Month's worth of shopping - Any suggestions to improve?

HappyMJ

It's a bit of a long post...but I'm just looking for suggestions to minimize the cost of the household shopping. It's 4 weeks of shopping for 3. It looks reasonable to me.

Cupboard
2 Buitoni Spaghetti £2.28
1 Encona Extra Hot Sauce £1.00
1 Encona Original Hot Pepper Sauce £1.00
1 Filippo Berio Extra Virgin Olive Oil £2.74
1 Heinz Beanz Reduced Sugar & Salt Multipack £2.00
1 Heinz Squeezy Tomato Ketchup £2.29
2 Hovis Medium Best of Both Loaf £2.00
1 M Organic Garlic (R) £0.55
1 Morrisons Brown Onions (R) £0.50
1 Morrisons Even Softer Toilet Tissue White £7.75
1 Morrisons Large White Baps (R) £0.50
1 Morrisons Mixed Herbs Jar £0.79
1 Patak's Jalfrezi Sauce £0.88
1 Patak's Madras Sauce £0.88
1 Patak's Passanda Sauce £0.88
1 Patak's Saag Masala Sauce £0.88
Fridge
1 M Kitchen Chicken & Mushroom £1.95
1 M Kitchen Italian Meat Feast Pasta Melt £2.40
1 Morrisons British Butter £1.00
1 Morrisons British Whole Chicken £3.33
1 Morrisons Carrots (R) £0.50
1 Morrisons Cheese & Ham Chicken Kievs £1.31
1 Morrisons Conference Pears (R) Min 5 Per Pack £0.99
1 Morrisons Fresh Cut Sage (R) £0.47
1 Morrisons Golden Delicious Apples (R) Min 5 Per Pack £0.77
1 Morrisons Mixed Leaf Salad (R) £0.86
1 Morrisons New Potatoes (R) £0.64
1 Morrisons Savoy Cabbage (R) £0.50
1 Morrisons Smoked Bacon Joint £3.33
1 Morrisons Vine Ripe Tomatoes Minimum 7 (R) £0.99
1 Pukka Steak & Kidney Pie £1.11
1 Richmond Thick Pork Sausages 16 Pack £3.34
Freezer
1 Mccain Oven Chips Straight Cut £2.00
1 Morrisons Garlic Baguettes £1.00
1 Morrisons Petit Pois £1.75
1 M savers Garlic Baguettes £0.30
2 Shana Okra Sliced Rings £1.90

Cupboard
2 Hovis Medium Best of Both Loaf £2.00
1 Morrisons Brown Onions (R) £0.50
1 Morrisons Closed Cup Mushrooms (R) £0.89
2 Morrisons Singapore Noodles (R) £2.58
1 Nutella £1.00
1 Plenty "The Fat One" Kitchen Towel £2.93
1 Surf 5 Herbal Extracts Laundry Liquid 25 Washes £3.00
1 Surf Tropical Lily Laundry Liquid 25 Washes £3.00
1 Tate & Lyle Fairtrade Cane Unrefined Demerara Sugar £2.29
1 Tetley Tea Bags 240 Pack £4.00
Fridge
2 Meadow Park Whole Milk £1.68
1 Morrisons Babyleaf & Rocket Twin Pack (R) £0.99
1 Morrisons Baby Potatoes (R) £0.53
1 Morrisons British Butter £1.00
1 Morrisons Bumper Pack Peppers (R) £1.39
1 Morrisons Little Gem Lettuce (R) £0.50
2 Morrisons Unsmoked Rindless Back Bacon Rashers 10 Pack £3.50
1 Morrisons Yellow Plum Punnet (R) £0.50
1 Pilgrims Choice Mature Cheddar £2.00
Freezer
1 Morrisons Petit Pois £1.75
2 Morrisons Skinless & Boneless Cod Fillets £6.00
1 Morrisons Whole Leaf Spinach £1.25

