October 2022 Grocery Challenge

JingsMyBucket

@goldfinches you're welcome and sorry about your misbehaving knees. 

FrugalThymes

Well I've completely lost track! Had a bit of a crazy weekend - the fundraiser I've been planning for months was on Saturday and we raised £750+ for Dementia UK It was held in a local pub, all day, so we ended up buying drinks and lunch there which came to about £39 and then drinks in the evening to celebrate was probably around £30. Adding another £30 for a Sunday takeaway means the 'entertainment' budget is completely blown! 

After drinks on Saturday, we had a bit of an after party here with about 15 people; everyone brought something to the buffet and we ended up with all of the leftovers which is a great! I don't *think* we have anything extra to add on to the GC from that though as we'd already shopped days before. 

Yesterday we got a Subway Platter, but for free! A friend who'd travelled to us for the fundraiser won the voucher in the raffle but couldn't use it anywhere but our local subway, so that was free sandwiches for yesterday and today's packed lunch.

Nothing to do with the rest of it but wanted to share something I spotted on Facebook - a tip for making the most of oven usage:

'As I've said before. I use my oven, when on, to its full potential cooking. One thing I forgot to add was when cooking finished I put cold water( mine goes in casserole dishes) to finish using the heat up. This can be used to wash up or decanting into flasks to then boil(using less power as already hot) to make tea etc..... Hope this helps someone'

Doom_and_Gloom

PipneyJane said:

Doom_and_Gloom said:

PipneyJane said:

The downside to scanning as you shop is, of course, that you can’t pay cash.  Fortunately, the GC purse had change and reimbursed me when I got home.

Most of the self serve you go to to pay should have the option of cash or card. At our nearest Mr S they have card only, cash only and those that take both cash and card. 
A good thing too as we have switched to cash for in store spending to help with our budgeting. My OH or I will use the app a lot of the time and it means we have an idea of what it bill will be (I say idea as some loose produce gets added at the till) as it is easier than using the calculator on the phone that if you press something wrong can be wiped out, yes this has happened to me.

Not an option at our local Sainsbugs, unfortunately.  (We asked.  Most annoying.). We used their handset and went to the specific batch of checkouts for scan-and-shop, not the self-service tills, which are all card-only.  If you have loose veg to weigh, there are scales in the produce section which will print out a bar code for you to scan - that’s what we did with the broccoli.

- Pip

Ah I see. In my local they only have the option to use the phone app version and you go through the self checkout. Though you can go through the manned ones but it can be more of a palaver and our local is going to be getting rid of all but two or three of these soon anyway and they won't be manned at all after a certain time at all. I don't think this is right as the older customers and those who prefer a person are being forced out essentially 😡. Not to mention the job losses. I know for a fact that at least 6 people I talked to have lost or are going to lose their job but there are more than that losing their job. 

Don't understand why the store you use doesn't have a cash option on the scan and shop checkouts. Also odd how your site only offer card only for the self scan. Seems they are alienating certain people who could benefit from that way of shopping as it is easier to budget with the hand-held as keeps a running total and these people may have chosen to take out the money to make sure they can't spend more. For self scan cash could again be as they took out what they knew they could spend and use their phone calculator to make sure as going around.
If your store is like mine and soon getting rid of most of its manned checkouts then the lack of cash options is just heinous. I hate places that are trying to force a cashless society on us and it looks like they are trying to do just that.

I know the scales have the option of printing out but I buy the loose veg to help reduce my waste and the sticker counts as unnecessary waste to me in this circumstance. It may seem like a little thing but little actions like that do add up and it is something I can do.


Spent £2.47 on courgettes in Mr S. I'm also going to add the O~box that is coming overnight now and that is £18.84. Total of £21.31 to add.

£164.13/£294.50.
£130.37 left.

Hild0

Back from weekend away and a £15.46 spend in Mr. M, including a 1.8kg of Smitten apples from Kent for £2.49.

Grocery spend is now at £43.77 for October, which disguises the fact that I've just spent a fortune eating out while away, but not counting that in grocery budget.

Now going to look up apple recipes...

LittleGem

Morning all, popping on to declare our budget is at £96.46 / £200. A lot higher than I’d like to be at this point in the month but we did do a small Waitrose shop out of convenience, should’ve known better really.

the rest of the week is mealplanned though, so should just need some salad and milk and a pouch of Mexican rice to get us to the weekend 🤞🏼

MissRikkiC

I haven’t updated much this month but I do have the right attitude despite this; we’re at £231/350 so far. 

