July 2009 Grocery Challenge

[natsing]

Hi All

Not really been updating this thread much, however I'm still on track, my months are payday linked, and I only have one more shopping week left, all stocked up for this week and can easily meet my £20 for next, so hoping to be there or thereabouts!
Good luck with the rest of the month all.

[MoneyQueen]

Hi,

I seem to be well on track this month. I have spent £37.40 in cash and have used £3 of vouchers on groceries till today. I am doing another shop this Friday and will try to keep it below £15... So hopefully I will be below my target of £100 this month

MQ

[kiwiblue]

Hi
I seem to be managing better this month, have run out of dog biscuits but will make some today. So should make target ok.

[elf06]

kiwiblue - how do you make your dog bics?????

[cw18]

Just updated my sig with spends since last update on 7th......

This includes 6 litres of milk (£2.94), 2 pizzas (£2.38), bananas (32p), bread (47p), 2 tubs of cheese & onion sandwich filler (whoopsies - total of £1.20 instead of £2.70), 2 packs of unsmoked streaky bacon (whoopsies - total of £1.30 instead of £2.58) and 2 seeded rolls (whoopsie - 20p instead of 59p).

I now stand at a spend to date of £16.50 out of a monthly budget of £118.60 (£49.74 to end of day would be on budget, so I've spent a shade over a third of that) - and I've had 7 NSDs including today

Our local Mr M opened this morning, so after my voluntary stint at the local primary school finished (11:30am) I wandered down for a look. Hard to really get to grips with the place as it was heaving (never saw it so busy when it was S/flds - not even just before Christmas), but I wasn't impressed with the couple of bits I specifically checked out.

We now have fish, butchers, hot chicken and deli counters - so had a quick look at the deli one. I was looking forward to being able to get an odd slice of something for my lunch-time butty if I fancied a change - but the prices are scaring me off Yorkshire Ham @ £1.05/100g after a 20p discount

The other thing I wanted to check out was ice-cream. DS and I both eat vanilla (which I've been getting from A!di) and Mint Choc Chip. I also eat Raspberry Ripple (another A!di purchase) while DS eats Neopolitan. What I can't get from A!di I've been getting from Mr T, but it means taking the car so I'd hoped to be able to get from Mr M...... which isn't going to happen. They had at least 4 (think it was 5) types of vanilla, plus a chocolate one. Other than that it was only the expensive / speciality / big name tubs Guess I need to find their "suggestions" procedure and politely suggest they swap out some of the vanillas for other flavours :confused:

[barneydee]

I set myself a budget of £150.00 for this month, but have blown it (£283.00)
and we are not at the end of the month yet, and that is not taking into account what my other half has spent, i started of good,keeping a diary but after the first week I lapsed, I know it was do able as my freezer, fridge and store cupboards are bursting at the seems. I get paid on Friday will do a small shop as i have run out of a few basis i.e. cheese,salad stuff fruit,milk,potatoes then I will get back on the wagon, i have instructed OH that he is to keep a list of what he spends.

The only good thing is that studying my recipts and looking at what I got I can see where there where items I could have done with out i.e. magazines, Chocolate.

I do cook from scratch but one of my problems is that my lot are all fussy eaters.

My plan for August is:
To keep a spending diary I am going to do a spread sheet if i can to track what I am spending.
I am going to do a store cupboard challenge.
I am going to set a higher budget then month by month get it down to where I want to be.
And i am going to post more on here as you guys are great and I am sure you will help me keep on track

Dee

[barneydee]

also forgot I am going to do a monthly meal plan and do my shopping list and stick to it, I will post my menu later

Dee

[kiwiblue]

Dog Biscuits
Hi elf06
I make extra gravy with a roast, use this as the base, then add any/all of the following, depending on whats around.
egg
mint
garlic
oil
cooked rice
bind with flour, roll out and cut into circles.
Bake at 180 degrees until cooked.
Dog loves them, and they are much better for her than the commercial ones.

[Lemon_Verbena]

Hi everyone

Belated congrats on the wedding Helen, may you and your DH have a lifetime of love, laughter and happiness. Just finally caught up with the thread been reading for two days now lol! Was very busy last week so couldn't post but we got some good news, my DH got the intrenal job he was wanting so now he won't be made 'surplus' and let go, so for the time being he's still employed and things aren't as bad as we thought

GC is going really well, amazing what you can do if you put your mind to it. I've spent almost 2/3rds of my budget (some whoopsies for the freezer and frozen food stock up) I have 13 days left to go, but have loads in the freezer and cupboards and have made meal plans which are working out very well. May follow the meal out Harry Potter treat tip if I can save enough cash out of the budget by the end of the month. Or may buy DH the new Star Trek film on DVD as we didn't go to see it when it was at the cinema cos we were scared he'd be unemployed so were saving cash.

