Away From The Madding Crowd

BrilliantButScary

@Humboldt,
I am curious about your grocery budget. Does it just cover food, or does it also cover alcohol, cleaning materials, toiletries, pet food etc?

I am a similar vintage to you, I took 'early retirement' 18 months ago and always enjoy reading your diary, it is so positive.
Your 'ping' meals, I would refer to as 'cook once, eat twice' meals, which I am also an advocate of.
I am an Aldi shopper, but also utilise the Trolley app, making multiple bargain buys of some things e.g. teabags, cat food etc from other places. I am quite. fortunate where I live as there are a lot of shopping choices.

A simple pleasure for me yesterday was seeing a kite (bird). I am completing a 'Kindness Diary' as part of the 25 in 25 challenge, which has space for 'Random Acts of Kindness' and 'Things to be Thankful for'.

Nebulous2

BrilliantButScary said:

@Humboldt,
I am curious about your grocery budget. Does it just cover food, or does it also cover alcohol, cleaning materials, toiletries, pet food etc?

I am a similar vintage to you, I took 'early retirement' 18 months ago and always enjoy reading your diary, it is so positive.
Your 'ping' meals, I would refer to as 'cook once, eat twice' meals, which I am also an advocate of.
I am an Aldi shopper, but also utilise the Trolley app, making multiple bargain buys of some things e.g. teabags, cat food etc from other places. I am quite. fortunate where I live as there are a lot of shopping choices.

A simple pleasure for me yesterday was seeing a kite (bird). I am completing a 'Kindness Diary' as part of the 25 in 25 challenge, which has space for 'Random Acts of Kindness' and 'Things to be Thankful for'.

I like the idea of random acts of kindness. I write reviews on services / meals etc and I can be critical of poor service. I can also be very positive where things have gone well. 

Recently I've challenged myself to not only write a positive review of something, but also to thank people personally,  where things have gone well. 

I found myself having to fly in one of the recent storms. Everyone was very tense. A young member of the cabin crew did very well, reassuring people, distracting them and making sure everyone was okay. Before leaving the cabin I said: "Thank you, you did exceptionally well under difficult circumstances."  She was visibly moved and said "Thank you, you've no idea how much that means to me." 

I took a bus journey yesterday. Some of the bus drivers are quite aggressive, accelerating harshly, pulling out sharply, and not very consistent. This was a young driver and he drove very smoothly and consistently, with good anticipation. On leaving the bus I said "Thank you, you're very good, that was a very smooth journey." Again he appeared surprised and pleased. 

Where people are providing a public service, they get a lot of criticism and difficult people, but there are a lot of people out there, doing a good job, for not a lot of money. Its not always easy to appreciate that, without being condescending, but I'm making an attempt. 

mark55man

Thank you for your kindnesses Nebulous2 - I am sure the people really were touched and hopefully you have provided some insulation for them against the next batch of rude people 

Humboldt

@Organgrinder hope that you are now feeling a little less battered and bruised after your snowboarding trip.

@BrilliantButScary a very big hello and welcome.  I very much appreciate your kind words, and your description of us being 'a similar vintage' made me smile. 

Our grocery budget does not include alcohol, meals out, medical supplies i.e. headache tablets, cold remedies, sun lotion, etc, pet food (sadly we no longer own a pet), personal toiletries i.e. shampoo/conditioner, skin care, deodorant, etc, flowers (which I generally buy when reduced), but does include all food, cleaning materials, dishwasher tablets, laundry liquid, loo rolls, etc.  