We have a meal plan for the week albeit not much of a plan for the weekend however I did promise my daughter we’d make homemade pizzas this Friday and I’ve otherwise planned fish and chips so maybe we could have fish and chips Saturday night instead. 

I feel like we’re pretty empty fridge and freezer wise and plan on trying to get a TGTG bag from MrMs this evening if I’m lucky enough to remedy this a little. There are a few meals in the freezer from a few packets of mince we were given but really need to have a think about bulking out the freezer with some easy to reach for meals as well

I have also finally used up the tray of tuna I bought from Lidll or Alldee back in April I think it was so could do with that deal again soon! 

EssexHebridean

Right - my October has now started so I'm in. Already declared my usual budget for the month I think. 

@MissRikkiC if your tuna is just regular tins have a look at F@rmf00ds - they often seem to do decent deals - the last two lots we've had have come from there. 

October is a 4 week month for me so no excuse not to come in within budget - I do have some stocking up I want to do though I think so that might impact a little.  There will be a veg box this week - whether there is another one in the month is currently up for question. There will also be a farmer's market visit this week and I absolutely MUST get some beef for a stew as well as some more mince. If Peter is there with the lamb we'll probably get a joint from him - likely a half shoulder (in fact fingers crossed he might even have some mutton!)  - and very possibly some breast as well - either rolled or rings. Yep - this week IS going to be pricey! Having said that I ought to be able to keep the SM shopping down to a reasonable level - I'll prioritise the bits I definitely want to stock up on I think, the veg box should sort us out for all our veggie needs aside from mushrooms and onions - there is supposed to be a cauli in there which will likely do a couple of cauli cheese & pasta bakes; peppers and salad toms will probably be roasted in chunks and then frozen to provide the sauce for a couple of future pasta dishes. 

LadyWithAPlan

@FrugalThymes well done on the fund raising. It is amazing how much one spends when one is out - Covid really stopped my going out/entertainment/travel spending and made me conscious how even a cheap night out really costs..

@hazeldreams well done on your budget focus - its amazing how when one keeps such a close eye and reports our spends on here how much more we save

Coo-op 72p  
Grocery Oct  22 GC £47.28/145   +    0/£55.30 for bulk
NSD Oct 6/17

I bought some reduced baby pots in butter/herbs  72p along with some sweets £1.20 on way (from My treats pot) to  my DIY class at Coop-  - again as I had not had dinner before I left - so not a NSD yesterday - It should be today so will declare Tues 6/17


I had some YS  chicken souvlaki with baby pots, leeks and peas for lunch today - I do like a proper lunch - so I am saving loads working from home. I still have some co*p baked beans (47p/tin)  from my Sunday hangover in the fridge so will have on GF toast with DF cheese as todays snack so I dont waste it.

Food wise I have realised I need to be freezing  more of what I batch cook  and into smaller portions as I do always make enough for 4 meals and after 2 portions - say evening one day and lunch the next I am bored even on soup ... and if the portion I defrost is too big for one meal again I get bored..
 So whilst I do freeze  some of my HM food I need to freeze more and need smaller containers (or fill less) I say this as I have not touched much more of my lovely HM beetroot soup after 2 days so maybe have to throw it away despite it being in the fridge...will test..and I have brown
I have started portioning food out eg bacon slices  before freezing as this helps. It is just me yet I cook like I have a family of 5 .. and of course YS is often in bigger portions.

I have some bananas I am deliberately letting ripen so a banana Cake will be happening GF 

I have about £17 left on a Sains gift card I won so need to dig that out. I will also try the shop and scan. I have about £40 in nectar points as well- I am not sure what I am saving them for... last time I bought some nice Habitat glasses with them and champagne ahead of a dinner.

