November 2021 Grocery Challenge

Herbyme

@chirpycheap you reminded me I did the detailed breakdown a long time ago before I was veggie. I should do it again really. 

@Suffolk_lass I got caught out by DDs so many times I put them all in their very own current account where they can’t trip me up! And that kind of tidying is called hoovering in our house. It happens on a large scale … 😏🙄
@EssexHebridean we call that a snacky tea in our house. 

LadyWithAPlan

Suffolk_lass said:

try_harder said:

Suffolk Lass ..Could you please explain how you work out your grocery spends please ? Do you divide it by the 52 weeks and what do you do regarding bulk shopping .I am really struggling as i can more or less stick to 50-60 pounds a week but then when i spend say £50 on items on offer i dont really know where to take it from and too often then give up ..Thanking you for your help in advance

@try_harder this is what I do
I start the year with £200 for each of Jan to November
£400 for December and
£400 for stores. 
£3000 annual budget. (This is for two adults, one cat, and a regular raiding party by DS who lives nearby and lives on what we call a salary-controlled diet) It covers fresh food, cat stuff, toiletries and cleaning products. It does not cover treats and entertainment (wine, chocolate, take aways or meals out)
I also grow some fruit and veg and freeze, bottle, preserve and store lots. My milk and eggs are delivered (not the cheapest but a great way of reducing the "pop to the shops" temptation).

If I spend under £200 for the month, I move any round £10s to the stores heading. Each time I buy, I go into that month's running total cell (double click, curser to the end and +££.pp) and add the new bit. Same with the stores running total. By starting with £400 I can buy my store cupboard and brands when they are on offer in multiples of up to 6(!) - so shower gloop, coffee, tea, flaked salt, soap and so on, plus baking ingredients, tins, dried goods, cleaning stash, cat litter (!) all go in stores

I tried to paste a pic of the year to date (from a spreadsheet) but it didn't work. I could paste a copy of my spreadsheet into google sheets if you send a PM of your email address, and share it with you.

I just want to add that I really struggled with paying myself back out of my second purse when I tried that system (see link from post 1) so this works better for me. You might need to build up a small buffer stores amount (could be cash that you stash when you make a saving), for a few months before you start this annual thing, or you could reduce your weekly by, maybe £10 a week for a few weeks to build a little pot so that when your (can't live without) things are on offer you buy multiples, never paying full price unless you totally run out.

When I have almost completely run out and something is not on offer, I buy just one (and make a shopping list to buy it on if on offer, next time). I meal-plan, run a list on the fridge and use from my larder. If my Suffolk siege stash is getting out of hand I have a freezer week (or month) and try to run my stores down by consciously including them. Over the years my smugness and conceit stopped me learning the layers of lessons in grocery shopping. It happens in stages so don't worry if it does not all work for you. I have over the years made my own products (laundry, cleaning, soaps etc) to try an keep costs down and sometimes I still make soap (I call it gardening soap) but mostly life is too short to do everything. So pick your low hung fruit first. 

Blimey, I didn't mean to write a book!

Inspired by you I am going to have a slow test run at your bulk store, thanks for the detailed explanation on this and the Oct thread. I will PM you so if you have chance I would love to have a gander at your spreadsheets as no point in me reinventing your working wheel..
I could not do that purse 2 either - it confused me..

I also  realised over the last 2 months of doing these Challenges @chirpycheap how much I spend on sweet treats and tortilla crisps.. ouch.

Grocery Challenge £140 Nov and new shiny bulk buying fund  £100

So my bulk fund is all cupboard stuff and also covers those Amazon and Holland and Barrett subscribe and save purchases throughout the year as well I do, I will see wherelese ther are god places to bulk buy pulses, rice etc. My grocery will be what is  used within the month - fruit, veg, meat etc 

I don't want to lose the challenge of the monthly grocery as it is working well for me in the last couple months but I am going to start with a bulk fund of £100 this month and a grocery of £140 this month and see how it goes.

The confusing thing is what I choose to argue is relevant in each of the 2 categories but I think if it is a tin of pulses it will be this month  grocery pot whereas if I buy reduced 10 tins  or a large bag of rice it can be seen as bulk...  I am thinking a further £100 bulk fund next month as well (if not more as Xmas) and then I can revisit it in 6 months or  when the bulk fund and the stores have worn down. It is just me so maybe I don't need a £400 annual but £300 seems realistic - It thus means I will actively look and see where I can bulk buy more on reduced items I use regularly. I could wait til Jan and start afresh but lets start now..

I have household stuff, toiletries and alcohol separately as well as food out, takeaways etc all in different pots.

I love seeing how some people track their annual food budget  and ar starting to report .. I dont have the stats but will start looking with an eye to that for next year. I thought I was pretty on my budgeting but you guys are taking it to the next level  

NSD 0/15 (M/T spend days hopefully Wed not)

Grocery  Nov Groceries Challenge      33 / £140  + £0/ £100 bulk 

Lidl shop £31 and local shop for a garlic bulk and  that kashmir chilli spice I need to try the Dishoom Black dal (w/o sour cream). 

