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Posts: 17,675 Forumite
Hello everyone,
Welcome to the third Grocery Challenge of 2010. :hello:
If your new month starts early feel free to join this thread, or if you're still working on your February budget, then keep on posting in the February 2010 Grocery Challenge
As always this challenge is to reduce your own grocery budget to levels that you will be pleased with, not forgetting that we always recommend that you stay inside your own comfort levels and take things gently one step at a time. Remember that this is not a competition....it's designed to take you and your grocery spending to a level you are happy with.
If you are new to the challenge I have quoted the advice from Galtizz below which will help you get started.
Please post into this thread for help and advice and support at any time. Good luck to everyone taking part!
For guidelines on posting in this thread please read the second post in this thread.
For everyone's targets and totals for the month please read posts #3 on this thread.
For the Grocery challenge Recipe Index please see posts #4 and #5 on this thread.
I hope everyone has a great month!
Welcome to the third Grocery Challenge of 2010. :hello:
If your new month starts early feel free to join this thread, or if you're still working on your February budget, then keep on posting in the February 2010 Grocery Challenge
As always this challenge is to reduce your own grocery budget to levels that you will be pleased with, not forgetting that we always recommend that you stay inside your own comfort levels and take things gently one step at a time. Remember that this is not a competition....it's designed to take you and your grocery spending to a level you are happy with.
If you are new to the challenge I have quoted the advice from Galtizz below which will help you get started.
Please post into this thread for help and advice and support at any time. Good luck to everyone taking part!
I have said this before, but for all the newbies to the challenge;
For the first month I took a guess at the budget but I really had no idea how much I was spending.
I found the best thing is to have a guess the first month but SAVE ALL OF YOUR RECEIPTS (and yes, that does include the ones from the local shop when you run out of milk ), then at the end of the month add them all up and have a look if you were on budget, if not, it doesn't matter because your budget was a guess. For the next month you can use the total of your receipts and take a bit off to get a realistic budget, just shave off as much as you think you can, it could be £1 a week or £20 a week.
If you are currently spending £200 a month don't suddenly drop it to £100 - you'll never do it but if you cut £20 a month off for a few months you'll get there eventually without feeling you're missing out on anything.
You might think you've done everything you can in the first month but someone always comes up with a new idea and, if you try it you often find you save a bit more (unless you are SarahSaver who is an expert at this and could only save more if she turned her back garden into a paddy field and lived on rice ) In the first month I thought, I'm planning meals, I couldn't possibly save any more, but then I started double cooking and freezing, and making soup instead of buying it in tins.
I've been doing this since Feb but only saved ALL of my receipts last month, it has given me a much better idea of where it is all going. Budget for next month is £80 for 2 of us, I'll start on 30/4. I could probably save more, by eating different foods but I can afford to live on £80, I have saved a lot of money since Feb. and I don't waste food or money any more. So I'm happy with my budget.
For guidelines on posting in this thread please read the second post in this thread.
For everyone's targets and totals for the month please read posts #3 on this thread.
For the Grocery challenge Recipe Index please see posts #4 and #5 on this thread.
I hope everyone has a great month!
0
Comments
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Guidelines for posting on the Grocery Challenge thread.
What is the Grocery Challenge thread?
This is a thread where people who are taking part in the Grocery Challenge can post for help encouragement and support and talk about anything related to grocery shopping. We ask that you try to keep on topic and post things that are relevant to the challenge.
Posting grocery budgets and spends for the month
Some people like to post their grocery budget and final spend for each month. If you wish to be included in the master list then please post these in red and in a large font as this makes it easier for the volunteers to keep a record of everyone’s totals.
Number of posts
In order to make the thread easier to read it would be helpful if users would try not to post multiple posts in quick succession.
Chat
Chatty posts that are relevant to the Challenge are fine. Irrelevant chat or posts simply saying ‘Good morning/Goodnight’, ‘just popping on to say hello’, ‘I’ve sent you a pm’ etc aren’t, as they clutter up the thread and may be removed to make the thread easier for others to read. Unfortunately the board guides simply don't have the time to pm users individually when posts are removed to keep the thread on topic. If your post has been removed and you are unhappy with the decision, please feel free to send us a pm.
