March 2023 Grocery Challenge

Saver-upper

Just did a big post, but accidentally pressed a button, and it disappeared!

On Tuesday did yet another small-ish shop (£26.10), tonight I was finally able to do a bigger shop, which means I can now close my purse for a few days. This is good, because I was getting sick of spending on something every single day (except yesterday).
Tonight's spend, after  £2.15 savings, and £12.50 saved using clubcard vouchers, was £52.29

March Spend: £168.38/£300.00

Nelliegrace

I am in no hurry to go shopping in this cold weather. I used powdered milk to make some custard. DH had some with the last slice of Aldi chocolate Christmas pudding which was about 35p in the sales. I had stewed apple and custard and poured the rest into two small jars saved when the chocolate hazelnut spread was finished. There was a shortage of tumblers in the war as as glass was needed for repairs and forces vehicles. I am down to the two last Duralex tumblers. I might dilute the milk a bit to make it go further, you can with proper milk, but not with that nasty low fat stuff, sold at the same price, forsooth!

Suffolk_lass

I succumbed to a TGTG bag from the M&S at the garage. It was to be collected from 21.00 and I was regretting it after all the sludge from the skies yesterday, really not fancying driving five miles for a £4 bag. Then they cancelled it (yay!).

Just as well. After I reserved it I remembered we are staying away on Friday night and their stuff really is short dated for collection. Then I cancelled Saturday's milk, but ordered some broken biscuits and a loaf of RM bread for less than the refund. I will need to do a shop next week, but not this, so a small win. I am at £73.20 for March so far, including the biscuits (1.3kg for £3 feels quite good) and the bread (£1 for medium-sliced full sized Hovis Best of Both). Some of the biscuits will be passed on to DS and some we will keep (any prepackaged individual packs will be added to the snacks for our April trip to a self catering cottage). The bread will be frozen in at least two bags.

Soup is our friend in this wintry weather and we had a big bowl for lunch with homemade sourdough-yeasted hybrid loaf. Same planned for today ahead of our short trip to the E Mids

Nelliegrace

However good their clubcard may be, I am not going near Tesco for a while. The new ad is truly horrible. They show women who shop frugally as scary freaks! For goodness sake!

Suffolk_lass

@Nelliegrace maybe keep an eye open for more Duralex tumblers in charity shops - or eBay have them (used) for cheaper than retail

JingsMyBucket

joedenise said:

KajiKita - I was a member of Costco a while back but only used it for a year as we live too far away to make it worthwhile.  I was able to sign up as an ex Civil Servant.

Just checked and there are lots of people who are eligible:

https://www.costco.co.uk/membership-individual-questions

Check out this link - it shows who is eligible for membership.

@joedenise that’s so odd. In the US you can just buy a Costco membership and there aren’t any professional qualifications required. 

2Scratters

Managed to get 2 TGTG bags from fuel stations which are only 1 mile apart. 1 was shockingly overcharged and lacking in content there was not £10 of goods at full price. The 2nd redeemed the poor effort of the first, therefore life is in balance. Total cost £7.
I am fingers crossed of a double TGTG bag order for today does not get cancelled. I am just trying to push things a little whilst DH is under the weather and is prepared to eat pretty much anything put in front of him. His resistance to change is low thankfully, so he is not stepping into the kitchen to cook. 
For those who use sugar frequently Morries 2kg bags work out less than 75p a kilo. DH keeps messing up my budget by paying for the milk when he  buys other bits when he collects his cigars  . He keeps saying his treat, really, a treat should be a treat not the milk!! Don't get me wrong I'm not complaining as I get to stash the leftovers for us for something else. 

2 Scratters xx

Nelliegrace

We all had complete sets of petrol station free gift cutlery and glasses when we left home. 

Soontobeoap

I remember the green shield stamps freebies. We started our married life with drinking glasses and pudding dishes from garages and built up the sets as we went along. 😂

Cant get to the shops today so sweet and sour chicken and rice tonight. My few potatos that were left are going to seed so I am chitting those to plant with Grandchildren.

Meal plan has been a bit slack here. I am changing it daily to fit what we have in.I made some gluten free chrese scones for today and tonmorrows lunch. A bit of a change from a sandwhich. 

@Nelliegrace I totally agree about the Tesco ads. Not sure who they were thinking that they are  appealing to! 

Saver-upper

Nelliegrace said:

However good their clubcard may be, I am not going near Tesco for a while. The new ad is truly horrible. They show women who shop frugally as scary freaks! For goodness sake!

Oooohh, I haven't seen that Nelliegrace (I don't watch TV very often). Will have to see if I can find it online. Sounds bad!

EDIT: just found it. Yep, that's deranged!! Very nasty