Cupboard
1 Colgate Sensitive & Whitening Toothpaste £2.00
1 Duck 4 in 1 Marine £1.00
2 Flash with Bleach Spray £2.50
4 Heinz Baked Beanz £2.00
1 Hovis Medium Best of Both Loaf £1.00
2 John West Sardines in Olive Oil £1.67
1 John West Sardines in Spicy Tomato Sauce £0.83
2 Ko-Lee Hot & Spicy Noodles £0.58
2 Ko-Lee Special Chicken Noodles £0.58
2 Ko-Lee Super Chow Mein Noodles £0.58
2 Ko-Lee Taste Sensation Curry Noodles £0.58
1 Morrisons Conchiglie £0.75
1 Morrisons Disposable Vinyl Gloves Latex Free £2.50
2 Morrisons Mixed Beans, Drained Weight £1.00
1 Morrisons Rigatoni £0.75
1 Morrisons Romaine Hearts (R) £1.25
1 Oven Pride Oven Cleaning System £3.99
1 Princes Tuna Chunks in Brine £3.50
1 Schwartz Chicken & Leek Bake Recipe Mix £0.50
1 Schwartz Hot Chilli con Carne Recipe Mix £0.50
1 TRESemm! 2 in 1 Complete Care for Normal Hair Shampoo & Conditioner £2.44
Fridge
1 Activia Summer Specials Variety Yogurts £2.00
2 Morrisons Babyleaf & Rocket Twin Pack (R) £1.49
1 Morrisons Baby Potatoes (R) £0.89
1 Morrisons Bumper Pack Peppers (R) £1.39
1 Morrisons Conference Pears (R) Min 5 Per Pack £0.99
1 Morrisons Lemons (R) £0.99
1 Morrisons Pak Choi (R) £0.99
2 Morrisons Pork Belly 3-5 Slices (R) £3.92
1 Morrisons Vine Ripe Tomatoes Minimum 7 (R) £0.99
1 M savers Tropical Juice £1.39

Cupboard
1 Costa Multivitamin Drink £1.00
1 Don Mario Chopped Tomatoes £1.89
1 Hovis Medium Wholemeal Loaf £1.00
1 Morrisons Brown Onions (R) £0.69
1 Morrisons Colour Super Concentrated Liquid 32 Washes £2.00
1 Morrisons Lychee & Passionfruit Super Concentrated Liquid 32 Washes £2.00
1 Morrisons Maris Piper Potatoes (R) £1.99
1 Morrisons Medium Dry Cider Bottle £2.99
1 Morrisons Medium White Loaf £0.49
1 Morrisons Tarragon Jar £0.79
1 M Signature Sunflower & Pumpkinseed Bloomer £1.00
1 Plenty "The Fat One" Kitchen Towel £2.90
1 Robinsons No Added Sugar Apple & Blackcurrant Squash £1.10
1 Robinsons No Added Sugar Summer Fruits Squash £1.10
Fridge
1 Activia Fusions Yogurt Blueberry & Acai £1.00
1 Activia Fusions Yogurt Raspberry & Lychee £1.00
1 Flora Original Spread £1.13
1 Morrisons Conference Pears (R) Min 5 Per Pack £0.99
1 Morrisons Extra Mature Cheddar Slices £1.50
2 Morrisons Farmers Favourite Eggs Medium £2.00
1 Morrisons Granny Smith Apples (R) £1.29
1 Morrisons Mature Cheddar Slices £1.50
1 Morrisons Smoked Rindless Back Bacon Rashers 10 Pack £1.75
1 Morrisons Smoked Streaky Bacon 16 Pack £1.75
1 Morrisons Sweetheart Cabbage (R) £0.49
1 Morrisons Trimmed Salad Onions (R) £0.89
1 Morrisons Vine Ripe Tomatoes Minimum 7 (R) £0.99
1 Morrisons Yellow Plum Punnet (R) £0.99
Freezer
1 Morrisons Steak Cut Chips £1.00
2 Perfect Partners Garlic Baguettes £1.50
1 Shana Okra Sliced Rings £0.47

honeythewitch

How much was it? It is hard to make sense of it without knowing what you already have.
I cant see how it could last a month and I am very confused. (This is probably why I do my shopping a bit at a time. )

lindens

HappyMJ wrote: »

It's a bit of a long post...but I'm just looking for suggestions to minimize the cost of the household shopping. It's 4 weeks of shopping for 3. It looks reasonable to me.

