March 2012 Grocery Challenge

166million

Thanks to whoever pointed out Quorn at 1.19 in Lidl. Picked up three packs yesterday, as well as apples, pears and banana in Aldi for 68/9p each

rising_from_the_ashes

Hoarder alert .... I'm just sorting out my cupboards as there finally seems to be daylight in them:eek: (deep breath, don't panic:o) and am trying to find room to get some of the stuff out of the "overflow" cupboard in the lounge:o and into them...

In my "defense" this is also my winter emergency cupboard where I store 4 weeks worth of basic foods - last winter I was on the bus for 3 weeks and having to stand around waiting for a bus for an hour, have a hair-raising journey home is bad enough ... without trying to lug shopping through snow and ice on the mile walk home from the bus stop:eek:.

Anyway ... have now decided it's time to start using this stuff up so am sorting the kitchen ones and putting the stuff with the shortest dates to the front again (I do this now & then but then always end up putting new stuff at the front) - so far I have 3 tins of soup, 2 tins of fruit & 1 of rice pudding that are out of date ...... so they're now sitting on the worktop where I can't forget about them & will be used over the next week!:)

I've not forgotten about my stock-piling and will still be doing it when I see "can't be ignored" offers - but really need to use some stuff up that I've got as I'm sure I could last several weeks on what I currently have . Of course, any underspends will be going into the groceries pot!:)

rising_from_the_ashes

Ohhh I did complain to Mr T about the DC and Whiskas "episodes" .... and have been promised a money-card - so if your complaint is genuine, I'd say go for it (I don't know if anyone remembers the couponing programme that was on a while ago when the woman wrote & complained to everyone, even if there was nothing wrong? that really annoyed me as it just felt wrong IMHO and means that people with genuine complaints may be turned down ....)

hex2

£14.42 spent in co-op on bread (needed) and RTC meat

Is there a cheaper pudding than toffee popcorn? Couple of spoonfuls of corn popped in the microwave. Water (couple of spoons) and sugar (six spoons), stir till dissolved in a pan then cooked for a few minutes till it turns golden and then poured over the popcorn. Leave for ten minutes, and then risk your fillings!

catznine

Rising for the ashes I am in a similiar situation and must use up the stockpile as I need room to move around lol
Family laugh at my stockpile but it is mostly app foods bargains that i couldn't resist!

This last week I did the Fiscal Fast (without doing a shop beforehand) and only shopped again on Friday evening. So that made a dent in things! I couldn't bring myself to buy more than was necessary so only spent £18.11 :j (milk, veg and dog food mainly) The biggest problem is the milk supply, but I have found a tin of evap milk and a carton of soya milk, also a tub of dried milk so when this supply of milk runs out we should be ok for a while!

rising_from_the_ashes

catznine wrote: »

Rising for the ashes I am in a similiar situation and must use up the stockpile as I need room to move around lol

Glad I'm not alone ....;) I do suffer from OCD and go through trends of worrying about different things - I had to have surgery last autumn which meant I couldn't drive for 9 weeks ... which took me up to the middle of Nov (when the bad weather hit the year before) and I think I went into a bit of a panic mode:o.

We are very limited in local shops - and milk is a huge issue for me as I can't even get the milk I need in the village - and they often run out of stuff by lunchtime, let alone when there's no deliveries for over 3 weeks:eek:. They're also way more expensive compared to where I usually buy stuff but I do think I went a bit OTT (DM would be horrified if she knew about the overflow cupboard - she nearly had a fit when she saw the kitchen ones!:rotfl:) and I'm now struggling to get things back to "normal" levels as everything just looks so small compared to how it did before:(.

SAVVYJADE

Over heard staff in t£sco today saying that on Wednesday sirloin steak is going half price, not sure what ones exactly but maybe it's of use to someone!

SJ

wannabee_in_credit

Hi, I spent another £61.88 on groceries today between Ald! and T£sco. Quite a big weekly shop for us, but it looked like a lot of stuff and the freezer is overflowing. Plus I'm trying to get back on the diet wagon so bought the diety stuff, and OH is off on the sick so he's spending most of his time at home (eating most stuff that he sees). Still hopeful I can get in under budget. We're both pledging to give up drinking during the week, so that should help a little (not that we're raging alcoholics but we can both put it away when we're having a drink with dinner etc).
Fingers crossed, time to take control of the things that I can actually make a difference with.

PennyGrabber

Winchelsea wrote: »

Am returning to Sains again this afternoon (it's only just along the road now they've built a new one) - this time to do a 2hr stint collecting for the Food Bank. There are always people worse off than ourselves.

Well done you - it's great to give something to others, even if we feel we don't have much to give. Time is really important, and I'm sure there will be a lot of people fed over the next few weeks because of you doing what you did today. I'm planning on helping out at a homeless shelter on Christmas day this year, as the children will be with their dad until four in the afternoon, and I'll be sat at home feeling sorry for myself otherwise.

NickJW wrote: »

Thanks

I've spent £357.31 on groceries/cleaning products/toiletries this year so far but WOULD have spent more on cigarettes on top of this - £387.45!! Crazy! :eek:

I sound materialistic but money motivates me like nothing else!

That's not materialistic, that's you being realistic, and proud of yourself. Well done!!

rising_from_the_ashes wrote: »

Glad I'm not alone ....;) I do suffer from OCD and go through trends of worrying about different things - I had to have surgery last autumn which meant I couldn't drive for 9 weeks ... which took me up to the middle of Nov (when the bad weather hit the year before) and I think I went into a bit of a panic mode:o.

We are very limited in local shops - and milk is a huge issue for me as I can't even get the milk I need in the village - and they often run out of stuff by lunchtime, let alone when there's no deliveries for over 3 weeks:eek:. They're also way more expensive compared to where I usually buy stuff but I do think I went a bit OTT (DM would be horrified if she knew about the overflow cupboard - she nearly had a fit when she saw the kitchen ones!:rotfl:) and I'm now struggling to get things back to "normal" levels as everything just looks so small compared to how it did before:(.

I have this problem too! The OCD-ness, overstocking, etc. I am slowly fixing this, but you're right - it's a bit scary seeing stuff go back to 'normal' levels, as it doesn't look like much! I'm working really hard on this for the rest of the year...

wannabee_in_credit

Barbeduk wrote: »

I'd love to know how much money I've saved by doing the bulk of my shopping at !id!:j

I have to confess to completely falling in love with Ald! and L!dl. I'm lucky enough to have both within easy reach of home. Last week I introduced my OH to the wonders of Ald! and he actually asked to go there in preference to our big 4. He couldn't believe how full our trolley was for 45 quid today. I think that the quality of stuff you get from there is much better than the basics at the other supermarkets. Ald! is rapidly becoming one of my favourites... (just find it that little bit cheaper than L!dl) and my ds loves their sausages so I wouldn't dare go anywhere else at the moment.