If you want to say thanks to another user please use the thanks button and please post any chat not related to the Grocery Challenge into the Daily Thread or use the pm function.
No Spend days (NSD’s)
A number of people like to record that they have had a no spend day. Again to reduce the number of posts we would ask that rather than post just that you had a no spend day you record it in your signature and/or add it to a post that is directly relevant to the Grocery Challenge.
Pictures
Please keep these relevant to the challenge. While photographs of produce or cooking are great, pictures of semi-naked men or large clip art aren’t.
Bargains
Please don’t forget to check out the Grabbit and Shop but Don’t drop boards for any bargains and the Discount Codes 'n Vouchers (online & offline) board to see if there are any current vouchers around.
Questions about recipes, freezing, techniques etc
These don’t always fit into the Grocery Challenge. There are a number of threads where it may be more appropriate to ask questions. There is a wealth of information available on the Old Style board so please do a search to see if there is a better thread for your question. For more help with searching see here or feel free to send a private message to a board guide who will be happy to help.
Useful Links to threads on the Old Style board
Quick Questions thread
Recipe thread
Cheap recipe threads
Don't throw food away challenge...
The Complete Cooking Collection
Old Style Daily thread General chat about Old Style (new thread started daily)
Flylady thread Cleaning thread (new thread weekly)
Enough is Enough (decluttering)
Lose weight the Old Style way
Finally if you are new to Old Style and want help to find your way around, this thread may help: Welcome to Old Style and there is some excellent practical help and advice on posting on MSE chat forums in this thread: Unofficial A-Z (Look here first)0 -
Annual
Angelatgraceland £6000
Annie123 £3000 £410
Baileysbabe £5200
Carolt2 £1800
Dizzyk £4500
Elizabunny £1300 £346.86
Ellemm £1440 £187.02
gillst £2400
Hamish £3000
Huxley £2650
JayneC £3000
Kezlou £2000
Lainz £1200
mama67 £2700 £340
Miss-Cosmo £1450
Mrsmcawber €1200 €165.21
MrsMoneyPenny £2700 £350.24
Mummy2mygirls £3000
Mummzyof2 £1200
Pip-Squeak £1250
Puddle glum £1895
Purlpe-Angel £1200
Rosieben £960
Russetred £5200
SLM6002 £1800
Sylvan £3000
Taka £1080
TheBees £4200
Toonie £1850
X Spender £3124 £548.36
Yummymummy05 -£2800
Monthly
83Rachel £450
Albacookie £80
Aliadds £180
AlisonFunnell £200
Alipops1986 £90
Allegra £250
Andrinaperry £300
Angela30 £140
AngelFeathers £320
Annieb30 £200
Aplaceinthesun £300
Babymother £300
Banwa £290
BargainHunterss £240
Barneydee £250
Becky170 £115
BenW £200
BigMummaF £217
BlimusOreilly £210
BlueFire £200
Botany £270
Brodie1 £200
Budgeteer £150
Bunny_Lover £200
Casperthefriendlyghost £40
Catznine £150
Cherrypie £110 £101.27
ChocClare £400
Chocolate Bum £700
Cleos mum £300
Coffeeholic £170
Coxy11 £400
Cranky40 £200
Cuffey £230
CW18 £131
Dazzle21 £250
Disdisbiff £340
DreamingofMoney £250
Earthmother £280 £298.11
EC12345 £160
emilyka £140
Empy £175
esmf73 £500
Evie189 £300 £487.26
Fabforty £150
Fi27 £200 £206.31
Franby64 £420
Freakyogre £60
