate washing hanging indoors but also hate it piling up so no other option I am afraid.

After doing the enormous shop for my mother the other day came home only to discover I didn't have much milk left so will have to buy some today from village shop. Usually have some in freezer but must have used the last one and not replaced it. Not like me but probably because I am trying to clear out freezer to give it a good clean before I start filling it for Christmas/New Year.

Having mince and tatties today. Not much of a Sunday dinner I know but another thing out of freezer and to be honest the weather today demands some comfort food.

Have sausages defrosting for tomorrow as I am always shattered when I return from work on a Monday so a quick and hassle free dinner is called for.

Hope everyone has a frugal day.