August 2017 Grocery Challenge

lynnejk

Evening all

armchairexpert wrote: »

I'm at $604/$950, with two of my four shopping weekends to go and no bulk stores and somehow still convinced that I'll come in fine! I feel like I've made so many cuts - baking bread and snacks, no longer buying squash or soft drink except as an occasional treat, meatless meals at least twice a week and cheap cuts the rest of the time - that it's difficult to see why I still keep overspending so much, but there we are. I might start keeping a detailed breakdown and seeing where the spillage is.

Difficult to suggest anything without more details. I remember you saying how much more expensive food is compared to the UK but can't remember how many peoples for which you cater

A more detailed diary might help you spot the overspends. Don't know if you have discount retailers, as you can save quite a bit using those. Also, do you meal plan and batch bake - I find that saves us over-buying/wastage. Final thought - do you only buy 'in season fruit and veg'. HTH

Had a Mr T delivery today = £36.59. Will need to visit Al*i tomorrow for the usual weeklies though.

Hope you all have a super Saturday
Lx

pamsdish

Went for tonic water last night, topped up petrol tank as slowly increasing in price again, total £43 spent, glad when this month over.

Doom_and_Gloom

Since last post we have spent £13.59. That included a couple of vegan buys from L!dl (£3.18 for this months budget and £6.38 added to next months budget) as well as soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce for OH. In a different supermarket some reduced fruit, vegetables, tofu and hummus for me, OH found a reduced scotch egg and a reduced pack of egg tarts so was happy. Got a 1.5kg bag of onions for just 59p; four very large onions in the bag! This was yesterday.
Today is a NSD and tomorrow is likely to be a NSD as well.

£127.40/£155.
£27.60 left.

lynnejk

Evening all

Spends today in Al*i of £20.31, which leaves me with just over £45 to the end of the month. Fingers xd that should leave me with a few £s left for the bulk fund, as shall need to go to the butcher shop next month

Hope you all having a super savvy weekend
Lx

[Deleted User]

Doom_and_Gloom wrote: »

Since last post we have spent £13.59. That included a couple of vegan buys from L!dl (£3.18 for this months budget and £6.38 added to next months budget) as well as soy sauce.

Been meaning to get Lidl for their 'Veggie/Vegan' event. What did you get - anything interesting.

Still not done my shop', have run out of some salad stuff and plant milk, but have been using up 'freezer & stores' and making oat milk out of oats I have. Still just £1.83 spent (on groceries) in 9 days. Some interesting meals are emerging. Tonight I had veggie pie, baked beans and - 'hangs head in shame' - instant mash. Yes, I did have a tub of it lurking in the cupboard. Oh well, it tasted very nice. Have a lovely rest of w/e everyone.

armchairexpert

lynnejk wrote: »

Difficult to suggest anything without more details. I remember you saying how much more expensive food is compared to the UK but can't remember how many peoples for which you cater

A more detailed diary might help you spot the overspends. Don't know if you have discount retailers, as you can save quite a bit using those. Also, do you meal plan and batch bake - I find that saves us over-buying/wastage. Final thought - do you only buy 'in season fruit and veg'. HTH
Lx

Thanks Lynn. There's four of us (kids are primary aged), plus cat food for two, dog treats (not dog food, which I get in bulk from a speciality provider) and cleaning stuff. I meal plan, I batch bake when I have time, and yes I only buy in season. I shop at Ald! when I can manage it, which helps, but it's a bit of a drive away and the last two weekends have meant squeezing in a grocery shop where and when I can. I also live in an expensive part of my city, so there's a $2-5/kg mark up on fish and meat compared to inner urban shops.

But after all of that, this week has been really good! Because I got down to the markets where everything's cheaper I picked up some bargains, and spent $150 all up. I also realised I'd done my calculations wrong - I thought I'd spent $604 but in fact it was $450, I was adding the wrong things together. So in fact I'm at $590/950, about which I am very chuffed! I will need a top up shop because I was on foot with weight restrictions, but shouldn't be too much.

Meal plan:

Sunday: Slow cooked red wine beef casserole, HM bread, mashed potato
Monday: Veg lasagne
Tuesday: Grilled chicken marylands, couscous, veg
Wednesday: Baked salmon and veg
Thursday: Beef burgers
Friday: smoked fish chowder

BrassicWoman

Save_Dosh wrote: »

Tonight I had veggie pie, baked beans and - 'hangs head in shame' - instant mash. .

Instant mash and ketchup is the 2 minute comfort food of the gods. Head high, please!

butterfly2507

Did the shopping yesterday and it came down to 27,31 €. I will update my sig asap! At least I am set with soy milk for the next 6 months hahaha

pipkin71

Save_Dosh wrote: »

and making oat milk out of oats I have.

How do you make the oat milk, Save Dosh, and how long does it last for, please?

pipkin71

Since my last update, I spent £38.64 in Aldi and £71.44 at Tesco. £177 / £360 leaving £183 for the month.

As stocks were pretty full and we have been eating out the freezer, the food budget has been low this month. I will have a better idea of budget next month as I will need to place an order with the butcher at the beginning of September