I convinced DH to come with me to Farmfoods and Aldi, he's a 'snob' shopper and thinks that you have to buy branded foods only and can't shop at a supermarket other than Tesco, Asda or Sainsbury's I blame his mother lol! We got some nice stuff and so cheap, we're making the most of the Aldi super 6 deals we got lots of fruit and peppers for salads and to freeze for chilli, pizza topping etc, and he's taken a chicken pasta salad with some of the grapes mixed in today. We got a huge trolley full of stuff for less than £45 and that included a couple of treats and some baking stuff. The same branded and own label stuff from Asda would have cost me £75 or more, I know I'm preaching to the converted but I'm so pleased with the way things are working out Even got the cats some of Aldi's catfood which is £1.30 a box cheaper than whiskas and they lick the bowls clean, I was gobsmacked as they're really fussy eaters!

DH was well pleased with the reduced shopping bill and has been very impressed with taste and quality of the stuff we bought. I stocked up on frozen veg and fruit at Farmfoods which has saved me a fortune and I only use as much as I need and no peeling I wish I could grow salad stuff in my little garden like lots of you do, have tried in the past but the slugs get the goodies before we do I have grown some toms and potatoes in tubs and they're almost ready for use and I spotted a couple of strawberries which may be slug free. I did sow cucumber seeds but the slugs ate the little plants and the cut and come again lettuce was a slug salad bar and gone within seconds of it emerging so I give up! Waffle over, hope everyone is having a good day, if not hope it soon gets better. Have to shop tonight but only need lemons, red onions, yogurt and eggs had 2 NSD's in a row and 8 so far this month, which isn't bad for a family that used to go to Asda everyday and spend £30 or more on nothing!

LV x

[elf06]

Hi everyone - just had a little shop today. Really just went out to get myself and DS some fresh air as the poor little mite still isnt feeling good (and into Boots to get something to help him on their minor ailments service) and in the process nipped into Aldi for some cereal (noticed last week that their version of the cereal my son eats is more that £1 cheeper per box).
Also went into pet shop to get some catfood. Normally get cat food when I do my food shopping but had £10 voucher for petshop (as compensation for telling me some big fat fibs ) so decided to go and stock up on catfood as it is essentially 'free'
So all in all this morning I got a bottle of Calpol, bottle of own brand ibuprofen, 2 boxes of cereal, 3 x 12 Felix catfood and a box of own brand cat bics and only spent .............£1.98

So really happy for this morning but still have a few bits to pick up when I go to work tonight so will leave updating sig until then
Have a good day all

Oh and kiwiblue thanks for the dog bic recipe

[Puddleglum]

Hi all! A quick rant coming on.

About six months ago I finally called time on running a B&B to concentrate on other things. Well we currently have some guests staying who have been before and so managed to tunnel in under the perimeter fence.

I have spent so much money on breakfasts you wouldn't believe it. B&B's can not run out of certain things whether or not the guests want to eat it! Only a fraction of what has been bought will be eaten by the guests in the week they are here. I have not included what I have spent in the total below as the cost will be met from their payment.

The worst thing about it is though that over the past few days I have gone from feeling in control of my life and spending to feeling completely out of control. Everything has to be fitted around the guests, DH, DS, DD and meows included.

OK, feeling slightly better now, got beds to make, better go. Slinks off.

[xx_Jo_xx]

Originally Posted by helen jelly

Hi
Jo - I've often thought about the jelly thing for lunch - does it stay ok until lunchtime - I have visions of it melting everywhere

Helen

Hi Helen - no they are fine. That said, I freeze his sandwiches, rolls etc and he has a thermal type lunchbox - and I put the sandwich in his lunchbox in the morning and it is defrosted by lunch, so perhaps cos its cold in there till lunchtime, I dont know, :confused: - but they have always been ok.

When it comes home after school and I am cleaning it out again, there are still tiny pieces of jelly which are still 'solid' (if you can call jelly solid!) - SET!! Thats the word Im looking for! So I dont think it 'melts' at all.

Went to aldi yesterday for the super six, got a load of grapes, some peppers, potatoes, some pesto and other bits that we needed and spent £9! That was for two big bags of shopping!! Very pleased with myself!

xx

[DrFluffy]

I made the sticky chicken recipe last night - really, really good!!!

I had a bit of a blip at the weekend, with graduation and everything, I brought drinks, a take away pizza. I can't even claim "you only graduate once" given it was my third!!! Still, it was definitely the best graduation!!! Added a rogue £20 to my runnin total though!!!

