January Grocery Challenge 2015

WantToBeSE

rubiesr4eva wrote: »

If you live close to an Icel&nd I always find first thing in morning is best, as they reduce all their fresh meat stock by 50% that has to be sold that day, so I grab whatever they have and take home and freeze it

Thanks Rubies, but I don't live near an Iceland. What a shame. But helpful for other people I imagine

BrassicWoman

I have a really strong urge to go and shop today but I don't need anything at all... suspect I am trying to avoid studying. Going to make a big flask of fruit tea and sit at the desk until it's all drunk....

Cheap_Date

Ok, New Year, new start, and all that nonsense!!

We are a family of 6 (although eldest, 19yo, back off to uni in a couple of weeks) The other kids are 16, 15 and 3, all greedy boys! Two have cystic fibrosis so need a high calorie, high fat, high protein diet. I'm trying to record the 15 yo's food intake at the moment, he needs 5000 calories a day (which I can do easily! It is a bit more difficult for him with all my constant nagging!)

So, we usually do about £600-650 per month, which is frightening! I'm in awe of all the low numbers I see here. I need to rein it in, please help?!! (Also off topic, any high cal/fat cheap recipes much appreciated. Thank you x)

Jan 2015 grocery challenge will be £500, and I'll see how I go.

Happy New Year to you all xxx

merzal

WantToBeSE wrote: »

Merzal- do you go in the evenings to get the bargains? What time do you go?
I am trying to spend much much less this month, and to get YS (Yellow Sticker/reduced) foods, but don't know what time I should go.

Usually go between 7 & 8. Went at 8 last night and had just missed the good fruit and veg at pennies but got to the good meat reductions. The 3 for £10 packs were reduced to £1 but it still took the £2 discount off for every 3 I bought. They also had lots of Hovis bread reduced to 2p but resisted as I filled the freezer Christmas Eve.
Don't usually go on a Sunday as it is heaving.

We never pay full price for meat, saves us lots and we are lucky we have the freezer space to store things. I buy veg and freeze that too.

icontinuetodream

DawnW wrote: »

I have noticed that several posters are intending to avoid supermarkets in 2015. How will you manage this? I can easily get fruit, veg, eggs, meat etc from other sources (including my garden for some things) but what about flour, teabags, coffee, butter, loo rolls etc? Where are you guys intending to buy these?

I can get most of my things from a wholesale cooperative called Suma - they tend to supply health food shops, but as I live so far away from one, they gave me an account to buy direct - there is a large minimum order on it though, but it is definitely worth it!

I can get all tins/jars/cleaning stuff/dried foods/long life milk etc that I use from them....coffee will always be an issue for us as we are very fussy what we have but I intend to drink less of it in the future anyway and use up all my nettle and fennel teas that I have in my cupboard!!

I also have a large supply of other items to use up which will see me through until I have enough space to accommodate one of my Suma orders.....butter, flour, milk etc can all be bought at my local farm shop from local producers until that time

The one thing I will buy from a 'national' is loo roll from F*rm foods - I just don't have enough space to be able to store the amount I would need to purchase to keep me going!!

I am reasonably confident that I can reduce my supermarket shopping by at least 90% this year - if I can do better, I will try!!

miss_try_to_save

today my ds came home with 3 bags of potatoes from Tesco he d picked them up for 25p each so I have tonnes of potatoes silly question what is the best way to store potatoes normally potatoes don't last long enough to worry bout this but now I have a box full any tips would be very helpful

BrassicWoman

miss_try_to_save wrote: »

today my ds came home with 3 bags of potatoes from Tesco he d picked them up for 25p each so I have tonnes of potatoes silly question what is the best way to store potatoes normally potatoes don't last long enough to worry bout this but now I have a box full any tips would be very helpful

Can you cook and freeze them? Baked and mashed freeze very well! Otherwise, cool dark place - garage if you don't live bear mice!

BrassicWoman

bah. gave in. Lazy garlic, lemon juice, some chocolate and some bargainous mild cheddar and blue brie. £4.83.

I need to plan this better... £85 left = £3 a day plus 4 NSDs. I think!

Mrs_Cheshire

NSD for me today, plenty of food in the house. Hoping to get at least 4 nsd's this week!

p-pincher

Woo hoo 3rd NSD in a row. Hopefully get my 4th tomorrow as going round sisters for Nye and I don't need to take anything. Don't think I've managed 4 in a row.