Shopping Lists

Grocery shopping would have to be one of things regardless of family size that EVERYONE must do.

Here is No Excuses shopping list (A4 sized):

 

Starting with the left hand side, (two columns on the left) FRUIT & VEG, COSTCO, BAKERY/BUTCHER & DOMINANT CLEANING PRODUCTS.

 

FRUIT & VEG

When I purchase fruit & veg, it is always a large quantity.  

Bulk purchasing including a local market every 3-4 weeks.  I normally buy a box of mandarins (when it’s the season) they cost me around $13 – $16 a box and can last up to 3 weeks.  They sit in the bottom of the fridge in the crisper. 

All other fruit/veg are reasonably priced at the market and I buy as much as I can (while considering the storage).  All my produce goes into the Tupperware Fridgesmart or other Tupperware containers in the fridge.  I also have two refrigerators, so this helps a great deal.

Eggs I can also purchase at the markets.  There is a Asian stall that sell a variety of sizes.  I buy the 700g (free range) at $7.00 x 30 eggs (I always buy 60) and they last 4+ weeks.

When I can’t make it to the markets, I normally buy fruit and veg at ALDI (or I shop around at Coles/Woolworths – but most of the time they are WAY too expensive).  

COSTCO

One word “fantastic”.  This place is dedicated to Large Families.  

Unfortunately, I live 1hr drive away.  So I tend to buy up big and make the drive every 3 or 4 months.  A friend of mine raved about this place and took me along with her (I was hooked after one visit).  

Rather than talking about the items I buy, how bout I just show you! 

Check out the sizes!  

Mayonnaise is the BEST – 1.9L, the rolled Oates comes in a large box with 2 of those bags – 2.2Kg (one I packed in a Tupperware Modular Mate). Olives – 2kg (paid about $6.00), Oil – 4L, Peanut butter – 1.36kg & Vegemite – 950g.

They also have cling wrap too (I have a big one I got from ALDI months ago)

 

BAKERY/BUTCHER/CLEANING

For the items on these lists above; these are bought rarely or in bulk at the time.

I buy a 25kg bag of plain flour from a local bread/cake shop.  This can last up to 4 months.  I don’t buy self-raising flour, but instead make it the old fashioned way (see here).  This gets stored in the pantry in an old metal bucket.

I purchase meet from a local butcher and Tasman Meats. 

My cleaning products I purchased from here.  I bought 3 x 5L containers of Dish-washing liquid, Disinfectant & Multi-purpose Cleaner back in January.  The dish-washing liquid has about a third of the container left. I know for a fact that I won’t be buying the disinfectant and multi-purpose products for at least 18 months.  I only need to use 2 cap fulls of the liquid (to a 1Litre spray bottle container) and just fill the rest with water!  (These products are all natural too)!

Right hand side of my list – ALDI – COLES -WOOLWORTHS

This should be self explanatory, colour coded etc.  

Basically, everything I buy, I purchase in bulk.  Boxes of tinned tomatoes, tuna, (all tinned stuff).  Otherwise, I buy 4 – 6 of each item on my list (except things like rice which is already 5kg packs).  Gradually my ALDI list of purple colours become bigger, as ALDI is starting to stock more items each time I go! I also buy sliced bread from ALDI – 0.99c (I buy 15 loaves at a time which get stored in the freezer/s)

As far as storing all these groceries.  I am very lucky to have a large walk in pantry (which I designed a few years back when we did an extension), without it, I would be going back to weekly shopping.

NOTE:  If anyone would like a copy of my list above emailed, via either Microsoft Publisher or Word format. You will be edit the file and change the items that suit you and your family.  Please either message No Excuses on Facebook or contact via email.