April 2023 Grocery Challenge

Suffolk_lass

Although my income has not reached the bank account yet (tomorrow or Monday for this) I clicked and collected yesterday to take advantage of the birthday £5 off voucher that Morries sent me, that had to be used by today. Inevitably two things happened... I needed to pop in-store - this was for dishwasher tablets and bleach as neither of these saver brands are on-line. Secondly, in order to reach the threshold, I ordered some treats and fresh produce to go with the store-cupboard stuff. I have added the fresh to my March total and it means I will end the quarter in excess of the 25% of my annual budget that I aim for.

Others may wish to know that the dishwasher tabs have decreased in price (but they look smaller!) - I don't mind this as we try to keep our cleaning chemicals to a minimum.

I don't know if anyone else does this but when I buy washing up liquid, I tip one third of the new bottle into the old bottle and then fill the new bottle with water and mix it. By the time I need it, the liquid has thickened up again. I add enough water to the old bottle to be half full but even when mixed, this one is quite runny until it too, thickens up. I don't know the science but it works and apart from squirting a bit more from the old bottle for a day or two, you honestly don't notice the difference.

Adorian

Suffolk_lass said:

<snip>.....

I don't know if anyone else does this but when I buy washing up liquid, I tip one third of the new bottle into the old bottle and then fill the new bottle with water and mix it. By the time I need it, the liquid has thickened up again. I add enough water to the old bottle to be half full but even when mixed, this one is quite runny until it too, thickens up. I don't know the science but it works and apart from squirting a bit more from the old bottle for a day or two, you honestly don't notice the difference.

Is it safe to add water and leave it for that long? I would have thought that adding water would introduce/encourage bacterial growth.

Suffolk_lass

Adorian said:

Suffolk_lass said:

<snip>.....

I don't know if anyone else does this but when I buy washing up liquid, I tip one third of the new bottle into the old bottle and then fill the new bottle with water and mix it. By the time I need it, the liquid has thickened up again. I add enough water to the old bottle to be half full but even when mixed, this one is quite runny until it too, thickens up. I don't know the science but it works and apart from squirting a bit more from the old bottle for a day or two, you honestly don't notice the difference.

Is it safe to add water and leave it for that long? I would have thought that adding water would introduce/encourage bacterial growth.

It would surprise me if it did - the main ingredient in washing up liquid is water. We have been doing this for donkeys years - I picked it up on here before I joined in 2009. I lurked for maybe 2 years before that and it has never caused any harm to us. I suggest the chemicals in the detergents combine with water to clean your dishes. If you read labels the proportion of water in savers brand is the same detergent with a higher water content (but the cost saving from diluting it yourself is greater than the differential price if you buy it yourself).

Do you have a source to support this?

gill5blue

Hi All

Can I have £240 for April please

gill5blue

missis_amber

Hi, joining for the first time and still figuring out the forum

As its half term will need more food in to cover lunches at home. I want to teach my 14 year old about budgeting as she's got into habit of spending on way home from school, not sure she needs a tub of Ben & Jerry's all the time!!

Please can you put me down for £350.

Nelliegrace

Budget £150, week 1, £26.27
(£3.36 saved in offers and discounts)

(We bought the 2nd class stamps ahead of the 7p price rise, but not from the grocery budget.)

We shopped at Asda to use the last day of the 10% Blue Light Card discount.

Stocking up on,
tinned sardines 4 x 39p 
extra special coffee beans on offer 2 packs for £5.50
basic muesli  2 x 1Kg for £1.40

Yellow stickered,
lemons x4, 66p
oranges 2 x5 at 46p

2 for £2
clementines
grapes

milk 4pt, cream 300ml, natural yoghurt 1Lt.
dried figs, cream crackers, 
swede, 1 leek, 4 carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, 
pears, bananas, blueberries.

Meat, fish, butter, and cheese will be from the freezer.
Everything else from the fridge and pantry. 

