April 2014 Grocery Challenge

cw18

just_the_two_of_us wrote: »

I am not sure whether or not to stop the GC whilst doing SW as losing a lot of weight is very important - really my last chance to get healthy and slimmer.

If you think doing SW will mean you have to spend more on food then can't you just change your GC budget?

I've never understood why moving to healthy eating would lead to a huge increase in cost though. Sure fruit and veg seems expensive, but if you're dropping foods like crisps, sweets, biscuits and puddings the cost could come close to balancing out.

I've had to change eating habits to control cholesterol and sugar levels without needing medication, and it's not made much of an impact on my budget. I'm eating more expensive (much leaner) meat, but I don't need as much per meal as it has more taste due to being higher quality (also doesn't shrink as much) which means it actually costs the same - or even less - per portion once on the plate. What has meant mine's higher than I'd really like is the calorie intake I need to reach in order to sustain the level of exercise I need to be doing in preparation for my Camino later this year.

Ladyluck1

Updated sig... Doing fairly well this month!
First attempt at making chipattis to go with curry tonight.

just_the_two_of_us

Thanks CW18 - I have already increased my budget for May.

We have little to offset as you suggest as never eat sweets, have one Al*i pack of biscuits a week shared between us and no cakes or puddings. DH has crisps with lunch but I don't like them and they are 99p for 7 packs from HB.

It is the extra fruit and veg and yoghurts that will be the difference. I think it will just take me a while to know exactly how much extra we need each week and then it will settle down.

Our main meals are little changed as pretty healthy already only fry light instead of olive oil but the breakfasts and lunches will be much less bread based. I used to get bread YS in Mr Sains so that will be increased cost for salad stuffs etc.

Sure we'll manage fine!! If anyone who actually does SW would like to pm me I'd be grateful - thanks.

lushlifesaver

just_the_two_of_us wrote: »

Morning - Help please - is anyone on here doing SW as well as grocery challenge please?
Joined SW yesterday and went to buy supplies and spent a fortune!! It will last at least until next Friday - so will work out what for April and what for MAy and divvy up between the threads.

I am not sure whether or not to stop the GC whilst doing SW as losing a lot of weight is very important - really my last chance to get healthy and slimmer.

If anyone has any advice /suggestions they'd be most welcome. Thanks.

Where do you shop usually? I was lucky when I was doing SW as we have a great market for affordable fruit and veg but I also found Iceland great for getting plenty of veg etc at a good price also good for yogurts etc

How many of you are you catering/budgeting for? And are you cooking more than one meal - I mean are you having a SW friendly meal and then any others in the house eating 'off plan'? I found it easier and more cost effective to just feed bf/any guests whatever I was having with minimal additions

Coming up to summer a greater variety will be in season so the prices of salads/fruit/veggies should reflect that

Also, what are you buying that is currently costing extra but will last only a few days?

SarahB1989_2

just_the_two_of_us wrote: »

Thanks CW18 - I have already increased my budget for May.

We have little to offset as you suggest as never eat sweets, have one Al*i pack of biscuits a week shared between us and no cakes or puddings. DH has crisps with lunch but I don't like them and they are 99p for 7 packs from HB.

It is the extra fruit and veg and yoghurts that will be the difference. I think it will just take me a while to know exactly how much extra we need each week and then it will settle down.

Our main meals are little changed as pretty healthy already only fry light instead of olive oil but the breakfasts and lunches will be much less bread based. I used to get bread YS in Mr Sains so that will be increased cost for salad stuffs etc.

Sure we'll manage fine!! If anyone who actually does SW would like to pm me I'd be grateful - thanks.

Sainsbugs does YS salad/veg/fruit too, so that's worth looking into. I've found Aldi cheapest for veg if not.

MrsCautious

cw18 wrote: »

If you think doing SW will mean you have to spend more on food then can't you just change your GC budget?

