October 2013 Grocery Challenge

K9sandFelines

meg72 wrote: »

I would ring CS, as they state if they substitute you dont pay anymore.

Thanks Meg, that's what I thought too.

K9sandFelines

K9sandFelines wrote: »

My order has just come from Mr A and there were that many substitutions that I got in a right muddle and forgot to hand some back, which I was charged more for as the multibuy offer didn't apply to that offer. Does anybody know if it is still meant to apply, should I ring CS. I wont add my spends til any money has been refunded. Its now put me off signing up for the three month Mr A delivery saver for £15 tbh. As parts of my shopping have now cost more than I intended. I might just stick to Mr T as 10-11 pm midweek is only a £1.

After closer inspection, i have had chance to sit down and work everything out, and although one of the multibuy offers had ended, and i should have handed two of three items back that they substituted; they had actually given me a cheaper substitution, which would have only been dearer if the multibuy had applied. With non grocery deductions and substitutions handed back ( which although oddly set out all ended up being correct ... total is £57.93. I somehow forgot lettuce and bananas... but i will get these in Mr M. Shopping also included wine for cooking, only one was sparkling so i can't use it for cooking, so i am drinking it. I use to drink most weekends but now this is a rarity to me, but after number crunching and being on hold forever to Asd* CS, i think i need it a little.

Adlib to say Mr A really should honour offers that you have checked out with, and publish dates that offers end. They may be cheaper for some things, but i hate this aspect of their grocery site and policies.

Off to update sig ...

ditsykitchen

Hi, mine says £200, but it should be £150 pleeeease

meg72

K9sandFelines wrote: »

After closer inspection, i have had chance to sit down and work everything out, and although one of the multibuy offers had ended, and i should have handed two of three items back that they substituted; they had actually given me a cheaper substitution, which would have only been dearer if the multibuy had applied. With non grocery deductions and substitutions handed back ( which although oddly set out all ended up being correct ... total is £57.93. I somehow forgot lettuce and bananas... but i will get these in Mr M. Shopping also included wine for cooking, only one was sparkling so i can't use it for cooking, so i am drinking it. I use to drink most weekends but now this is a rarity to me, but after number crunching and being on hold forever to Asd* CS, i think i need it a little.

Adlib to say Mr A really should honour offers that you have checked out with, and publish dates that offers end. They may be cheaper for some things, but i hate this aspect of their grocery site and policies.

Off to update sig ...

Absolutely agree Asda should publish when offer ends, I think they are the only SM that does`nt do this. I have often been disappointed when seeing a good offer but not having the cash on me at the time going back the next day only to find its finished, even worse is when I have told family and friends of an offer and they go and its finished.

meg72

robberbutton wrote: »

Hi, I'm going to try this again. Please put me down for £450 for the month please - that's to feed two adults and four children age 7 and under.

I do ok on the weekly shops, but it's the veg box/corner shop/top up shops that are killing the budget! Our grocery spend varies between £314-£640 month by month. Not good!

How do you reconcile wanting to be healthy, caring about plant and animal welfare (organic/free range etc), and knowing that if I bought the value version of everything our finances would improve significantly? (We have loans to pay off too.)

I think in an ideal world everyone would like to be caring and go for free range, but at the end of the day when money is tight and the kids must be fed, kids come first chickens second.

meg72

1.50 spend today on milk and reduced oranges, 50p for a pack of 4. I want the oranges to make the dried slices for the Christmas Tree, so thats out of christmas fund.

meg72

Really pleased as managed to fit a small boned lamb leg joint, 2 chicken thighs and 5 baked potatoes into the halogen oven.

I am on a mission to reduce energy bills at the moment, they are not too bad really but I do think I could do better.
The lamb joint has sliced into 5 portions, one chicken thigh has made 3 chicken and mushroom pies and the other 2 chicken fried rice, the potatoes have been scooped out and mixed with a pack of reduced, 20p, cream cheese and will be great for a quick lunch
15 meals for roughly 5.00. I do so love reductions.

K9sandFelines

meg72 wrote: »

Absolutely agree Asda should publish when offer ends, I think they are the only SM that does`nt do this. I have often been disappointed when seeing a good offer but not having the cash on me at the time going back the next day only to find its finished, even worse is when I have told family and friends of an offer and they go and its finished.

Totally puts me off as I was contemplating signing up for delivery saver, but I'm not going to bother now. I will make do with one weekly shop online and any urgent bits at Mr M/C*-*p and stay away from any AF orders too, as they are another reason im always over.

why_not_2

Ok, time to re-group for me.

I've just read the thread from the beginning, found a lot of comfort in the post that pointed out that changing a habit of years may take some practicing.

So, Budget of £310 for October, £10 per day again.

First spend already though, so starting the month with a spend of £70 in Co0p. Lots of fresh meat in there though.

Plan for the next week,
Sunday Stir fry.
Monday Cottage pie + batch cook for freezer
Tuesday Chicken and chips
Wednesday Gammon & jacket potatoes + cold meat for the freezer
Thursday Beef and mushroom pie + batch for freezer
Friday Omlettes
Saturday Lasagne + batch for freezer
Sunday Chilli and rice

Summary October target 310
Current total 70/310

laura_hoggle

Ok, was meant to start on Monday but went to Sainsbobs with mum and dad today to look at the clothes as they had 25% off (got a few bits to put up for bdays/xmas, so pleased with that!) but bought a few edible things too which will be eaten next week, so I would like to officially declare that our grocery challenge has begun!

Spent £10.85 on food, this is bread for sarnies for lunches (already have fillings at home), fruit for the week, some reduced steak (bit extravagant I know!), eggs, stocking up on mushy peas (DH doesn't like the basics ones, so got branded tins, 3 for £1), and puddings, which we ate today.

I have meal planned, and we can eat for the next week (or two!) on what's in the freezer/cupboards, so hoping we don't need to do another food shop this week, fingers crossed! Only thing we might need is a few fresh bits for the guinea pig, then replenish lunch/fruit next weekend.

I'm so used to having (and very lucky to be in the position to have) a full freezer/cupboard, and replenish as necessary, but as we are in the process of buying a house and will be moving in the next few months really need to use up what we have so there isn't as much to move!