September 2022 Grocery Challenge

SausageDogSandwich

Did our main shop yesterday, mainly fruit and veg, cheese, milk, ham, squash and crisps. And a few things that were needed for meals next week. 

Still need to get non food items like toilet roll and washing up liquid. I might get some fish burgers if I can make it to the shop and they still have them so this may take me over budget, will have to see. Total of 24.73 spent. 

£129.60/150 spent and 5 days to go. 

Crazycatlady2

I’ve just done last shop for month other than maybe needing bread. £532 plus 2 takeaway isn’t bad for us tbh

ive decided as I bulk buy pet food from wherever is cheapest on day I buy it I’m not including it in my grocery budget anymore 

Soontobeoap

@hazeldreams I agree with all of the comments about different circumstances. Also it takes a while to hone your budget down. I have been doing this challenge for 9 months now and I am still learning. Some GCers have been going for years and could be awarded a degree in frugal grocery shopping. I am  only just beginning to realise how easy it is to make free from sauces instead of buying expensive jars. It took me about 6 months to find any ys items. I have only just found the bulk buy shelves at the back of the sainsbury stores. You start to get a second sense about where to look for items. Changing from washing tablets back to washing powder was another big saving. Also substituting things. Sausage meat was so expensive the other day that I bought some reduced sausages and took the skins off. It is a mindset that doesn't come automatically. You will find that you will start to get excited about little wins and as time goes on the grocery bill will start to reflect your ingenuity. Twice last week I resisted a takeaway in order to use up potatoes and bits that were in the house before we came away. I really didn't want to bother with cooking but felt really good when I realised the money we had saved. It takes time and this board just helps you to be accountable. No one on here judges.

@nannygladys was the first person who inspired me when I joined in January. I really hope that you are getting nearer your canopy saving. 

Good luck all GCers. I really hope September was a good month for you all. 

Caroby

Thanks @LadyWithAPlan, usually have oat milk but will try the Lidl almond milk next shop.

London_1

Soontobeoap you have encapsulated virtually everything about this foum , well done .

Its true its about small wins, that whittle away at the big challenges that everyone faces when first realising how they can get through the things that are being thrown at you when the wolf comes 'aknocking at the door'.

I am definitely rather 'old school' when it comes to being frugal, but then physically I'm getting on a bit anyway .

I always say I learnt so much from my late Mum (1900-1962) who managed through WW2 and the post war austerity that followed  to raise three healthy children on fairlly restricted rationing. She had learned as a young lass, how her Mum (my Granny) managed during WW1.

We hand on our knowledge to the next generation and I know I have raised my two daughters to be pretty good when it comes to shopping, and they too have done the same to their children.

We are all learning as we go along, and I am still learning new things and taking on board the different things you can make with food especially.
My generation grew up using olive oil in our ears not on our salads  or in cooking, and rice was a pudding not a side addition to curries or a chilli.

The wide variety of veg was almost unheard of in the 1940s-50s. But today are common place to a newer generation.
 
The best thing I learned from my late Mum was that herbs and spices can make the 'beigeist ' of food a lot more colourful and tastier. I think were she alive today, she would revel in the flavours available. She was definitely ahead of her time though, as many housewives of the 40s/50s stuck to basic meat and two veg sorts of cooking. 

So to all the newbies who join us in the challenge it a case of passing on ideas and things that have helped you get through from one payday to the next without stressing too much. We are definitely not here to judge or compete, but to help each other out After all learning from each other will help all of us in the long run ,so enjoy the ride its exciting isn't it

JackieO xx 

Ginmonster

While the young'un was out sportsing yesterday I had some time to kill so wandered around B&M and picked up some useful bits. The best things were definitely tinned butter beans and chickpeas at 45p a can (they also had kidney beans but I don't use a huge amount of those).  That's the best price for either of those I've seen recently and I use quite a lot so I was very pleased. I also found tinned peaches in juice for 85p which is pretty good as the cheapest ones are only ever in syrup and I prefer the juice if possible. 

I spent £10.13 in total so I'm up to £196.29/£200 for the month and I should only need bananas and apples this week so I should just about squeak in under budget.

