December 2007 Grocery Challenge

TheDoolallyDilly

I have started using own brand (Tesco) washing powder and fabric conditioner (much nicer smelling than Persil or Lenor, I've found), butter, kitchen roll, tissues, bread and cereals, and they have all been fine. The cat even likes Tesco cat biscuits. I hope this helps someone!

cheerfulness4

Well I've got about £3 left out of my budget until I get my early pay day on Friday. Feel a bit of a cheat because I borrowed a jar of coffee off my mum, too. I could have used my last few pounds but I get that panicky feeling if the purse is completely empty.

Having said that, did get some incredible bargains over the weekend in the reduced section. Tesco is particularly good late at night.

Lamb chops x4 @ 40p
cream @ 35p
cooked chicken @ 10p
chicken salad @ 10p
sausages @ 10p
fresh basil @ 10p
herb salad @ 10p
florida salad @ 10p
etc etc.

Was well pleased and I can't remember all they had. Was able to give my mum a lovely lunch when she came the next day. That surprised her!

Well done to all those resisting temptation. I've only just made it because I allowed extra this challenge. And I've still got to make it through till Friday. Not leaving the house, I don't think! :rolleyes:

belfastgirl23

Wow tattycath I am sooo impressed by your list of reduced price foods. They don't EVER reduce stuff by that much in any of my shops. Sainsburys are frankly c**p, 20p off something that originally cost £1.99 or whatever. Tesco can be a bit better but never ever anything less than half price that I've seen. And half the time it's meaty stuff anyway so no good to us. Actually tho I'm just thinking maybe I never found the reduced bread section?? Must watch out for that, I know where the chilled food and f&v reduced sections are but I bet bread is somewhere else.

Then again I think in NI we pay higher prices for most basics than the rest of the UK anyway...

As for own brand, I'm def an own brand kinda gal but DH much less so. Luckily he takes very little to do with cleaning brands or with OS cooking ingredients like pasta or flour or whatever. But for 'his' stuff it has to be branded all the way. It does bug me a bit at times TBH but I guess there's only so far you can go with it. I won the battle on seasonal fruit (mostly anyway) but then you have to take the losses as well....

tattycath

Hi Belfast Girl. Thanks for your comments. I have to say that I used to always ha ve to have heinz tomato ketchup... But I have children and have condition us all to like the cheaper alternative because as we all know most kids love ketchup.....
I do have to have heinz salad cream though, but like most branded goods I try to stock up on expensive likes when they are on offer!!!
I am getting so into this looking for a good bargain, that when I went to supermarket last night with OH, I must have walked backwards and forwards to the reduced sections about 4 times so that I sould maximise on the deals as staff kept periodically adding stuff!! My Oh was very good though-i think he understands and if it saves money...:D

Savvy_sewing

Hi all, perhaps I will have to start finding out about "midnight" jaunts to the supermarket, but normally I am tucked up in bed. Although having said that I am often up with the grandchildren. Reminds me, my Mum said that when we were little Dad used to drive us about in the car to sleep/ Perhaps I will put the babies in the car and one of the mums, and go looking. Kill two birds with one stone!!!! lol:rotfl: (mind you got to get the car back first!!!):mad:

tattycath

Hi Mooloo. I went to supermarket at 18.10 last night not middle of night lol!!

rosieben

Do you know anyone who works at your local supermarket Mooloo? you might get some inside information on what time they reduce prices? No good to me I'm afraid, I'm 15 miles away from my nearest decent supermarket and no car :sad:

mikeD

Goodness gracious, what a lot of posts yesterday. So many I wanted to reply to. However DW has broken her arm and I am a bit pressed for time at the moment. Will think about the spreadsheet thingy and try to advise on a universal method as you all do things a different way and one of my programmes will not be available to you. Thanks whoever called me a Guru, maybe GooGoo would be more appropriate :rotfl:. catch you all later

Savvy_sewing

Lol, I dont know anybody here at all!!! Before I had the twins move in with me, I was out at work all day, and when I was living with the boyfriend we were at the other end of Oxford. Oh well, I will hopefully have time to loiter in the isles soon enough. Need car to beable to go to the supermarket here too. Hence mr T deliveries at the moment...But when I get the car back, I will be looking at all moneysaving options etc. Must admit to being lost without a car.

Jacks_xxx

mikeD wrote: »

Goodness gracious, what a lot of posts yesterday. So many I wanted to reply to. However DW has broken her arm and I am a bit pressed for time at the moment. Will think about the spreadsheet thingy and try to advise on a universal method as you all do things a different way and one of my programmes will not be available to you. Thanks whoever called me a Guru, maybe GooGoo would be more appropriate :rotfl:. catch you all later

:eek: :eek: :eek: Oh blimey Mike!

Does that make you Chief Cook and Bottle Washer so that DW can follow mine and BelfastGirls standard injury prescription to the letter?

I'm sure DW will offer words of instruction and encouragment from her position on the sofa though, and won't be any trouble at all - as long as you leave the choccies within easy reach and don't make so much noise banging and clattering the pots that she can't hear her movie! :rotfl:

Seriously though Mike, I hope she's not in too much pain.

Love Jacks xxx