I am probably overdoing this, but I thought that it might be useful to expand on how I attempt to keep within our budget. I am aware that I have mentioned this previously, so sorry for repeating myself. I find that cooking from scratch, buying seasonal produce, actively seeking out discounts (I will check out the Trolley app), shopping around (I too am lucky enough to have several shops nearby to choose from), including some meatless dishes in our weekly menu, etc, all helps.  You may have noticed that reduced items also feature in my weekly menu (I very much hate food waste). I keep a store cupboard of basics (I do not hoard) and try to purchase these when on offer (cleaning items are currently on offer). To reduce waste and cost I choose recipes that make full use of an ingredient i.e. if I buy celery, I will plan a couple of meals that require it that week. I was pleased to read that you too are an advocate of 'ping meals', which also reduces waste and cost.  

Thank you for sharing your simple pleasure, and for highlighting the '25 in 25 challenge'.  Which brings me nicely onto...

@Nebulous2 your latest comment was an absolute joy to read.  When shopping on New Years Eve, the lady at the till had a large queue of people and looked under pressure.  Having packed my shopping I wished her a happy new year, and as she smiled, she actually had tears in her eyes as she wished me the same.  Kindness costs nothing, but is so valuable. 

Humboldt

Hello and welcome.

Motivational quote of the week.

Approach the New Year with resolve to find the opportunities hidden in each new day – Michael Josephson

Money saving.

Our monthly grocery budget for me and my DH is £250.  Week 1 spend for January was £51.99.

I have a 20% discount code for my haircut this month.

January’s premium bond win was £100.

A few post-Christmas bargains this week. Taste the D!fference matured mincemeat with brandy reduced to 25p (to be eaten before Aug 2025, so I have made a note on my calendar to make my mince pies in July and freeze them).  Smoked salmon reduced from £9.00 to £1.99, now in the freezer and will be eaten when we return from holiday.  Taste the D!fference cranberry, orange and chestnut stuffing mix reduced to 20p, best before March 2026.

Enjoyed a free cuppa in M+S café when I caught up with friends.  Given this is sometimes our venue of choice it is a bonus to be able to ‘earn’ a free cuppa (buy 5 hot drinks and receive a free hot drink).

This week’s main menu – all change!

Monday –  Garlic roast chicken with stuffing, homemade cranberry sauce (from the freezer), roast vegetables, broccoli, and gravy. 

This is meal swap from last Saturday when we had a lamb flat bread (to use up the leftover lamb), hummus, Greek yogurt with fresh mint, leftover dates/olives, and a mixed salad. The flatbreads were reduced in price and frozen until required.  The mint was from the garden, but will probably be the last of it now that the frosts have arrived.

Tuesday – Ping meal – as above (cook once, eat twice, saves on time and energy costs).

This was a meal swap from last Sunday when we had skinny beef burger (5% fat) with blue cheese in a wholemeal bun, homemade smoky paprika sweet potato wedges, and salad.  Burgers were reduced in price and frozen until required.  Cheese was the last of the Christmas cheese.  I utilised the oven by cooking a homemade sourdough loaf.

Wednesday – Pork and pineapple curry (slow cooker recipe), a small portion of brown rice and homemade onion bhaji’s from the freezer.  Pork was reduced in price and frozen until required.

Thursday – Away on holiday.

Healthier lifestyle.

Completed 0 free online workouts last week.

Completed 5 free meditations last week.

Step count last week was 39, 545.

Simple pleasures.

Whilst on holiday I will enjoy reading a couple of magazines that I was gifted.

The primulas in the garden border are already in bloom.

A cuppa and a slice of homemade Christmas cake.  My MIL makes our Christmas cake each year, I just Artex it lol.

Thanks for dropping by and taking the time to read my diary.

BrilliantButScary

Humboldt said:

@Organgrinder hope that you are now feeling a little less battered and bruised after your snowboarding trip.

@BrilliantButScary a very big hello and welcome.  I very much appreciate your kind words, and your description of us being 'a similar vintage' made me smile. 

Our grocery budget does not include alcohol, meals out, medical supplies i.e. headache tablets, cold remedies, sun lotion, etc, pet food (sadly we no longer own a pet), personal toiletries i.e. shampoo/conditioner, skin care, deodorant, etc, flowers (which I generally buy when reduced), but does include all food, cleaning materials, dishwasher tablets, laundry liquid, loo rolls, etc.  

