July 2022 Grocery Challenge

otb666

went £50 over but dealing with death in family so cannot have a go at hubby But i will be stricker next month 650/600

Elisheba

I got a few things in T£sco's last weekend which brings my total for the month to £93.69/£100 so far. I'm away on holiday next Thursday, and think I'll only need some oil and fruit before then so, fingers crossed, it looks like I am going to stay in budget for the month.

Buying the UHT milk has been a great success. Not having to pop out for milk has saved me a fortune on other bits, and as it's UHT and I don't like drinking it straight, I'm using less milk overall so even though its technically more expensive it's saving me money. 

Buying cheap as chips biscuits has also been a good way of feeding the sugar craving without buying loads of expensive junk food on impulse. There are definitely areas I could cut back on if needed, but it's about finding a balance for me where I feel I have enough treats and things I like that I don't go out and splurge.

It's good to know I could save more money, but I can afford £100/month so will be sticking there for now. 

PipneyJane

@DizzyMissIzzy I utilise the concept of “quarantine” and keep separate pots.  If money in one pot runs out, then while I can use my personal allowance to buy whatever, I can’t raid another category to fund it.

My Grocery Challenge pot is cash.  It has its own purse.  It covers everything that I buy in a regular shop at the supermarket:  food, cleaning products, toiletries, toilet paper.  

We also have a Bulk Fund to which we contribute £10 each a month, which gets used for things like when we buy 10kg sacks of chapatti flour or rice at MrT’s, or go mad at Costco, or go to Wing-Yip and buy a box of five 5L bottles of white vinegar for cleaning.  Stuff like that.

 @elsiepac thanks for the August challenge.  I’ll sign up shortly.

I do have a couple of bits of housekeeping and shopping to declare.  Firstly, my DH insisted that the ice-creams bought from L!dl and the ice-cream and pizza he got at the C0-0p last week should not come out of the GC purse.  He gave them as treats for date night.  Second, after much arguing, the Meat Fund contributed £20 to pay for the steak and salmon I bought last week.

Finally, we did two shops on the 17th.  £11.58 in L!dl (on a free sourdough bloomer, YS pie £2.79, YS pastry 48p, 1kg red onions 75p, 1kg carrots 45p, 4 x cashew nuts £6.20, puff pastry 85p, chocolate for cooking 3x49p, sweet potato coating 59p, £2-off voucher) and  £10.20 spent in Sainsbugs on three bottles of DH’s favourite antiperspirant (on offer, £2 each), plus crème fraiche and broccoli.

We’ve now spent £118/£140, leaving £22 for the rest of the month.

- Pip

London_1

Elisheba said:

 

Buying the UHT milk has been a great success. Not having to pop out for milk has saved me a fortune on other bits, and as it's UHT and I don't like drinking it straight, I'm using less milk overall so even though its technically more expensive it's saving me money. 

Buying cheap as chips biscuits has also been a good way of feeding the sugar craving without buying loads of expensive junk food on impulse. There are definitely areas I could cut back on if needed, but it's about finding a balance for me where I feel I have enough treats and things I like that I don't go out and splurge.

 

I changed to UHT milk years ago for that reason My late husband used to say I was off to buy a £5 bottle of milk ,meaning of course that once in the shop you do buy things that catch your eye more than just the milk I found that Aldi's semi skimmed is as good as any, and the most inexpensive I get 6 litres at a time for 75p = £4.50 so they have only gone up by 25p
A lot of the other supermarkets charge 90p a litre.

Re the bicuits you can make a batch of melting moments biscuits, around 24 odd in under half an hour and they cost very little to make and are very moreish though Cheap as chips, but twice as tasty, as my seven grandchildren and two daughters and OH's could testify as I am forever making them for them Ideal if you have the oven on to cook something else at the same time.

NSD today or for the next few days at least as my fridge is stuffed full.I have some courgettes coming this afternoon via my eldest DD from one of her staff who has a glut on his allotment. She always shares some of the booty with me so I shall be looking for courgette recipes this weekend 

JackieO xx

diminua

I'm blaming the heat for too much spent on fizzy drinks out, chips, crisps, lunch sandwich and alcopop. I've also bought tomatoes, toilet rolls, tuna, bread and milk. £61.28 left. 

Ginmonster

I've totally lost track this month so I'm throwing in the towel but continuing to follow this thread to see how everyone else is doing. I'll be cheering you all on from the sidelines!

We're away on and off for most of August either camping or visiting relatives so I'll probably go back to tracking things properly in September. I'll still follow the August thread to keep my head in the right space though. 

SausageDogSandwich

Can’t believe it has been a week since I last posted! I have also definitely overspent and blame the heat as I needed to get lucozade and paracetamol to help me through and could only manage to get to the co op down the road. Middle sons school was open, but sent him home as he was feeling unwell from the heat, so extra ice lollies and some for my grandad purchased aswell. Had two birthdays in our house in the last week aswell, although most of that spend was from birthday budget  Oh and husband has had covid, it’s been an eventful week! 

Need to get back on track now as still have another week to go, I’m still finding it difficult to get back into hot food/cooking mode though! Between asd@, home barg@in, Iceland, co 0p and then asd@ again I have spent £25.94 in the last week. Kids have finished school now and husband has some time booked off work next week, which always makes things more expensive  

🟰 £111.48/136 spent 

Blackcats

JackieO - I've started making your melting moment biscuits - yummy, yummy.  I've written the recipe out to keep in my folder and credited your mum (as you did when you shared the recipe on here) and credited you as well.  Makes me smile to have a recipe from 2 people I've never met.  Thank you for sharing!

Jamie O's courgette carbonara is my favourite courgette based recipe and second favourite is to trim the ends, par boil them, wrap them in a slice of ham and cover with cheese sauce, bit of grated cheese and bake. 

gill5blue

Hi,
spent £162.93 out of £250 for month .
Loving this challenge... I cost up some meals for comparison. currently enjoying aubergine and mushroom bake..cheap for each meal and cheap to bake in to cook in the slow cooker.
I am away for a week so a bit harder to control but I'm ready for action for when I get back.
gill5blue

Suffolk_lass

I am busted against my aim of £200 this month. Subscriptions, sneaky treats and a self-catered break away are all to blame. It's a good job it is an annual budget. £1755.pp so far in 2022 and what with bare shelves and price rises, it's all more of a challenge.