October 2023 Grocery Challenge

goldfinches

My first spend of the month today in Mr T's for more paper hankies as my nose seems to be continually running these days what with hayfever and it being very windy on alternate days here, bloomin' weather!

That makes my new total £1.80/£170 which means my average daily spend is £0.45. 

I made these triple chocolate buckwheat cookies from Nigella's site for our Wednesday group today and veganised them by using naturli and free and easy egg replacer and they were pronounced delicious. I got 24 cookies from the mixture by weighing them at 28g apiece and most people found 2 were easily enough.

LotsOfTea

Hello! Can I join in please? I definitely need to get a grip on my grocery spending and I have very full cupboards and freezer so I feel like I more than qualify! 😀

I'd like to aim for £250 for the month for 2 adults and 1 child. 

I made a start today by doing a bit of batch cooking to use up any fruit and veg that needed to get used quickly and I've ended up with a load of butternut squash, sweet potato and carrot soup; a huge veggie & bean chili; some potato and kale curry and a small amount of spiced pear and apple compote. 

I've still got tons of veg left that could last a bit longer so I'll probably only need a few bits and bobs over the next week rather than a proper shop. 🤞

SausageDogSandwich

First spend of £34.31 in sains yesterday, thought I’d try there as with nectar and price match everything I wanted was either the same price or cheaper there. The kids love Pringles and they were ‘only’ £1.50 each there so I got them a tube each along with fruit, veg, bread stuff, not a lot else. 

£34.31/350 spent

Florenceem

Had a big spend of £35 + in Lid. today.

chirpychick

Hi I will be rejoining as my life got flipped upside down a few months ago im now settling in to new things. My budget this month is so tiny due to just going onto benefits and no longer having my husbands income, it will go up next month. 

Weekly until next month I just have £30 per week. 
It should be ok, a real challenge as our stores are hugely depleted plus im dairy and gluten free, have ARFID. But determined to make it work. My first port of call this evening is to make a list of all food in the house and start a meal plan! 
My son had run out of his usual breakfasts (autistic) and we made banana muffins this afternoon, not particularly healthy but something he will actually eat so that's 6 days breakfast there for him. 
Need to get my thinking cap on

joedenise

Do you have a community pantry you could access?  It's usually quite cheap.  My local one is £15.50 a month for a single membership which entitles you to 10 items a week but sometimes they give more free; family membership is double the amount for 20 items plus some free when available.  

Check out the recipes at the beginning of the thread - there are some cheap ones amongst them and might give you some ideas for the food you have in stock.

Florenceem

I was gifted lots today which helps with the budget - free range duck/chicken eggs + cucumbers/pears/mushrooms.

Verulamium_Vixen

Hi everyone 
Just checking in, I've already spent £90 this month, mainly topping up stuff because I don't usually do my big shop until around payday in the middle of the month.
I have also started buying bird food which I do every winter, even though it looks like we're going to have a freaky heatwave this weekend. 
Had a letter from twins school today, they have just started year 12 (A levels) and there's a trip to Madrid in March for twin 1 as she is doing Spanish.
The trip is £850, they want £500 by next Friday and £350 by 17th November. 
SERIOUSLY!
I worked out we could do it if we borrowed from our sons savings but after all those mental gymnastics,  when she got home I asked her if she wanted to go and she doesn't.  There's another trip later next year that she wants instead.
What planet is the school on, how many parents can rustle up £500 in less than 10 days?  Just because someone has stayed on to do A levels doesn't mean the family is flush.

Anyway,  rant over, it's safe to come out now

VV 

goldfinches

@Verulamium_Vixen - I don't blame you for ranting, that sort of short notice demand would leave me fuming too. 

I had to buy a new gas cylinder for my sodastream today so took the opportunity to pick up a few other things at the same time so that I can avoid the shops for the next few days. I spent £16.10 at Sains and got the gas cylinder, vaseline and cotton buds. The bulk buy fund splashed out for 2 x 200g jars of instant coffee for £11.60. Then I went to M*rks and spent £12.30 on 2 x tinned toms, yoghurt, tin of kidney beans, cashew nuts, cucumber, 4 x milk, lettuce, cherry toms and radishes. I was a bit fed up that there were no 1kg containers of yoghurt on the shelf at all and the next biggest one was 400g for more than the 1kg would have cost and that buying almost any nuts in larger quantities doesn't cost less per 100g. I think I might try cycling to either Aldi or Lidl next week to see whether I can do better shopping there.

That makes my new total £30.20/£170 and my average daily spend is £6.04.

I have used the tin of kidney beans and one of the tins of tomatoes to batch cook this evening and have salad and homemade crackers for lunch for the next few days as well as half a loaf of rye bread and another bag of windfall apples to process tomorrow.

LadyWithAPlan

Auti said:

LadyWithAPlan - always ask if anything off for student discount even if nothing shown. It is surprising how many places don’t have notices but will discount if asked. I had one a few years ago and got money off that I never expected (or access to stuff that normally I could not) - always worth an ask

Thanks so much for this The college DF milk latter is £3.75! Hardly a student price... so had double expresso with extra water  for £2.65 instead today

I spent £5 on a coffee, crisps and nuts at college today - would normally take food but an empty fridge and was busy working in the morning. However I am not counting coffee and such 'treats' as food but instead from my 'TREATS & ENTERTAINMENT' BUDGET - next week i will take a flask and gf cookies etc with me as its a long day..

@goldfinches do you find your soda stream worthwhile? I much prefer sparkling water to still so often buy it for 89p at the local Co*p .. do you use the favoured ones?
Those cookies sound and look epic!

@chirpychick sounds like this is a challenge you will  win. Maybe see if you get  or find a cheap breadmaker -  most normal machines do have a GF recipe setting - much cheaper  - I worked out its about £1.30 a GF  loaf, tastier and better for you. The freezer is definitely your friend as is baking -  I am also GF DF  so rarely travel anywhere w/out HM goodies.