April 2022 Grocery Challenge

joedenise

I'm like you with the £1.50 boxes from Lidl's when I go in there but I don't bother if I don't need other things (which I didn't today but I will look next week as I will definitely need to go next week as will need to top up the UHT milk stock!).

Absolutely no point in buying a box if there is a lot you won't use.  Would some of the parsnips work instead of the turnips in the curry you made recently?  I would also be roasting some of them as we both like them honey roasted!

Greying_Pilgrim

joedenise said:

Absolutely no point in buying a box if there is a lot you won't use.  Would some of the parsnips work instead of the turnips in the curry you made recently?  I would also be roasting some of them as we both like them honey roasted!

Oh definitely, joedenise - there were 4 parsnips in my box, and I have lots of things I would like to do with them, so will have to be picky! (what a fortunate position to be in 😊)  But I do lurve a roast parsnip....... mmmmmmmm, but also want to have a bash at a cake.  I've made it before, but it really is good at disguising the fact it has parsnips in it. Definitely feeling the parsnip ❤️😊

Greying X

MissRikkiC

Greying_Pilgrim said:

Suffolk_lass - I must admit, I haven't actually checked 'which' shops may or may not be on TGTG in our locality, but we have some of the shops mentioned both by you, DawnW - and elsewhere on MSE.  Some of the shops I just don't use anyway, so a magic bag is no incentive (for me) to spend money with them.  At this moment in time, I will purchase YS'd stuff (when I come across it), if I can use it/like it and it is reasonably discounted, and I will always look at the MrL £1.50 boxes (when they are available, which is not all the time), to see if I can use the vast majority of the contents.  

I went to MrL today - and forgot my shopping list!!!!! Doh!  MSE fail!  Apart from the fact that because I had so few items on my list, I managed to recall it verbatim 😔 I was lucky that there were five £1.50 boxes available today.  However, I will only purchase one if I can genuinely use all the contents, and they represent good value for money.  I don't mind that the produce is on the cusp of drawing its old-age pension, but it has to be edible.  I refuse to pay for compost!  Today, of the 5 boxes, there was one that was suitable for my needs, one that would just about be worth £1.50 (to me), and 3 boxes that would have not really contributed greatly to our household meal plan/budget.  I'm afraid I give a great deal of thought to these matters, and don't just grab a box simply 'because it is £1.50'.  It still has to be worth it to me.  I selected the box I have, as it had blueberries and mushrooms in it, but the mushrooms will need to be processed today - they are slightly on the wrong side of 'over' - I would not have bought them for full price.  I also have some leeks in the box, which I will use, but will need to be trimmed of yellowing outer leaves.  Again, I would not have bought them for full price.  Perhaps I shouldn't think that I have the luxury of being 'fussy' with a £100 budget for this month, but I still require the produce to be useable.  

In total, I spent £11.81 in MrL today, and i was minded of dear MissRikkkiC as I went past a RTC bit in the chiller cabinets, and noticed that there was a tub of hummus (reduced fat), and several 3 packs of mini trifles that had been discounted down to 20p each (several other items, inc 3 pack meat sandwiches were 70p ea.)  So I 'invested' 40p, 20p on the hummus, and 20p on a trio pack of mini trifles.  I wouldn't buy those mini trifles ordinarily (I remember having to buy them in the parental's shopping and they have got quite pricey), but I figured for 20p, a dessert that DH & LG will DEFINITELY be keen to munch, was a treat waiting to be purchased indeed!  So, dear reader, whilst my shopping list didn't contain treats today, for 40p I now have treats!  And co-incidentally, even had I the funds, MrL were OOS of lentil curls anyway.........  😂

It's a buddha bowl for tea tonight.  I will have to see if I can find a recipe to do 'something' with the 7 or so radishes that were in the £1.50 box.  I'm not a huge fan, but i did just try one, and they aren't as 'peppery' as some varieties, so I will look to see if there is something along the quick pickling line I can do with them.  There were also some parsnips in the box, and I DEFINITELY want to do something 'cakey' with one or two of them - building on the 'sneaking in veg' where LG doesn't think it is 😉

Today's expenditure has meant things will remain tight for the rest of the month, but I've received blessings in the form of discounted things today, so it's still all to play for!

Greying X

I think those are well worthy treats for that price GP, you’d not be able to make them for less and whilst I may have lightly encouraged you to buy a treat; I’m confident it’s well deserved. 

