Grocery & Pantry Challenge Week 5 of extreme frugality. What we ate & cooked, and how much I spent!


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Welcome to my Pantry Challenge & Grocery Challenge! As part of my Frugal Living UK series, I’m chatting about how I’m planning to cope with 3 months of …

37 replies
  1. Maggy Trafford
    Maggy Trafford says:

    Hi Claire, enjoying this series. I am going to start a meal plan myself as I always leave it till the last minute. I love Aldi in Australia but I have found here it is cheap but not with everything. My partner goes there because I found they are to quick on the cash register , they are very quick but it does stress me out a lot and find it hard to pack things in the trolly. Thank you.πŸ‡¦πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡¦πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡¬πŸ‡§πŸ‡¬πŸ‡§β€οΈπŸ’•πŸΆ

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  2. Sarah Horscroft
    Sarah Horscroft says:

    This was amazing 😍 such a great idea, where we are we have' the bread and butter thing' they sell food that is still within date but would have ended up at a landfill, so supermarkets and producers sell or donate to them, I used them every week during lockdown and filled our cupboards and freezers! I have gone back to work and stopped using due to pick up times but fallen into bad habits of doing a weekly shop and eating that and doing top up shops πŸ™ˆ rather than using pantry or freezer πŸ™„ a challenge like this would help us out loads and save us some pennies xx thank you for the idea xx

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  3. Tara Cat
    Tara Cat says:

    I am so enjoying your series…. its so real!! Thank you for letting us into your kitchenπŸ™πŸΎπŸΎπŸ₯žπŸ«‘πŸ₯¬ don't think of the challenge becoming more difficult, but more creative πŸ’›

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  4. Sarah Grant
    Sarah Grant says:

    Agree on Aldi. Maybe canned goods or bakery things are alright but their produce is mostly rotten and their meat is odd/pumped with water. They just built a new Aldi's near me and I haven't gone in to check it out yet. Lol.

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  5. Jessica Wanders
    Jessica Wanders says:

    Mmmmm I had broccoli pasta this week as well! It’s a squash season everywhere! I love seeing your grocery hauls πŸ‘πŸΌ The pasties look yummy! Great video again β€οΈπŸ™‚

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  6. Susan Webster
    Susan Webster says:

    Doing very well! Look for the grocery store loss leaders for extra food to bulk up the pantry. I love the way you try new recipes and adapt them to your family. Also love the way you consider you children's likes and dislikes. You're a good Mom.

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  7. Amanda Youngs
    Amanda Youngs says:

    I'm shopping fortnightly at the supermarket now – with just Β£10 for the "in between" weeks for top-ups of fresh items like bread, if I need it. You did incredibly well to come in so far under budget this week, but I think it would make sense (if you'll pardon me for offering my opinion!) if you did spend up to the budget amount on things to keep the pantry stocked in some basic foods. It would be awful if we suddenly got big shortages and your pantry was so low in those standard store-cupboard items that you were struggling to feed your children the kind of food you normally manage to give them. I was impressed at your fridge when you opened it because there must be next to no food waste in your house. I threw out two spoiled cauliflowers this week, and I'm so cross with myself about it – because I didn't have the time/energy to make some soup out of them until today. So they might have been on special when I bought them, but it's no saving at all if I end up throwing things away…. Hey ho, the challenges of life that derail us! πŸ˜€ Have a good week, Claire. Keep up the good work!

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  8. Barbara Hughes
    Barbara Hughes says:

    Hi Claire,fabulous job as always.When I make some sort of dressing like the lemon juice coriander etc I tend to put some olive oil in the jar and then add water rather than all oil.It still tastes fabulous but I get enough dressing to go 3-5 more meals such as salads etc

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  9. Lyn Noorman
    Lyn Noorman says:

    I'm a bit curious about why you eat white bread? I ask because wholemeal or granary would be more filling? And is better for your gut over time. OK granary might be a bit more pricy. The rest of your meals look lovely – yummy with a great balance of protein, veg and carbon!! You are doing so well with your challenge! Hats off to you.

