Grocery Challenge - February 2012

cleggie

Thanks Spiggle.
you know what..i just MIGHT put it on the porch door so i am forced to see it everytime i am even tempted!!
Hell, whatever works, right?

PennyGrabber

Hi Cleggie,

I, too, used to be a shopoholic. It's really difficult sometimes to not go shopping, but I have to do that for my budget. This year, there is nowhere else that I can magically find money from, so that's it. Being that scary, has helped me hugely. Also, planning my meals (from what I have in, usually!) means that my weekly shop is less. The best thing I did, though, was to take out the money and put it into a separate purse. I was really anti that at the start of my gc journey, but to be completely honest, it's the best thing I did! Another useful thing, is to make up a list of what you will allow yourself to stock up on, and how much. For example, at my worst, I had 28 tins of tuna in my cupboard, and wanted to buy more because they were on offer!!! I had to use the mantra 'they will be on offer again'!

Don't beat yourself up now, just resolve to change a bit at a time. Do you buy named brands? Could you go down a brand? Could you add things to meals to make them stretch? Why not allocate one day that is your shopping day, and then ONE top-up for milk and bread? My shopping day used to be a Tues evening (when the ch were at their dad's), but it's too cold and gloomy going out then, so I do it at the weekends now. They're with him every other weekend, so they come shopping with me only twice a month. That often costs more - we sometimes go to the library first, so they can read their books while sitting in the trolley!!

Hope any of what I have said helps in a tiny way,

PG x

rising_from_the_ashes

cleggie wrote: »

Thanks rising,
do you have any words of wisdom at all?

i am guessing its just a case of DONT GO IN THE SUPERMARKET!!

LOL pretty much!:D

I try to restrict myself to a max of 2 trips per week ... shopping lists are great - I still buy stuff that's not on them:o - but it does mean I don't run out of something essential so I don't have an excuse to go again.

How close are they / easy is it for you to get to them?

I'm luckier in a way now as where I currently live it's an 18 mile round trip and, although there is a Co*op and small sm where I work, they're so bloomin' expensive I really only do buy what I need if I have to go!:)

nicknack

Did Mr T and Mr L on Friday and spent £44.50 and £13.89 - getting very close to my total now, but only one big shop to go so fingers crossed. Total now is £162.47 of £200. x

cleggie

PennyGrabber wrote: »

Hi Cleggie,

I, too, used to be a shopoholic. It's really difficult sometimes to not go shopping, but I have to do that for my budget. This year, there is nowhere else that I can magically find money from, so that's it. Being that scary, has helped me hugely. Also, planning my meals (from what I have in, usually!) means that my weekly shop is less. The best thing I did, though, was to take out the money and put it into a separate purse. I was really anti that at the start of my gc journey, but to be completely honest, it's the best thing I did! Another useful thing, is to make up a list of what you will allow yourself to stock up on, and how much. For example, at my worst, I had 28 tins of tuna in my cupboard, and wanted to buy more because they were on offer!!! I had to use the mantra 'they will be on offer again'!

Don't beat yourself up now, just resolve to change a bit at a time. Do you buy named brands? Could you go down a brand? Could you add things to meals to make them stretch? Why not allocate one day that is your shopping day, and then ONE top-up for milk and bread? My shopping day used to be a Tues evening (when the ch were at their dad's), but it's too cold and gloomy going out then, so I do it at the weekends now. They're with him every other weekend, so they come shopping with me only twice a month. That often costs more - we sometimes go to the library first, so they can read their books while sitting in the trolley!!

Hope any of what I have said helps in a tiny way,

PG x

Thanks PG, yes that does help. Its nice to know that i am not the ony one who has/is struggling with the same thing as me. Thanks so much.

rising_from_the_ashes wrote: »

LOL pretty much!:D

I try to restrict myself to a max of 2 trips per week ... shopping lists are great - I still buy stuff that's not on them:o - but it does mean I don't run out of something essential so I don't have an excuse to go again.

How close are they / easy is it for you to get to them?

I'm luckier in a way now as where I currently live it's an 18 mile round trip and, although there is a Co*op and small sm where I work, they're so bloomin' expensive I really only do buy what I need if I have to go!:)

thanks Rising- i think 2 shops a week is a good idea.

rising_from_the_ashes

Seeing the recipe earlier reminded me I've loads of bananas desperately looking for a use - I mixed up a batch (recipe I've had for years & a slight variation on those on the list) while I was waiting for my LO Risotto to heat in the MW.

I [STRIKE]was[/STRIKE] am taking it to work tomorrow but it's smelling so yummy I think I may just have to cut a slice off the end (just to check it's OK of course;)) ..... no-one will notice... will they!

MunniMuncha

elsiepac wrote: »

I just made the Onion and Potato soup from Cheap Family Recipes for lunch (and for lunch Tue, Wed, Thu too!)

Followed the recipe except for the amount of water which was ridiculously large. I used more like 1.2 litres and I would have preferred it a little thicker than that so next time will try 1 litre.

Link here

LC

I have loads of onions and potatoes that need using so think will give this a go this week - sounds yummy

supersally01

Evening,

Just popping by to report the weekends spends.

50p Iceland on Betty Crocker pud with a MOC
£5.34 in COOP, some reduced bits and the loo rolls with the MOC,
£11.47 in ALDI, on bread, milk fruit etc,
74p in LIDL on Blueberries
£1.70 on sausage rolls from Gregs, used a MOC.
£5 in Boots, actually spent £20 on the mascara glitch, but DD13 purchased some of the points off me to get make up, so only cost £5.

Also went to M&S for the valentines day meal, used my Living Social Voucher that I got for free as I has 3 referals. Also used 10% MOC and staff discount, so only used £13 of the voucher! A totally free meal, and change!! RESULT!

Also £1 in ASDA today for pop for the cinema. Used CC Vouchers for tickets, and took sweets/crisps from home. Then got treated to a Maccy D's after!

Tomorrow gonna take the kids swimming with the kids go free MOC, and visit animal shelter tomorrow afternoon, as my mum volunteers there. Should hopefully work out a nice day.

Will update Siggi now, and catch up with posts after Eastenders!!
Sally.

MunniMuncha

I too was a SM fan - I think it came from the fact that I couldn't spend money on anything else but somehow could justify the fact that we needed to eat! It sort of filled the void of not being able to spend money on clothes, make up etc.

I can now see this was my downfall and am determined to get my grocery shopping under wraps and am now doing the 2nd purse challenge. Finding it a bit of a struggle to come to grips with, but know that once the penny drops, it'll well be worth it.:T

Good luck and remember you are not alone - there are many of us in the same position as you:)

Barbeduk

Cleggie, how about trying the NSD challenge? I find that if I know I've got to update on here, I behave much better!:D

I know I'm a 'reassurance' shopper. I used to live in the middle of nowhere so it made sense to have full cupboards but now I live within 5 mins walk of Horrorsons it's just silly. But it's so hard to break the habit!

Talking of which, just popped round there for the veg offers and the other bits they didn't have at A!di so another £15.07 to add.