September 2008 Grocery Challenge. Please read first two posts.

erin_go_bragh

Hi,
Many thanks Mrs Mc, Ice maiden & Judi for your welcomes. I think I shall just concentrate on food, toiletries and cleaning stuff to start with, I will budget separately for petrol and school dinner money, also forgot to mention we have a dog. I will set a budget of £400 this month anything left over will go towards Christmas. DH is doing his best to find a job, had been in his previousjob for 19 years and is very despondent as has had several job interviews with no success, however has another interview this wednesday. I will have a huge tidy up and declutter today, I also am a great fan of stardrops ! Good luck to all on their challenge.

LearningToSave.

a nsd for me yesterday as was at allotment all day and it'll be another nsd today as i refuse to go out! lol!!

jackie_w

Well yesterday I septn 95p on a loaf of bread. I know I know I hear you all shouting "Make your own". I do usually, however by the time I realised I didnt have any bread, it was 8pm, and it would have taken too long for me to make it, so, I just bought some.

Sig has been updated.

have a good day everyone.


Jackie

jackie_w

SavvyStudent wrote: »

Pear crumble with a little bit of cloves / cinnamon is really nice!

L x

Hi Savvy student,

That sounds delish, how do I cook the pears? Is it just the same way as I would with apples? Sorry to sound so thick lol:o .


Jackie

miemie

Morning

Been naughty this morning, I'd run out of fresh milk and the milkman does'nt deliver on a sunday and i'm not going to Mr T just for milk as i know i will spend a fortune, so i grabbed 2 milk bottles off the doorstep and filled them with whole uht milk i keep hidden at the back of the cupboard for such emergencies, stuck silver lid back on luckily i keep these for work (nursery Assistant). Kids have had brekkie and did'nt comment, it's hubby that will be the problem he's Manager of a dairy farm but not at work today (would have got some milk from the farm ) and insist UHT milk is foul and he will never touch the stuff:rolleyes: , So can i fool him, Well my lips are sealed for now.

JayJay14 well done on the job.

Miemie

crockpot

Hi

I am manageing well on my cash purse of £50 a week for 2 adults and 2 school adged children.

But we were invited out to lunch the other day and it got me thinking.

My friend has 4 children,2 homes and a much larger income and mortgage than me, but as a % greater debt than me I guess.

Anyhow lunch was bogof pizza £3.50 each plus salad with shop bought goodies for afters.

I know she had been shopping the night before,but I have never seen a fridge so full or cupboards with not a smartprice/value tin anywhere!

I would not pay £3.50 or a pizza even on bogof, I make my own in the bread maker,fridge and cupboards are never full but half full with lots of smart price/value/lidl tins and packets.

I never buy branded items unless on offer and cheaper.

I cook from scratch and home bake.

Should i worry, admit we do not have much freash veg-use frozen but fruit bowl always full.

Janey51

Hi. I have seen so much written about this challenge that I would like to join please
I am recently widowed and am also in a DMP with the CCCS.
Shopping only for myself is a whole new ball game....not a situation I wanted to be in :sad:
I have just had the annual review of my DMP and the CCCS counsellor says I can have £140 per month for food, toiletries etc and £20 for 3 cats :eek:
This seems a huge amount to me as I don't eat a lot :rolleyes:

I think I will go for £100 in September though and save the rest.
Does that seem reasonable to all you experts as a starting point?
I have been monitoring my spending closely as I belong to the £4000 challenge as well but things fell apart when my DH died suddenly in June.

Choccybix

Morning everyone

Bizarre question, but does anyone know what to do with leftover watermelon?? Is it any good in smoothies? I really do not want to throw it away

Any ideas gratefully received x

salster

Morning,

Went to Aldi and did my first shop yesterday. I have a chock a block freezer so just needed bulk items (flour, sugar, UHT milk, bog roll etc) and spent £31.89.

Today I need potatoes so will have to send DD to the shop.

As school starts again on Tues and I'm back at work on Monday, I'll have to do all the baking today (breadcakes & rolls, scones, buns, cheesestraws), plus make all next weeks sarnies and freeze them.

Will update sig. :cool:

mrs_pinkybinks

hi another newbie here!!! I have been reading this thread for months and have now plucked up the courage to finally give the grocery challenge a go.Its just me and DD and DS so have set limit of £200 for semptember. Will keep all receipts as advised and review as going along.

I have lots of debt and am looking to reduce my outgoings and seem to spend alot of food.:mad:

Also have started meal planning and finding it very helpful and it is also taking the stress out of mealtimes. Anyway will keep posting on my progress:j