February 2023 Grocery Challenge

Suffolk_lass

Soontobeoap said:

This year I moved to buying non bio washing powder instead of tablets mainly because shops seem to be stopping their own brand tablets. I was reluctant initially, but a box of powder is cheaper and I have discovered that if I use less for just freshening up and more for a deeper clean, I can get 31 washes out of a 25 wash box. Does anyone else have a tally chart on the side of their washing powder box? 🤔. Another sad fact that i have discovered is that used sensibly 1 x double wound tesco toilet roll lasts one person one month. Cheaper Aldi ones dont last long at all and work out much more expensive so the outlay is worth it. What have I become? 🤦‍♀️😂

@Soontobeoap you are my kind of gal!  I love this. I use a catering pack of liquid washing detergent and still use the cap of an ariel pack - but, I only half fill it. I do a fortnightly hot wash for towels, cotton and linen, and dish cloths. If it is particularly dirty (like the dogs towels), I add a splosh of laundry bleach. I wash everything else on cold or 30 degrees

For toilet rolls, I squash the roll a bit if our friend who uses lots is coming, so it doesn't spin round the holder without tearing. If nothing else, it makes them conscious of how much they are using.

2Scratters

@wannalot I have found that having a list of the contents of freezer and store cupboards helps a lot as it is a visual and takes out the guess work and actually knowing what is in there. I too have a hoarding tendencies going back to the 70s/80's and my dad being sporadically being out of work and my parents sending us shopping to get items when they were "rationed". This has also helped with our money going out a lot slower and un-necessarily. 
Love the tip from @Saver-upper of a polish top for measuring wash powder. That will be done today putting a top in there ready! thank you.

Just done a numbers check and we are 121.94/200 
Balance in check at 78.26 should be 78.06 so moved the 20p to our savings cash pot 
Need to keep a tight reign on the rest.

2 Scratters xx

Suffolk_lass

I haven't been able to buy own brand ginger nuts since Christmas and I noticed that own brand cream crackers have disappeared from the shelf markers and as an option online, so maybe the hot-weather leading to poor wheat harvest is having an impact. So anyway, I found a recipe for ginger nuts and made them. Much cheaper and maybe even a bit more gingery!

Last night I had to collect a prescription item that has been missing for a few weeks and so I bagged a TGTG bag at the nearby SM. I arrived at the SM about 15 minutes early and whizzed round, picking up cabbage, carrots, wonky onions, potatoes, leeks and broccoli. A quick stop for milk and cheese, butter and cream and I was done (except for the crisps from the treats budget and some ice-cream that was on offer (also treats and entertainment! 🤦‍♀️).

Picked up my TGTG bag and yes, potatoes, carrots, cabbage and 2 bags of onions, together with two punnets of strawberries and a punnet of plums. Excellent value for £3.09. It will all get used. Right. Time to make soup!

joedenise

Have to admit I always get my TGTG bag and take it back to the car and tip it out into the boot to see what I've got and then go back in and buy anything on my list which isn't in the bag!  Quite often I don't have to go back in and if I do it's only another couple of pounds max.

thriftwizard

Panic over, BF re-instated! Menus re-jigged again... I'll need to pop to w8rose tomorrow for some more sliced bread etc. but at least I know which way is up now!

Suffolk_lass

joedenise said:

Have to admit I always get my TGTG bag and take it back to the car and tip it out into the boot to see what I've got and then go back in and buy anything on my list which isn't in the bag!  Quite often I don't have to go back in and if I do it's only another couple of pounds max.

I usually have a rummage in the store before going round but I needed to be home in time to talk to my mum at 6pm so it was the wrong way around. At least the duplicates will keep!

Ginmonster

First spend of the month and it's £8.25 yesterday on some salad bits, hot cross buns and bin bags. I've got a big delivery coming at the end of next week so I'm not planning on buying anything else until then as there's plenty in the fridge, freezer and cupboards that needs using up. 

£8.25/£250

Chelleybee

Hi.

Checking in for the 1st time this month but with spends of £125.62/£350 already which seems quite high so early in the month.  I’ve got a fractured foot so DH is doing everything. I did manage to hobble round Ald* and MrT on crutches at the weekend with him but he’s doing all the cooking while I’m out of action so didn’t want to criticise his choices or spending!  

I need to keep a track of what’s in the fridge and freezer and make a menu plan so we spend a little less next weekend. I’ve noticed since I’ve been immobile there’s a lot of top up shops going on because we probably missed a lot trying to get round the supermarkets quickly.  Maybe I should do an online shop for a change and DH could go and collect it.

Tonight’s meal is Mr T sausages with veg and gravy then tomorrow I’ll see if DH wants to try a new J.Oliver recipe for veggie Mac and cheese.

Well done to everyone sticking to the challenge 

PipneyJane

Soontobeoap said:

This year I moved to buying non bio washing powder instead of tablets mainly because shops seem to be stopping their own brand tablets. I was reluctant initially, but a box of powder is cheaper and I have discovered that if I use less for just freshening up and more for a deeper clean, I can get 31 washes out of a 25 wash box. Does anyone else have a tally chart on the side of their washing powder box? 🤔. Another sad fact that i have discovered is that used sensibly 1 x double wound tesco toilet roll lasts one person one month. Cheaper Aldi ones dont last long at all and work out much more expensive so the outlay is worth it. What have I become? 🤦‍♀️😂

I do, @Soontobeoap Although not of the number of washes, just when the box was opened and how long the last box lasted.  The one place I do keep a tally is on the side of the bottle of wool wash.  (W8trose own brand.)  Last time, I got 34 washes out of a bottle that claims to hold 19 washes-worth of liquid.  I'm at wash 28, on the current bottle.

Actually, I date a lot of products and keep track on the pack of when they're opened, how long the previous one lasted, etc.  Been doing it for years.

- Pip

elsiepac

Budgets updated to here!