[scotsaver]

Originally Posted by rosieben

My favourite courgette recipe is very easy (originally from Delia) -

fry sliced courgettes in oil until golden
slice some tomatoes

in a casserole dish put
- layer of courgettes
- layer of tomatoes
- layer of sliced cheese or cheese sauce

oven cook until golden brown on top

depending on how many courgettes I have I usually do 2 or 3 layers of each ending with a cheese/cheese sauce layer; if using cheese sauce then I grate a little cheese on the top

forgot to say that sometimes I add a couple of cloves of garlic when frying the courgettes

Hi rosieben - many thanks for this, looks really yummy. Shall give this a try tonight. I have all of Delia's Cookbooks - why is it when I have over 200 cookbooks I forget to look in the obvious places?:confused:

Originally Posted by Lemon_Verbena

Hi everyone

my DH got the intrenal job he was wanting so now he won't be made 'surplus' and let go, so for the time being he's still employed and things aren't as bad as we thought



LV x

Hi Lemon_Verbena - many congrats on your OH getting that job, must be a weight off your mind.

I've updated my total as I've been to Lidl, Aldi and Asda today. Popped into Lidl as they have 400g packs of Cheese on special at only £1.24 and we use a lot of cheese. Got the Super 6 in Aldi and then into Asda for a big shop to try and tide me over until the end of the first week of the School Hols, plan is not to go shopping again until end of next week and only buy milk etc until then.

Asda had 3 litre bottles of Squash on special at £1 each either Blackcurrant or Orange & Pineapple, didn't spot anything else too exciting as I wanted to stick to my list and not veer off into temptation.

Have a good day everyone.

[XSpender]

Hello

I was hoping to come in under budget this month to claw back a bit of the £80 overspend for the first 6 months but it doesn't look like it's going to happen

I am pleased with what we have spent this month though, although we will probably end up a bit over budget, I have stuck to £50 week but included absoloutly everything, that is food and drink, dog food and treats, OH beer, toiletries, hair dye, cleaning stuff, picnic food, snacks and drinks out and the one naughty takeaway we have had. Previously I have excluded some of the food eaten outside the house and some of OH beer but as there isn't another pot for this to come out of I think I was cooking the books a bit.

So far we have spent £217.11 so have £32.89 left to last 12 days which is possible if we don't eat out this weekend when we aree away in the caravan!:rolleyes:

[Coxy11]

Hi - just popping in to update my spends total.

Have gone slightly over but nowhere near as bad as last month and the month before. Went to A!di today whilst visiting DMum and got some of their super 6 grapes, pots, peppers and bananas. Also got their brand of cereal, bread, and a couple of bags of their home cooked crisps as DH has a scout meeting here tonight and they need something to go with their 'leader pop'.

Don't expect to spend anything else on groceries this month (my month finishes on Sunday) but famous last words etc.....

Coxy
xx

[elantan]

Hi all,


well ihavnt been on mse for a long long time ...i got busy trying to live but life kept getting in the way...anyway it isnt a very interesting story but i will be starting another diary on the dfw board if anyone is interested ...

but basically what it comes down to is hubby and i sat down with the finances ...we have £8 a day to spend on food/work/cleaning things etc etc ....now i know £8 a day is positively loads by the way some of you people manage to do things but for me it is very scary...

so i need help ...i am vegetarian hubby a carnivore...and i need it to be healthy ...my health isnt good i really need to get on top of it and what better way than a challange ...

other things ...well i work long hours doing shifts and i am a full time student i also have my own business (which isnt doing well i might need to look into shutting it down ) so i dont really have much time to cook ...hence the reason why i know all the take away numbers off by heart ...but at £8 a day that just cant happen anymore

and i cant cook ....thats not to say i cant cook i can just not very well...but i have absolutely no imagination in the kitchen at all ...unless it is something i have cooked several times before or is from a cook book forget it ...hubby is a good cook ...but everything has to have meat in it and he uses so many sauces etc that i just cant see a way we can afford to keep that up...

if you can help me get organised in this area i truly would appreaciate it... i need to get orgainsed ...


it needs to be cheap (what would be a good budget for food) (what for cleaning/work etc) vegetarian and carnivore ...healthy and quick


thanks for reading

[Callisto]

I spent £14.81 at Aldi and £28.42 at Morrisons at the weekend, so I have £25.29 to last to the end of the month, not very impressed with myself! I may still be able to salvage the situation though... the freezer needs defrosting anyway, so we'll eat what's in there and just buy bread, milk and fruit and veg, plus I have a couple of vouchers I can use too.

[Triker]

Hiya hun, good to see you over here

Here's Gingham Ribbon's excellent vegetarian meal plan includes shopping list

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/...rian+meal+plan

[elantan]

thanks triker ...nice to see your still here ....i have been feeling nostalgic for mse the last few days...great to see some lovely peeps are still kicking around