July 2008 Grocery Challenge

MRSMCAWBER

Hi teedy...

Yep sometimes its tempting to "forget" things i have spent -but i guess i would only be cheating myself -plus my bank account would soon spill the beans when looked at ..a bit like when i used to count calories/points... anything that no-one saw me eat didn't count , food eaten whilst cooking -didn't count oh and anything eaten whilst standing up/walking about -didn't count either :rotfl: .... Im sure that even though no-one saw my eating these things -they could see them welded to my bum/thighs ....

Are any of the things you have been buying going to carry over to other weeks/months?,,, im sure if you totted up those im sure you would feel happier I quite often spend quite a lump of one months budget on items on offer that will tide me over in other months -but i do just count it into the month that i spent it..that way the following month i have more left to take advantage of other bargains...
I have about 20 blocks of cheese that were got on offer so worked out costing me half the normal price, granary bread flour etc...

Orkneystar.... what a brilliant idea -pincushions :T ...much more fun than cards too I could have a bash at making pincushions and scissor holder sets :j ..... I think that kind of thing would sell better than cards, as people just expect folks to shove cards into drawers after the special day.

BigmummaF.. i will have a look over there -thankyou... when i think about it i have loads of stuff left from when i used to make jewellery -so i can use that stuff up too. Hmmmm and i dragged loads more wool back from the UK with me-so those decorations might be a good idea too -not sure if they will get back for this xmas mind

Well on the GC theme.. i have just taken a loaf of super healthy seedy bread out of the oven for me :j just have to wait long enough for it to cool.. how tempting to stick it outside :rotfl:
right i will get off again
have a good one folks:D

Herewegoagain

teedy23 wrote: »

Does anyone else sometimes get the urge to cheat, and just not confess thier spends on the thread? I spent £6.13 in Sainsbury,s last night....going off the rails this week and I cant seem to get a grip on myself.:embarasse

If we're honest, we all do sometimes, if not on gc then over on sw thread. Years ago we used to joke about, eating in the dark so cals wouldn't count:rotfl: :rotfl: But these things only work if you are honest with yourself, as your the one who counts. this is my 1st month and am lucky because I aleadyhad lots in as I panic about running out. There are loads of hints on here to help and if at 1st you don't succed(drat the spelling:o ) you just keep going hon, we're all behind you so go for it, life is up and down andwe have to go with it together:D chin up, chat when ever you need to, thats the way to do it:D

poohbear59

HI. I have just added up all the till receipts I can find for this month and we have £58.81 left. ust as it is easy to cheat it is a bit too easy to leave a receipt in a pocket and 'forget' about it. I am going to have another search as I am pretty sure that I haven't included all as we have more living at home now as its Summer break from uni and we had a similar experience to earthmother vwith the contents of the freezer at the end of last month which meant that a lot of this month's menu plan had to change.

OrkneyStar

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3264/2682371252_a6777688ed_m.jpg
Here are the kiwi muffins, the tops are a wee bit brown but they taste lovely. Might decrease the temp slightly next time as our cooker is a very efficient fan one. There were 5 more small ones but guess where they are now ? I have eaten 3 and DH had 2. DS got a wee taste too :rolleyes: .

KAAT_LADY

teedy23 wrote: »

Does anyone else sometimes get the urge to cheat, and just not confess thier spends on the thread? I spent £6.13 in Sainsbury,s last night....going off the rails this week and I cant seem to get a grip on myself.:embarasse

Good morning

Teedy I dont think I have the urge to cheat ,as I would be cheating myself,, I did forget something one week,, but I added in to the next week ,, I am already over but only have two days left so hopefully I will not spend anything more ,, but if I do ,, I will add them on to this month,,

KAAT_LADY

*BigBird* wrote: »

Morning everyone.

Yay! It's actually kinda sunny in Devon for a change :j First load of washing out on the rotary thingy-wotsit, second lot in the washer. Down to my last 3 liqui-tab things, do I be very MSE and buy proper powder next time....?

But feeling hopeful about the weather for the open-air concert and picnic we are off to this evening - hopefully won't be huddled under umbrellas or squelching around on muddy grass!

Made breadsticks and cheese & marmite twists last night and they are gorgeous (not sure the cheese & marmite things will actually last until the picnic later!) Friend came over whilst I was baking and she thinks I've gone loopy with making homemade stuff. She's more of a "why make it yourself when you can just buy it in the shops" kind of person. Clearly she needs educating in our GC ways

ioiwe sorry to hear you're feeling rough. Hope it's nothing serious and you're feeling much better soon. (((hugs)))

Hi there Big Bird,,did you know there was a marmite thread I found it yesterday well its not only marmite its yeast extracts ,, and there is a lot of people on there who do not like marmite,, I would never have guesed that people did not like the stuff,, would you ,, no is the answer to that,, isnt it

Also have you found the recipe for HM soap [STRIKE]powder[/STRIKE] gloop you could always make up a batch if you run out of liqui-tabs

angelatgraceland

denisefowler wrote: »

Have you tried Freecycle for a printer? I have just got a really great printer/scanner for my mum, as she wanted to scan in some old photos she had for printing off later - just need to get the ink!:rotfl: Sorry, couldn't resist.
I am now putting her inkjet printer on there for someone, so what goes around comes around as they say... definitly worth a look to save a few pennies anyway, and you may even get one that takes your ink!

Now I SHOULD do that as I actually run the Freecycle group for North Somerset! I do the work and rarely ask for anything. Yes-I will! Thanks for the reminder.

amethystcash

Hi there, I'm new to the grocery challenge and wanted to ask about what to include/exclude from your totals, just want to make sure I'm not cheating!

1. £2.92 on b'day cards in MrA - exclude?
2. Dinner out last night - £43.05 (ouch) - exclude?
3. Lunch today bought from bakers £4 - include?

Thanks

Flylady_Flower

KAAT_LADY wrote: »

Hi there Big Bird,,did you know there was a marmite thread I found it yesterday well its not only marmite its yeast extracts ,, and there is a lot of people on there who do not like marmite,, I would never have guesed that people did not like the stuff,, would you ,, no is the answer to that,, isnt it

Also have you found the recipe for HM soap [strike]powder[/strike] gloop you could always make up a batch if you run out of liqui-tabs

Only one word for marmite - Eeuucckkk :eek: ! (Hubby & DS love it tho! )

Recipe for washing gloop is on Nikki's amazing page 1 list if you're looking

Flylady_Flower

amethystcash wrote: »

Hi there, I'm new to the grocery challenge and wanted to ask about what to include/exclude from your totals, just want to make sure I'm not cheating!

1. £2.92 on b'day cards in MrA - exclude?
2. Dinner out last night - £43.05 (ouch) - exclude?
3. Lunch today bought from bakers £4 - include?

Thanks

I include any takeaways and gifts in my grocery challenge as all other money is already budgetted for - plus I think if eating out, I'm saving on stuff in cupboard and it is all food so i include it.

Other people don't - they have seperate budgets for that so it is really up to you.

I know that's not much help, but if you work out what you have to spend maybe you could have 2 budgets - one for groceries/household stuff, one for extras? It really is up to you on how you want to do stuff? how do you feel about putting them in?