May 2021 Grocery Challenge

thriftwizard

I managed to stick to my guns this morning at the market & spent £26 on cheese, fruit & veg. This leaves me with £8 until payday next Friday, which may be needed for milk, yogurt, sliced bread & rolls, & bananas on Tuesday or Wednesday. Fingers crossed, that's just about do-able. Everything else can come from the freezer or the allotment. 

I'm trying to get into the mindset that just because it isn't disastrous if I overspend (now, thankfully - hasn't always been the case) that doesn't mean I shouldn't at least try not to. Then hopefully I'll be able to rebuild a "cushion" of savings for the next time my elderly van needs work done, or the next 120 y.o. window falls out...

Sallyp2

pamsdish said:

After committing to no spends the rest of May, purchases have rocketed, £16.28 on grocery, £14.99 on a nice wisteria, think I will aim for minimum June, especially as I have a c.c. bill just under £500 for vet.

That vet bill is heart wrenching after the week you’ve had. Did you have pet insurance?

pamsdish

no I don`t @Sallyp2, personal choice, just gambling on having a healthy pet. which she was, only a few bills in her 8 years with me, besides innoculations which are not covered anyway.

Tightpants24

Sorry to hear about your dog @pamsdish
On spending front I have a bit of a fail this week.  My click and collect today is £101.75 
I am having friends round tomorrow for a long overdue meal and bought several treats.  I am going to blame end of lockdown for this week.

ancientmum

I have not spent much on groceries this week.  Got a Lidi F & V box  it was 9am on Wednesday and there were lots to choose from.   
I got: a bag of easy peelers, 2 large potatoes, 2 kiwi fruit, bag of sweet pepper  one large pepper, bag of asparagus, black grapes, a large tomato and some mint and parsley.
So, that was £1.50 and with other bits and bobs my total came to £5.55. 

Sallyp2

ancientmum said:

I have not spent much on groceries this week.  Got a Lidi F & V box  it was 9am on Wednesday and there were lots to choose from.   
I got: a bag of easy peelers, 2 large potatoes, 2 kiwi fruit, bag of sweet pepper  one large pepper, bag of asparagus, black grapes, a large tomato and some mint and parsley.
So, that was £1.50 and with other bits and bobs my total came to £5.55. 

What is this Lidl F&V box for £1.50???
we have a Lidl under construction, due to open very soon, so at moment it’s not a shop I use
ever few weeks I get a veg box delivered, it cost £20-25 and I’m not wholly convinced the value is that great

joedenise

The F&V boxes are very hit and miss.  It's a case of if you are there at the right time and if they are any good.  When I went last week there were still 4 boxes left but they weren't worth bothering with!  One box was full of manky potatoes plus a really limp and discoloured cauliflower and a punnet of strawberries!  Definitely not worth paying even £1.50 for.

Having said that the boxes are usually really good VFM.

t14cy_t

£8 spent in morrisons yesterday, managed to get £55 worth of YS goodies, so very stocked up again!!

Suffolk_lass

Sallyp2 said:

ancientmum said:

I have not spent much on groceries this week.  Got a Lidi F & V box  it was 9am on Wednesday and there were lots to choose from.   
I got: a bag of easy peelers, 2 large potatoes, 2 kiwi fruit, bag of sweet pepper  one large pepper, bag of asparagus, black grapes, a large tomato and some mint and parsley.
So, that was £1.50 and with other bits and bobs my total came to £5.55. 

What is this Lidl F&V box for £1.50???
we have a Lidl under construction, due to open very soon, so at moment it’s not a shop I use
ever few weeks I get a veg box delivered, it cost £20-25 and I’m not wholly convinced the value is that great

Our nearest Lodl is about 7 miles away so we use the local wonky veg from Morries - exceptional value for most things except avocadoes - I've got very used to buying onions and carrots to top up the stores of what we grew - 39-45p for large bags that are much bigger than the bags of stuff on special offer. We would have to eat an awful lot to exceed £1.50 in a week. I think fruit is the main F&V spend for us and I am getting better at tolerating frozen and defrosted berries and stewed garden fruit - but oranges (typically 29p each) are my little indulgence through winter. The large kilo bags of wonky berries in the freezer are good

ancientmum

For those asking, the Lidi box is basically left over out of date fruit and veg that staff have sorted out into cardboard trays, you find them after you have been through the tills.  I'd heard about them  on MSE but that the timing and contents were variable.  My nearest Lidli is about 2 miles away, I walked there and took the bus back  as can use my oap pass after 9.30. I emptied the box into my rucksack  and it was heavy.  Some of the contents were a bit manky and had to be used straight away but  most are keeping fine in the fridge.  I live alone so can be flexible about what I cook and eat  but I don't think I'll get one every week,   maybe once a month now I know when and where they are.