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October 2008 Grocery Challenge. Please read first two posts.
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Used a bit more money during weekend cos was at BF's. Shouldn't need to spend anymore before my month runs out on 29th. At the moment it stands at £75.42, but I need to check this when I get home tonight before I declare.DEBT FREE OCTOBER 2012!Proud to have dealt with my debts!0
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Not quite ready to declare for October yet, as I'm doing a five week month this month. However, I only allocated money for a 4-week month for the challenge! I think I may go over a bit.... But we've got lots of nice meals in the freezer now, so hopefully not too badly. The money for the extra week is there, just not included in the challenge, so I'm not too stressed.
To all the people who recommended cooking extra for the freezer whenever I make a meal, this has been the big winner this month for me. It makes a huge difference to the weekly shop - must be economies of scale or something! And I've not bought a cake or biscuit for ages. My confidence at making my own is coming along nicely with every tray of cookies etc that gets wolfed down!
Haven't decided if homebaking does work out cheaper though. I mean a packet of biscuits costs under a £1, but I sure seem to be getting through a lot of butter etc. I'll have to cost some up.
HelenDebt: June 2013 £2000
Weight-Loss By December 2013 14lb/0 -
Im a bit confused by how it all works so apologise in advance if I get it wrong.
Hi Flat Eric,
There is no right or wrong way with the Grocery Challenge as it's a personal challenge so just do it whatever way it suits you.
Helenm This thread might interest you: is home baking cheaper?
Pink0 -
Declaring a massive £173.98 this month - an overspend of £73.98. :eek: This was partly due to filling the freezer full of Mr T's 1kg chicken fillets @ £1.62 and also having my DS go back to work after months off poorly so allowing a few 'celebratory treats' to fall into the shopping basket.
As I have my own little 'weezl type' mini challenge going on till the end of the year I shall set myself a target of £50 for November, Mrs Mc.
See you all on the November thread.
Candy have just read your post. So sorry to hear about your loss. Take care.MAY GROCERY CHALLENGE £0/ £250
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Sorry if I'm being a bit slow, but how are people able to declare their totals already when he month doesn't end until Friday?Debt free since December 2015. It can be done0
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Sorry if I'm being a bit slow, but how are people able to declare their totals already when he month doesn't end until Friday?
People run their 'month' in different ways, some run their challenge payday to payday, some run to the calendar month.
I run my challenge for the calendar month but I've declared already as I know won't be going shopping again this month (don't need anything and no room in the cupboards or freezer!)
... don't throw the string away. You always need string!
C.R.A.P.R.O.L.L.Z Head Sharpener0 -
:mad: just typed a long post and lost it :mad:
Declaring at £191.53 for October :eek: Why does it all go wrong in the last week of the month????????
Novembers target is to be £180 please MrsM
I'm going to be a bit stricter with OH, he's eating me out of house and home at the moment, combination of medications which make him hungry and trying to stop smoking :doh: :doh:
He demolished a batch of Twinks hobnobs in 3 days :eek: last week.....0 -
Main Meals & Side Dishes
Baked potato pizza
Baked Beans (home made)
Broad Bean Burgers
Chicken Cannelloni
Chicken & Sweetcorn Soup
Chicken Fried Rice
Chilli
Chinese style cabbage
Corned Beef Hash - MrsMCawber's recipe
