October 2011 Grocery Challenge

XSpender

I was hoping to avoid shopping until Friday at the earliest but we ate all the bread this weekend and drank all the red top milk so had to go to Mr S on the way home from work.

£17.78 on bread, milk x 3 4 pinters, fruit, sausages, eggs, tinned fruit and some cookies for the team I have been training wth for the last 3 weeks. I managed to get a loaf and 2 packs of rolls half price and only bought what I needed. I was glad I got the sausages as DH was suggesting a chinese when he got in as he was starved so I was able to russle up a quick sauage, chips, egg and beans tea:) I am not wasting my grocery money on a takeaway:eek:
I am spending a bit more on bits for pack ups but it means that I am not tempted by the canteen food or vending machines at work and DH is not tempted by the sains, waitr0se and deli he is surrounded by at work;)

Does anyone know if any where sells frozen leeks? I use them in quite a few recipes but they just seem so expensive when bought fresh.

Thanks to the ladies that work so hard at keeping this thread going:T

Ches

May I give this another go please. I did try months ago but failed miserably. Recently I have helped DD to buy school uniforms etc and the credit card balance has shot up. Because I need to pay off as much as possible as quickly as possible I will need to be very thrifty between now and Christmas. Luckily I have good stocks in the freezer and store cupboard so I have worked it out that if I spend £60 on basics, £30 on meat and £20 per week on fresh stuff I can manage on £170 in October. I have made out a 4 week menu and it seems doable.

medsdemon

Thanks for all those who run this thread:T.
Failed miserably the last 3 months so will try one more month at £200 please and if I fail this month will have to raise it for November and admit defeat. Will try and be amazingly frugal:o

sproggi

XSpender wrote: »

Does anyone know if any where sells frozen leeks? I use them in quite a few recipes but they just seem so expensive when bought fresh.

Most supermarkets sell them along with the frozen veg.
Have you checked any local markets for fresh? They are often quite a bit cheaper.
Leeks will be in season in a month or two so should be cheaper then and if you have room, you could freeze some, that's what I always used to do:)

Sproggi

becky170

I've had my big online shop for this month and spent £37.96. I got a bit carried away and stock up on rice, pasta and potatoes so I have lots of carbohydrates. Luckily my mum and dad gave me lots of veg this week from their veg patch so that has saved me a bit of money

Sulevia

Hi there after a fairly successful first month, I'm in again ... Please put me down for £650.00 for October as I have managed to build up a few stores with BOGOFs and so on and I need to spend less.

It sounds a lot but it does include other expenses and I haven't yet separated out groceries from the other things. It all comes out of one lump.

recovering_spendaholic

XSpender wrote: »

Does anyone know if any where sells frozen leeks? I use them in quite a few recipes but they just seem so expensive when bought fresh.

Thanks to the ladies that work so hard at keeping this thread going:T

I always get my frozen leeks at Farmfoods - you get a massive bag for £1. They sell all kinds of frozen veg - I would avoid the onions and mushrooms though, as they are cut way too big, but the leeks are fine.

Went to Aldi last night and got lots of house stuff (bin bags, foil, food bags, washing liquid etc. Also got a steak pie which we had for tea last night (which was lovely) and some potatoes, carrots, apples, pears, bananas, sugar and sweetner, raisins and nuts. Cost £30 so have updated signature.

This morning I went to Mr T on the way back from the school run. Wanted a loaf but ended up buying 2 chocolate croissants, a bar of chocolate and a reduced Gu rocky road - so spent £4 on rubbish!! I will have to stop it. I have a till spit for £6 off £40 plus a £5 off £40 from Daily Mail, both of which have to be used by 2 October. I am not sure whether to use them or not, but it does seem to be a shame to waste them. Will have to think of stuff to get which will be useful and which will last a good while.

The Tesco price cuts are not that good for me as they are mostly on stuff I wouldn't buy anyway. I noticed that the maris piper potatoes are £1.30 but they are only 99p in Aldi!

Dinner tonight will be the stir fry I was going to make last night before I bought the steak pie!

tracey12_2

Hi everyone

Please can you put me down for £340 for October. I have reduced by £10 and hope to reduce it further. I will still post over on September until Friday and then will be over on this board.

Thanks to everyone who helps on this board, helping us try and stay within budget :beer:

Tracey

meg72

spendaholic wrote: »

Hi everyone. I'm a grocery challenge habitual returner, and this time I'm returning because I lost my job and am now on job seeker's allowance.

It's a 5 weekend month for me, so at £40 a week (for 1 person, 2 cats and 1 dog, for everything) that gives me £200 to spend. I'd like to get that down further too.

First weekend I spent £38.02. :j

Just wanted to say so sorry about your job, hope you get something else soon and good luck with your challenge.

meg72

Many thanks to all who keep this thread going, its my favourite daily read.

Please can I be put down for £50 again for October