June 2012 Grocery Challenge

Suffolk_lass

Just updated my spreadsheets and resisted the urge to record "big list" and went through my receipts (last week and this). A few annoyances came to light:

• I thought I was buying 3 stir fry packs for £2.50 but they were £1 each.
• I took and then put back the more expensive ribbon veg to be replaced by the down-branded value selction but instead of removing it I added it twice (my error - £2.98)
• when I got home one of the sauce packs was punctured and had leaked sticky sauce over veg packs that all had to be washed
• I bought a pack of ice cream to find the packaging had been compromised when I got home (and it had softened up so it was obvious)
• I bought a sandwich loaf that was stale

This was all at my favourity waitflower so I will tell them. I hope their warehouse/storeroom hasn't got a resentful employee (a friend's really horrible rebellious son recorded himself jumping on the cereal packets at his employer and posted it on a social media site (got the sack) but this goes through my head if I get puctured packs or squashed/crumbled cereal).

Went to Sainsbugs yesterday but unhappy with the quality and piddly little YS reductions so left all that stuff. Bought sharwoods mango chutney (a treat) 3 for £4 :T from second purse but in contrast, I picked up vanilla bean paste that was £6.99 (planet snob going on there I think as extract is fine).

Still got to get meat and eggs but otherwise good to the end of the month.

My sig is up to date. Striving to get under this month after May's effort. Maybe the vanilla bean paste means I should send DH with a list today... I know he hates it but he sticks to the list :rotfl:

Have a good weekend everyone
SL

jasmin10

Hi people, been awol for a week as I have felt thoroughly sorry for myself and very down. Realising how tight money is, cooking non stop, budgeting, meal planning etc is taking it's toll. Havent bought milk in ages as I have been making my own for the last week and will now continue to do so as DD is loving it. Made my own yoghurt using the easiyo flask (no sachets but just as good with fruit and over porridge oats) Havent been able to make the hob nob biscuits as I haven't got any Bi-carb, I did consider giving it a go but havent got enough butter so will wait for the next food shop. Think the only thing I will need to get between now and then is a couple of cartons of milk.

Tax credits have decided they have overpaid us by £3287 and have to repay it at £50pm, got a letter from a debt agency (in my old name asking of my whereabouts) havent used this name for over 6 years tho so whatever it is they cant do anything, although I know the debt is 100% not mine, had some problems a while ago with someone using a catalogue in my old name at address I lived at in 1998, Someone on the forums has given me some good advice so that all good but just upset me as we have not had any debt for over 18 years. Then with the problem of Endemetriosis that was confirmed last week and all the pain I have, its all just knocked the wind out of my sales. DH asked what I want for my birthday and I just asked for a nice lay in ( I get up from 3am onwards with the baby) cant really afford anything for it so that will be just as nice - maybe breakffast in bed too A friend gave me two Finest curry things as she got a 'free' bag of shopping from a sm and she dosent like them - looking forward to it tonight as it will be a nice treat and a break from cooking. I have done lots of batch cooking so that DH has dinners for his night shifts and quick meals for DD when I just need to rest. Need to pick myself up, dust myself down and be thankful for my beautiful family and the things that are good in my life. (ooh thats sounds a bit deep)

So went online to mysupermarket yesterday and put a shop on for when my new month which starts on Wednesday when DH gets paid. It came in at over £40 and we need so much anyhow I have cancelled it, printed off the basket and will go to a retail park as theres a Farm F00ds, Home Barga!n$ and an Ald! all in one bit. I'm sure I can get it to £40 or less, I hope so or I will have failed in the first week of the month - not a good start. I have been doing a spreadsheet with all the prices on as I know that HB is cheaper than Ald! on somethings.

Just caught up with all the threads and pleased that there are lots more newbies. I love reading all the threads. One thing I want to do is to getting coupon searching. Can you really print off Coupons and use them in the shops - I have always been worried about them bring refused?.

So I have gone over budget but at least it is still better thaqn the £550 the other month and will stick to £200 for July.

Big squeeze for anyone else that needs one xoxox

lboppy

Jasmin10 really hope you feel better soon Endemetriosis is horrible and it's another one of those illnesses that others can't see so you have to battle on {{hugs}} well done on doing all the batch cooking . And I know what you mean about the printable coupons I'm always unsure to .

jumblejack

Good morning.

I was up early. The kids have now been scalped and bathed. It saves me a fortune in hairdressing bills:beer:

Got to clean up e hairs now before they get padded through the house.

I'm dog sitting at the minute for my folks so plenty of wals are planned for is week (free recreation!)

I'm not preparing anything to cook today as in last nights haul there were pasties and veggie sausages. Will use them up today for dinner/tea and supper. Will use up my rhubarb tomorrow as I have a whoopsie caramel apple/pecan and toffee tart to use up today now instead

Plan for today is now just tidy up, a little bit of gardening and then walk e dog in a beautufil nearby lakeside.

Hope you all have a thrifty day.

A NSD for me now as I spent a little last night on the reductions.

My total for last week is now declared at £30.31. Only 31p over but chuffed with the freezer full of bargains!!!

