April Grocery Challenge

Magentasue

Well, two weeks gone and I've spent £120 on food only. This time last month, it was £170 so my £350 for April food looks possible. But I think I have been really frugal! I can't see how I could spend any less - I've made bread, cooked every meal from scratch and rationed cereals. Packed lunches kicked in this week so I baked scones and flapjacks. I'm just wondering if it'll all be ruined next month when I have to replace my storecupboard ingredients like golden syrup, cocoa powder, bread flour, parmesan and olive oil.

calleyw

I personally build in an extra bit of money in my food budget for stock up shopping.

I say our budget is £100 for the two of us. But I tend to spend around £80ish on average. That leaves me £20 for a stock up shop. E.g replenishing the staples such as flour, herbs etc. And also allows me to take advantage of any BOGOF's there are. This week it was Tuna. As Tescos had it on BOGOF. It is a brand we like. So I spent about 6 quid on it. But that got me 16 cans so will last. As we eat a couple a week.

This month is going to worse. As we have just moved. And in a clear out of the cupboards we chucked stuff rather than move it. Yes I know wasteful. But we had enough to pack and just didn't want the extra.

So I now have to buy oil, herbs etc for my stock cupboard. And I did a shop down to iceland as they have a good sale on there. But I did get 8 pieces of salmon for £5. So that is an extra £15 on the shopping for this month.

Yours

Calley

crazyhazy

I do most of my shopping in Asda and have decided I really should start using money off coupons to save a bit more off my shopping. But firsat wanted to clarify a few things -

will they take the voucher even if you don't buy the item?

Is there any limit to how many vouchers you hand over?

Does anyone know Co-ops policy on money off coupons as I also shop there quite a bit too?

calleyw

As far as I know they will take the voucher even if you don't buy the product. As long as they stock it.

But only once of each. So no duplicates and it is suppose to be around about 10% but it just depends on the cashier.

I have read that the young men are best as they take almost anything. But I am rather shy and don't tend to use vouchers unless I am buying the product. I tend to get hubby to do that and I slope off to the loos while he does it. LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yours

Calley

tiff

crazyhazy wrote:

I do most of my shopping in Asda and have decided I really should start using money off coupons to save a bit more off my shopping. But firsat wanted to clarify a few things -

will they take the voucher even if you don't buy the item?

Is there any limit to how many vouchers you hand over?

Does anyone know Co-ops policy on money off coupons as I also shop there quite a bit too?

Each store seems to have their own policy, my local store accepts 1 voucher only if you dont buy the item, but another store nearby accepts 3 vouchers if you dont buy the item. It varies as well depending on the cashier you get as some of them dont know their own store's rule!

crazyhazy

tiff wrote:

Each store seems to have their own policy, my local store accepts 1 voucher only if you dont buy the item, but another store nearby accepts 3 vouchers if you dont buy the item. It varies as well depending on the cashier you get as some of them dont know their own store's rule!

Thanks, where is the best place to get money off coupons? Will they accept internet printed ones, or will it just depend on the store?

tiff

I've never bothered with internet coupons. On this board there is a forum called Online Discount Vouchers, in there people tend to post where they have spotted coupons. I tend to buy mine from Ebay, but you have to be careful about expiry dates.

nicki_2

My Asda won't accept internet printed coupons but will accept some vouchers for items I haven't bought. Generally if I get a voucher I make a note of it and check that the store stocks that product as I do my shopping. I fit does I try to get to a till where no-one else will be behind me incase they refuse to accept the voucher (I get embarrased easily in shops at the till for some reason ) but I've not had a problem so far

Lillibet_2

After Wednesdays hic-cup I managed to get through Tescos last night spending only £22.80 (£26.77 but the check out operator was nice & didn't question my coupons:D ) for the fortnight, inculding 2 large organic chickens reduced to less than £3 each:j . As long as we can stick to the meal plan for the next 2 weeks we'll be fine.....it 's just a question of discipline & not getting any cravings:p

crazyhazy

nicki wrote:

My Asda won't accept internet printed coupons but will accept some vouchers for items I haven't bought. Generally if I get a voucher I make a note of it and check that the store stocks that product as I do my shopping. I fit does I try to get to a till where no-one else will be behind me incase they refuse to accept the voucher (I get embarrased easily in shops at the till for some reason ) but I've not had a problem so far

I asked when I was in asda last night and was told I would have to buy the item to get the money off. I might try anyway next time by just handing them over at the end but as we only get a small weekly shop it might be obvious that we haven't bought some things.

Apart from that my grocery challenge is doing well, Think I have spent just over 100 for the month (need to add last nights figures to my spreadsheet) and our target was 120 and my month ends on sunday, so shouldn't need any other shopping till then.