Grocery bill

[MrsN]

Sorry to say but I find Makro,Pick n pay,Game very expensive.I buy from Shoprite or Checkers unless there's a specific thing on special there.I feel the smart shopper you somehow pay for it...

[summerbird]

Oh forgot to mention, We've decided to eat more fish. Angle Fish is about R36per kilo at pick n pay.

The other night we had a packet of the precut Angel fish Fillets + 2 packets of 2min noodles some steamed veggies, and then I mixed all together like a Thai dish...fed 3 adults and Alexi. All in all it cost about R30 for the entire meal!!

Also found that the Checkers thick cut T-bones are only R86 pre kilo where pick n pay is about R110 per kilo!!

[momkdn25]

Sorry to say but I find Makro,Pick n pay,Game very expensive.I buy from Shoprite or Checkers unless there's a specific thing on special there.I feel the smart shopper you somehow pay for it...

I've also started thinking that.

My mum has always said that Checkers is cheaper than PnP.

[Michbi]

The price of food has definitely gone through the roof!!!

We spend aboutR3000 a month give or take,but if you think about a simple meal such as spaghetti bolognais it's quite costly, R35 for mince, R12 for tinned tomatoes, R11 ish for the pasta that's without all the sauces that you need to replace once they're finished!!

I shop at woollies most of the time though, as I prefer their quality, so while it costs more I find I no longer have to chuck away veg after 2 days if it hasn't been eaten, so I'm not wasting as much as I used to.

For Erin's stuff I shop at baby city, the formula there is cheaper than disc hem even. (only by about R10). Also they run specials of 6 packs of pampers wet wipes for R99 so I buy that and it lasts me 2 to 3 months.

[*GM*]

Meat has to be the biggest budget killer.

I do weekly planning, and buy accordingly.

I get bulk veggies from fruit and veg, and will spend a sat morning, precessing it, and then freezing it, in portions.

We have meat every night. But find that cutting down, and cooking things like stirfry and stroginof works out cheaper.
You buy the soft shin, which is pretty cheap, and then cut it up.
With mince, I add lentils, and loads of fine chopped veggies, and then make a nice rich tomato sauce to cook it in. That way it goes alot further.

Most of my meat I purchase when we go to the farm, as it works out alot cheaper buying it there.

I love my Steak, nothing better then a thick, medium rare piece of fillet. But this we have as a treat. Maybe 3 or so times a month.
I get a 2.56 kg fillet for around R180.00

Nappies and stuff for Craig I buy in bulk.
Spar had a special on the pampers 2 weeks ago. R99.00 a pack, and I went and got 6.
That is a saving of nearly R500.00

I get whole chickens from the farm to, (and they are huge) I will cook one on Saturday for Dinner, and there will be plenty left over for Sunday lunch, and sarmies for Sunday evening, or work on Monday.

I suppose this will change ones Craig eats more.

I dont really get "special" food for him, He eats what we eat, unless i make curry, the I will cook chicken nuggets or fish fingers for him. But a box lasts extremely long.

Only thing I buy him is his snacks. And they last log to.
Clicks had the nestle puffs on special last month, buy on for R19.00 (normally around R25.00) and get one free. So I purchased 3 and got 6, so now have enought till probably the end of the year.
I am lucky though cause he gets all food and snacks at creche during the day to.
So it is just dinner, and then weekends that I have to worry about food for him.

O, and I also found that keeping him on formula works out cheaper then moving him over to cows milk.

[mika24]

We spend around R3500 a month (including nappies and formula)
Previously we spent ridiculous amounts. I started planning a weekly menu and shop based on that.
I also look around for specials before shopping.

[Andreaj]

I am terrible with groceries! i buy at Spar most month's coz its quicker (no ques) and i get a slab of chocolate if i spend more then R800 I was actually looking at my budget this morning and wondering how i can cut some costs...especially with the new baby coming in December!!

I spend about R3000 a month on food and cleaning goods and vitamins and nappies ect...then i spend another R1500 ish on fruit and veg during the month (once a week shop at woolies)

maybe i should stop being lazy and MAKE A LIST!! (I always buy what i think we need and find a full container of it at home )I also want to get one of those smart shopper cards and shop at Pick n Pay and maybe food lovers market for my fruit and veg..lets see if i save this month!

[SpookyDee]

I usually check for all the specials.

Checkers is not all that cheaper than PNP sometimes by R1-R3, however, if I shop at PNP I still get points which I have been keeping for Xmas.

We usually spend about 3K a month, however, we have visitors so we tend to spend more.

[Sarah.]

I think its tome for me to work out our budget now. Since moving to the north section of the reserve we are closer to Mkhuze town and there is either spar or jock morrisons. And they are not cheap. Nor can we get old meat. So as we were in howick this last week, I just did a major shop of veg and meat. Also found nappies on special at pnp. But other than that we have to make do with what I can get in mkhuze.

[Shweetness]

ARGH !! food is now so expensive i'm thinking of getting a second job just so we can buy the necessary stuff ...... any suggestions and no i dont want to bartender till 12 at night ...