I'm now gonna reset my signature to zero for my new week.....

Kitchenbunny

Morning! SB88, what fab news! (hugs) Way to go That's truly awesome.

Well, today should be an NSD, but last night after I'd updated my sig my SIL asked if I could make something cakey for today so I had to go to Mr T and get some eggs, chocolate and cream. I'll take a picture of them when they're done and show you. So, another little spend of £6.44 to add to the signature, but at least I think I'll still come under budget.

Whoo!

K xx

savesummore

sb88 wrote: »

Just wanted to share some good news!


I got the job I interviewed for ! I am now no longer unemployed

I have never been so happy!

Oh great news :j:j:j so pleased for you :beer:

I have spent £50 in Asda today and £3 to 2nd purse (seem to always be owing 2nd purse at the min! )

In a*da I wanted some gammon and some pork loin but when I got there these where on the 3 for £10 offer so I got some posh sausages too which will do us for 2 meals. Seemed to have spent alot really but did stock up on ham and yogurt, brought some cheese that was on offer, got the 3 for £10 meats so maybe not all bad

I am still getting used to and loving meal planning also its nice to have a list and a purpose in the sm :rotfl:

Caution!!! I went to buy some shampoo & conditioner in a*da today and the herb*l essen*e small bottles (at eye level!) were 2 for £3 well the bigger bottles above- on the top shop were rolled back to £1.50 each- same price bigger bottle :mad: I spotted this and got the bigger bottles but the sm make me so :mad: always trying to 'con' you!!

JJ- amazing Mr M haul im in awe

PennyGrabber

sb88 wrote: »

Just wanted to share some good news!


I got the job I interviewed for ! I am now no longer unemployed

I have never been so happy!

WELL DONE!!!! :j:beer::j

jumblejack wrote: »

£6.31 spent in Ms.

Fabtastic bargains!

Will post piccie tomorrow!



Edit:

Thanks Mr M!:beer:

Wow! Fab bargains! I had a good haul of stuff on Tues too. Of particular note, two packs of curly parsley for 5p each! All snipped and in the freezer, ready for making parsley sauce. Nomnom!

jasmin10 wrote: »

Need to pick myself up, dust myself down and be thankful for my beautiful family and the things that are good in my life. (ooh thats sounds a bit deep)

Well done for being able to think about the positives. Some people know that that is what I do! It really helps to improve your outlook, and stops you focussing on what's wrong. Yeah, some things in life are ****, but you have two lovely daughters, and the baby won't always be up at stupid o'clock! (In fact, after a few years, you may even miss it!!!)

Chin up, and thinking of you. xx


Spend day today, as it's time for the weekly shop. All I need is milk, fruit, frozen peas and... that may be it! Got some carrots, sweetcorn, loads of spuds, enough meat and cheese etc.

Saturday meal plan: cereal for breakfast (on account of no bread!) spaghetti on toast for lunch (chosen by ds, bread will have been baked by then), chicken risotto for dinner (chosen by dd).

Sunday - cereal/toast/boiled egg for breakie, picnic for lunch, no idea for dinner! Still, got 24 hours to think about that. As long as it uses up something from the pantry or freezer, I don't mind! Ooh, maybe roast as I have a big joint of 70p pork in the freezer!

Have a frugaltastic day everyone!!

PG x

Dipndo

Jasmine 10 we got told yesterday that they had overpaid us the same amount as you,how they get away with changing the claim after they decide you should get it makes me mad.I was in a complete fluster about it all day.

I bought milk and a YS chicken this morning , signature has been updated.

Suffolk_lass

jasmin10 - keep your chin up - as PennyGrabber says, try and focus on the positives, it really helps. It's really hard when they are not sleeping enough for you to rest properly. It's 20 years now since DS was at that stage but our 3 best things were to give baby a bath immediately before bed. We mixed a little baby rice into the last feed before night so his tummy was full and we planned a night off - my D BIL and SIL took him for a night and boy did we have a night to remember - 10 straight hours of uninterrupted sleep and everything felt better after that. I still remember the debilitating tiredness, and DS started to sleep through earlier than your DD. My sympathies my dear.

JJ - either you type too fast or the batteries in your keyboard are on the way out :rotfl:

I came on to say I have just picked our first crop of slightly fabulous home grown strawberries. We've only had 1 or 2 at a time before. The plants were bought last year for my birthday - 3 lots of 12 so earlies middle and late varieties. It's like a second purse bogof! The gooseberries will be next.

Must pick more spinach to go in the salads as it's all going to seed (might let some and then it's free spinach next year :T)

jumblejack

Hi Suffolk lass.
My typos and predictive text thingy make me laugh when I reread em.
I type super fast on a touchscreen keypad on the phone. I must have fat fingertips:rotfl:
I sent a payment for a cottage reservation last week. When I read the confirmation email which had my original communication attached, I read "... thanks so much for all your help. My pants are really looking forward to it":eek: it should have read "My parents are really looking forward to it" :rotfl: predictive text phones have a lot to answer for!!!!!