May 2023 Grocery Challenge

Suffolk_lass

Having recovered my first quarter overspend in April (partly attributable to a two week holiday in a S/C cottage and meal-planning to minimise waste), I had to shop as soon as we returned on Sunday. The freezer in my toolshed (aka the beer fridge) had the freezer door open by DS not pushing a drawer shut properly, and I had to scrap a load of food. I still need a few things to replenish things like cooked chick peas and rice that were in takeaway boxes, frozen HM ready-meals and three frozen cakes, among other things. Anyway... I did a humungous shop with a fully loaded small trolley for £62.32 stores and £66.04 groceries. I need to go back today to get milk, cream and dried chick peas and brown rice. My pressure cooker will come out for the chick peas to replenish the freezer boxes - much cheaper than tins (although I do keep one for hummus)

When I read your post @Saver-upper, I thought I must just mention we do a "buy some make some" (very Barefoot Contessa) approach here to Indian meals - I sometimes buy a pack of onion bhajis and veg pakoras in the SM, cook and freeze rice (brown, basmati and occasionally jasmine), so it just needs heating in the way of a RM and make my own veg curry that freezes well - then if we fancy it, I use a ready-made paste or jar added to cooked meat or prawns. That works well and I buy the paste and jars when they are on offer. I confess to always adding more chillies when I use these though. It really keeps the cost down, and keeps the occasional restaurant visit as a special treat. We have been known to just buy naan breads and main courses from the local T/A but rarely, and it is a treat when we do - Jamie Oliver's flatbreads recipe (SR flour, a little salt and natural or G/S yoghurt) are a great sub for a 10 mile round trip for us.

2Scratters

@chirpychick - re  little ones pop, suggestion have you considered using spring water and add own juice to taste? If its been done before unsuccessfully how about saving an old bottle and making a new one? it works out a lot cheaper and they make like the idea of making it themselves if successful.
@Saver-upper as teenagers are generally old enough to understand (they know everything else ) perhaps you get the items together and you can all cook. They could also choose in turn what they would like for a meal. Developing culinary skills and learning to save money towards treats/days out. The other suggestions of the options only is a good one too.

Good luck

2 Scratters xx

MissRikkiC

I haven’t declared any spends yet this month however there has been some. I will instead do it after the shop I’m about to do now. 

I have also just priced up our veg box from Riverford organic against Tesco and for all the items (largely the same weight but only a few items organic), Tesco was actually 50p more expensive. Riverford don’t charge delivery even on their smallest box and everything supplied so far has been very very nice. I was really impressed with their customer service where by a member of their team called me to welcome me to Riverford, the driver is extremely polite, they take all the packaging (if your box has any!) back with them (and reuse it) and the paperwork that comes with the box each week is also very handy. Last night we had essentially, rainbow chard and chickpeas and it was possibly the nicest vegetarian meal I’ve ever cooked. That was a Riverford recipe and I’m now keen to try more. 

I appreciate that this is a grocery challenge thread and so maybe goes against the point. Equally I know the costs for organic produce for certain budgets are too high but when the items are the same price in Tesco for (mostly) non organic items, if you’re going to buy them anyway, maybe have a look at Riverford ☺️

Nelliegrace

May budget £150, £40.07 spent, £109.93 left.

Main shop at Asda. It was busy and we got the last shallow trolley, which had a wonky wheel. 

Yellow stickered lightly smoked salmon fillets, and best Lincolnshire sausages. 
2 packs for £2 on grapes, large oranges and blueberries.
Pears on offer at 89p, 7 small bananas £1, 
1 courgette 44p, a small savoy cabbage, 75p.
Milk back down to £1.55 for 4 pints.
Cream for home made trifles and a Victoria Sandwich for a Coronation tea tomorrow. 
Stocked up on some tins of protein foods for the store cupboard, red kidney beans at 33p, corned beef at £1.90, and a large tin of pilchards £1.10. 
Wholemeal bread flour £1.05.
A pork pie for a treat tomorrow, £1.50. I can make scotch eggs and quiche, but not proper, raised pork pies. 
I got DH to put the ingredients in the bread maker before we left so he wasn’t tempted by supermarket stuff. The kitchen smells of freshly baked bread. 

We were not tempted by the Coronation plastic tat, but plan to plant more trees and fruit bushes this year as a fitting celebration. 

Blue Light Card 10% discount has been continued indefinitely at Asda,

Total after savings: £26.64 

PipneyJane

MissRikkiC said:

I haven’t declared any spends yet this month however there has been some. I will instead do it after the shop I’m about to do now. 

I have also just priced up our veg box from Riverford organic against Tesco and for all the items (largely the same weight but only a few items organic), Tesco was actually 50p more expensive. Riverford don’t charge delivery even on their smallest box and everything supplied so far has been very very nice. I was really impressed with their customer service where by a member of their team called me to welcome me to Riverford, the driver is extremely polite, they take all the packaging (if your box has any!) back with them (and reuse it) and the paperwork that comes with the box each week is also very handy. Last night we had essentially, rainbow chard and chickpeas and it was possibly the nicest vegetarian meal I’ve ever cooked. That was a Riverford recipe and I’m now keen to try more. 

I appreciate that this is a grocery challenge thread and so maybe goes against the point. Equally I know the costs for organic produce for certain budgets are too high but when the items are the same price in Tesco for (mostly) non organic items, if you’re going to buy them anyway, maybe have a look at Riverford ☺️

Thanks for doing the comparison @MissRikkiC and for the glowing references.  It is most helpful. I am not a big fan of supermarket veg on the grounds of quality, packaging and price.  I used to buy virtually all of my veg from a farm shop in the grounds of a local National Trust property.  They never reopened after the first Lockdown.  They grew virtually everything on the premises, except for eggs (which they got from a mate who had a commercial egg farm).

- Pip

Doom_and_Gloom

We have spent £98.77 since the start of the month between A&C, Mr S, L!do and buying chinchilla food.

£98.77/£248.
£149.23 left.

MissRikkiC

@PipneyJane

I have tried every local veg supplier near to me and haven’t been impressed by their quality however only 1 was organic and I had to drive to collect it so wasn’t really sustainable for me and what I wanted from it. It was also more expensive but they were the only non franchise company that did it so I can understand why from their perspective. I also visited friends this weekend just gone, 220 miles away and they also use Riverford but out of their Cornwall base rather than the midlands. They are also very happy with them. 

Equally I’ve tried A&C and like their produce but didn’t get the same experience and they also charge delivery hence the move.   

There is a referral scheme where by everyone benefits too so maybe we could all jump on that too and make the news  

lianne1984

Weekly shop at Asda yesterday, had £40 left of my weekly budget and ended up spending £50.51, however this did include shampoo and body lotion which I wouldnt normally put through as groceries so I didn't do too bad. Lots of the yellow Just Essentials range, managed to stick to my shopping list, and also picked up a couple of £ on my Rewards app, so a fairly successful shopping trip.

£65.90 / £220

KajiKita

@Nelliegrace, good news on the blue light discount! 😊

I like the idea of planting trees etc for the coronation and I suspect the king would too 😊

KK

Suffolk_lass

I went back to Morries yesterday to tell them about the damaged potatoes in the bag of baking ones (6 too damaged to use). I also had a basket bonus of £2 so I bought milk, single cream and cat litter, and got the potatoes refunded and replaced - "just tell them Jo told you to" she said  , "if you are challenged for going back in", grabbing a bag of potatoes and walking out. Outside my comfort zone but all good! Great CS. Very happy