August 2007 Grocery Challenge

mikeD

rosieben wrote: »

Each of our situations is different - mine is fairly simple as only myself to consider - you need to find a 'system' that works for you. Would you cope better planning for the week or the month? do a weekly or a monthly meal plan; maybe a monthly online shop? again it depends on your circumstances and what storage space you have. Good luck!

Rosie's advice is always spot on I've found. I would love to do a monthly shop, would save £4 on delivery charges, but have only a small fridge and freezer, so have to order fortnightly. I don't meal plan as I have a very limited range of meals I can cook properly , again enough to cover a fortnight without repeating myself, although I do try a new recipe every so often.

Didn't spend anything yesterday and none today, but will need veggies for weekend. There is the monthly Farmers' Market on Sunday so might pay it a visit.

toontastic

Decided it was time to join in here because I'm simply spending to much on shopping since I live on my own (GF pops round but still only me to buy for really) I can spend upto about £100 a month pretty easy which is not good so that will be my starting point and I'm going to try and work it down much lower.

So this month I have already spent:

6th August 23.64
8th August 31.14
(that's the dates they came out of my bank but I didn't go on those days and there was defiantly more time between the shops, basically once a week)

My problem seems to be I have a really small fridge, its like the size of one of those beer fridges, but I have a 5 shelf freezer. Because of the small size I end up going to the shops loads. I probably buy the wrong stuff as well because for example I can't fit carrots, a lettuce tomatoes as well as milk, milkshakes etc in the fridge so I buy the packed salad which saves me room from the proper salad. This of course only last about 1-2days before it turns brown which is a waste because I don't even get all the way through a packet of it. Granted I do buy the 60p packets to try and bring the costs down. So any ideas on the salad would be great (can I freeze it ?). I'll do a proper list of what I bought next time I go, I may also have a receipt at home so I'll have a look at that and list the items.

Solwaykid

I've just updated my sig and been through my reciepts, I've been avoiding doing it for a few days but I'm still on track. Plenty of food in and I've been kind of sticking to my meal plans. I still have to keep braving the supermarket for catfood and milk but I only get a basket not a trolley and that itself makes me dash round with the list and avoid temptations!
Probably have to do a little shop this week end once I've done the weekly meal plan. Or maybe I'll improvise and substitute..

Keep it up folks.

In-my-shell

Hi everyone,
have just done my first big shop for August and have been trying to use up some of store cupboard items, I spent £47.87 which I'm pleased with as I had a full trolley and luckily lots of reduced bread and cereal that was on offer so I hope to keep under my reduced budget of £180 for the month, thanks again for all the tips and advice it has really help me keep to my budget.

lil_me

taka wrote: »

Ummmm sillyish question coming up...

How does everyone get so much off their shopping? Where do they get their coupons and was whoever it was (sorry!) correct in saying that you can use coupons in Mr T's as long as the stock the product but you don't have to actually buy the thing the moc is for? Did I get that wrong or right? Sorry If I'm being stupid....

Depends entirely on the store policy, many Waitrose, Tesco and Asda will accept them off the bill as long as they stock the product, but some, inc the ones in my area won't. Some have a limit for up to 10% of the bill. Worth asking at the store you use. Sometimes it can depend on the cashier aswell, a Kwik Save I used 3 staff wouldn't do the coupons, the rest would.

Spent again, farm shop open so got some from there £15 spent, should have been £18.35 but he's lovely, decided to try a butchers I seen when in another town so few things from there (stuff mine doesn't do) £9.08, £9.03 in a F&V shop there too. £33.11 on the ever expanding total!

dlb

Evening all.
No spend day here, but plan of buying burgers and sausages for a mini bbq tommorow, no money left in entertainment budget which bbq money normally comes from due to only just getting back from hoilday.
But still really happy with total so far, but big fill up shop planned for monday, so need to write meal plan for next 4 weeks tommorow.
Hope you are all doing ok
Donna

orchid-96

It's amazing to read how little some of you have spent so far when I look at my total :eek: I did my shop for next weeks meals (up to Thursday as going away on Friday) and I spent £38 - I am also going to pop back tomorrow and stock up on nappies as the third off ends on Tuesday so for something I have to buy it is a great saving - I already have enough to last till the end of the month but it seems silly to not take advantage so will spend another £20 or so on those...

This is my first month as I have no idea how much I usually spend (but I know it is a lot) and although I seem to have spent a lot I am pleased that so far no take aways and I have used a list and a meal plan and I have a well stocked cupboard now - I have also taken over the meal cooking (as dh is a better cook than me, but if he comes in from work tired that is when we might end up with take aways)

I do also have to buy nappies and formula for twins :eek: and regular milk for them (which adds up to at least £25 per week)

Anyway thanks soo much for all the help I am getting on here...:T

miss_empty_piggy

Hi All

Not been on for a while. Trying to limit myself as I can spend hours on this site and MSc dissertation deadline is two weeks away, still have 7 and a half thousand words to do!!! Poor kids are being pretty much ignored too. Feel like a bad mum, but will make it up to them when finished. (Note to self: Must not do a Phd!)

Anyway, budget not going too bad, but have had a pretty good week. MIL brought round food from her friends allotment, rhubarb and apples (made 5 portion crumble - everyone happy - yummy); then she bought some onions, courgettes and potatoes which I roasted and did with chicken and sausagemeat skewers which the kids loved! Also, going round to dinner at mums tomorrow which is also good.

Have also resisted temptation to buy eggs from Mr Ts as they have gone up 19p overnight - we eat loads. I know it maybe sounds silly but its the principle of the thing. Feels like they think I won't notice!!! but I do and it annoys me.

Also, bought three gammon joints for a fiver from bloke off the market. Normally pay between 2.50 and 4.00 for one. Stick it in the slo-cooker and lovely meat for sandwiches. So much cheaper than buying slicd meat from the deli counter.

However, on the down side, OH came with me shopping and bought loads of expensive things, like one smoked haddock for £4.07!!! It did feed the both of us, and was lovely but I nearly had a heart attack! Am I getting stingy?? Hope so!

mikeD

Went to the local convenience store and got some lettuce, spring onions etc. Then remembered that I was going to the farmers market tomorrow so I could get tomatoes there. When I got home I thought "If you are going to have a salad for dinner today you haven't got any toms, so you can't have a salad today ". Sod. Must take my brain with me when I go shopping :rotfl:.

Angelraesunshine

mikeD wrote: »

Went to the local convenience store and got some lettuce, spring onions etc. Then remembered that I was going to the farmers market tomorrow so I could get tomatoes there. When I got home I thought "If you are going to have a salad for dinner today you haven't got any toms, so you can't have a salad today ". Sod. Must take my brain with me when I go shopping :rotfl:.

Lol Mike think you might need to add some tuna to that salad of yours, me thinks you might need some brain food.:)