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  10. retroredux1
    retroredux1 says:

    Really great video Claire. Leftover sausage that you cooked and froze would be great in a Italian tortellini soup or a quick and easy spaghetti sauce. I completely agree with you about the extra cleaning. We are having to try to save money by eating in but I get so tired of having constant dirty dishes.

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  11. momof2
    momof2 says:

    I think you are doing a great job on this challenge. Half and half is just half milk and half cream. Your food prices are amazing. Thanks for sharing πŸ₯°πŸŽƒπŸƒπŸ‚πŸπŸŽƒπŸŒžπŸŒ›βœοΈπŸ₯°πŸŽƒπŸƒπŸ‚πŸπŸŽƒπŸŒžπŸŒ›βœοΈπŸ₯°πŸŽƒπŸƒπŸ‚πŸπŸŽƒπŸŒžπŸŒ›βœοΈ

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  12. Blethers Y
    Blethers Y says:

    I’m not a fan of Aldi’s fresh fruit and veg. As others have said I don’t think it lasts long. I tried again recently but I’ve gone back to Asda. I get my shopping delivered as I feel it’s easier for me to stay within my budget that way as I’m not tempted by special buys etc in store.

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  13. Mrs brown
    Mrs brown says:

    Another great video you are doing so well. I need to be super frugal this nov so really trying to cut back now with food. I stock taked what we have , meal planned and wrote a shopping list. We been in run down pantry freezer for the last couple of weeks.

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  14. Ziqyia Riaz
    Ziqyia Riaz says:

    I absolutely agree with you about Aldi – I don’t like the food there. I noticed the fruit and veg go off very fast from Aldi. Thank you for the effort you put into your videos for us. ❀️

    Reply
  15. betty graham
    betty graham says:

    Do you think the Instant Pots earn their cost through fuel saving quite quickly Claire ?
    I use my slow cooker and stove top steamer as much as I can but as I live alone, I wonder whether the Instant Pot would be too expensive.

    Reply
  16. Nancy Hemati
    Nancy Hemati says:

    Hi, Claire. I recently found you on YouTube and have been watching all of your videos. Thanks for taking the time to share your journey. I can't claim to be frugal, but I am careful and always in search of ways I can improve. Also, it is so good to know that I'm not the only person in the world who doesn't like Aldi! Best wishes to you and I'm subscribing so I won't miss anything!

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  17. Carolyn Wood
    Carolyn Wood says:

    I'm with you Claire regarding Aldi. My friend has shopped there for years and loves it. She has blind tested me on several products over the years and I have always tasted the difference. I wish I did like Aldi because of the savings but I just can't..

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  18. Kathy Gamboa
    Kathy Gamboa says:

    Your meals looked so good. That stew made my mouth water. I went over on my budget last week— but I'm not shopping this week at all. I have enough to get by. Monday night I made something my mom made called Quick Tamale Pie. Super easy and economical. You line a 9 X 13 with corn tortillas (having them stick up some so those edges get crispy). For the "filling" you cook on stovetop 1 lb. ground beef seasoned as you like in large skillet (and drain if needed), add 24 oz. of canned tomato sauce, (3 small tins in U.S.) 1 tin corn drained and then mix all and season with chili powder to your taste. Simmer a bit so the flavors blend. Pourthe meat/corn mixture over the tortillas. Top with cheddar cheese and I like to add sliced black olives. Bake 350 for 25 mins. It is very good. Salad on the side and it's an easy meal. I ate on this for 3 days and had two servings for the freezer. Tonight I'm having a TV Dinner because I have a late doctor appt. Tomorrow night I'm making a Crock Pot of Chili Beans and having Corn Bread. That will last three days. Then I'll eat freezer meals until I shop on Nov. 1st. πŸ™‚

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  19. Shoestring Jane
    Shoestring Jane says:

    Interesting comparison between Aldi and Asda. I’m the opposite. I can’t stand Asda! But it’s certainly not worth swapping for a Β£2 saving if you like Asda! Your meals all looked delicious!

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  20. Caroline
    Caroline says:

    You have done amazing! That stew looked delicious! I haven’t been watching recently as life has been a bit hectic lately but I’m going to binge watch your previous Β£35 a week videos for ideas 😊

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