January 2012 Grocery Challenge

lemmings1986

lemmings1986 wrote: »

hi nick you can get patches for free and also gum inhalers etc heres the link http://smokefree.nhs.uk/ and if you ring the number at the top they'll tell you where the nearest one to where you live is hope this helps

also forgot to say ask for a quit kit aswell they are full of useful information and a thing to play with,i think the idea is to keep your hands busy
edit just checked its called a tangle

pepsi-kins

Hi,
Quite pleased with how I have done this week, stocked up on a few bargains, I have enough cheese, fabric conditioner, and toilet rolls to sink a battleship. In Mr A today they had JW mackerel fillets which are usually £1.49 down to £1, as DH takes a tin of this to work everyday, I have stocked up. I might even go back next week and get some more. Then I went to the C**p and bought some reduced chicken thighs and drumsticks, came home cooked these with various seasonings etc and will freeze these, so DH can take some to work. He's in training for 100 mile cycle in April, so needs lots of protein - apparently. So we have changed our diet to account for this, both feeling much healthier, and lost weight too, which is good.

Feeling really positive with the GC, really look forward to coming on here, reading how everyone is doing. x

lula_moneybaggins

Vegbox wrote: »

Could I join please?

My downfall is my husband who adores food shopping! If there is a new supermarket he always wants to visit. He's a good cook so buys tasty stuff.
I had decided that my only New Year's resolution for 2012 was that I didn't want to shop at Tesco and preferably not at Sainsbury, Morrisons or Asda either. His response was that he was quite happy for me to do it but that he liked Tesco!
So after a shopping trip on his own three days ago where he spent an eye watering £120 + on groceries when he only had a dozen things on the list but saw "interesting" extras, I think he is convinced.

Vegbox - Sounds like your husband has the same illness as me! They've opened a new W*itrose here, and I've been in it twice this week already.

NickJW

lemmings1986 wrote: »

also forgot to say ask for a quit kit aswell they are full of useful information and a thing to play with,i think the idea is to keep your hands busy

Urrgh - thanks for that I did try doing a thing with Boots in the past but didn't stick to it because I didn't like going to the appointments for check ups and new patches etc. I should have investigated a bit more in it, but just wanted to quit now if you know what I mean? I had my 'lightbulb moment' and wanted to start straight away. Not very money saving I know, but £70 for 3 months is still cheaper than £565 I would spend on ciggies over the same period - so it is still sort of MSE right? <hangs head in shame>.

I was determined to try and quit without stopping doing stuff so yesterday evening and today I had a drink and didn't have one at all. Looking at that £565 figure makes think though....whhyyyyyyyy have I spent that sort of money for so long!!

There is still a chance that it could go t*ts up though, so I will definately check into the quit kit for extra hints and tips - thanks again...kicking myself for not planning better.

lemmings1986

NickJW wrote: »

Urrgh - thanks for that I did try doing a thing with Boots in the past but didn't stick to it because I didn't like going to the appointments for check ups and new patches etc. I should have investigated a bit more in it, but just wanted to quit now if you know what I mean? I had my 'lightbulb moment' and wanted to start straight away. Not very money saving I know, but £70 for 3 months is still cheaper than £565 I would spend on ciggies over the same period - so it is still sort of MSE right? <hangs head in shame>.

I was determined to try and quit without stopping doing stuff so yesterday evening and today I had a drink and didn't have one at all. Looking at that £565 figure makes think though....whhyyyyyyyy have I spent that sort of money for so long!!

There is still a chance that it could go t*ts up though, so I will definately check into the quit kit for extra hints and tips - thanks again...kicking myself for not planning better.

good luck with stopping smoking (fingers crossed)i too am wanting to quit, currently smoking 20 plus a day am planning on picking a quit kit up monday from boots.:D

XSpender

£3.61 spent in Mr T on Value fish in butter sauce for DS as I couldn't get any in Ald1 on Friday and refuse to pay £4 for a pack of 4 branded ones. Also got 2 litres of coke for DH to have with the bottle of whisky he got free from a customer at Christmas, saved him spending £6 on beer even though I did feel a bit :eek: at £2 quid for a bottle of pop:eek:

Went out for a drive to our favourite cafe, cost not included, and got gven 4 large GF mince pies that still need to be scoffed:)

We are off to lunch tomorrow, courtesy of DPIL, and then off to see a king size bed a friend who is moving abroad is selling. We currently have a 4 foot bed that used to be in our spare room before DS was born. How we have managed this long I will never know!!:eek:

totallybored

XSpender wrote: »

£3.61 spent in Mr T on Value fish in butter sauce for DS as I couldn't get any in Ald1 on Friday and refuse to pay £4 for a pack of 4 branded ones. Also got 2 litres of coke for DH to have with the bottle of whisky he got free from a customer at Christmas, saved him spending £6 on beer even though I did feel a bit :eek: at £2 quid for a bottle of pop:eek:

Went out for a drive to our favourite cafe, cost not included, and got gven 4 large GF mince pies that still need to be scoffed:)

We are off to lunch tomorrow, courtesy of DPIL, and then off to see a king size bed a friend who is moving abroad is selling. We currently have a 4 foot bed that used to be in our spare room before DS was born. How we have managed this long I will never know!!:eek:

L*dl have 2ltr bottles of pepsi for 87p atm. Also try pound shops for cheap coke/Pepsi, they normally have 3 or 4 cans for £1 which works out cheaper.

NickJW

lemmings1986 wrote: »

good luck with stopping smoking (fingers crossed)i too am wanting to quit, currently smoking 20 plus a day am planning on picking a quit kit up monday from boots.:D

You too. I've joined a quit smoking thread on here as well. This grocery challenge was one of the main driving forces in making me pay of my debt, so I'm hoping it will have the same positive influence on quitting smoking :D:D

The thread is HERE if you're interested. Fingers crossed to you too - think of the savings and the health benefits.

rosieben

Lovebeingathomemum wrote: »

... Can someone please clarify - do we include eating/drinking out? ...

its up to you, some GC'ers have a separate budget for 'entertaining'

Rachel021967

Grocery spending over last 2 days. Mr T. £123.46, Mr. Boots. £20.50, Mr. W. £13.83, Corner shop: £7.30. A Grand Total of: £165.09. Leaving a balance of : £445.91. I am £30 over where I should be, most be more careful and resourceful to make up overspend.