September 2022 Grocery Challenge

Greying_Pilgrim

Soontobeoap said:

@Greying_Pilgrim I changed from persil some time ago and now use supermarket own non bio. Usually tesco but also Aldi and my sensitive ones have not been affected by smell or had any itching. I have bought a small tub of whitener from Lakeland that I occasionally throw a small amount of into a whitewash. But I use that very rarely so it still comes out much cheaper. My DH has hay-fever and we cannot have flowers or any other perfume smells in the house without him sneezing like a nutter and getting all bunged up. He also has allergies that affect his skin so I am always very careful and can't use fabric conditioner. Hanging washing on the line to dry is the best smell anyway. Hope this helps. Let me know how you get on. 

Thanks love - that's good to know.  I line dry too (don't own a TD), and use a whitening product on the few whites that need laundering - although the so called 'washable' pens that are used in school....... aren't!  So my whites are never anything more than 'muted cream'....... At least the perfume in this 'new' powder isn't absolutely overpowering - there is a faint hint in the air, now the WM is empty. 

No, I don't bother with conditioner either, as that is (generally) too perfumed, and I don't think it does the machine much good anyway in the long term.  

I've done a load of DH's clothes this morning, so fingers crossed it works.  

EDIT - I should have added, I've nothing against own-brand products, we stuck with the P brand for so long simply because as a former LT eczema sufferer, it was the one powder that didn't exacerbate my condition, and I suppose if something isn't broke, then you don't fix it.  If the new powder doesn't cause any issues, then I'm as happy to use that as P brand, or any other powder that washes without causing skin or allergy issues.  

Greying X

diminua

Last few bits - sugar and coffee in one small local shop and milk and orange juice in another. They cost slightly more money than the supermarket but it's made up for by saving the fare and time that would've come out of my lunchbreak. 
I'm declaring at £162.22, which is the first time I've been under in a while. 
See you all in October. 

LadyWithAPlan

Greying_Pilgrim said:

Soontobeoap said:

@Greying_Pilgrim I changed from persil some time ago and now use supermarket own non bio. Usually tesco but also Aldi and my sensitive ones have not been affected by smell or had any itching. I have bought a small tub of whitener from Lakeland that I occasionally throw a small amount of into a whitewash. But I use that very rarely so it still comes out much cheaper. My DH has hay-fever and we cannot have flowers or any other perfume smells in the house without him sneezing like a nutter and getting all bunged up. He also has allergies that affect his skin so I am always very careful and can't use fabric conditioner. Hanging washing on the line to dry is the best smell anyway. Hope this helps. Let me know how you get on. 

Thanks love - that's good to know.  I line dry too (don't own a TD), and use a whitening product on the few whites that need laundering - although the so called 'washable' pens that are used in school....... aren't!  So my whites are never anything more than 'muted cream'....... At least the perfume in this 'new' powder isn't absolutely overpowering - there is a faint hint in the air, now the WM is empty. 

No, I don't bother with conditioner either, as that is (generally) too perfumed, and I don't think it does the machine much good anyway in the long term.  

I've done a load of DH's clothes this morning, so fingers crossed it works.  

EDIT - I should have added, I've nothing against own-brand products, we stuck with the P brand for so long simply because as a former LT eczema sufferer, it was the one powder that didn't exacerbate my condition, and I suppose if something isn't broke, then you don't fix it.  If the new powder doesn't cause any issues, then I'm as happy to use that as P brand, or any other powder that washes without causing skin or allergy issues.  

Greying X

I also have skin  sensitivity and allergies which magnificently blew up last year (turned out to be marine collagen in a face cream) so I tried the v expensive p**sil tablets ones as I was trying everything in desperation so I understand how we stick to what works.
 However it made no difference. I can and do use the Lid* washing powder without an issue maybe cos its cheaper so less fragrance. 
Mr L + Mr Al is cheap enough to try and if it doesnt work for you you can always gift it.