Gillian576 £380
Gillir2000 £150
Girl least likely to £280
Glamazon £200
Goldfinch68 £380
gonnabedebtfree £450
guccigoo £200
Hazel673 £318
Hart44 £250
Herewegoagain2010 £250
Hex2 £450
Highland fling £160
Hilly123 £250
Holly44 £250
Howlinwolf £230
Ifonlyitwaseasier £100
Ikkleosu £175-6 -8 -3 -1.5 -2.5 -3 -1.5-3.50 -
Jacey53 £160
Jackie Glasgow £300
JackieO £120
JayJay14 £125
Jedilibrarian £100
Jintyb £250
Jollmummy£360 £107.52
Julie67 £400
Kadeeae £250
Katenut £180
Keiss21 £350
Kimmee £300
Kpw76 £70
KITTY £250
KittyNortEast £350 £369.24
Kornish Kat £320 £313
Laurasavon £175
Linda32 £300
LittleKel £240
Little_Miss_moneysaver £100
Lizziebabe £160
Loadsabob £100
LongTallSally £450
Looie £100 £109.75
Loopychriss £250
Losingpatience £200
LouLou0327 £200
MaisieM £200
MancMillyMolly £400
Meanmarie €150
Mellyd £400
Miecherox £400
millieJo £280
Millyscarlett £220
Miss_Cupcake £120
Miss Saveapenny £280 £303.56
Mollythewestie £330
MoneyFritter £100
MoneyQueen £50
Moniker £270
Monks £280
MookiePook £450
Moonbabe58 £170
MotherShipton £250
MrsBsBlog £400
Mrs-Moneypenny £400
Mrssnowy £180
Multipleincs £110
Mummygems £375
mumto2monkeys £240
Natsing £130
Newlywed £330
New2themoneygame £200
Nickynoo08 £110
NJW69 £250
Nmlc £350 £394.31
Noodle84 £200
Oceanspirit £50
On an Avon mission £380
Pammyj74 £120
patent girl £240
Peetzil39 £411.67
Penny Grabber £100
Perriwinkle £200-£225
Peskie Pixie £80
Philsmum £130
Phoolgrrrl £100
Polesalot £150
Poohbear59 £240 £249.05
Poppy-glos £180
Purpleclutterbuck £270
PurpleFran £150
PurpleJay £220
Purpletent £360
Rachelmk £180
Ragz £370
Remmie £125
Rowsew £230
Saffouri £180
Savvyshe £160 £148.47
Saving for Oz £60
Scotdebs £450
ScotSaver £250
Shell2001 £400
Sistercas £400 £377
Skilly £350
Skint-Catt £100
Slowandsteady £140
SlowlyFading £100 £85.20
Slscarborough £300
SnowAngel £110
Souk08 £40 £40.07
Spiggle £280
Spirit £330
Sunaddict £280
Sunnyday £160 £172.88
Sunnygirl £450
Superflygal £120
S_Wales_Saver £250
Taadaa £280
Taffy1969 £280
Tallullahbelle £500
TheWestFive £400
Topsyturphy £170
Tranquil £400
Trinny £160
Turbo5019 £200
Vodkawitch1 £140
WelshKaz £260
WelshPoppy £250
Winged one €500
Winterfrost £120
Zend £200
weekly
elly2 £50-6 -8 -3 -1.5 -2.5 -3 -1.5-3.50 -
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Complete Cooking Collection
Main Meals & Side Dishes (Soups now listed separately, below)
Bacon and Cheese Fritatta with Tomato Salsa
Bacon and potato salad -Warm
Baked potato pizza
Baked Beans (home made)
Baked Bean Tart
Bean Curry (Slow Cooker)
Beef - Brisket
Beef Casserole
Beef Curry Dopiaza (Delia recipe)
Beef Stifado (Jamie Olive recipe)
Beef Stroganoff
Beef and Root Veg Curry
Belly Pork
Bolognaise (Remoska)
Brie Burgers
Broad Bean Burgers
Burgers
Cheese and Onion Flan
Cheese Pie - School days recipes tread
Chicken Cannelloni
Chicken - Cheat's Chicken Cassoulet
Chicken and broccoli bake
Chicken - Cheat's Chicken Lasagne in the SC - Here and Here
Chicken Fried Rice
Chicken, leek and bacon pie / pasties
Chicken - Monker's Honey and Orange Chicken
Chicken - Parmesan Chicken
Chicken - Sticky Chicken
Chicken with Cannellini Beans
Chicken with Garlic, Cider & Cream
Chicken and Potato Curry
Chicken and Vegetable Slice
