June 2008 Grocery Challenge

JayJay14

Congrats to Mrs Irwin and baby

Nsd for me today until OHs car battery gave up the ghost -£120:eek: :eek:
The first one he bought didn't fit (£100) so he had to take it back and change it. Thank goodness for the GC at least I stil had come money in the bank;)

It also ment he had to use my car all day as he had taken a day off for an interview and to take the dog to the vet (jab time).

So I had to walk home from w**k - past Mr A which was sooo tempting but I managed to resist the pull and go home without buying anything.:D

While he was out and about he popped into Aldi and bought some of the super 6 - at 69p a pineapple is a very good buy, he also got plums, tomatoes and a melon so we should be ok for a few days.

angelatgraceland

chocolateteddy wrote: »

Hi all
I find I haven't had time to post once I 've caught up with all the reading. But this week isn't going too bad updated signature abit over budget but I did stock up on some things this week ( now have 6 bottles of washing up liquid stashed away:rotfl: )so should even itself up over month (I hope!!)
I spent more than I would have done using my get £5 off when you spend £30 voucher out of the sun (But as I said now have 6 bottles of washing up liquid which were technically free:) , rice, tinned toms and bread flour- none of it will go off so.....)
Hoping not to spend too much in butchers tomorrow and will try to be good when I go down town:A

Thanks for all the great recipes and hints I used soda crystals for the first time and nappies came out lovely and not too much foam so thinking I got dosage right, we are a hard water area here on the east coast, so anything that helps save the pennies;) on washing liquid

Can I just ask I have always used liquid but I notice powder is more economical but does anyone find powder leaves white marks on clothes due to it not dissolving or has powder advanced since I last used it 16 years ago!!!!!!!!!! I find fabric softner also makes my dispenser tray a bit manky and drum is smelly not unpleasently so but not as fresh as it used to be so will try cleaning it out with soda crystals and a hot empty wash.

Well if you try using washing powder only use half what they tell you. Also, I tend to put it straight into the drum rather than the dispenser-same with the liquid-in a liquid ball in the drum as Ive found with the newer models which use less water that the dispenser drawer gets blocked up so most of the time I dont use it. Not sure if the powders have advances as much as they claim but I only tend to use them for dirtier stuff which can be washed on a hotter(60)wash. The rest of the time I use half rec dose of liquid or soapnuts on a (30) wash. I dont find tablets dissolve on this temperature and of course they are expensive.
I always stock up on liquid when they are on offer-I will then buy about 6 bottles which last ages. Surprisingly, Waitrose do the best offers on this-their own brand especially. Also, Iceland stock "easy" laundry liquid which is very low cost-I think its about £1 or £1.50. Can't remember as Im still using my bulk buy from months ago.



Fabric softener of course has to go in the dispenser but if you are only using it for that it should be less gunky. I rarely use it-Ive just got used to "not using it". You can always add a few drops of lavender oil or something if its really a nice smell you want rather than softening.


Noticed that Asda have milk on offer still(not cravendale) 4pts-buy 2 for £2 and 6 pts-buy 2 for £3. I think the offer is on until 27th June.

beckseven

No spend day for me yesterday but today(i'm on nights) I'm going to go and buy my stuff for the preschool race night. Todays plan is go to Wilkos for napkins, plates and pudding bowls (will have another look in cupboard before to see if I can locate any) Mr A's for smart price nachos and peanuts, sour cream, frozen berries for pavalova and perhaps cornflower but think that I may have some and double cream. On Saturday I'm going to get some salad bits from Lidl and a French stick. I'm hoping to get all this for under a £10- fingers crossed!

mrs_moneyspinner

Got a chicken roast and a whole boned leg of lamb in waitrose - also potatos -will do MrT weekly shop today. Hubby home today having been in Las Vegas/hospital x food poisoning - made lentil soup for him. Anyone got any recipes to make him feel better fast? also to fill kids up between meals they keep wanting crisps - have cut out as 9 yr old ADHD but 13 yr old growth spurt needs feeding!

annelouise_2

mrs moneyspinner -Tried Twinks hob nobs.Very lovely and scoffed regularly in our house.

MrsM Thanks for advice re:courgettes - have 4 lovely leaves on now.

