May 2016 Grocery Challenge

Cappella

Haven't been near a supermarket since last week and am on target. Shopping tomorrow, but 6 nsdays achieved so far in May

NewShadow

Meezel wrote: »

We are doing slimming world, does anyone here do the same? I have found eating healthier more costly for us, could anyone give ideas on how we can cut the shopping bill but be able to stay eating healthier?

It might be a case of compared to what?

For example, there's very little difference in cost between, say:

• a ham sandwich on white bread (10 syns) a pack o' crisps (c.9 syns) and a choc bar (c.6) And,
  
• and a ham sandwich on wholemeal (HexB) with an apple and a curly wurly (3.5 Syns)

Slimming world could/should work out cheaper for a lot of people as it encourages cooking from scratch and eating basic (not exotic or expensive) ingredients, so you're not paying the premium for ready meals/meal replacements which make some alternative diets more convenient. It's the investment in time and planning that are often the stumbling block.

I don't know what 'unhealthy' food you eat, but examples of ways to keep an eye on costs:

I bulk buy meat from muscle foods (normally when I find some form of code) then pack in single portions for the freezer.

One of their big chicken breast packs is often on offer for £19 and contains on average 12 pieces (which don't tend to shrink). Combine that with a code and it's often c.£3/kilo - much cheaper per amount of (better quality) meat than the 'unhealthy' kiev alternatives.

I also bought a small mountain of their (syn free)lean steak mince at 99p a 400g pack on offer - cheaper than any 'synful' mince and you can use it for exactly the same meals. That type of offer seems to come up a couple of times a year.

For convenience, Iceland are currently selling the SW (syn free) chicken sausages at £1 per 6. Shove them in a casserole and they're fine - and cheaper than a lot of alternatives.

I buy fruit from the local market which averages £1/kilo. If you dont have a market, supermarkets sell seasonal veg (pears now for example @ £1 per pack of 8) at decent prices. Apples are around 25p each. Frozen fruit is often on offer at my local coop and handy for overnight oats (HexB).

Speaking of oats - there is absolutely no difference between the cheapest tesco oats at 75ishp a kilo and the more expensive brands.

I tend to buy veg as I need it, but leftovers or bendy veg becomes soup. Salad stuff can be expensive, but it depends on what and how much you buy. Pickles are cheap and lovely

Just some headlines, but I HTH. I know it's very generic.

There is a thread on the health board if you want to pop over for more specific conversations about cheap SW friendly substitute ingredients/recipes that are what your family actually like to eat.

beccalouuuu

Hi I would like to join this thread though I am a little late.

This is my first post so hope I'm doing it in the right place!

:j

Rebecca

DonnaMarie

Meezel wrote: »

We are doing slimming world, does anyone here do the same? I have found eating healthier more costly for us, could anyone give ideas on how we can cut the shopping bill but be able to stay eating healthier?

I do slimming world and the amount of Fruit & Yoghurts I go through is frightening! Worth it though

DonnaMarie

NSD Today & Wednesday

Asda shop yesterday was £69.17.

physicsgirl

Wysiwyg49 wrote: »

Forgot to say last month, I used a tip from here and prepared and froze fresh carrots to reduce my throw-out rate! Worked really well and they are MUCH better than buying frozen carrots, which always taste of nothing to me.

How do you prepare them? And are they prepared for boiling/steaming or roasting (or doesn't it matter?)? I should really do things like this, it's just the silly fear of the unknown that holds me back!

physicsgirl

Could you put me down for £120 again this month please? And a thesis handed in. The first should be do-able, I'm not so sure about the second...

No big shops so far but bought a jar of chocolate spread (80p) for a "Terry's" chocolate orange loaf I'm trying out tonight, plus some bananas (40p).

AGirlWrites

5 NSD's for me Mon - Fri this week. I only needed a bottle of milk but we had one going spare at work that I bought home with me as it's Friday and there'll be no one in the office all over the weekend.

I don't think i'll be spending any money this weekend either as i'm only driving round to a friends on Saturday night. A great first week for me I think.

Soworried

Still 7 days left of my month (Paid 4 weekly) and I'm not going to make it. I only have £2 left and I'll need milk for the week and some veg.
It will be damage limitation.

I'm gutted actually as it is the first time in a year or so since I failed to make it

Nonnadiluca

£10 in poundland today; 110 Finish dishwasher tablets for £8, half for me and half for DD, (so only £6 for me as she will give me £4), and I seem to have accidentally bought a four pack of flakes and a packet of my favourite caramelised biscuits - not sure how that happened!
£86.76/250.