Chilli
Chilli (Remoska)
Chilli Bean Tortillas
Chilli Cheese Crostini
Chilli chicken with jasmine rice (BBC food)
Chinese Pork Balls & Sweet & Sour Sauce
Chinese style cabbage
Cobbler (topping) see below for Minced Beef with Cobbler Topping
Coconut Rice
Coleslaw
Corned Beef Hash - MrsMCawber's recipe
Corned Beef Pasties
Courgette Fritters (1) Courgette Fritters (2)
Courgette Pie
Courgette and Tomato Layer Bake
Cranberry & Soy glazed cocktail sausages
Creamy Chicken and Potato casserole
Creamy Lentil and Rice Dish (Khircheri) (BBC website)
Curry Sauce
Diet Coke Chicken
Duchesse potatoes
Easy cheese biscuits
Faggoty Pea Stew
Fajita Seasoning
Falafel burgers
Fishcakes
Fish Pie and Fish Pie
Fusilli with Broccoli
Ham Hock (slow cooker)
Ham Salad (sandwich filling) external link
Hummus and Garlic Pitta Breads
Individual chicken pies
Keema and spinach pilau
Lamb curry and paratha
Lamb Hotpot
Lamb Tikka
Lasagne
Lemon Chicken
Lemon chicken with basil and tagliatelle
Lemon potatoes
Liver and onions stir fry
Macaroni Cheese
Marrow - Veggie stuffed marrow
Meatballs
Meatloaf (1) Meatloaf (2) Meatloaf (3)
Mediterranean Mince and Potato 'Pie'
Mediterranean Vegetable Pasta
Mince & onion pie
Minced Beef Curry
Mince - Mexican Style Mince
Minced Beef with Cobbler Topping
Mini Goat's Cheese, Pear & Walnut Quiche
Monday Pie
Moussaka
Naan bread - see 'Bread' below
Onion Bhaji
Open top 'pizza' pie
Pasta with Tomato Sauce
Pasta Cheese and Onion Bake
Pease pudding
Pizza / Pizza Base Recipe
Pork Burgers with Salad
Pork and Beef Meatballs
Pork Steaks in Mustard and Cider Sauce
Potatoes - Slow Cooker Jacket Potatoes
Potato bake
Potato Kebabs
Potato layer bake - with cheese, leeks and stock
Potato layer bake - with cheese, onion and white sauce
Potato layer bake - with chorizo and bacon
Potato layer bake (Teisen datws)
Potatoes - Lemon Potatoes
Potatoes - Twice Baked Potatoes
Potato Wedges, Home Made
Quiche Lorraine
Refried Beans
Risotto - Easy Risotto with Bacon and Peas
Russian Salad and Russian Salad
Salmon and Dill Fishcakes
Salmon - Thai steamed salmon
Sausage and Rice bake
Sausage and Stuffing Plait
Sausage and Tomato Spaghetti
Sausage Bean Stew
Sausage Casserole or Sausage Casserole
Sausage Meat Patties
Savoury tarts - pastry-less
Smoked salmon soda breads
Smoked Salmon - Tagliatelle with Smoked Salmon
Spaghetti Bolognaise
Spaghetti with courgettes, tomato and brie
Spicy Bacon and Tomato Pasta
Spicy Bean and Lentil Loaf
Spicy Bean & Sweet Potato Stew
Spinach pancakes
Steak and Kidney stew/pie filling
Steamed Oriental Buns
Stifado - Beef Stew With Tiny Onions Recipe
Stuffing - MrsMcawber's recipe
Suet crust pie with quorn
Super Tasty Bacon, Bean and Sausage
Sweet & Sour Chicken/Pork
TexMex Skillett
Thai green curry
Toad in the Hole
Tofu burgers
Tomato paste (external link)
Tomato sauce for pasta - batch cook recipe
Tuna Fish Mousse
Tuna Fishcakes
Tuna Lasagne
Turkey and Bubble and Squeak Pie
Turkey Pasta
Turkey Pasta Cacciatore
Vegetable Casserole
Veggie Chilli and some variations
Veggie Haggis
Yorkshire puddings
Soups
Bacon and Carrot Soup
Broccoli and Cheese Soup
Carrot, parsnip and lentil soup
Celery Soup
Cheats Minestrone
Chicken & Sweetcorn Soup
Cream of Tomato Soup
