February 2025 Grocery Challenge

Suffolk_lass

My plan was staying away from the SM until March, but I do need carrots. I stopped buying so many in my monthly big shop because the ends were going manky, but now I run out towards the end of the month and risk temptation by going shopping to replenish! I could bring my shop forward because we are away for a week at the end of March. I would rather wait though. 

sams247

Well the perfect storm caused an imperfect spend.  Went down with heavy head cold and have had a week going downhill in mood.  So my trip to Tsco for something to soothe my throat turned into a £17.80 shop, most of which is stuff I would not have bought otherwise.

But it is what it is.  And I am less down today so a glimpse of sunshine on the horizon

TravelCrystal

Morning everyone or afternoon time I have typed this

Just a few things to add then I am declaring for February as don’t need anything further 
Lidl for tea bags £2.79
Asda for horseradish and rubber gloves £3.37

@Suffolk_lass I’m sure you know how to store carrots but just to say I took all those carrots I had a good 3 weeks ago and layered them singly in rows between kitchen paper to soak up any moisture and placed them in the dew bin of the fridge. Made about 5 rows and I have only had to ditch a couple of bits from 2. Have made 2 carrot cakes which were well received by DH and passing visitors. I must say I am fed up of carrots now 🤣 only one layer to go 

Will have to up my budget for March as we are self catering for 5 days and I don’t intend to do much cooking 

Total spend in February £189.87/£200

Have a good weekend folks

T.C

carboot_karaoke

Evening all, 

Just a quick post,  to declare two more spends totalling £11.16 on cheese, squash, a cauliflower and yorkshire puddings for tomorrow's roast 😋 

New totals £351.54 / £500 

K9sandFelines

joedenise said:

I don't bother with TGTG bags from Aldi anymore.  They always seem to have loads of one sort of veg and not much else!  The last one I got had 5 boxes of mushrooms - we eat quite a lot of mushrooms but not 5 boxes when they're not even perfect to start with!

I vowed not to get another after the last one, but I thought maybe just maybe, it would be a good one. Also, I'd not seen any advertised for ages.
I need to sit on my hands from now on, and just stick to Olio. 
I've had the same at one point with mushrooms, and sliced potatoes; and you just get sick of eating it on repeat. 

t14cy_t

K9sandFelines said:

joedenise said:

I don't bother with TGTG bags from Aldi anymore.  They always seem to have loads of one sort of veg and not much else!  The last one I got had 5 boxes of mushrooms - we eat quite a lot of mushrooms but not 5 boxes when they're not even perfect to start with!

I vowed not to get another after the last one, but I thought maybe just maybe, it would be a good one. Also, I'd not seen any advertised for ages.
I need to sit on my hands from now on, and just stick to Olio. 
I've had the same at one point with mushrooms, and sliced potatoes; and you just get sick of eating it on repeat. 

ive stuck to olio instead of tgtg for months now.  the last few weeks have been really sparse on olio, but tgtg is no where as good as it was. going to sit it out for a while in the hopes that olio comes good again!

joedenise

Unfortunately we'd don't have anyone doing Olio locally and I can't be a volunteer as I don't drive at night and our nearest store is likely to be Tesco which is over 8 miles away so not economically viable with the price of fuel!

diminua

I was out yesterday - a longish walk along the canal between Leamington Spa and a place called Calias Lane, which is where the bus stops outside a pub, (conveniently, buses often stop outside pubs) so that was a gin and tonic and a packet of crisps down while I waited - £7 exactly. I also got coffee and pastry on the way in (£7.10 at Marylebone. Ouch.). And groceries on the way back - carrots, sundried tomato paste, pasta, tinned fish, toilet rolls, tomatoes, ginger beer and rose lemonade. That was £13.60. 
I also had a look at the olive oil. I haven't bought any for a over a year so the price of it made me blink a bit - and there were no small tins, only bottles or really huge tins.  It's not a staple food and I have a little left so will wait until I see what I want. 
I'm left with £13.57 left for the month. I know I probably say this every month but the only thing I should need these last few days is milk and bread. 
Now about to make an apple pie with one Bramley and some Granny Smiths that are too sharp. 

Soontobeoap

The Grandchildren have gone home ( well to a hotel whilst building work continues!) so I have had time to evaluate grocery spending.  I took DD to the range and Aldi to buy snacks for picnic lunches and sweets for a play sweet shop as well as ice creams and jellies plus tinned fruit for the Sundae bar that they set up. It kept them all occupied for a while and cost £40.90 + a few veg and extras at Aldi for £21.20.  was happy with that. However their tummy's neededñ much more food than I expected and we were back to Aldi's mid week where we spent a further £51.57 on fruit,veg sandwich fillings tinned fruit drinks and more treats !🤦. I cannot deny my grandchildren. Especially ones who are temporarily homeless because their home is being fully renovated. They won't know themselves in the summer and are all very excited.  Anyway DH rushed off to Sainsburys today ( - the nectar card again) to " replenish stocks" I was in bed recovering from last week when he declared this, so we probably have more than we need. I hope so anyway. I am declaring now and keeping hands tightly in pockets until next week. We have never started a year by spending as much as this on food!!! I am horrified! So next month is vouchers coupons month! We have some M and S Vouchers that we were given as gifts, our nectar points and a few Tesco club card points. Also staying at DSs for 4 days. I am going for £150 but hoping for less. We are out for dinner on Tuesday evening for a meal that we won in a raffle. Hoping to walk into Cowes and have a drink at the same time.
Hope you all had more success than me this month. 

Spendywendywoo

A couple more top up shops of bread, milk, fresh items and the total is now £393.45 for Feb... one week to go so going to do a C&C for tomorrow to bring it in under the total (£56.55 remaining). 

In hindsight I should have increased the total slightly for half term but will see