Cupboard
2 Buitoni Spaghetti £2.28 I suggest you try morrisons basics at 40p and then tell me if there was any difference
1 Encona Extra Hot Sauce £1.00
1 Encona Original Hot Pepper Sauce £1.00
1 Filippo Berio Extra Virgin Olive Oil £2.74 same as the spaghetti
1 Heinz Beanz Reduced Sugar & Salt Multipack £2.00
1 Heinz Squeezy Tomato Ketchup £2.29
2 Hovis Medium Best of Both Loaf £2.00
1 M Organic Garlic (R) £0.55
1 Morrisons Brown Onions (R) £0.50
1 Morrisons Even Softer Toilet Tissue White £7.75
1 Morrisons Large White Baps (R) £0.50
1 Morrisons Mixed Herbs Jar £0.79
1 Patak's Jalfrezi Sauce £0.88
1 Patak's Madras Sauce £0.88
1 Patak's Passanda Sauce £0.88
1 Patak's Saag Masala Sauce £0.88
Fridge
1 M Kitchen Chicken & Mushroom £1.95
1 M Kitchen Italian Meat Feast Pasta Melt £2.40
1 Morrisons British Butter £1.00
1 Morrisons British Whole Chicken £3.33
1 Morrisons Carrots (R) £0.50
1 Morrisons Cheese & Ham Chicken Kievs £1.31
1 Morrisons Conference Pears (R) Min 5 Per Pack £0.99
1 Morrisons Fresh Cut Sage (R) £0.47
1 Morrisons Golden Delicious Apples (R) Min 5 Per Pack £0.77
1 Morrisons Mixed Leaf Salad (R) £0.86
1 Morrisons New Potatoes (R) £0.64
1 Morrisons Savoy Cabbage (R) £0.50
1 Morrisons Smoked Bacon Joint £3.33
1 Morrisons Vine Ripe Tomatoes Minimum 7 (R) £0.99
1 Pukka Steak & Kidney Pie £1.11
1 Richmond Thick Pork Sausages 16 Pack £3.34
Freezer
1 Mccain Oven Chips Straight Cut £2.00
1 Morrisons Garlic Baguettes £1.00
1 Morrisons Petit Pois £1.75
1 M savers Garlic Baguettes £0.30
2 Shana Okra Sliced Rings £1.90

Cupboard
2 Hovis Medium Best of Both Loaf £2.00
1 Morrisons Brown Onions (R) £0.50
1 Morrisons Closed Cup Mushrooms (R) £0.89
2 Morrisons Singapore Noodles (R) £2.58
1 Nutella £1.00
1 Plenty "The Fat One" Kitchen Towel £2.93
1 Surf 5 Herbal Extracts Laundry Liquid 25 Washes £3.00
1 Surf Tropical Lily Laundry Liquid 25 Washes £3.00
1 Tate & Lyle Fairtrade Cane Unrefined Demerara Sugar £2.29 try morrisons own make
1 Tetley Tea Bags 240 Pack £4.00 try morrisons own
Fridge
2 Meadow Park Whole Milk £1.68
1 Morrisons Babyleaf & Rocket Twin Pack (R) £0.99
1 Morrisons Baby Potatoes (R) £0.53
1 Morrisons British Butter £1.00
1 Morrisons Bumper Pack Peppers (R) £1.39
1 Morrisons Little Gem Lettuce (R) £0.50
2 Morrisons Unsmoked Rindless Back Bacon Rashers 10 Pack £3.50
1 Morrisons Yellow Plum Punnet (R) £0.50
1 Pilgrims Choice Mature Cheddar £2.00
Freezer
1 Morrisons Petit Pois £1.75
2 Morrisons Skinless & Boneless Cod Fillets £6.00
1 Morrisons Whole Leaf Spinach £1.25

