March 2013 Grocery Challenge

cw18

K9sandFelines wrote: »

PS how do you trial food, which site is it with? I have just signed up for about 15/20 of Martin's top 20 survey sites. Don't know of any others though like you mentioned.

It's one that appears to be owned and run by Mr T.

It's callers Sh0pper Th0ughts and it's a dot com site.

I've been a member quite a while, but it's the first time I've had a survey like this.

Florenceem

Spend of £1 on milk today.
Dinner tonight - Mr F was given a frozen Sharw..ds meal - I think they are meant for one person. Anyway I cooked basmati rice and naan bread to make it enough for the two of us. Not something I would buy!



I baked a Coconut/orange Cake while the oven was on.

Florenceem

becsxxx wrote: »

Billie-jo - hope you all feel lots better soon

So, I was really late out of work tonight so DH did our standard Ald1 weekly shop. He (obviously) spent more than I would (!) but got our weekly essentials plus bits for when we're entertaining for £25.

I nipped to Mr M before coming home to get a couple of things we can't get in Ald1 and I obviously couldn't walk best the reduced section without checking it out and was delighted to pick up 4 braising steaks for £1.55 (down from£5) and a pack of pork mince for 55p (down from £2.50). This is where I had a really negative experience - another shopper said to me "you don't look like you need a bargain, you should leave it for others". I was pretty stunned actually. Admittedly, I was in a smart suit and heels, but does that mean I don't have the right to try and save as much money as possible? We do have good jobs but are desperately trying to save for a deposit and to have a baby.

Feel a bit down about it

Don't take any notice - this other shopper probably wanted the items you had picked up! Please don't feel down about it. I have some nice clothes I wear to Church and then pop into a shop - so what if I don't look as though I need the bargains. Who is to know if I bought my good clothes in a CS?

MrsCautious

becsxxx wrote: »

Billie-jo - hope you all feel lots better soon

So, I was really late out of work tonight so DH did our standard Ald1 weekly shop. He (obviously) spent more than I would (!) but got our weekly essentials plus bits for when we're entertaining for £25.

I nipped to Mr M before coming home to get a couple of things we can't get in Ald1 and I obviously couldn't walk best the reduced section without checking it out and was delighted to pick up 4 braising steaks for £1.55 (down from£5) and a pack of pork mince for 55p (down from £2.50). This is where I had a really negative experience - another shopper said to me "you don't look like you need a bargain, you should leave it for others". I was pretty stunned actually. Admittedly, I was in a smart suit and heels, but does that mean I don't have the right to try and save as much money as possible? We do have good jobs but are desperately trying to save for a deposit and to have a baby.

Feel a bit down about it

Becsxxx I would have felt the same, that's such a surprising attitude, you should be proud of yourself, hope you don't feel too down about it for too long, you sound like you have some exciting things on the horizon, people can be very strange!

I just bought some YS items for 9p (Bombay potatoes down from £1.31) and 19p (3 chicken pies down from £1.20) I was chuffed to get such bargains, felt a bit weird being in a supermarket at gone 10pm but picking that stuff up, and sticking it straight in the freezer has made me feel like a proper money saver!

Also bought Basics potatoes (£1.19 for 2.5kg) and Taste the Difference sausages and bacon, can't bring myself to try sausages without a fair amount of pork in them, still they were 2 packets for £5 and I will get at least 3 meals from them.

Have spent about £31 today after also going to Aldi for fresh fruit and veg and snacks but this has allowed me to meal plan into next week.

CupOfChai

I've spent £19.71 on the top-up shopping. Argh, that's loads! Stupid reduced bargains. Still, I now don't have to buy chicken in the next big shop as I got some diced turkey in the reduced stuff, so that will be a saving. There were a few treats in it as well, but I think we can manage still and we've enjoyed them, so it's all good.

Kitchenbunny

Morning! The last few days have been a bit busy, so I'm only just reporting in. The good news is that Wednesday and Thursday were NSDs, but I had a spend day of £12.31 on Friday on stuff for the weekend. To be fair, that did include 3 bags of one of our favourite cereals which were £1 each, and stuff to have a go at making ice cream. When I do the shopping, it's first thing in the morning so things tend to melt by the time I get home. I figured if I can have a go at making some then it's easier to get it home without being a sloppy mess in the boot.

That particular experiment did work, and it's in the freezer now. Hopefully today is going to be an NSD - certainly we don't need anything so if I can avoid the supermarkets today it'll be a good thing.

My mealplan is now set for the week, and all I'll have to do in a bit is go through the freezer and fridge to see what I need to add to the shopping list. I think I'll make some cookies today - good comfort food - to go with the grey and drizzly awful weather. Hope everyone is OK (I haven't had a chance to fully read through the posts I've missed yet) and have a lovely weekend.

KB xx

nmlc

Morning everyone

Becsxxx - as others have said I think the other shopper wanted your bargains - and was also probably jealous that you looked smart and well groomed and also savvy re your spending habits! Don't feel down - feel really proud of yourself! That shopper may have made bad money decisions in their past and now regrets it. Keep going - you work hard for your money and how you spend it/save it is your choice x

Haven't checked in for a while but have been doing the GC and keeping a record of the spends. Now on my Week 3 - food shop done for this week and now only have £29.58 of the budget left - so may not come in under budget - but will try not to go over by too much. Have got a menu plan in place for the most of this next week so should be able to get to Thursday without too much difficulty - that's when it's going to get tricky as I won't have very much meat in the freezer by then and the menfolk here always want meat in their meal! I'll do the best I can. Will be doing some baking for the tins today so it always makes me feel that we have loads to choose from when I've done some baking - and less inclined to "pop to the shop".

Keep safe and well everyone x

nmlc x

skilly

Morning all, just popping in to report another nsd for me :-) going to cancel veggie box for next week and clear what in fridge .

K9sandFelines

cw18 wrote: »

It's one that appears to be owned and run by Mr T.

It's callers Sh0pper Th0ughts and it's a dot com site.

I've been a member quite a while, but it's the first time I've had a survey like this.

Smashing thanks, will take a look at that :-)


Hoping for another NSD today though we might need milk, depends if we can eek it out until tomorrow.

Rowan9

Becs - just don't pay any attention to that comment. The reduced items are there for everyone to buy and no-one should judge others. I'm sorry that happened to you. My advice would be to go as soon as poss and do it again in case it puts you off. Wishing you many more bargainous bargains xxx
W