Curried Parsnip Soup
Gammon and lentil soup
Ham and Lentil Soup
Iced cucumber soup
Leek and Lentil Soup
Leek and Potato Soup
Moniker’s Leek and Potato Soup
Leek and sweet potato soup
Moroccan Chickpea and Broad Bean Soup
Onion Soup
Oxtail Stew + Oxtail Soup
Parsnip & Apple Soup
Pea & Ham Soup
Real Tomato Soup
Slow Cooker French Onion Soup
Soup - Red pepper, carrot & lentil soup
Spicy Carrot and Tomato Soup
Spinach Soup
Split Pea and Courgette Soup
Vegetable Soup
Bread
Bagels
Baguettes
Bara Brith (Welsh Tea Bread) Bara brith teabread
Basic white bread recipe (makes a 2lb loaf)
Bread - Mrs McC's recipe for Remoska
Breadsticks MrsM's / angelnikki's (No Salt Recipe)
Chapatis
Cheese & Potato Bread
Cheesy Bread Rolls
Chewy Soft Flour Tortilla
Chocolate Bread
Courgette Flatbread
Focaccia
Garlic Dough Balls
Herb Quick bread
HM Bread
Irish Soda Bread
Lahmachun
Malt Bread
Naan Bread .. see also .. Curry Queen's ...... Mrs McCawber's ...... OrkneyStar's
Oatmeal bread
soft bread rolls
Super Seedy Bread... don't throw the string away. You always need string!
C.R.A.P.R.O.L.L.Z Head Sharpener0 -
Dips, Jams & Chutneys and Drinks
Alioli / Traditional allioli
Bean Pickle
Beetroot and Apple Chutney
Chilli Jam
Elderberry cordial
Feisty Rhubarb Relish
Jams & Preserves
Lemon Squash
Miser's Marmalade
Onion - Caramelised Onion chutney
Onion Marmalade
Pineapple Salsa
Riata - Mint, yoghurt and Cucumber Dip
Tomato/Chili Salsa
Red Tomato Chutney
Tomato Chutney
Mango Chutney
Xmas Chutney
Cakes, Biscuits, Sweets, Snacks & Desserts
Apple Braid
Apple delight
Apple Charlotte
Apple - Microwave Autumn Apple Cake
Apricot Flapjack bars
Baileys Chocolate Truffles
Bakewell Tart
Banana and Honey bread pudding
Banana Cake (bread)
Banana and lemon drizzle cake
Banana Muffins (wholemeal)
Banana Muffins
Banana and Walnut cake
Banana Ginger Parkin
Blackberries - Grated Blackberry Bake
Branflake cake
Brownies
Bounty Balls
Bran Fruit Loaf
Bread & Butter Pudding
Bulk pancake mix
Buttercream topping
Butterscotch squares
Caramel Shortbread (Millionaire's Shortbread)
Caramel Shortbread (2)
Cheese n marmite twists
Chocolate Biscuit Thins
Cheesy Biscuits
Chocolate Concrete
Chocolate Coookies - Cheap and Easy
Chocolate fudge
Chocolate Fudge Cake
Chocolate Krackolates
Chocolate Log - gluten free
Chocolate pudding (microwave)
Chocolate pudding - self-saucing
Chocolate Trifle
Chocolate yoghurt cake
Coconut Cake
Coconut Flapjacks
Coffee Fudge Frosting
Cookie Dough
Cornflake Tart
Courgette Tea Bread/Muffins
Cranberry And Chocolate Brownies
Currant Loaf
Custard Cookies
D&DD’s Apple Braid
Date, Nut and Oat biscuits
Easy Syrup Sponge Pudding
Eggless Chocolate Cake
Fifteens
Flaky Bars
Flapjacks and Flapjacks and Microwave Flapjacks
Fudge Tart
Fruit and Mascarpone dessert
Gingerbread Men
Ginger Raisin Crunches
Golden Syrup Tart
Gluten-free Chocolate Log
Healthy Snack Bars
Honey Frosted Buns
Ice Cream - slimmers world
Iced Buns
Impossible Coconut Pie
Jam Buns
Jammy Buns Jammy Buns
Key lime pie
Krispie marshmallow bars
Lemon cakes
Lemon Curd Cake
Lemon Curd Ice-Cream JeniD's / MoneySavingDiva's
Magic Lemon Pudding
Malt Bread
Marshmallow Squares
Mascarpone and Lime Torte
Mascarpone Ice-cream
Millies Cookies