I am probably overdoing this, but I thought that it might be useful to expand on how I attempt to keep within our budget. I am aware that I have mentioned this previously, so sorry for repeating myself. I find that cooking from scratch, buying seasonal produce, actively seeking out discounts (I will check out the Trolley app), shopping around (I too am lucky enough to have several shops nearby to choose from), including some meatless dishes in our weekly menu, etc, all helps.  You may have noticed that reduced items also feature in my weekly menu (I very much hate food waste). I keep a store cupboard of basics (I do not hoard) and try to purchase these when on offer (cleaning items are currently on offer). To reduce waste and cost I choose recipes that make full use of an ingredient i.e. if I buy celery, I will plan a couple of meals that require it that week. I was pleased to read that you too are an advocate of 'ping meals', which also reduces waste and cost.  

Thank you for sharing your simple pleasure, and for highlighting the '25 in 25 challenge'.  Which brings me nicely onto...

@Nebulous2 your latest comment was an absolute joy to read.  When shopping on New Years Eve, the lady at the till had a large queue of people and looked under pressure.  Having packed my shopping I wished her a happy new year, and as she smiled, she actually had tears in her eyes as she wished me the same.  Kindness costs nothing, but is so valuable. 

@Humboldt Thank you for your reply, I operate in a very similar manner to yourself as regards food shopping and on the same budget. I 'shop from home' a la @Foxgloves, before I write my weekly shopping list:  to see what I need, to go with what I have already got.

I like your weekly meal planning and the fact you give sources for the recipes, and have followed these up on occasion. I have made a Hairy Bikers Dundee cake today, as it used up a lot of bits in my store cupboard. Husband has made 4 cottage pies, whilst I was at the gym. We have eaten 2 and frozen 2. 

@Nebulous2 I was a 'public servant' for 44 years and remember lots of random acts of kindness shown to me, often by people that you might not expect it from. Kindness is like good manners, both cost nothing, but are so valuable.

tiddles

@Humboldt - just to say that I really enjoy reading your diary, and hope that you have a lovely holiday!

ShyAndRetiring

Hi @Humboldt thanks for sharing info about your grocery budget. I’m focused on our grocery spending in Jan, so it’s useful to learn more about what others do. I think our methods, as well as our aims, are pretty similar.

Enjoy your holiday, travel safely, S&R x

Organgrinder

I tuned into Jamie's £1 meals last night in an attempt to find some inspiration.

Omg, what a load of nonsense.

I'm no fan of Mr Oliver. I still recall him stir frying with olive oil which is a complete no-no imo. However I watched as he made something that looked ok and then came the cost breakdown with something like 14p worth of feta cheese. 

After ranting at the television and watching the remainder of the programme it dawned on me why programmes like this can end up costing you more. They need to do a complete shop and use up everything not just add quantities of ingredients you cannot buy. Or at least try to!

I did of course immediately buy shares in companies manufacturing chilli flakes, olive oil and lemon juice as sales of these massively increase everytime Jamie is on TV! ;-)

Humboldt

@BrilliantButScary Thank you for your kind feedback on my weekly menu plans.  I have made a note to check out the H@iry B!kers Dundee cake recipe when I return from holiday.  

@tiddles as always, your kind words and support are much appreciated.

Hi @ShyAndRetiring thank you for dropping by. I am sure that you are already aware, but the various grocery related threads on the 'Old Style MoneySaving' thread make my efforts look like a drop in the ocean and provide a fabulous source of information. 

@Organgrinder I can highly recommend Ald!'s Italian Speci@lly Selected P.D.O. Terra Di Bari C@stel Del Monte extra virgin olive oil. £5.49 for 500ml when I last bought it in Dec 24.

Today's simple pleasure - so nice to be among like minded people.