Grocery Challenge - February 2012

TheThriftyScrumpers

Hi All

I have some spends but oh has receipt so will have to update later. Easy tea planned for tonight, fish fingers mash and veg for kids and pizza (ys!) and salad for us. I am trying potty training today with ds so watching him like a hawk.

I have lemon drizzle cake that I made earlier in the week for snacks and a loaf in the bm

Xx

[Deleted User]

Middle of the month so I am doing a slightly bigger shop than usual as I have a small list of things I have run short of,I'm hoping it won't be too much as I am still using up stuff from the freezer so no dinners to buy.Going to my Dds for dinner tonight as it would have been my wedding anniversary and she doesn't like me to be on my own ,bless her she is a dear.I will buy her a nice bunch of daffs as i noticed hers were going over a bit yesterday.Daffs are such a cheerful flower and brighten up anyones day in february i think
Have a frugal day everyone
JackieO xxx

scotmumof3

Suffolk_lass wrote: »

Well done everyone, there is such superb support on here and so much helpful advice. I went to stay with a friend Mon/Tue and had to catch up this morning but really enjoyed the posts



My meagre tips for cutting down on sm spend are:

• Write the list based on a fridge list of things we are running out of + meal plan list and the staple things we always use I buy the milk and one loaf of bread for the week and make my own bread the rest of the week.
• I keep one spare 4 pint and 1 spare 2 pint of milk in the freezer and use this when we overuse or have a freezer no sm week (once a month/6 weeks currently)
• I send DH on his own to do the sm run at least once a month. He hates shopping and gets only what is on the list. He really appreciates it when we go together that way! :shhh:
• My new bargain hunting is
• on-line rather than in person, where I look for MOCs, read other's saving posts and use SM comparison sites, then I also check Waitflower (free delivery if over £50 - and we are 18 mile round trip) and Amazing (also free delivery) before finalising the list.
• I still go shopping but maybe 2-3 times in the month so I get the buzz but less often. We go to Aldo's first, and only go on if they can't do it. We use the local butcher at least twice a month and the farm shop for eggs (cheaper than sm for FR)
• I was getting drawn into the £10 off £70 in Sainsbob but I shopped there 3 weeks running and suddenly it was £10 off £80 so not going there for a few weeks now.
• I've got a 2nd purse spreadsheet for shopping from my own stores (complicated as I was already stocked up for the next Suffolk siege :eek: and I'm not counting the "old" stuff).
• All my ood tins are on the counter (really annoying and makes me consider using them instead of forgetting I've got them)

Not sure if this helps anyone but it sort of works for me (I stop sleeping if I don't know what we've got and what to expect).

Some great ideas here I'm going to try and cut down the amount of times I go to the sm. Can I ask is Ald! really that good I've only been once and usually shop in Tesc@ Is there a good selection of goods or is it restricted.:o I like your idea of leaving the tins out so they are more likely to be used will try that anything to help the grocery bill Thanks:T

scotmumof3

xxlouisexx56 wrote: »

I'm sick

So sick that DF is off work to look after the kids :0

He popped to morrisons for baby milk, lunch and dinner stuff and spent £30!!

Hope you are feeling better today:)

mh2361

Got £4 in purse to last to Friday and need to pay £3 for kids club tomorrow. have been out and left purse at home so not tempted to spend. Pleased I did but , crumbs, its depressing !!!!! Just want to go and buy and eat lots of treats. will go and have a nutella sandwich i think to scratch that itch.

scotmumof3

:rotfl:

DundeeDoll wrote: »

OH - have you noticed the loo roll doesn't unroll very easily?
SS - Really? (:whistle: knowing have followed OS advice to squash rolls slightly)
OH - yes, must remember next time we're buying to make sure they're on the top of the shopping
SS - :rotfl:

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:BRILLIANT!!!:rotfl::rotfl:

scotmumof3

A spend last night at Tesc@ of £8.62 for milk bread cola:o(still trying to quit) dog food and vegs

tigerfeet2006

123budget wrote: »

Just found my Asd@ receipt from earlier in the week £42.96 some am now over budger and also overdrawn (
One more week to go till payday - just got to work on damage limitation
Thank you to everyone who posts their recipes - (I am not very good at just making things up!)
I go through them to see if I can make them with anything I already have in before doing my meal plan/shopping list.
You all do a fantastic job.
Tiger Feet I think I am going to try your risotto in the SC - I have never been successful in making a risotto the rice always ends up hard or a soggy mess! But I do like to use my SC on workdays so will give it a go.

The risotto is not one that can be left on all day, the max it can be left on with mine on low is two hours I have found. But I have never had a bad risotto doing this way.

tigerfeet2006

DundeeDoll wrote: »

OH - have you noticed the loo roll doesn't unroll very easily?
SS - Really? (:whistle: knowing have followed OS advice to squash rolls slightly)
OH - yes, must remember next time we're buying to make sure they're on the top of the shopping
SS - :rotfl:

:rotfl: can you imagine his consternation when it keeps happening. Wonder if he will organise an enquiry into who keeps squashing the loo rolls

Though I've just read your post to DH and he said " oohh!! I wondered why the loo rolls kept going funny, good idea I'll do that to!"

tigerfeet2006

scotmumof3 wrote: »

Some great ideas here I'm going to try and cut down the amount of times I go to the sm. Can I ask is Ald! really that good I've only been once and usually shop in Tesc@ Is there a good selection of goods or is it restricted.:o I like your idea of leaving the tins out so they are more likely to be used will try that anything to help the grocery bill Thanks:T

Aldi and Lidl are restricted, which means you won't get everything in there but what they do have is fab. Don't forget to take your own bags and if you get a lot of tins etc. Pick up boxes from around the store to put them in. When you get to the till the operator will whizz through every thing so you just wack everything back into the trolley and pay and then go to the packing shelf and pack everything.

Best thing is to write a shopping list, go online to Tesco and write down what you would pay there and then go the Aldi/Lidl and compare the prices on your shopping list and get anything cheaper then go and finish your shop in Tesco.