October 2021 Grocery Challenge

MandM90

philsmum have you looked at the averages on the first post? That suggested £37 per week for an adult woman. If you're spending way in excess of that you might want to look at bringing it down incrementally week by week?

Herbyme

joedenise said:

@carolinerunner - so that you don't have to cook different meals I would go for some batch cooking and then freezing in individual portions, that way it is easy to lift out something for everyone each evening ready for reheating the next day.  All that's needed then is to add some carbs and veg to go with the meal, unless of course the frozen meals are one pot meals that have everything in already.

I do batch cook veggie meals (the fridge audit paid off - thanks for the reminder @Suffolk_lass - I just made at least 6 portions of chilli from slightly tired fridge veg and some store cupboard tins, result!) but I’m blowed if I can get the meat eaters to batch cook meat meals!! I do all I can, show them a few easy recipes, explain the benefits, remind them to buy the ingredients…. I don’t want to handle meat so I draw the line at batch cooking for them! 🙄

*zippy*

Hi  could I join please, thank you x

I just had a read and this is just what I need. I'm off work for a few months and have no pay until late November so I aimed to be really good in Sept, but I've been nipping to the supermarket more often for one thing and picking up extras so I just gave myself a bit of a shock adding how much I've spent on food this month and it's eaten into what I had put away to cover not working. I do have quite a hoard of essentials now so aiming to use up rather buy, but I do have £250 budgeted from now until Oct 31st for 2 of us to be realistic. I have plenty of dog food/cleaning stuff/toiletries so I don't need to buy any this month x

Suffolk_lass

@zippy you might find our Reverse Meal Planning thread of some use this month - we account for what we are meal planning from our stores and suggest recipes and substitutions with each other. Feel free to dip in and out

diganddog

Hi hi,

I’m new to the forums, but always looking to save money!

We’re a household of 2 adults and a dog, I usually budget £80 per week (our month starts on 25th of the previous month) I’d like to get it down a bit, especially when my partner is working away. This doesn’t cover eating out or takeaways (although we only do this once per week).

Could you put me down for £400 this month please?

Smoosh

maryjane87 said:

Hi everyone, I would like to join this month too please.

£200 for a family of 4 (2 small children) 

I have always been quite careful with the food shop but would like the motivation to try and reduce it slightly! Also if it’s any good to anyone, Aldi are doing their £5 off a £25 shop again just now, just started today for two weeks! ☺️

How do you get the £5 off in aldi? 

maryjane87

Smoosh said:

maryjane87 said:

Hi everyone, I would like to join this month too please.

£200 for a family of 4 (2 small children) 

I have always been quite careful with the food shop but would like the motivation to try and reduce it slightly! Also if it’s any good to anyone, Aldi are doing their £5 off a £25 shop again just now, just started today for two weeks! ☺️

How do you get the £5 off in aldi? 

Hi, sorry I meant Lidl! (I usually shop in Aldi so think that’s why I typed it) you download the discounts app, and activate the coupon then scan the virtual card at the till and it should take £5 off, certain things.. baby formula and alcohol not included. 

Hettyhound

Hello, I’m going to try and sneak £10 off and go for £180 instead of the £190 I’ve had for the last few months.  Nearly out of everything so need to stock up but have recently started using dried pulses instead of tinned, soaking and cooking a large batch and freezing portions.  I’ve also got a packet of veg suet and as the weather begins to turn I feel root veg and pulses stew and dumplings 😋.  My dwarf pear tree has provided many a pear crumble/Eve’s pudding these last few weeks and the last of my tomatoes are still turning so lots a tomato soup for lunch.

Smoosh

maryjane87 said:

Smoosh said:

maryjane87 said:

Hi everyone, I would like to join this month too please.

£200 for a family of 4 (2 small children) 

I have always been quite careful with the food shop but would like the motivation to try and reduce it slightly! Also if it’s any good to anyone, Aldi are doing their £5 off a £25 shop again just now, just started today for two weeks! ☺️

How do you get the £5 off in aldi? 

Hi, sorry I meant Lidl! (I usually shop in Aldi so think that’s why I typed it) you download the discounts app, and activate the coupon then scan the virtual card at the till and it should take £5 off, certain things.. baby formula and alcohol not included. 

Thank you! Thought I was missing something there. 

thriftwizard

Please could I go down for £500 this month? it's a 4-week month for us and I'm already fairly well stocked-up. That's to feed, polish up & clean up after 5 adults, more at weekends.