The  brilliant GF breadmaker my family has, there is one reduced to £100 (£120-220 normally depending on extra buttons) I really really want it as it makes really good GF bread...but I am being patient That huge house deposit I want isnt going to save itself..
Plus there is not that much space in my kitchen what with microwave, halogen oven, clever chef 6 in 1, plus loads other kitchen gadgets in the cupboard.. I may have to build some shelves or buy a butchers trolley.. I will hang on til Black Friday or Xmas if I have enough willpower

I will making a GF toad in the hole tomorrow - defrosting Sausages now
Other meals involve
- turkey mince chilli
- I need to buy a white cabbage and mix with sauerkraut, onions, mushrooms and meats to make a stew - OR I have a red cabbage in - never tried it with that but I may have a go!
- GF YS fish I bought and is looking at me in freezer - i need to eat with HM chips
- something Mexican as my neighbour gave me a tin of  refried beans and I can make tortillas as I have the Masa cornflour plus YS chicken breasts in freezer, plus YS DF cheese..

Blackcats

I was fortunate to get a Lidlee £1.50 box - lemons, bananas, apples, 3 peppers, onions, lettuce, cucumber and lots of sprouts.  I also got radishes, strawberries and broccoli from olio.  I also got some mushroom and chestnut burgers which I'm looking forward to trying. Hubby is still grappling with the concept of anything other than a burger made from beef 😋

we were on holiday for first week of October so this month's budget is adjusted to £250.

spend so far 

£65/£250.  Balance £185

MissRikkiC

LadyWithAPlan said:

@FrugalThymes well done on the fund raising. It is amazing how much one spends when one is out - Covid really stopped my going out/entertainment/travel spending and made me conscious how even a cheap night out really costs..

@hazeldreams well done on your budget focus - its amazing how when one keeps such a close eye and reports our spends on here how much more we save

Coo-op 72p  
Grocery Oct  22 GC £47.28/145   +    0/£55.30 for bulk
NSD Oct 6/17

I bought some reduced baby pots in butter/herbs  72p along with some sweets £1.20 on way (from My treats pot) to  my DIY class at Coop-  - again as I had not had dinner before I left - so not a NSD yesterday - It should be today so will declare Tues 6/17


I had some YS  chicken souvlaki with baby pots, leeks and peas for lunch today - I do like a proper lunch - so I am saving loads working from home. I still have some co*p baked beans (47p/tin)  from my Sunday hangover in the fridge so will have on GF toast with DF cheese as todays snack so I dont waste it.

Food wise I have realised I need to be freezing  more of what I batch cook  and into smaller portions as I do always make enough for 4 meals and after 2 portions - say evening one day and lunch the next I am bored even on soup ... and if the portion I defrost is too big for one meal again I get bored..
 So whilst I do freeze  some of my HM food I need to freeze more and need smaller containers (or fill less) I say this as I have not touched much more of my lovely HM beetroot soup after 2 days so maybe have to throw it away despite it being in the fridge...will test..and I have brown
I have started portioning food out eg bacon slices  before freezing as this helps. It is just me yet I cook like I have a family of 5 .. and of course YS is often in bigger portions.

I have some bananas I am deliberately letting ripen so a banana Cake will be happening GF 

I have about £17 left on a Sains gift card I won so need to dig that out. I will also try the shop and scan. I have about £40 in nectar points as well- I am not sure what I am saving them for... last time I bought some nice Habitat glasses with them and champagne ahead of a dinner.

The  brilliant GF breadmaker my family has, there is one reduced to £100 (£120-220 normally depending on extra buttons) I really really want it as it makes really good GF bread...but I am being patient That huge house deposit I want isnt going to save itself..
Plus there is not that much space in my kitchen what with microwave, halogen oven, clever chef 6 in 1, plus loads other kitchen gadgets in the cupboard.. I may have to build some shelves or buy a butchers trolley.. I will hang on til Black Friday or Xmas if I have enough willpower

I will making a GF toad in the hole tomorrow - defrosting Sausages now
Other meals involve
- turkey mince chilli
- I need to buy a white cabbage and mix with sauerkraut, onions, mushrooms and meats to make a stew - OR I have a red cabbage in - never tried it with that but I may have a go!
- GF YS fish I bought and is looking at me in freezer - i need to eat with HM chips
- something Mexican as my neighbour gave me a tin of  refried beans and I can make tortillas as I have the Masa cornflour plus YS chicken breasts in freezer, plus YS DF cheese..

2 things. Thanks for reminding me that our goals and aspirations are more important than an item that’s got a sale on; no matter how much we want it. 

And the other is that I’m sure your stew will work wirh red cabbage it’ll just turn it pink! You could affectionately rename it so too 😋