Cupboard
1 Colgate Sensitive & Whitening Toothpaste £2.00
1 Duck 4 in 1 Marine £1.00
2 Flash with Bleach Spray £2.50
4 Heinz Baked Beanz £2.00
1 Hovis Medium Best of Both Loaf £1.00
2 John West Sardines in Olive Oil £1.67
1 John West Sardines in Spicy Tomato Sauce £0.83
2 Ko-Lee Hot & Spicy Noodles £0.58
2 Ko-Lee Special Chicken Noodles £0.58
2 Ko-Lee Super Chow Mein Noodles £0.58
2 Ko-Lee Taste Sensation Curry Noodles £0.58
1 Morrisons Conchiglie £0.75
1 Morrisons Disposable Vinyl Gloves Latex Free £2.50
2 Morrisons Mixed Beans, Drained Weight £1.00
1 Morrisons Rigatoni £0.75
1 Morrisons Romaine Hearts (R) £1.25
1 Oven Pride Oven Cleaning System £3.99
1 Princes Tuna Chunks in Brine £3.50
1 Schwartz Chicken & Leek Bake Recipe Mix £0.50
1 Schwartz Hot Chilli con Carne Recipe Mix £0.50
1 TRESemm! 2 in 1 Complete Care for Normal Hair Shampoo & Conditioner £2.44
Fridge
1 Activia Summer Specials Variety Yogurts £2.00
2 Morrisons Babyleaf & Rocket Twin Pack (R) £1.49
1 Morrisons Baby Potatoes (R) £0.89
1 Morrisons Bumper Pack Peppers (R) £1.39
1 Morrisons Conference Pears (R) Min 5 Per Pack £0.99
1 Morrisons Lemons (R) £0.99
1 Morrisons Pak Choi (R) £0.99
2 Morrisons Pork Belly 3-5 Slices (R) £3.92
1 Morrisons Vine Ripe Tomatoes Minimum 7 (R) £0.99
1 M savers Tropical Juice £1.39

Cupboard
1 Costa Multivitamin Drink £1.00
1 Don Mario Chopped Tomatoes £1.89try own brand
1 Hovis Medium Wholemeal Loaf £1.00
1 Morrisons Brown Onions (R) £0.69
1 Morrisons Colour Super Concentrated Liquid 32 Washes £2.00
1 Morrisons Lychee & Passionfruit Super Concentrated Liquid 32 Washes £2.00
1 Morrisons Maris Piper Potatoes (R) £1.99
1 Morrisons Medium Dry Cider Bottle £2.99
1 Morrisons Medium White Loaf £0.49
1 Morrisons Tarragon Jar £0.79
1 M Signature Sunflower & Pumpkinseed Bloomer £1.00
1 Plenty "The Fat One" Kitchen Towel £2.90
1 Robinsons No Added Sugar Apple & Blackcurrant Squash £1.10
1 Robinsons No Added Sugar Summer Fruits Squash £1.10
Fridge
1 Activia Fusions Yogurt Blueberry & Acai £1.00
1 Activia Fusions Yogurt Raspberry & Lychee £1.00
1 Flora Original Spread £1.13
1 Morrisons Conference Pears (R) Min 5 Per Pack £0.99
1 Morrisons Extra Mature Cheddar Slices £1.50
2 Morrisons Farmers Favourite Eggs Medium £2.00
1 Morrisons Granny Smith Apples (R) £1.29
1 Morrisons Mature Cheddar Slices £1.50
1 Morrisons Smoked Rindless Back Bacon Rashers 10 Pack £1.75
1 Morrisons Smoked Streaky Bacon 16 Pack £1.75
1 Morrisons Sweetheart Cabbage (R) £0.49
1 Morrisons Trimmed Salad Onions (R) £0.89
1 Morrisons Vine Ripe Tomatoes Minimum 7 (R) £0.99
1 Morrisons Yellow Plum Punnet (R) £0.99
Freezer
1 Morrisons Steak Cut Chips £1.00
2 Perfect Partners Garlic Baguettes £1.50
1 Shana Okra Sliced Rings £0.47

my comments in red.
you come across as a bit of a brand snob. try downgrading some of these items to the cheapest brand (basics), if you find that unpalatable, move up a brand and so on.