I've never understood why moving to healthy eating would lead to a huge increase in cost though. Sure fruit and veg seems expensive, but if you're dropping foods like crisps, sweets, biscuits and puddings the cost could come close to balancing out.

I've had to change eating habits to control cholesterol and sugar levels without needing medication, and it's not made much of an impact on my budget. I'm eating more expensive (much leaner) meat, but I don't need as much per meal as it has more taste due to being higher quality (also doesn't shrink as much) which means it actually costs the same - or even less - per portion once on the plate. What has meant mine's higher than I'd really like is the calorie intake I need to reach in order to sustain the level of exercise I need to be doing in preparation for my Camino later this year.

Thank you for posting this, I don't mind admitting I was in a mindset which incorrectly said healthier eating for me would cost more, I have also had to reduce sugar and have been buying fewer sweet snacks/anything to do with "diet" (ie heavily processed with sugar raised and fat lowered!) no fizzy drinks etc, and can now see that it really doesn't cost more -- I am snacking on fruit/houmous/raw carrots -- such a massive leap from what I have been overeating for most of my life but it's making a big difference to how I feel and I can see very clearly now that it absolutely doesn't cost more -- I think packaged meals from the big weight loss people are expensive but fresh, simple, good quality ingredients are very reasonable for the amount needed.

Franigan

JT2OU - Good luck on your SW journey! I'm in the OS Weight loss (we don't follow any specific diet) and everyone is lovely there!

Went to Tesco last night and bought a treat for my cat (I'm such a softie!!) so that was £2.39 I could have spent elsewhere! So it was:

Milk £1
Lettuce £0.49
Detergent £ 3.00
Milk for cat £ 2.39
Toilet roll £ 1.95
Eggs £2.50

Total: £ 11.33 minus £0.04 coupon from previous shopping = £11.29 to add to sig.

Speak later!!

just_the_two_of_us

Thanks for replies and those with some helpful suggestions. As I said earlier we don't do snacks sweets treats or puddings, already shop in Al*i and unfortunately no Ice*and or local cheap market nearby - plus I walk to shop with my trolley.

There are just two of us and we both eat the same meals cooked from scratch and don't buy anything that lasts only a few days - well not now bread is not as "big" in our diet! LOL. Previously having toast for breakfast and just a sandwich for lunch we did tend to go through it!:rotfl:

Sarah B Our Sain is a little local so not often got reduced fr and veg - and anyway Al*i is so cheap and fresh and it lasts ages.

Thanks Franigan for the advice re OS weight loss friendly thread - I'll have a look on there.

K9sandFelines

After vowing not to partake in another Tesc* voucher, i ended up qualifying for one, without even realising. So being as i lost my slot at Asd* which would have been 50p, as i didn't book out in time. I am opting for a £1 slot and my £5 off from Mr T, as i prefer them to Asd* ( but would have used them if that was the cheapest slot ..i may next time if i can bag a 50p slot again, keep scouring them regularly).

I'm making vegetable stew tonight with dumplings. I have veg in but would like to throw something sweet in it like sweet potato/parsnip or butternut squash, so going to nip back into town as i am also out of milk. Going to compare prices online first to see if there is anything i can get in M*rrisons cheaper than tomorrow's shop.

Hoping not to go over, and then time my next payday shop for the the day after payday, so my first day of the next month's challenge.

£2.71 to add to signature from yesterday - two YS loaves, YS spreadable butter ( which i would have paid more for full price at L*dl when next in work) and tom puree.

*Edits* Looks like i will be over by about £10; which i think i have done well really considering half term/easter and two birthdays. So next month will knock it down to £310 and not £300 as planned and see how that goes.

Make-it-3

£32.96 spent today in a post-Easter replenish. Total monthly spend is at £108.98 leaving a healthy£71.02/£180 for the last week of the month.

I have beaten my budget every month this year so far - really pleased and don't believe I could have done it without switching my main supermarket to Lidl as there is very little else I am doing differently this year.