Grumpelstiltskin

Can I join in with the Mr L veg boxes. I agree you have to decide if you can use the contents.
Mine today had a good sized cauliflower, just a bit tatty on one side, a small white cabbage, a bag of brussels, ( in the freezer now ) 1 large potato, 1 orange pepper, 1 long red pepper a bag of bananas, and a net of easy peeler oranges.
To me all usable and good value for £1.50.

atrixa

Haven't managed to log spends separately, but I'm now up to £109.07/£135. I've got plenty in the freezer so I should just need some pasta for some lunches next week then maybe breakfast stuff. I've bought the odd YS/treat thing that I absolutely did not need which hasn't helped the budget. I need to learn to only buy stuff that is on my list and not get carried away with 'bargains'. I'm usually pretty good at this, but maybe boredom is setting in? 

Hope everyone is having a good week.

_Moving_On_Up_

For those that don't have much being listed on Olio in your area, have you thought about signing up as a volunteer? You get to keep 10% of whatever you collect, and then obviously whatever isn't requested too (which does fluctuate alot). The downside of it is most collection times are 8.30pm for Tesco stores (or a morning slot, but then you'll not get any use by items like meat), but it's actually not that time consuming to do and I like knowing I'm helping to prevent food waste whilst also helping us out in reducing our monthly food bill. 

joedenise

Been to The Food Warehouse, Home Bargains and Sainsbury this morning and have now spent almost £65/£250 but hopefully the rest of the month won't be as speedy as have bought most of the meat for the month which is in the freezer.  Will definitely need more fruit, mushrooms ad possibly some more salad tomatoes next week.

Have bought some more bulk fund stuff still need to top up the UHT milk next week from Lidl; will look to see if I can get a veg box as well when I'm in there.  Just need to make sure I go shopping early enough!

@_Moving_On_Up_ I would love to be an Olio volunteer but I live about 8 miles from the nearest Tesco!  Also I live on an unmade road and a lot of people just wouldn't want to risk their cars getting here!

Soontobeoap

Spends today at Aldi £7.62 on wheat bix, chocolate for cooking, carrots and peanut butter. The cereal shelves were becoming quite bare! Got home and realised DH had not seen a packet of cereal hiding at the back of the cupboard so we are stocked up for a bit.

the bulk buy dishwasher tabs arrived from Amazon. Have saved 2p per tab on 400. Won’t need to buy those again until the middle of 2023!

cut and come again lettuce seeds that I planted are beginning to shoot. No sign of tomato plants yet but there is still time.

spent today making oat biscuits for when the grandchildren arrive, had to make 2 lots as DH likes trialling them so much!🤦🏻‍♀️. I made some shortbread and scones at the same time to fill the oven.

Making use of much of my baking stuff as our treats. I am finding a new love of baking, the smells are homely, the kitchen is nice and cosy and it’s not costing an awful lot as long as I fill the oven and don’t have it on too long.

been very busy spring cleaning and sorting out things for charity shops etc. this has kept me warm and we have only had the heating on for an hour at night. Still that’s for another forum.

thriftwizard

I'm up to £213.54, having visited the supermarket & butchers today (meat, bread, cream & cheese, also some veggie sausages on special offer to freeze for the girls) leaving me £286.46 for the rest of the month; I'd expect to spend £50-odd at the market & the bakery tomorrow morning on bread, fish, fresh fruit & veg but can hopefully relax grocery-wise then until Tuesday at the earliest. Lots of small plants coming along in my tiny greenhouse, but there's not much left at the allotment now; the few kale plants that the marauding pheasants have left will have to come out this week as they're starting to flower. Just some leeks left then... but this summer & next winter's veg are beginning to show their little heads now.

ragz_2

£12.27 spent today at the Asian Supermarket. Wanted to get the teens out the house and they always like a trip there. It isn't cheap though, I was shocked at how expensive a lot of their stuff is, so we didn't buy much. I did get the lentils and black beans I wanted (for recipes in my new Instant Pot!) but they were more expensive than I'd expected. Plus their super spicy noodles. 

I need to find an online supplier for spices and pulses I think. DH gets out peppercorns on Ebay! Also spent £7.20 on hot Asian buns for everyone as their treat, they wanted to buy frozen ones but they were £6 for 4 frozen, so I've said we'll make some at some point.

Also £6 on toothpaste in £land. Should last a while though.