May Grocery Challenge

squeaky

I didn't know granary loaves at the size my breadmaker does were that cheap. There's plenty of loaves on the shelves at around a quid, and the last flour I bought was 73p which makes three loaves...

so that 25p for flour

yeast at 7p

a few pence for sugar, salt, marge...

So I'm looking at a bit under 40p for a standard loaf (standard bread flour too).

A saving of around 60p in my mind.

Of course, my mind's not what it used to be

jaybee

I'm in a quandry now! Just when I thought I was getting it all together and spending a LOT less, Sainsbury's have sent me a LOAD of vouchers giving me triple points on a shopping total of £130 a week :eek: . I know I can easily spend that and get stuff that will last for ages to make it up to that total (ie. loo rolls, washing stuff, dishwasher stuff etc). Trouble is, will I be able to pay for it all and is it really worth doing it for the extra points??? I couls have a few 'free' weeks later in the year I suppose!

crana999

If you spend your nectar points in sainsburys, it'll save you about £2.60. I'm not sure I'd bother.

You would probably save more than that by either going somewhere other than sainsburys, or by waiting until offers come up on some of the nonperishable stuff you were planning to buy.

jaybee

Thanks crana999 - you are quite right! It's so easy to get carried away with these 'offers'. When you work it out it's really not woth that much. :doh:

Magentasue

I think, generally speaking, BOGOFs are the only offers worth sabotaging your budget for. And then only if it's the one you buy anyway or works out MUCH cheaper than your normal 'brand'.

crana999

jaybee wrote:

Thanks crana999 - you are quite right! It's so easy to get carried away with these 'offers'. When you work it out it's really not woth that much. :doh:

It's sneaky, isn't it?!

elona

Squeacky

I got distilled white vinegar from my corner shop which got it in for me - ask at some local small shops.

squeaky

My local co-op has distilled malt which isn't too bad. I'm not due at my local Asda for a while yet. maybe Tuesday. or the one after. Anyway - it's on my shopping list.

missy_brambles

I have been reading this message board and feeling quite ashamed. I am new to this money saving lark and thought that I was doing well by deciding on a budget of £100 per week for me, 1 cat and 1 dog. You should have seen my spending before I decided to budget 5 weeks ago. In 5 weeks I have managed to save £120, so not as bad as it could have been. but I dont know what I should be cutting down on. I have got into a mind-set of telling myself that 'I deserve it' whenever I want anything. I was recently diagnosed with diabetes so I have completely cut out crisps, chocs, cakes etc (not as hard as I thought it would be and 15lbs dropped off in 3 weeks). I eat only food that I have prepared from scratch - oh but I miss M&S. What am I doing wrong. Anyway, I have decided that my budget is £80 per week for the month of May - I know thats as much as some of you with families are spending in a month, but I have to start somewhere. What do you include in your budget. Newspapers, cd's, clothes?????? Is anybody out there going out and having a good time? Any good tips please!!!!

squeaky

If your budget has been coming down (like your waistline ) then you aren't doing anything wrong.

At all.

It takes quite a while to adjust to living with, and working with, budget reductions. It takes time to find your rewards and your feel good factors. The last thing you want to do is to cut back so hard that you remove all these things and end up in a culture shock and so giving up.

If you do a penny better than last week you're doing good. If you spotted a bargain that you would never have looked for before you'll feel good. Pleased with yourself - and so you should be.

And just because you are budgeting and trying to spend less doesn't mean you can't have treats. Just not every day As long as you've budgeted a small allowance.

You'll be amazed at the way your "essentials" list shrinks all on its own when you go round the shop asking yourself "Is this a good deal?" "Do I really need this?" "How about this one instead of that one...?"

MoneySaving isn't about NOT spending money. It's about spending the money you have WISELY.