Twinks hobnobs original in oven now,have made them a little smaller this time to fit in biscuit jar!!

Am on the look out for yeast today at my local Spanish supermarket,I'll let you know how I get on with my pidgeon Spanish.

Other than yeast not planning to spend anything today.

Still more ebay items to iron!!!!!aaaggghhh

annelouise

catnap53

chocolateteddy wrote: »

Hi all
I find I haven't had time to post once I 've caught up with all the reading.


Can I just ask I have always used liquid but I notice powder is more economical but does anyone find powder leaves white marks on clothes due to it not dissolving or has powder advanced since I last used it 16 years ago!!!!!!!!!! I find fabric softner also makes my dispenser tray a bit manky and drum is smelly not unpleasently so but not as fresh as it used to be so will try cleaning it out with soda crystals and a hot empty wash.

Same here, tried to catch up in my lunch break yesterday, but my boss came in, why did I feel guilty? I have put in so many unpaid extra hours, including most of last Sunday and cancelling a days leave over the last few weeks, with several deadlines in the same week (for different departments, and they all think I only have theirs) that even if it wasn't my official break I shouldn't have felt bad.

So much housework to catch up on now too that I haven't time for baking. It's a good job I had so much food in stock that I wasn't tempted to go down the ready meal or chippy route.

Anyway, one week in for this month and only spent 34.75, too busy to shop. DH bought some milk, bread and sausages in the local SPAR:eek: , and I had a quick dash to Asda on Saturday night just before closing, managed to get Cravendale still on offer, two loaves, 1p and 2p and some fruit. DD came with me and as we were getting close to closing time she asked for cherries, then said no, its OK they are too expensive. I felt sorry for her and said go on then! When I checked the receipt they were nearly four pounds! At least they weren't sweets.

I can't get to grips with this washing powder lark. I have always used powder, large packs since I joined Costco, only ever put half quantities in, (over 30 years) but now I have a new washing machine it doesn't seem to dissolve properly. I often use a bit of conditioner to reduce the ironing, but it seems useless. Put it on for an extra rinse and still doesn't seem to wash out. Tried the gel capsules a couple of months ago when they were BOGOF and these seemed better, but really too expemsive.

Tried dissolving it first in hot water once, got distracted and left it, it bubbled all over the worktop, down the cupboads and over the floor.

DH got some tablets by mistake a few weeks ago, I had never used these before, and don't intend to do so again. I need to make a decision soon as I am running out and can get whatever I need a bit cheaper in Costco.

Well, breakfast coffee finished and DD needs to get up for school, (GCSEs still going on) so must go.

Thanks to all for tips and recipes.

Zzzzz

OrkneyStar

cookinmummy wrote: »

Thanks OrkneyStar. Maybe I should complain to the manager.

Yes - our Tescos has a very good range of seat combos for the kids (including the car in front of the trolley that a toddler can sit in beeping the horn and a seat in the trolley for a baby/toddler!) - we are very hi-tech in Perthshire! LOL

Sadly - Mr T isn't always the cheapest!

Well he said they were already on order so don't know if my complaining helped or not lol
I LOVE the Tesco in Perth just off the A9-make a point of stopping off there on our travels.

ifonlyitwaseasier

morning all,

am going to spend a little today, need some raspberry liqourice, nomnomnomnom, and might get some whoopsied stuff if i see it:rolleyes:

found out from OH that he'd had a tenner this week :eek: :eek: so that why my sig jumped, i make him count his food at work out of the budget (yes i tried giving him packed lunches but he'd eat them and then spend money as well)

hope it's sunny for you all

ladyroughneck

Ok just a quick update, first non NSD yesterday since doing the weekly shop on friday and only spent £5.77 on potoatoes, whoopsied apples and other bit and pieces:Tso still on budget.
Have to pop to the butcher for some meat later, but apart from that shouldn't need to buy anything else.
Just off to update my sig. Sunny days everyone;)

lovelaura28

Hi Everyone!

I am new here and would love to join in with your Grocery Challenge if it's not too late!?!?

My monthly budget would be £200 (as this is my first month but hope to get it down). This is for 2 adults, a very fussy Dog and my cat who is always hungry!

Thanks and good luck everyone x