March 2017 Grocery Challenge

Suffolk_lass

tigerfeet2006 wrote: »

Morning folks.

I don't know how many of you may remember me. I was on this board nearly five years ago before we moved to the ME. We are now back in the U.K. and our looking for jobs and housing and living with relatives at the moment. Once we actually are settled some where I will be back on the Grocery Challenge as we will have a seriously reduced income and to be honest I'm not sure how we are going manage but I know with everyone's help and advice and support I can keep the grocery shopping under control. I'm not sure when we will be in our own place and able to start the challenge but I will be following the GC thread until then to learn about what's changed in the last five years.

Any one who wants to tell me their money saving secrets meanwhile can go ahead I won't object , we are probably going to be settling in Cornwall.

I remember you! :wave: - welcome back! My recollection is that you were pretty active and supportive of people on this thread so I hope you feel welcomed back! - I was probably at about £500 a month back then, having come down from something over £600. Rather less than half that these days

FurryBeastOz

Small spends in Lidl takes me to £23.28. Not bad so far but I have given into my need for Pepsi Max. Bought large bottles to decant though so a bit cheaper than the cans.

DH sandwiches done and frozen, microwave rice bought:eek: (just this once!), meals portioned out.

Shouldn't need anything more before I go away on Saturday. So I should be doing wonderfully by the time i get back on 18th:D. DH will only NEED milk. :rotfl:

PennyGrabber

Welcome back tiger feet!

Nsd today - just need another 20 or so!! Worked out what I'm cooking for mum on Saturday today. Dd made fish fingers at school today, so she's going to make some more with the rest of the fish, and I'll do it with cheesy mash and beans. No extra cost involved!

PG x

armchairexpert

meg72 wrote: »

LOL haven't got my glasses on and read it as £ sign, choked on my coffee at the thought of £100 at the greengrocers, Where do you live?

I know, right? I was self conscious posting on here because of this - our prices are so crazy compared to yours! I'm in Australia. That's for a family of 4, but I'm strict about only buying seasonal produce, so it's spinach and potatoes and peaches (it's summer) and grapes and things, I'm not buying imported raspberries or exotic dragonfruit!

Average groceries spend for a family of 4 in this country is $280/week. Our average wage is 3 times what yours is ($75K vs 26K), which is what the exchange rate used to be and reflects the cost difference between. Divide everything I say by 3 for less choking :rotfl:

purpleybat

thanks to aged P I've added another £15 to my bills! grrr. I cant really blame him, he only wanted cereal and a few bits, the rest was a veg top up I needed to see me throo the weekend.
on the downside this leaves me £80ish to last 3 weeks

elsiepac

tigerfeet2006 wrote: »

Morning folks.

I don't know how many of you may remember me. I was on this board nearly five years ago before we moved to the ME. We are now back in the U.K. and our looking for jobs and housing and living with relatives at the moment. Once we actually are settled some where I will be back on the Grocery Challenge as we will have a seriously reduced income and to be honest I'm not sure how we are going manage but I know with everyone's help and advice and support I can keep the grocery shopping under control. I'm not sure when we will be in our own place and able to start the challenge but I will be following the GC thread until then to learn about what's changed in the last five years.

Any one who wants to tell me their money saving secrets meanwhile can go ahead I won't object , we are probably going to be settling in Cornwall.

I remember you! And how's this for weird - I was literally reading one of your old posts a couple of days ago!! On a 2012 GC thread I think lol! Welcome back

On Tuesday I went to Mr T as planned to pick up watercress for Weds night tea for me and mum (every Wednesday, dinner and a film at mine, it's our "girls night"!). I also needed garlic and indigestion tablets (I have a hiatus hernia and do have prescribed meds but also have the chewy things for immediate use!) - spent £6.79 in total as there were some great reduced smoky beetroot packs (20p each, I got 3!) and also a pair of avocados. Also got some spring onions. £2.44 was these extra bits - not ideal but a lot better than usual! I felt very restrained as there was TONS of YS veg!

The Soap Saga!
The other day I said about there not being any Or1ginal S0urce hand wash at my giant Mr T - well the plot thickens! I had a look on Tuesday as I am rapidly running out - I always water down the last bit to get full use, but even that is running out! I asked a manager (who turned out to be the store manager) where it was as couldn't find it... well, long story short, my (superstore) Tesc0 is no longer going to stock their hand wash! At all! But they still do the shower gel! I'm so annoyed, I always buy the mint and tea tree one as it's vegan and antibacterial. the manager kept saying to me it's the best isn't it! I was like, well yes, so why discontinue?! But he was quite vague... "brand reshuffle" essentially. So I was feeling a bit awkward and I said, ok, so what Equivalent can I now buy from you? Hilarious - ended up me, the store manager, the assistant manager, and the girl in charge of that section all looking at the back of every single handwash to see if vegan - upshot - none are.

My Tesc0 is in a complex, which includes, B0ots, P0undstretcher and P0undland. I checked them all and NONE sell it.

This is ridiculous, it's a big brand!! Anyway, I texted mymum yesterday and said can she check her local shops - her Sainsbobs didn't have it but her (rural, small) Tesc0 did, so she bought me the last 3 bottles on the shelf and wouldn't take any money off me as I feed her every week. Yay!

I still have to find a long term solution though, it's really irritated me! Amazon prices are double what I usually pay!!

Budget wise, I am sailing close to the wind now - shop tonight, but don't need loads, but I think that will be the last of my budget and I still have a week to go. I am a lot under what I usually am though, and have consciously changed what I have on my meal plan a few times based purely on the fact that things would cost too much.

I had almond bulgar with black beans, kale and tomatoes on Tuesday, with a side salad. Last night for me and mum I did white bean and quinoa salad with watercress (really lovely, has a great mustardy dressing!). Tonight is Jambalaya. Tomorrow is the leftover almond bulgar, Saturday is the leftover jambalaya.



Date.......Shop......Amount.....Remaining (from £120 budget)
24 Feb.....M&S.......£03.10.....£116.90
24 Feb.....A1d1......£08.27.....£108.63
24 Feb.....T35c0.....£53.56.....£55.07
25 Feb.....H&B.......£04.93.....£50.14
25 Feb.....T35c0.....£00.93.....£49.21
27 Feb.....T35c0.....£06.60.....£42.61
2 Mar......A1d1......£08.23.....£34.38
2 Mar.....T35c0.....£15.40.....£18.98
5 Mar......M&S.......£01.07.....£17.91
6 Mar......Tesc0.....£01.00.....£16.91
7 Mar......Tesc0.....£06.79.....£10.12

[Deleted User]

Not (food) shopped since 2nd of month, really run down on salad stuff, which I eat by the trolley. Am going to try and contain myself, but have a rather long list of stuff. Have a lovely day everyone.

pamsdish

Small spends of £11 in total to top up.

Islandmaid

Spent £55 of MF meat delivery - that should last a month or more

LesP50

16.39 on fruit veg and chicken 91.02/175 = 83.98 left until 31/3, but the fridge, fruit bowl and cupboards are pretty full