Nelliegrace

@Suffolk_lass I decant the washing up liquid into a smaller bottle because DH gets through a large bottle in about the same time. I have just caught him upending the bottle of Ecover w.u.l. and giving it a long squeeze with both hands, just for a few breakfast things! Suds everywhere, and nothing rinsed. Perhaps a pump action bottle is needed? 

He works on the principle that if he does housework badly enough I will take over, or if he goes out on his hobbies it will all be done when he gets home, or saying, “I’ll do that,” when I am just finishing a task, counts as doing it.

Suffolk_lass

Nelliegrace said:

@Suffolk_lass I decant the washing up liquid into a smaller bottle because DH gets through a large bottle in about the same time. I have just caught him upending the bottle of Ecover w.u.l. and giving it a long squeeze with both hands, just for a few breakfast things! Suds everywhere, and nothing rinsed. Perhaps a pump action bottle is needed? 

He works on the principle that if he does housework badly enough I will take over, or if he goes out on his hobbies it will all be done when he gets home, or saying, “I’ll do that,” when I am just finishing a task, counts as doing it.

We are pretty good at sharing tasks here, and to his credit, he always loads the dishwasher before bed (after I have gone to bed). Exceptionally, he omitted to start it last night - normally I unload and put away, and rewash anything that it didn't clean, or things on the draining board he has washed by hand that are not up to my standards. Then I wipe all the surfaces and change the dishwasher. I do all the shopping and washing, finance stuff and he does the cat's litter trays, pumps up tyres and puts batteries to charge (and deals with the chemical toilet when we are away in the van) - I think I do well because of the more unpleasant things he does, even if my things take more time.

I think that ploy of doing things badly would not have contributed to a happy marriage here, and I would have had to point out his short-comings until they were addressed or removed (as in him!)

Gettingmyshiztogether

Hello all! Thank you @elsiepac for being "in" again for this month, and running this challenge. It is helping me immeasurably to get a handle on our food spend. Saying that we did go over immenselyast month. By £80! However I did host an afternoon tea for 9 (8 turned up, but I could have easily fed 12+) which turns out cost £60. Cheaper than going out for it, more homely however I really need to learn how to bake a few scones myself. I have since learned how to make cheese scones, much to my daughters delight! 

This month my budget remains at £400, for a family of four; two adults, a teen and a pre teen. The children eat as much if not more than us with their ever-growing-ness.

This week I will try to get by with just a top up as we have a full pantry and more time to bake the things we would usually buy. Next week, starting the 5th, I saw that S@inos will be doing the 19p Veggie again, so I plan to do a big stock up for my freezer then.

Any I am now rambling! In short I am back in for April with a £400 Budget, which I will not go over! 

Adorian

Suffolk_lass said:

Adorian said:

Suffolk_lass said:

<snip>.....

I don't know if anyone else does this but when I buy washing up liquid, I tip one third of the new bottle into the old bottle and then fill the new bottle with water and mix it. By the time I need it, the liquid has thickened up again. I add enough water to the old bottle to be half full but even when mixed, this one is quite runny until it too, thickens up. I don't know the science but it works and apart from squirting a bit more from the old bottle for a day or two, you honestly don't notice the difference.

Is it safe to add water and leave it for that long? I would have thought that adding water would introduce/encourage bacterial growth.

It would surprise me if it did - the main ingredient in washing up liquid is water. We have been doing this for donkeys years - I picked it up on here before I joined in 2009. I lurked for maybe 2 years before that and it has never caused any harm to us. I suggest the chemicals in the detergents combine with water to clean your dishes. If you read labels the proportion of water in savers brand is the same detergent with a higher water content (but the cost saving from diluting it yourself is greater than the differential price if you buy it yourself).

Do you have a source to support this?

No, not at all, hence asking the question. I would assume that water used in manufacture is purified whereas tap water wouldn't be. Like not leaving a wet sponge around as it encourages bacteria (my chef ex was very firm about not leaving wet surfaces/sponges etc due to the risk of bacteria but maybe that's just due to his cheffing background). It's probably fine in the short term, but maybe not such a good idea in the longer term. I'd not risk it but maybe with purified water it'd be OK?