January 2012 Grocery Challenge

Gorgeestwo · 21 January 2012 at 9:44PM

Have done what should now be my final shop of January, going to do my best not to go near a shop until at least next Sunday

Have well and truly blown the budget, but have spent over £350 less this month than previously :j, spent a total of £80.44 between Mr S and Mr T today, got a few whoopsied bits which were extra to my list, have now got 20pints of milk sat in the fridge in an attempt to not need to go to a SM at all next week! Off to update sig now

PolkaDotsAndLace · 21 January 2012 at 9:51PM

Managed another grocery NSD today! Meant a slight mealplan tweak tonight (originally needed eggs) and I only have milk for one cup of coffee left, but am pleased I've made it stretch till the Asda shop tomorrow.

rej-c · 21 January 2012 at 10:09PM

Another grocery NSD today; £12.64 spent yesterday, mostly on vegan sausages for the freezer, a couple of bags of red onions and FR eggs for Him Indoors.

[I'm currently about 10 days ago in reading this beast of a thread, so I hope everyone's doing OK. Chins up, everyone...]

medsdemon · 21 January 2012 at 10:13PM

Woops. Was supposed to be a NSD today but came home from the cinema starving after refusing to buy any of there overpriced snacks so nipped into MrS to buy oven chips, tomato ketchup, lime and tonic for a sneaky G&T. They were just reducing there whoopsies so managed to pick up a Pork shoulder joint that should have been £7.50 for £1.89, 2 X pork mince @ 80p each ( should have been £3 each), 2 x Leek & potato soup for 40p each (should have been £1.60 each) & a pack of bacon for 39p ( should have been £1.59). So spent £7.25 but have a bulging freezer now packed with food.

Need to menu plan to make sure when I shop on monday that I only buy what I need as I have enough meat to not need to buy any for a while.

mrs-moneypenny · 21 January 2012 at 10:17PM

did morrys and fruit and veg today so will update my total

be careful if you buy value orange or apple juice in morrys its reduced to 31p but going through ills at 46p!! i had to go CS for a refund

totallybored · 21 January 2012 at 10:46PM

Spent about £20 so far this week. Popped into L*dl after work the other night and spent £12 on fruit (I need to start liking more fruit, I only eat pink lady apples and red grapes) and a sneaky bottle of wine:D

I then popped in W@itrose today for a couple of curries. We don't eat take aways so this along with M & $ Chinese are our treats.

I need milk and eggs tomorrow. I'm going to walk to L1dl though instead of driving to make sure I can't buy much!

I did have a good bargain find in the big P@perchase on Tottenham Court Road this afternoon too. Loads of stuff 75% off then an additional 10%. I now have Xmas cards to last about 10 years. There are loads left and no one else seemed interested.

elizabunny · 21 January 2012 at 10:48PM

Had a quick think about what I will include in my budget and it will be mostly food and cleaning products, a few general toiletries but not anything a bit special. I won't include anything else as I have seperate budgets for these and I would get really confused and that isn't difficult.
So I am starting with a well-stocked food cupboard and fridge and have lots of fruit, veg and meat. I am hoping to NOT shop this coming week (except for bare essentials) as I went right over the top last week and that's enough said about that. Today has been a NSD and I'm hoping for another tomorrow.
I have made a huge pot of spicy root vegetable soup in my pressure cooker today and there should be enough for several days so I might freeze some. Also, I make my own bread on a regular basis, so only usually buy whoopsies.

NickJW · 21 January 2012 at 10:54PM

Hi All

Unfortunately there are some extra spends today - £4.34 in Co-op today - saw some reduced pork chops. They were yellow sticker 50% off which is amazing for me. I only generally get 20p off reduced items and these were the premium range looking really nice at £2.19 so couldn't resist them.

Also got milk and hummus whilst I was there..............
That is because this morning whilst cleaning I noticed that I had THREE packs of part baked rolls and a pack of pitta bread in the top cupboard! I don't know if it says much about my cleaning abilities but these were bought and forgotten about before Xmas when there wasn't much space. I must defend myself here - the house IS clean, but no-one is going to be sitting in the top cupboards so they don't need cleaning as much right?

:rotfl:

Anywayyy...luckily the BB dates are for next week so they have been chucked in the freezer. I was going to attempt to cut down on bread but if they are there they will be good for lunches.

Tomorrow my flatmate will cook lunch and the hummus will be used with the pitta bread for dinner/snack + lunch Monday if anything is leftover.

Was a bit peeved though - I was in an area of London which I haven't been to for a while primarily because it requires a bus from my area rather than the Overground/tube, and there is a really nice butcher. I walked past it on the way back home AFTER the supposed co-op deals.

It had a queue stretching down the road and for good reason! The prices were cheaper before my supposed yellow sticker bargain. If it was more convenient I would use it all the time in a shot! My friends got loads of nice meat there. I was a bit more restrained though and only spent £1.64 there on 4 large chicken thighs, because I have 4 small drumsticks in the freezer from a previous big pack of chicken, and needed some extra to make a curry in the future. I will definitely stock up more next time I go there though!

On a side note, I've worked out that I have saved £110 on cigarettes since I have stopped smoking minus £70ish for the cost of the patches so around £40 savings so far this month, and those savings will hopefully continue. It really puts the GC into perspective when I look at this. What was the point of me saving in one area if I was going to fritter the savings away in a pack of smokes.

PaddyPaws · 21 January 2012 at 11:01PM

wow, 'tis brilliant to see so many people doing so well on the GC. Love all the new recipes being shared too (and DH will be very pleased when he gets something new to try)

Went to Mr S on Weds, just needed a red pepper for the dinner recipe - ended up spending £8.05 - oops! Then did the weekly shop yesterday so £20.73 at A!di and £12.03 in Mr S. Think that leaves me about £45 till the end of the month, with one weekly shop to do.

Better go and update my signature

PP
xx