November 2007 Grocery Challenge

valk_scot

Jacks_xxx wrote: »

I keep meaning to ask this!

If you could just give one tip to help out your fellow Grocery Challengers - what would it be?

Love Jacks xxx

Write a list, and keep to it.

(And work in cash, kept in a seperate purse...oops, that's two tips, no? )

Tartan_Mum

Hi all

I'm desperately trying to get back into MS thinking before Christmas otherwise we'll still be paying for it come Easter.

This month I'm aiming for £350 for me, DH and DS which is a lot but realistic. From that I'm review the receipts and see where we can make cuts. This includes all food, toiletries (inc nappies and wipes!), cleaning stuff etc etc

Things are looking like this so far....

Week 1 - £107.44
Week 2 - £105.59
Week 3 -
Week 4 -

My main problem so far is that for the first two weeks the totals are made up of six separate supermarkets shops (inc one home delivery). Plus point is that we're stocked up on nappies, wipes etc until at the least the end of the month. Downside is that I'm heading out shortly for this week's shop (my SEVENTH visit this month!) but at least I'm taking my list with me... and if it ain't on the list, it's not going in the trolley.

TM x

fingersxed

hi everybody

Just been adding up this weeks spends and yet again I'm shocked:eek: . Still just think what the total would have been if I wasn't writing it all down. I have done my shop for next week. I was back over the £100 mark but Hubby n daughter came too!!!! I did need quite a bit in the ingredents line so that didn't help but now I'm all stocked up so hopefully things SHOULD b cheaper next week and the week after? Currently spent £204.56 I'm aiming for £380 this month.

I have started cooking double and freezing so hopefully in a few weeks should see things getting cheaper?? I'm quite enjoying doing this as I thought that it wouldn't work. Time will tell. It's worth it even if it's only for one of the nights I'm working.

Goog luck every one
:j

deniseduck

I have a Makro card and would say it is worth going there if you're careful about what you buy. Not everything is a lot cheaper, and you have to remember to add on VAT to most things, as it's not listed.
If you have a Costco nearby, I find that better for most things that we buy, and it has the advantage of giving you the price including VAT, so you don't have to remember to add it on yourself.
Fortunately for us, both Makro and Costco have stores within 5 minutes of each other, so we can easily do both at the same time, and compare prices. Have to travel about 40 minutes to get there though.

mikeD

Jacks_xxx wrote: »

:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

:dance: :beer: :T Congratulations Izoomzoom! :T :beer:
:dance:

That's fab news.

Love Jacks xxx

That's lovely Jacks xxx, wish I'd 'ave thought of that! But there's accountants for yer, no imagination.

tattycath

Jacks_xxx wrote: »

:wave:

As for the Hobnob recipe, We call them The Devils HobNobs in our house cos they're so-o-o-o tempting! I got this recipe from this very board from the legendary Twinks.
They're FAB! :dance: Lovely with a :coffee: and my daughter is taking a cheeky one in her packed lunch tomorrow!

Love Jacks xxx

Hi Jacks.
:T Thank you sooooooooooo much for the hobnob recipe and thanks to the legendary Twinks too.
They are absolutely b___dy gorgeous. I made some today and they are fantastic!!!!!!
:A I just said to my youngest DD that I must go onto MSE and thank you for the recipe and she pointed to the picture of Martin in the corner of the screen and said...'so does he put all the recipes up and everything then?' :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
Got to go I hear another hobnob calling me!!! lol

mikeD

Hi k60sav and brummiebabe, can I respectfully suggest that you make your own bread, we do and it's lovely. There are so many recipes on the net that you will be able to find one that suits you and your family.

For those who have difficulty writing a shopping list and menu planning, simply go through your cupboards and try to see what you are going to run out of either today, next week or next month, depending how you shop.

Hope this is useful :cool:

brummiebabe

mikeD wrote: »

Hi k60sav and brummiebabe, can I respectfully suggest that you make your own bread, we do and it's lovely. There are so many recipes on the net that you will be able to find one that suits you and your family.

It's a fab idea mikeD, but not me really......I don't have enough time to do everything I need to now...and I'm due to go back to work in January so will have even less time then.....do admire those that can though!!!:o

TheBees

It's a bad idea taking children shopping with you! I avoid it at all costs! I also try to shop online as much as possible as you can see a running total of your spend so no nasty surprise at the checkout and less temptation to buy things we don't need!

We have been sticking to our meal plan but the packed lunch items are running a bit low such as penguins, crisps, yoghurts etc. Hoping to hold out until Saturday for a big shop but will have to stop off at the fruit and veg shop for urgent supplies tom.

Good luck everyone.

The Bees

TheBees

tattycath wrote: »

Hi TheBees, The other day I decided to check my store cupboard to see what tins/packets of food I had in. My eldest DD wrote everything down and the quantities. I put it on an excel spreadsheet and now when anyone takes anything out of the cupboard they go into the spreadsheet on pc and write -1 or -2 etc next to the item, so now I know exactly what is left in the cupboard and what needs replacing. and when I have replaced the item I cross off the minus figures ready to start again!!!:p
Now I bet I sound really boring. but before I made a log of everything I had no idea what I did have and what had been used!!!

That is clever! But I think we'll be sticking to pen and paper - it's hard enough getting everyone to remember to make a note of things that are running low! If they forget to put things on the list and I only go shopping once every 10 days now, it's a long time to wait for something so hopefully they will learn the hard way!

I used to shop every week out of habit, buying things without looking in the cupboards to see what we really needed and ending up at one point with 8 tins of sliced peaches that nobody even eats! Since starting our first grocery challenge we are really making an effort to use things up and waste less. We start week 2 tomorrow and need lots of fruit and milk which I will buy on the way home from work.

good luck from The Bees