FrugalThymes

We got a few bits from Lid1 that need adding on so now 

£227.85/£200

that's a family of 4 with all meals made at home, and first month I've really tried to budget. Next month I'm going to have a Groceries AND a 'fun money' budget so the two don't intermingle (cinema snacks, pub drinks etc) and also a pot of money put aside for bulk buys for the pantry. Really hoping to not do any shopping before the end of the month now, so fingers crossed for some good Oil0 days

Made a paella in the pressure cooker last night and it was nom, enjoying experimenting with it and bought some spices online to try out new curries!

LadyWithAPlan

FrugalThymes said:

We got a few bits from Lid1 that need adding on so now 

£227.85/£200

that's a family of 4 with all meals made at home, and first month I've really tried to budget. Next month I'm going to have a Groceries AND a 'fun money' budget so the two don't intermingle (cinema snacks, pub drinks etc) and also a pot of money put aside for bulk buys for the pantry. Really hoping to not do any shopping before the end of the month now, so fingers crossed for some good Oil0 days

Made a paella in the pressure cooker last night and it was nom, enjoying experimenting with it and bought some spices online to try out new curries!

My bulk fund - inspired by the people here on the GC challenge is super useful and I also have started adding things that are not strictly grocery such as sweets and crisps into my 'treats and entertainment' pots along with coffee out, drinks etc.  
You have inspired me to have a go at a paella in the pressure cooker! do you have a recipe?

London_1 said:

Soontobeoap you have encapsulated virtually everything about this foum , well done .

Its true its about small wins, that whittle away at the big challenges that everyone faces when first realising how they can get through the things that are being thrown at you when the wolf comes 'aknocking at the door'.

We hand on our knowledge to the next generation and I know I have raised my two daughters to be pretty good when it comes to shopping, and they too have done the same to their children.

We are all learning as we go along, and I am still learning new things and taking on board the different things you can make with food especially.

So to all the newbies who join us in the challenge it a case of passing on ideas and things that have helped you get through from one payday to the next without stressing too much. We are definitely not here to judge or compete, but to help each other out After all learning from each other will help all of us in the long run ,so enjoy the ride its exciting isn't it

JackieO xx 

Indeed @Soontobeoap is spot on - I am definitely learning loads. Thanks again JackieO for passing on your wisdom as well. I have also home cooked as my parents did - but its the sweets and crisps that bust my budget (Better that than alcohol I suppose) 

Grocery Sep 22 GC  £109.94 /£160  + £23.20 /55.50 bulk (+ £5)
Yesterday was a spend day as I was holding a meeting at my friend's - so I picked up crisps and sweets for them (and me)  - so thats coming off my treats and entertainment budget.
Bought some reduced pork chops for here

I will be buying more food this week as staying at friends as a favour to cat sit so not got my usual stores/freezer etc. Nor my pressure cooker which I am missing!

Wants  - new saving pots
There are a few things I want (as opposed to need) but given I am unlikely to buy  a home in the next few months I will start a savings pot for them in my Oct budget.. 

- a new mattress - so looking there are some memory foam for £600 or so - my back is playing up so..  think its time to look. Any suggestions on good mattress - i like medium to firm.

- reupholster my main sofa - its lumpy now and fabric split so it looks dodgy and feels worse.

- heated blanket  £60-£110

Less important but wants
- panasonic breadmaker £220
- Smeg expresso coffee maker - complete want not need. Waiting on this for years
- reupholster a chair

TT  27p

NSD -aiming  for one today - lets see how my energy levels are when I walk to my DIY class as always tempting to buy a coffee or sweets. But as of Sat 12/16 and only 4 of 5 days to hit my target as its the 26th today.

London_1

LadyWithaPlan have you thought about a  mattress topper I bought one last year as my joints do give me gyp at times (osteo-arthritis) and I think it was around £60.00 for the firm of the 'Big River' I found it really good and worth every penny I like my bed and didn't really want to change it just make it a bit better for my back.
I don't know if anyone else has had sucess with them but I swear by my one,it has a slightly odd smell when you first put it on your bed but I think its because its been compressed so tightly and an airing for a couple of hours opened out and it soon vanishes

JackieO xx

FrugalThymes

@LadyWithAPlan here's the recipe I used https://www.highstreettv.com/pressure-king-pro-chicken-chorizo-paella