Mince Squares
Miini Krispie Christmas Puddings
Muffins: Basic Recipe / Chocolate Orange Muffins (1) / Chocolate Orange Muffins (2) / Gingerbread Muffins / Kiwi Muffins / Sticky Date Muffins / Strawberry Muffins / Toffee Apple Muffins
No fat sponge
Oaty Pancakes
Oaty Shortbread Biscuits
Orange and Poppy Seed Cake
Peanut Butter Cookies
Pineapple, Fried
Pineapple Sponge Cake (using tinned pineapple)
Rhubarb and Orange Jelly
Rock Buns
Scones
Scotch pancakes
Spiced Apple Bars
St Peter's Mud Pie (no cooking required)
Sticky gingerbread
Sticky toffee apple crumble
Teacakes
Twink’s Hobnobs
Weetabix Brownies
Weetabix Cake
Weetabix Fruit Loaf
Wonderbites
Yoghurt: Homemade yoghurt, Slow Cooker Yoghurt
Yoghurt Cake (the easy way)
Pastry
The best mince pie pastry ever
Pastry economics
Making pastry
Basic pastry
Flaky Pastry (BBC Food)
Home Made Dog Biscuits
Home Made Dog Biscuits (2)
Top Tips (OS threads)
Batch cooking ideas
Cheapest recipes? links to various OS threads, thanks Pink!
Complete Menu Plans Collection
Cooking for the Freezer
Frozen food safety - misconceptions
Grocery Challenge Top Tips
Laundry Washing Gel/ Gloop, Fab conditioner, vinegar.....
Meal building blocks for the freezer
Microwave Recipes
Mr Badexamples Cooking Index
External links
Batch Bake Minced Beef Recipe
Easy and Cheap Biscuits (DowntoEarth forum)
How to feed your whole family a healthy, balanced diet... (Webook)
List of conversions
Love Food Hate Waste website
Show Jamie How To Cook On A Budget Champagne Contest
Homemade Play Dough... don't throw the string away. You always need string!
C.R.A.P.R.O.L.L.Z Head Sharpener0 -
Many thanks to all who help with the running of this challenge :T
Can I please set myself up with
March Budget of £131
I may have to come back later in the month and adjust it one way or another, as I don't yet know what dates DS1 is home for Easter (just that he'll be home for 3 weeks :eek: )Cheryl0 -
Yay, new challenge! I'm really going to try this time! (Although I did buy some cream cakes this afternoon... ahem.)GC: December: £145?/£120; January: £125.70/£120; February: £163.22/£120; March £113.94/£120; April £DOOM; May £Gave up; June £DOOM; July £160.78/£108; August £7.65/£200
Sealed Pot Challenge 2010: member 780
0 -
Thanks for the new thread Pink :A
Welcome to all the our newbies :hello: and good luck to everyone... don't throw the string away. You always need string!
C.R.A.P.R.O.L.L.Z Head Sharpener0 -
Ooh, nice new thread! Can you put me down for £180 in March please? (i seem to have disappeared from the list tho!) We've done under £200 for the last two months with what seems like very little effort, so time to start reducing things a bit.
Good luck to everyone!Trying to jump back onto the moneysaving wagon .... :cool:0 -
Thanks for starting the March thread, I managed to stay under budget £375.18
Please MrsM could you put me down for £400 again this month. If i`m under budget after march, I think i`ll bring the budget down. Many thanks.Grocery Challenge 2010 £400 each month
January £377.67 February £375.18 March £355.43
April £506.23 May £381.04 June £88.580
This discussion has been closed.
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