Buying a new freezer - any tips?

My batch making and deliberate freezing is doing well, I made  a  Hairy Biker sausage and bean casserole derivation yesterday  which was yum and was dinner last night, lunch today and I froze the remaining two portions rather than eating it a third/fourth time now.   I served it with beetroot, green beans and some frozen vegan sweet potato spicy fries that were YS from M+S 

As I am single I get bored of my cooking after the second portion so being able to grab tasty pre -made healthy food is great.

I really may buy a second drawer freezer as I have currently just 2 freezer shelves in my tall fridge/freezer and there is no room. On one hand not MSE as more energy costs and the cost of the freezer £250 approx but my freezer is so full and I have still some apples to prep but I currently have no room at all in there.   I can see a real use for it, though if I am buying  a flat and moving next year maybe I do need to hang fire. I will look at Black Friday sales to see what is coming up. If I see something in the low £180s mark I may get one.

I am trying to justify it and I do have the perfect space in my current kitchen .. thoughts?

I have bought a FR chicken as well  so I will also after eating, make  soups from the stock bones and freeze that as well (if there is room!) 

joedenise

@LadyWithAPlan - as you don't know if you will have space when you move would it be better to have a look on the local F***book or Freecycle to see if you can pick a freezer up cheaply or even Free?  It would be a shame to pay out for a new freezer and then not be able to fit it in when you get a new flat.

LadyWithAPlan

joedenise said:

@LadyWithAPlan - as you don't know if you will have space when you move would it be better to have a look on the local F***book or Freecycle to see if you can pick a freezer up cheaply or even Free?  It would be a shame to pay out for a new freezer and then not be able to fit it in when you get a new flat.

Actually that is a great idea. I got rid of my car as I live in Central London so delivery can be an issue but I coud probably join a car club or something. I will start looking ...

Suffolk_lass

joedenise said:

@LadyWithAPlan - as you don't know if you will have space when you move would it be better to have a look on the local F***book or Freecycle to see if you can pick a freezer up cheaply or even Free?  It would be a shame to pay out for a new freezer and then not be able to fit it in when you get a new flat.

That is exactly what I was going to suggest! We have a village page and I swapped an under the counter nearly new (my friend's late mother's) larder freezer for a 2m+ full sized one (that I store bee frames in, don't ask) that sits in the workshop. It's not beautiful but it works reliably in winter (less so in summer as the workshop gets so hot!)

Finstickle

@LadyWithAPlan I would definitely recommend an additional freezer - not just for your batched meals but also to be able to buy YS \ bargain freezable items.  We've just put a new roof on the garage so it no longer leaks, which means I can get a second freezer - v excited.

@chirpycheap I am also doing a detailed breakdown this month.  I'm spending less than I was but thing what I'm actual spending it on will surprise me.

First big shop of the month getting delivered tonight - £133.52 @ Asda
Quite a few treats in this one as it's the first of the month so stocking up on the nice ice creams, alcohol etc
4.5 wks for me this month - aiming for £120pw, which gives me £33 until next Thursday.

Current total: £207/£550

Doom_and_Gloom

£8.79 spent since last post in Mr S on a few bits.

£71.06/£240.
£168.94 left.

sarahj1986

Hello all

its been a busy few days here

Ive kept the receipts. I used to do this but stopped and that’s why I feel like our spends have gone a bit chaotic in recent months. My husband working loads probably didn’t help. He’s only working part time now and our daughter is in nursery. This is giving me so much more time to keep control if spending, meal plan, make things in advance etc 

Anyways!

€78.95 spend over several shops. This does include some Christmas treats. We went into Lidl on Thursday as they had special buys on. We got pjs for our daughter and slippers for hubby. I’ve deducted that cost from the above. I’ve got to get more water and milk today from Aldi but that should be it. We are doing a big Carrefour shop for next week which will have all the bulky items in it. I’ve gotta make this last as much as I can in November. It will obviously include many fresh and frozen items. 

jozbo

Couple of NSDs here. 

I budgeted seperately this month for a Christmas food and drink shop (having a family member over that eats a LOT!) 
have a £22 off £110 in-store w8rose spend that expires in a week or so. 

Toying with whether it’s worth it. Usually shop at L1dl, will the voucher savings be wiped out by the inflated prices?
I’d be looking to get cupboard treats, Christmas wine and pop etc, freezer stuff (have a chest freezer in the garage - can’t recommend enough) and any good GF stuff they have.

chirpycheap

A good week spending wise. I realise that I impulse buy treats when I shop and I've been trying hard to avoid that. I blame lockdown as shopping for groceries became the highlight of the week and I got into the habit of regularly buying some expensive food  indulgences.
This week I've had a different mindset. I spent £3.67 in B&M on ice-cream and yoghurt. £2.46 in Home Bargains on tea, stir-fry sauce and chocolate.  Finally £26.04 in Aldi on basics.
We've used Olio on a couple of occasions and this week have picked up a cabbage, baking potatoes, carrots, parsnips, a seeded loaf and 8 vegan pies.

Running Total - £267.83 remaining from £300 budget