June 2012 Grocery Challenge

Florenceem

KatyReed+5 wrote: »

Very new to all this, only found this page today, would really like to join for June, is it too late? I have to shop for me, my other half and our 5 children.and it costs a fortune.

Really looking to save where i can, have recently started to batch cook meals and freeze and currently have a drower full of enough meals to feed my family dinners for 12 days, i've just been to Sainsburys and done enough shopping to hopefully keep us going for another few weeks, spent £58.46. It was origionally £69.62 but i had £6.80 in coupons and £4.36 in offers so i saved £11.26, which is good. I think on average now we spead between £500-£600 per month, so to the end of June from today i would like to spend £300?

Katy, X

Hi KatyReed+5, welcome to the GC. Are you a sahm? Your GC budget will come down if you stick with us on this thread.

MunniMuncha

KatyReed+5 wrote: »

Oh and how do you make one of those signiture things? X

Hi Katy and welcome to this wonderful thread.

To get your signature at the bottom go to the top where solid green line is and look for User CP, click on that and then on the RHS of the page you will see edit signature - click on that and, hey presto!

HTH

KatyReed+5

Thanks.

Hope my signature works.

Yes i'm a stay ot home mum,. My partner works and between us we have 5 children. The oldest 2 are his from a previous relationship, thaey are both girls and aged 11 and 8. I have a daughter from a previous relationship who is 3. We also have 2 children together one girl who is 2 and a boy who is 1. So 4 girls and finally a boy

I need to save money, as my partner is the only one who works as i look after the home and children, which is more than a full time job.

We've never had a family holiday so would love to save enough to pay for a nice holiday.

Katy, X

jumblejack

Hi KatyR:wave:

A good start is by visiting your local Lidl every weekend and bulk buying in the weekend only offers:money:

I save loads this way.

Also if you must visit the supermarket, try at different times from 6-8.30 sp that you get a feel for when they do reductions

Sounds like you are off to a great start with batch cooking and freezing.

You are gonna save loads with just a little restraint and focus!!!

Eyebright

Hi and welcome KatyR, wow you must be super organised running a household with 5 children in it. Hats off to you!

With batch cooking and the help of the lovely GC'ers you will be making savings and delicious, nutritious food in no time. I know I am. This is my first time at the GC as well

My online food shop just arrived. No substitutions yippee! Came to £57.73, so off now to add that to my siggy, and finish off dinner.

EB x

craigywv

Hi Katy im new to this thread too and can honestly say your in the right place a pack of friendly folk i have met on here. Jumblejack makes fab dinners and im going to hers for tea! (only joking) she has a lot of sound advice and then theres the imfamous FLO sorry FLORENCEEM who seems to know EVERYTHING known to humanity!! she has a unique way of telling you off if you dont do something she agrees with so BEWARE but shes fun!! and she does have great dinners too. on a different note have you a garden why not try growing your own, i started off a few yrs back growing basics, carrots,onions,potatoes,and now grow everything myself i dont have a large garden but its amazing what you can fit in. fruit bushes are great too, and as jj says hunt out your local shop reduction times.....i CANT buy meat at full price it goes against my grain. Also try pound shops and bargain shop loads of food a lot cheaper than the supermarkets anyway enjoy the group i love it!!

KatyReed+5

Never been to lidl, will have to try them, just looked and it's neary 20 miles to my nearest one,

I'm good at getting reduced bargains at out local co-op but it's only small as we live in a little village, so not a great range.

I'm excited about trying to save more.

Is there any tips that can help, like saving receipts and things, listing what i buy, spreadsheets etc?

Katy, X

KatyReed+5

We have a mssive garden, i currently have tomatoes growning and that's it, i'm not great at gardening but my grandparents are coming over in a few weeks to help me and see what else i can grow this lae in the season, Thanks Craigywv.

Katy, X

KatyReed+5

Oh and one more thing, sorry, have looked but can't see it anywhere, does grocerys cover all shopping? Including things like shampoo, toilet roll, cheaning stuff, etc? Oh and my other half smokes, do i could his tobacco in my total?

Thanks,

Katy, X

**purpleprincess**

KatyReed+5 wrote: »

Very new to all this, only found this page today, would really like to join for June, is it too late? I have to shop for me, my other half and our 5 children.and it costs a fortune.

Really looking to save where i can, have recently started to batch cook meals and freeze and currently have a drower full of enough meals to feed my family dinners for 12 days, i've just been to Sainsburys and done enough shopping to hopefully keep us going for another few weeks, spent £58.46. It was origionally £69.62 but i had £6.80 in coupons and £4.36 in offers so i saved £11.26, which is good. I think on average now we spead between £500-£600 per month, so to the end of June from today i would like to spend £300?

Katy, X

Welcome! You'll soon find yourself reducing your shopping spends if you hang around here!

One major tip I would give is PLAN PLAN PLAN!!! If you look at what you have in the cupboards, fridge, freezer and plan around that and then shop armed with a list then you should be able to curb the unexpected spends.

What you include in your grocery budget is up to you, some people include toiletries and cleaning things, others don't. See what works for you, trial and error.

Good luck!!