I did NSD 15/16 yesterday  so I need at least one more NSD day to hit my target.  It really helps having a short term goal - I am determined to not spend today either, I struggled  with myself to not buy groceries yesterday as I really wanted a 'treat'  but I didnt need them and I needed a NSD  so  I just refused to go into the shop I am hoping to not spend on grocery today and tomorrow but we will see so not declaring my end of Sept yet

EssexHebridean

Isn't it odd how we're all different - I've tried both p3rs1l and @riel at various times over the years and without question  they ALWAYS cause me skin irritation - I decided about 5 years ago that was it, no sense in trying again! My standard is B0ld 2in1 liquid which washes well at less quantity than stated, smells decent and can almost always be found on offer somewhere or another! 

Spend so far this month with the week's veg box included £78/£200. 

EssexHebridean

thriftwizard said:

Um - is it me, or has October vanished without trace? And we seem to have become unstuck... no further spends to report here, but was going to drop my declared aim for October slightly, having managed to pick up the cashews & almonds this month, kind of free. Ah well, I expect it'll turn up again at some point!

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6388751/october-2022-grocery-challenge#latest

Here you go TW - it had just drifted down the board for me! 

LittleGem

Hi all, 
checking in to declare for the month, £237.68 / £200 so over by quite a chunk but I have bought several big packs of meat for bulk cooking in the slow cooker so that should hopefully even things out over next month. 

Notes to self for October:
• shop without 3yo as much as possible! Kinder eggs add up 🙄
• Buy more tins for the storecupboard
• always buy more milk than you need as it keeps you away from the shops

atrixa

I lost track about half way through the month as my budget spreadsheet got corrupted and I ended up creating a new one. I'll start again in October 

London_1

All done and dusted for September and £8.14 left from my £60.00 budget which will get tucked away towards a 'big shop later this year perhaps

I only went to go in the shops 4 times this month so 26/30 NSDs which I am quite happy with.

I have more than enough in the cupboards and fridge for the coming week so hopefully no need for any shopping for awhile ,plus I am away for five days from the 12th so fingers crossed this coming month will be a 'light' one.

Its been quite a good month foragingwise as my freezer had lots of blackberries for the coming cold winter months for pies and crumbles.

Plus my neighbour gave me a bag of apples from her tree which have been peeled, sliced,and cooked in a little water and honey and a spoonful or two of cinnamon and frozen in portions also for the coming winter.

I was also gifted some leeks from my other friends allotments which were turned into several portions of soup for later on and frozen.
I reciprocate by making them each a cake of their choice either fruit cake or a Victoria sponge cake as a thank you.

Fruit I still have at the moment in the fridge is 6 plums and 6 gala eating apples, plus three oranges in the conservatory so enough fruit to see me until I come home from my short autumn break. I also found a pack of prunes in the cupboard I had bought back in the summer when on offer so these will be used as a dessert I love prunes and custard, very 'old school'  

No doubt I shall be bringing back some goodies from my holiday break as I usually find something different to buy It was supposed to be at Porthcawl but the holiday company phoned and said did I mind changing to Ilfracombe in Devon as they couldn't fill the coach up for Wales shame but I'm sure Wales will still be there next year so its off to Devon for 5 days for myself and my DDs ma-in-law Margaret.So if you see two old ladies strutting their stuff along the front at Ilfracombe with a bag of chips ,stop and say hello its likely to be us .Fingers crossed the weather will stay dry.

Have a good weekend chums 

JackieO xx

PearlRose

Brief report on grocery challenge: 

September goal £400
Actual spending £423.28
Overspending £23.28

About £50 was spent on bulk buying staples.  

£400 seems a challenge that I need to work on for a few more months. Well done to everyone who managed within their budgets   And if you somehow overspent like me, I hope you had fun doing the challenge

gill5blue

hi All,
learning and gathering momentum..
spent £34.51 out of £50.

so total for month is £205.63 for budget of £250.

gill5blue