November 2016 Grocery Challenge

Meekie

Hello all,

Hope your November is going well so far.

I did a meal plan end of September for six weeks based on eating through the 53 meal bits and pieces in the freezer, which worked really well. I also included a bit of batch cooking on the meal plan to use up cupboard ingredients so I now have 1 shelf full of portioned things I just need to reheat such as bolognaise/chilli, bean chilli and lentil ragu.

I did another meal plan this week to last most of November and did several big shops to supply stuff for it:

55.75 online butchers
51 aldi
33 mr t - included £16 of lamb on ys.

So that's about £140 spent. I'll update my signature when I can with the exact amount.

Meekie

By the way, I was in mr T last night quite late and they had some fish ( those foil trays of two fish filets with some sort of posh marinade ) reduced to around £3 a tray. I didn't think that was amazing value but I would have got them if they were cheaper. I wondered if anyone has ever asked for a further reduction on ys goods when they are about an hour from going out of date?

lynnejk

Meekie wrote: »

By the way, I was in mr T last night quite late and they had some fish ( those foil trays of two fish filets with some sort of posh marinade ) reduced to around £3 a tray. I didn't think that was amazing value but I would have got them if they were cheaper. I wondered if anyone has ever asked for a further reduction on ys goods when they are about an hour from going out of date?

Always worth an ask I've had about a 50% positive result


Hope you all have a frugal Friday
Lx

t14cy_t

nsd yesterday. yipee!! xx

kkffoo

Late starter!
£350 for the month.

This is our estimated current grocery spend for four adults, excluding pharmacy, some household goods and chicken food.
I'll use this for my target and hopefully nip it down a bit as I go. I'd also like to include the hen food once I've worked it out, as their eggs form part of our diet.

So far;
A$da delivery £49.32
H€ron offer crisps £1.05

Slowly57

ooooh getting close to the edge :eek:

Spent another £23.00 in MrTs as I have been obsessed with what is in the cupboard and freezer and forgot what else might be required lol. I needed to get some clothes washing gubbins and other household bits and bobs - this stock-up will last me well into the New Year. Last time I was in MrTs they didn't have my value falafels in - this branch did - so I bought 2 bags. I'll probably go over budget this month - but not as much as last month (and I won't have to buy meat for at least another 6 weeks now). Hoping to nail it for December's GC.

NOTE TO SELF: just because there are YS doesn't mean I need to look at them or buy them.

thriftwizard

£90 spent today; £80 at the market this morning and £10 as this month's share of a £60 order from the wholefoods supplier. I like to buy a sack of oats twice a year; it's no real saving over supermarket prices, but it does mean they're there when I need them. They're kept in an old, non-working freezer in the garage, which keeps vermin, damp, heat and other nasties out. There are other goodies in the order too, some of which will go into HM festive fare! So now I need to add £10 in each month for the next 5 months to cover that...

JAMIEDODGER

Can I join for November please?

£400 for all food for 3 sometimes 4 adults, and 2 teens. Hoping to come in well under by eating from our freezers and getting rid of some of the cupboard stock.

[Deleted User]

Slowly57 wrote: »

ooooh getting close to the edge :eek:
this stock-up will last me well into the New Year. Last time I was in MrTs they didn't have my value falafels in

What I do sometimes, if I want to bulk buy because of a good price, I will buy the items. Add one to the monthly budget and the others will go into the store cupboard with a price tag on them, so I know they have not been accounted for, to be added into the budget when required. I call this 'buy-back', so I don't miss out on bargains.

What falafels please, I love them.

I had a spend on Tuesday, but have not been well, cold or flu, so 3 NSD's. Might just have to treat myself to some whisky (hot toddy's) - lol. Made a really tasty 'Cheat Tomato Soup'. It was so easy & quick:-

2 tins tomatoes
2 value veggie cubes
2 medium/large grated carrots
1 onion
Morrisons Savers Mixed Dried Herbs
minced garlic, pepper & a little shake of chilli powder and a little glug of light soy sauce.

Cooked up in the saucepan and blended.

Have a lovely w/e everyone.

Franalamadingdong

Well done everyone.

Meekie, I ask if I see someone I know or if they have their little reduce machine nearby. They're always happy to do it, the machine calculates the price based on the time, but they don't always have the time to go round and reduce everything again.... At least that's the case in my local Mr T and Mr C.

Slowly, I have a similar habit of buying YS because it is discounted, but it ended up I had more food than we could eat! Probably adding to the crazy stockpile we have!

Added something to the freezer, but it was just left over pie (pumpkin, feta, onion and aubergine with a full top). We have had it for 2 days running, so the third day's worth is being frozen!

Another NSD for me. I don't tend to spend frequently, so these aren't difficult for me, it's just I was spending £70-80 each week, which was unnecessary for our household.