August 2024 Grocery Challenge

Pennypincin

£4.45 spent yesterday in Sainsbury's on kefir, toilet rolls and lemon juice.
The rest will be put into the bulk fund Monday.

Nelliegrace

First apple of the season from the garden. The trees are not very big, grown by the fence and pruned so I can reach the crop. I get more apples by foraging from the old canal path and quiet lanes. Lots of blackberries now, they freeze well. 

PipneyJane

Good afternoon All

Apologies for my silence, but I was in hospital for 6 days last week receiving prophylactic chemotherapy.  I’m doing well.

@elsiepac, I’m sorry but can you please increase my August budget to £202.30?  

That’s the usual £160 plus the £42.30 we had left over from July.  We’ve already made a dent in August, having spent £49.35 over the last 12 days, on 6 shops.  I won’t bore you with the details, just that DH was relieved to discover that, if you use Sainsbug’s “SmartShop” device and go to the regular self-service tills, you can pay by cash!

Nelliegrace said:

First apple of the season from the garden. The trees are not very big, grown by the fence and pruned so I can reach the crop. I get more apples by foraging from the old canal path and quiet lanes. Lots of blackberries now, they freeze well. 

Enjoy the apples, @Nelliegrace.  We’re inundated with blueberries.  At least 3kg have been frozen so far, and another kilo was harvested on Saturday.  If I get up early enough tomorrow, I’ll attempt to make blueberry jam (before the kitchen becomes intolerably hot).  Certo Pectin was one of Saturday’s purchases.

- Pip

Blackcats

@thriftwizard - hope all is going well for your DH's recuperation.

I'm trying a new way of shopping this month - not new as in sending a robot to Lidls for me but a variation on my usual approach.  Big shop done last week which included meat, cat supplies and store cupboard items etc for the month.  Smaller top up shop today based very closely on this week's meal plan.

let's see if it works 😁

£157 remaining 

TravelCrystal

Good evening everyone.

So sorry to hear about your hospital stay @PipneyJane, wishing you well for a speedy recovery.

@Nelliegrace, I picked some blackberries today from the hedgerow. Not many ready here just yet. Will have to buy something else to go with them, maybe pears and or apples. They are in the freezer for now waiting for a top up.
On the shopping front I just have a T.G.T.G. to report £4 Fruit, pastries, doughnuts and sushi that was veg and chicken and a beef filled roll. Devoured for today’s lunch.
Will add this in at the end of the week.

T.C

carboot_karaoke

Hi Everyone,

@thriftwizard I'm so sorry  to hear about your OH wishing him a speedy recovery. x

Sorry I've been AWOL the last few weeks have been busy busy busy !!.

Although l haven't posted l have kept all my receipts various shopping trips amount to £237.33.

New Totals   

Food cleaning £192.29/ £470
Petrol £45.04/ £180
 

otb666

350/550  doing better this month with only 11 days left.  Been using buckwheat/lentils/split peas and cous cous to pad out meals.  Also using black berries that i have picked for breakfasts.

Suffolk_lass

PipneyJane said:

Enjoy the apples, @Nelliegrace.  We’re inundated with blueberries.  At least 3kg have been frozen so far, and another kilo was harvested on Saturday.  If I get up early enough tomorrow, I’ll attempt to make blueberry jam (before the kitchen becomes intolerably hot).  Certo Pectin was one of Saturday’s purchases.

- Pip

I just wanted to chip in and say I make berries into a sort of stewed compote (far less sugar than jam) and shove it in jam jars with pop tops - we then have lovely fresh tasting fruit (cheaper than jam and stored for free) to use in winter, on our breakfasts, or as a dessert with yogurt, ice cream or under a crumble topping. You are pretty savvy anyway, but this might be more tolerable than jam-making in this heat, to preserve your precious produce

realthing16

Do i sterlize the jars and just put lids on please? I notice quite a lot of plums here.

Pennypincin

£3.24 spent in Holland and Barrett on a jar of roasted chicory drink.
I will do a shop Thursday, and will make a list in the meantime.