Creamy Chicken and Potato casserole
Curry Sauce
Diet Coke Chicken
Duchesse potatoes
Fishcakes
Fish Pie
Ham and Lentil Soup
Iced cucumber soup
Individual chicken pies
Lasagne
Lemon Chicken
Lemon chicken with basil and tagliatelle
Meatballs
Mediterranean Mince and Potato 'Pie'
Mediterranean Vegetable Pasta
Mince & onion pie
Minced Beef Curry
Mini Goat's Cheese, Pear & Walnut Quiche
Moussaka
Open top 'pizza' pie
Parsnip & Apple Soup
Pizza / Pizza Base Recipe
Potato layer bake
Quiche Lorraine
Real Tomato Soup
Sausage Casserole
Sausage Meat Patties
Spaghetti with courgettes, tomato and brie
Spicy Bean & Sweet Potato Stew
Spicy Carrot and Tomato Soup
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
Turkey and Bubble and Squeak Pie
Vegetable Casserole
Veggie Haggis
Bread
Bagels
Baguettes
Bread - Mrs McC's recipe for Remoska
Breadsticks MrsM's / angelnikki's (No Salt Recipe)
Cheese & Potato Bread
Cheesy Bread Rolls
Chewy Soft Flour Tortilla
Chocolate Bread
Courgette Flatbread
Focaccia
Garlic Dough Balls
Herb Quick bread
HM Bread
Naan Bread MrsM'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
Alioli / Traditional allioli
Elderberry cordial
Jams & Preserves
Pineapple Salsa
Tomato Chutney
Cakes, Biscuits, Snacks & Desserts
Apple delight
Apple Charlotte
Apricot Flapjack bars
Banana and lemon drizzle cake
Banana and Walnut cake
Banana Ginger Parkin
Branflake cake
Bounty Balls
Bran Fruit Loaf
Bread & Butter Pudding
Bulk pancake mix
Cheese n marmite twists
Cheesy Biscuits
Chocolate fudge
Chocolate Fudge Cake
Chocolate Krackolates
Coconut Cake
Cookie Dough
Courgette Tea Bread/Muffins
Cranberry And Chocolate Brownies
Currant Loaf
Custard Cookies
D&DD’s Apple Braid
Date, Nut and Oat biscuits
Eggless Chocolate Cake
Flaky Bars
Flapjacks
Gingerbread Men
Ginger Raisin Crunches
Golden Syrup Tart
Iced Buns
Impossible Coconut Pie
Jammy Buns
Key lime pie
Krispie marshmallow bars
Lemon Curd Cake
Lemon Curd Ice-Cream JeniD's / MoneySavingDiva's
Malt Bread
Marshmallow Squares
Mascarpone and Lime Torte
Mascarpone Ice-cream
Millies Cookies
Muffins: Basic Recipe / Chocolate Orange Muffins / Gingerbread Muffins / Kiwi Muffins / Sticky Date Muffins / Strawberry Muffins / Toffee Apple Muffins
No fat sponge
Oaty Shortbread Biscuits
Peanut Butter Cookies
Scones
Spiced Apple Bars
St Peter's Mud Pie (no cooking required)
Sticky gingerbread
Teacakes
Twink’s Hobnobs
Weetabix Brownies
Weetabix Cake
Wonderbites
Yoghurt: Homemade yoghurt, Slow Cooker Yoghurt
Yoghurt Cake (the easy way)
Top Tips & Links
Grocery Challenge Top Tips
How to feed your whole family a healthy, balanced diet... (Webook)
Laundry Washing Gel/ Gloop, Fab conditioner, vinegar.....
List of conversions
Love Food Hate Waste website
Show Jamie How To Cook On A Budget Champagne Contest... don't throw the string away. You always need string!
C.R.A.P.R.O.L.L.Z Head Sharpener0 -
Morning - I'm declaring, sadly quite a bit over budget
Spent £191.47 from a budget of £150
I forgot it was a 5 week month and completely missed out a weeks worth of shopping - I also did this yesterday whilst I was very tired and tiny bit hungover so went off list a bit (well, a lot!)
Never mind - we have enough for this week and part of next so its not all bad.
I'd like to be put down for £180 next month please Mrs M - I'm hoping to be better at sticking to the meal plan and budget but will also start sneaking in some Xmas extras.
Hope everyone else is doing better than me.
Oddly enough all of my other budgets for teh month seem to be going rather well - I've squirrelled away at least £250 into another account and should be OK to last until payday (with a massage next Saturday and haircut as treats) without dipping into the overdraft. Flipping eck - must have forgotten something big!0
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