HappyMJ

honeythewitch wrote: »

How much was it? It is hard to make sense of it without knowing what you already have.
I cant see how it could last a month and I am very confused. (This is probably why I do my shopping a bit at a time. )

193.36 for all four weeks

Gigervamp

Without knowing how many you have to feed it's hard to say. There are a lot of brands, those tinned tomatoes, it says 1 @ £1.89. Is that 1 pack of four tins, or one tin? I buy Lidl's tinned toms and they're about 33p a tin, same price as the value ones, but much better quality.

Also, your fruit and veg won't last the whole month, so you'll need to top up. Will the milk and bread last the month?

Soworried

Tesco everyday frozen sausages are the same meat % as Richmond and are half the price.

honeythewitch

HappyMJ wrote: »

193.36 for all four weeks

Its not bad for three people. Maybe instead of the curry jars you could buy large packs of the spices from an ethnic supermarket?

nursemaggie

I don't think you are a brand snob but I do have the advantage of having shopped at Morrison's in the last couple of days.

I see there are lots of Morrisons brands and lots of (R) which I presume are reductions because I recognise some from last week. My Morrisons has an Indian aisle, does yours? If it does I would recommend you go and have a really good look. This week KTC tinned tomatoes are 4 for a £1 and pulses are always considerably cheaper than even Morrisons own brand.

It is worth trying all the own brands.

Do you have a market available. Not only are fruit and veg much cheaper but usually they are much fresher too. I find I spend less, get more and they last at least twice as long. I find the butchers in the market are much cheaper too. Try going for the last hour of trading on a Saturday when you can pick up some really good bargains as market traders do not have any cold storage so they must sell everything off. I often get meat or fruit and vegetables at 1/4 of the price.

I also save a lot by going to Aldi at least once a month.

It all depends if you have time to shop around. I go to the pound shops, B&M and other discounters and that saves me a lot.

Try to cook everything from scratch sometimes so called convenience food will only take you ten minutes to put together. You will make it much better than the shop does.

You could also save on a local plain yoghurt and add fresh fruit. It will be live, you know what has gone in it and it will be a lot cheaper. My Morrisons has a local, live, large tub of yoghurt for 49p. That will make 4 little ones and it tastes much better than the branded ones.

I don't think you have done too bad because I know a lot of the branded stuff was on offer this month and your list does not say so.

nursemaggie

The Curry sauces were half price this month I bought some too.

WantToBeSE

I guess it all depends on the family, age of children (if any) and any diet restrictions/preferences.


For example, I would rather buy spices in bulk (as mentioned above) and make my own curry. Maybe not saving money in the 1st month (especially if the curry sauces you bought were on offer) but definitely money saving in the longer term, plus better for you.


Are you able/do you enjoy making bread? you could replace your bread products for a fraction of the price.


Do you make the most of 1 whole chicken? I see you have:


1 Morrisons British Whole Chicken £3.33
1 Morrisons Cheese & Ham Chicken Kievs £1.31
2 Ko-Lee Special Chicken Noodles £0.58


You could use your 1 whole chicken (plus other cheap ingredients, obviously) to make the other 2 things, saving money. When it comes to meat, its so expensive I try and get as many meals from it was possible.


Fruit & Veg- have you checked out Lidl and Aldi for these? Also, don't forget to look at a greengrocer too as they may well be cheaper. Where we live we have people who grow stuff and sell it in their gardens and recently they had lovely fresh green peppers for 20p each, huge courgettes for 30p and punnets of cherry tomatoes for 20p. Its worth looking for these sorts of sellers too.


However, like I said its all down to each individual family and what they value, how much time they have etc.

HappyMJ

Re: the meat. We started the month with 50 pork steaks yes 50 which were purchased for 20p each. I try and make a chook last at least 2 meals hopefully 3. Its for 3 the child is 16. Child is on free school meals lunch is purchased at work and breakfast tends to be skipped most days.

Thanks so much for all advice its all taken on I'll try basics pasta and cheaper toms.

The home made bread we tried but not liked by all.

I enjoy cooking but its just the time.

Nobody noticed the cider for a treat i wasn't home for the delivery today so my daughter accepted it and they took it back ...lol

I'll try the yogurt suggestion.