January 2013 Grocery Challenge

tessie_bear

good luck miss m mum...really hope u find something...try and stay positive
its great its so busy on the challenge...good luck to new and old with their budgets...im off to have a cheeky look at the sales in coventry today...hopefully wont spend much

take care tess

Newbie_here_2

KatyReed+5 wrote: »

For those who shop online do you think it's worth it? I have a £12 off a £60 spend online for sainsburys, which sounds great but once on the website i couldn't really think of what to order, other than a few bits i need, i did look at bulk buying tins that honestly we don't really need at the mo, and i like to pick my fruit and veg myself as i'm a bit fussy, also i have healthy start vouchers which i can use instore but not online which is a bit rubbbish. But £12 is a good amount to have off a spend, and i feel a bit silly if i don't use it, HELP.

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Hi there, for me online shopping is great, I only order what I need no temptations to put things in my trolley and my shopping bill has halved because of this. My sister says the same she like to pick her fruit and veg, I'm not that bothered lol, but if it arrives bruised or not quite right they will refund you. Why not try it for one week to get your £12 off, and see if you like it.

pinkypig

VickyV wrote: »

Hi all,

Been busy today (it amazes me how long simple jobs like sorting odd socks and slinging ratty old undies can actually take!) but just thought I'd check in with a couple of spends. I was exceptionally naughty yesterday and went to te$co express for no reason other than I wanted chocolate, as did DS, and spent £4.46 on chocolate and C0ke zero. :eek: Also Hubby got cleaning cloths and sponges in Ald1 for £1.68 as I've ruined about 4 this week trying to clean fancy (and very sticky) bread dough off all my bowls, surfaces and the mixer bits.

Did the top up shop in Ald1 today too and spent £20.97. Got 2 cheese board thingies in that too (£4.75 for the both) - cheese will freeze won't it? Not that I think cheese can really go off - it's already gone off milk! Only cat litter to get now.

So I now have all but the fresh bits (fruit, milk, yogurts, etc) to keep us in meals until the 27th Jan - most are quickies using bits of freezer shrapnel or have been made and frozen. Oh, I could really use a week off at the start of every month to get organised! :rotfl:

Signature has been updated. Hope you're all going well, it's lovely to read how being on the boards helps people in some way to deal with all the cr*p that life deposits on them.

Big hugs,

Vicky
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Hi Vicky, if it helps I use those little plastic nets that oranges/onions come in to clean bread dough off the mixer bowl and attachments. They are really good and you can just chuck them when you've finished without feeling guilty:)

PPxx

MammaLewis

Hi, I'm a complete newbie to all of this it was recommended to my by a friend. Is it too late to join in on the challenge? Usually, my shopping is done monthly and we waste things or buy crap we don't need and end up shopping on the day and buying the meals for that day. As you can imagine its an expensive way to shop. We're in Tesco at least 4x per week! I've started to meal plan and rather than do monthly, because of my husbands shift work I think a weekly shop and meal plan would suit us better. I'm even armed with my new slow cooker (Christmas present) so I'm really really motivated to do this!

My budget for the week is £40 that's to feed two adults who work full time and a 19 month old toddler in full time nursery. My budget needs to cover nappies, cleaning prods, cat food and litter and bath/shower stuff etc.

My challenge starts today!

KatyReed+5

Newbie_here wrote: »

Hi there, for me online shopping is great, I only order what I need no temptations to put things in my trolley and my shopping bill has halved because of this. My sister says the same she like to pick her fruit and veg, I'm not that bothered lol, but if it arrives bruised or not quite right they will refund you. Why not try it for one week to get your £12 off, and see if you like it.

Thanks, i think i might, the code for £12 off lasts till the 29th, so i think i may just buy the odd fresh bits i need at the local small co-op, and then keep a list of all the cupboard and long life and heavy things i need then use it a bit later in the month, so far my list has on it nearly 96 tins and it 10 boxes of cereal, and still is no where near the £60 total.

I have just made 5 portions of corrot and lentil soup for the freezer and cooked some very nearly out of date bacon and chopped up and put in a tub for freezing for future use.

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zafiro1984

Looking forward to tea today. Pheasant, the first one this year, didn't cost a penny and it's a big one. Have enough vegs and bits to do it justice.

Changingme

So far this month I've spent £62.58,I have meal planned for the week,well till Thursday as freezer needs defrosting.Hopefuly can manage till Saturday with any bits left over and store cupboard stuff as Saturday is shopping day.:jI will then need to restock freezer with some batch cooking,meat and veg.:eek:

zafiro1984

KatyReed+5 wrote: »

Thanks, i think i might, the code for £12 off lasts till the 29th, so i think i may just buy the odd fresh bits i need at the local small co-op,

Why not use the coupon to buy items that are non-perishable, loo rolls, washing powder, cleaning things, and the like. You wont use any more than normal and providing you have the space to store them they wont go out of date.
A £12 saving on £60 is 20% off but to get the best value you need to be as close to the £60 as possible. Just one other thing if you do an online shop and tick the box which doesn't allow substitutes I think they will still have to allow you your discount even if the total you pay is less than £60. I use 'mysupermarket' website all the time as I find it helps tremendously with comparisons for online shopping

she_who_can_not_cook

Island_mum wrote: »

I'd like to ask for some advice if I may - is it possible to freeze a portion of pasta? I made pasta with a homemade sauce for dinner tonight and as we're having roast tomorrow, I'd like to freeze a tub of the leftovers if it will be ok. Does anyone know how long it would last?

i know it's a little upon but i freeze( I think that freezing changes the textureof the pasta but i don't notice it) my left over pasta spag bol and pasta bakes. I take to work for lunch my leftovers it's a change from the usual salads i have when dieting

KatyReed+5

zafiro1984 wrote: »

Why not use the coupon to buy items that are non-perishable, loo rolls, washing powder, cleaning things, and the like. You wont use any more than normal and providing you have the space to store them they wont go out of date.
A £12 saving on £60 is 20% off but to get the best value you need to be as close to the £60 as possible. Just one other thing if you do an online shop and tick the box which doesn't allow substitutes I think they will still have to allow you your discount even if the total you pay is less than £60. I use 'mysupermarket' website all the time as I find it helps tremendously with comparisons for online shopping

That's also a good idea, need to find some good deals first, am off to sainsburys today as need some potatoes and bread may search for good deals on long life things and add them to my total

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