September 2012 Grocery Challenge

tentickles666 · 31 August 2012 at 7:01PM

This is my first time attempting this challenge!In my household there is me and my two kids under 10 and quite often but not always my boyfriend (we don't live together)
I've just done meal planners for the kids lunch boxes, I'm attempting to get healthier and spend less at the same time. I may be insane this is yet to be confirmed.

Budget £200 for the month

Mortgage_Reduction_Novice · 31 August 2012 at 7:07PM

I spent £11.75 on fruit, veg and eggs at the market today. I bought a bit more veg than usual because I'm making a huge stew tomorrow to batch freeze.

I noticed the eggs have gone up by 25p so I'll be comparing the price again next time I'm in the supermarket.

mossy · 31 August 2012 at 7:28PM

Save_Dosh wrote: »

sjprmc01

Helen Jelly - re stocking/stuff going up, i think the food crisis will probably affect meat prices as loads of livestock are fed wheat, etc.

Okay, so I notice that prices do seem to fluctuate a lot lately but have been blaming that mainly on petrol costs and subsequently transport of goods to SM etc, and also on SM's taking every advantage to make more money and blame it on the costs rising etc.

However, what is this annual price rise that you all speak off? And what should I be doing about it?

In other news I have been a very good girl, did some batch cooking today which resulted in two lots of chilli, two lots of bolognaise and two lots of beef casserole to be frozen although freezer is actually rammed.

That's most things that can be pre made done for the next couple of weeks which should help ease me back in to work!

Went to Lidl today to pick up some mince which I have used for bolognaise, going to try it first before I buy anymore. So that's £2.69 spent today. I now have enough cash left to pick up some turkey tomorrow and then fingers crossed that's all my shopping until the end of next week at the earliest!

I am excited about keeping to my budget this month. :j I have decided that if I do I'm going to change my normal £200 budget to £175 and save the other £25 a month. I want to buy DH a Tag Heur watch for our 25 wedding anniversary. :smileyhea

He has always wanted one and I have always said to him that one day I will buy him one outright. We have been married for just over 14 years and I had worked out that if I save £25 a month I will be able to save enough. Using this money will be easier than trying to find it from somewhere else in the budget as things are normally tight! A great incentive to keep to my budget!!

NickJW · 31 August 2012 at 7:37PM

Hi All

I'm going away for 5 days in September so I'm going to set my budget slightly lower at £105 .

Good luck everyone! :j

she_who_can_not_cook · 31 August 2012 at 8:03PM

Suffolk_lass wrote: »

Just took delivery of 2 x 25k sacks of flour and a box of yeast sachets that will last all winter. Bought the beautiful organic Bacheldre Watermill flour - wholemeal and strong white. Just have nowhere to store them. DH already spotted them and asked if the siege was imminent...

Take care
SL

i can ask about your flour do you think it good value for the amount of baking you do?? and who do you get if from please

pixiedust09 · 31 August 2012 at 8:14PM

I will be starting my September shop on Sunday. Thought I'd try the big fruit and veg place nearby for my, you guessed it ''fruit and veg'' :rotfl:. Don't know yet if it will work out cheaper, but the last lot of value carrots I got from Mr T were Carp. Also had a load of £6 off a £30 shop sainsbugs vouchers in the post today, that are use instore only, so may get my other groceries from there this week instead of Mr T. Will just have to keep an eye on the prices though.

[Deleted User] · 31 August 2012 at 8:21PM

Mossy - with regards to some people stocking up, here is a link that explains it http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2194436/Family-food-bills-soar-British-shoppers-face-paying-bread-pasta-meat-devastating-drought-ravages-crops-U-S.html#ixzz24owtJLZW
Also wanted to say, good luck with the watch, sounds a lovely idea

Make-it-3 · 31 August 2012 at 8:51PM

Hello peeps, everyone else's month seems to start before mine, I will try and backtrack 17 pages, but forgive me if I skim read.

Anyway I came in at £150.96/£200 for August which I'm pretty chuffed about, however I'm not sure how I did it. (Previous month I was about a tenner over). I'm going to pitch my budget at £200 again.

What I really need to do this month is soak up all the good ideas here (you all seem to eat such lovely meals on your budgets) so that I can start reducing my spends without it feeling like its really hitting us. So note to self to log on more.

lizzie_b · 31 August 2012 at 9:12PM

Picked up a few more bits & bobs today, went to the dreaded Mr T's with my sister when she did her weekly shop, I was amazed when her total came to over £40 for half a little trolley full, a weeks food for 1 tiny person (she is 5ft and about 7st)
I spent 90p in Mr T's on a bag of soda crystals because I couldnt be bothered to walk accross town to W*lko to get them.
Then I came home and went to Ald* for the stuff I needed instead.
Hope we are all doing well, ready for a new calendar month tomorrow.
xxxx

lollyfin · 31 August 2012 at 9:45PM

Hi all well I did my first monthly shop today so I should have all the meat, tins, toilet roll and cleaning stuff we will need so will just have to get fresh milk and fruit and veggie stuff. This is the first time I have done this tho so im hoping my calculations are ok and I did find it cheaper than I thought I would so will just have to see.
Butchers £7.50
MrT £97.87
farm shop £8.30
total £113.67 + £24.61 Lidl yesterday =£138.28

Mossy I have tried Lidls mince before and it was lovely but this one is in different packaging, the only difference i think there is is this cheaper one has a higher fat % than the other one I have tried. I am going to give it a try next week and just drain off the fat, which I usually do anyway, and if its yuck I will hide it under lovely sauces!

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September 2012 Grocery Challenge

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