October 2007 Grocery Challenge

Olliebeak

mikeD wrote: »

I have noticed that many of you luverly ladies do tend to denigrate your OH's. You must have realised that most real males have only three things on their minds, i.e Birds, Booze and the other thing!" If you can get through that particular hurdle you will find someone who can not only multi task but who is also very financially aware. So I beg of you stop knocking us.


Picks up Sun newspaper and heads for page 3. Fumbles for 4 pack and looks at DW longingly. :rotfl:

mikeD

God forbid, I should EVER denigrate my OH - the guy has his uses and is capable of creating the occasional decent evening meal (even if he does stink the house out sometimes with the stench of smoked fishy stuff!).

What I DO denigrate is his habit of going out for some shopping and coming back with loads of choccie stuff, cakes, expensive biscuits/cookies! For God's sake - HE knows I need to lose weight; I know I need to lose weight but he goes and does THAT to me!

Yesterday's attempt to shop was a large bottle of shandy, two packs of Rocky bars (on offer), a large bar of bitter/dark chocolate (cos he knows I love it!:mad: ), a large bag of mini-choccie bars, a thick sliced loaf and some granary bread rolls. He was actually sent out for milk and bread but God alone knows what happened about the milk !

Olliebeak

Doom_and_Gloom wrote: »

Got my veg box delievery through on Thursday and was very pleased with the amount I got for my money . 11 carrots, 2 leeks, 7 pears, 9 apples, 5 satsumas, 5 bananas, 6 round tomatoes, 7 parsnips, 4 onions, 2 bunch spring onions (replacement for aubergine very happy with this as I like them in salads), 10 potatoes, cauliflower, alot of spinich and a round lettuce.
Here's a picture of it all. It's not a good one but I think it shows how much I got for the £15 I spent . Would have cost me alot more at the supermarket and that included delievery too so very impressed.

I've been thinking about having a veg box delivered - just to see how they work out.

Can I just ask you, please, was yours an ordinary one or an organic one?

The other thing is, that the firm I've looked at seems to put a lot of spinach and kale in them - things that I've never really tried. So am reluctant to order, as that would be quite a chunk of the order wasted in my opinion. They do have a page where you can just order what you want but that works out more expensive than choosing a mixed box.

Doom_and_Gloom

Olliebeak wrote: »

I've been thinking about having a veg box delivered - just to see how they work out.

Can I just ask you, please, was yours an ordinary one or an organic one?

The other thing is, that the firm I've looked at seems to put a lot of spinach and kale in them - things that I've never really tried. So am reluctant to order, as that would be quite a chunk of the order wasted in my opinion. They do have a page where you can just order what you want but that works out more expensive than choosing a mixed box.

It is an organic box from http://harvest4u.webeden.co.uk/ who only currently deliever in the Maidstone and Medway area (not sure if that helps you).

With regards to the Kale and spinich I would buy them from a greengrocer or supermarket (whatever works out cheaper for you) and try them to see if you like them. This means you can see how much money you would chuck away if you got the pre-made box if there isn't a chance for substitutes. Personally I like kale as I think it is nice as is spinich. My dad says spinich is a more bitter cabbage in taste if that helps but I'm not sure, hehe.

If making your own box up costs more than the pre-made BUT less than the supermarket/grocers than personally I'd do that.

At the end of the day if you try it but are not impressed by it you do not have to order again (well this is the case with most. Some hook you in for a few weeks at least :eek: ) so not too much damage is done. If you do like it however then that is brilliant and would help you out I would imagine.

lil_me

http://www.bigbarn.co.uk/ might help you find your local veg box scheme, must say that is one of the better ones I have seen. Just been having a look for when we move. Unfortunately drawn a blank so far. There is a recipe search to find recipes for what might appear in your veg box. Some on here too http://www.vegbox-recipes.co.uk/index.php which also has a veg box search.

Haven't done a proper meal plan yet, just worked with what was at the front of the freezer. I'm going to do a complete inventory tonight however as I need to run the stocks down as much as possible before we move, I think unfortunately there isn't much to make meals from but lots of bread stuff, will have a look later.

mikeD you are our exception to the rule, trust me if I even suggested my partner should do the shopping, budget for it or cook he'd run a mile, was bad enough last week when he went to put curry sauce on DS1s plate (from takeaway) screaming then followed, he has no idea what his kids even like/hate to eat!

Olliebeak

Thanks for the advice re veg boxes. This is the one that I've been looking at:

http://www.northernharvest.co.uk/

at the moment they only do spinach in the organic box (phew). Maybe they would swap the Kale for a cabbage (fingers crossed).

weezl74

Hiya, I'm new, but have been reading your threads without joining the challenge!

Basically my struggle is that try as I might I can't get the groceries as low as you guys. People seem to be able to break the 15 quid per person per week barrier which I just can't seem to manage.

Feel like I'm doing all the right things (see my smashed eggs thread for more details if you feel you could offer me any tips!) I'm up for trying to make more changes. So advice would be welcome!

When I'm more brave next month I'll actually put my name down to join in!

Thanks,

L

lil_me

weezl74 never try to match what others achieve, not everyone includes the same things in their budget (possibly meals out, work food etc on seperate which means they spend less for 'at home') some grow a lot of their own, other people have different shops on their doorstep, some places have better offers on than others (main ones being places which accept lots of coupons and ones who do lots of reductions, get neither of those where I live) etc. For this month maybe just keep track of your spending, all receipts then you can see where you can make changes and how. Most say NEVER to try to reduce what you spend by more than 10% at a time.

rosieben

weezl74 wrote: »

...
Basically my struggle is that try as I might I can't get the groceries as low as you guys. People seem to be able to break the 15 quid per person per week barrier which I just can't seem to manage.
L

Agree with Lil_me 110%, we all eat differently and our individual circumstances are very different. you work to what suits you, keep your receipts, tally up at the end of the month and cut down gradually.

Look forward to seeing you join in the GC soon, good luck!

weezl74

Ok lil_me and rosieben, I get what you mean, thanks.

Rather than an unhealthy comparison which would leave me over-stretched, I just wondered if asking for more tips might help.

But Im new to these 'ere parts, so this may not be how it's done!! Is there a place on the boards where we tell each other about food spends and others 'audit' how we could make cuts?

L;)

lil_me

Not really weezl74 as it's a bit more difficult to compare than say gas and electric because of the difference area/shops can make. I could say 'well you can go to my farm shop and get ** *** and ** for £**' but that wouldn't be much use to you.

What most find helpful is meal planning (there is a thread posted weekly to share meal plans which is a great place to [STRIKE]swipe ideas from[/STRIKE] share ideas) there are threads like meals for 50p etc which may give you some ideas for cheaper meals. Store cupboard challenges can be good for using up what you have in.

Whole pile of links on this thread to keep you busy with ideas http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=130240&highlight=meals%2B50p