December 2008 Grocery Challenge

rosieben

Welcome to all the newbies joining us this month :j Mrs MCAWBER keeps the front page 'register' of GC'ers; she's away for a few days but will add you to the list as soon as she's back.

most questions have been answered already but I'll just add my twopennorth

• cut down gradually, dont set yourself up to fail
• decide what you're including in the GC, I include all food, toiletries, cleaning and laundry; I also include the occasional fish/chip lunch I have with my aunt
• some people have separate budgets for pet foods, eating out/parties, petrol; it really doesnt matter how you work it, as long as you are consistent
• try moving down a label - if you buy Heinz, try supermarket own brand, if you like that try the store value range
• check your stock, work out a meal plan and draw up your shopping list from that plan (don't forget breakfast, lunches and treats)
• shop with your list and stick to it (I shop with cash, and allow up to an extra £5 in case I see any really good bargains)

There's loads of good advice and help here, just ask! Good luck all

biscotte

Started this month's spending with 29.35chf on some milk, egss and bits and pieces.

shellyx

angelatgraceland wrote: »

Ive also used out of date lasagne sheets all to no harm. Just how out of date are they? I dont worry about a few months as long as they have been kept dry.
Re the instructions for slowcookers I never follow such things. As you have used it before you should be fine by just testing the food. Generally about 3 hours on slow or 6 hours on high for a lot of dishes. Depends on the recipe of course. If its mainly veg with mince for instance it wont take long assuming you have browned the mince. Generally I just bung it all in whatever it is-put it on high for half hour to warm up then leave it on low for hours on end until Im ready. Really slapstick I know but it is always well-cooked-I do test now and then if in doubt.

Well I have a lot of posts to catch up on as Ive just been so busy this week Ive not been on here-all 9 on here and about the same on the Nov challenge!
I came in under again and ?Ive just put in my order for Asda delivery with the intention of staying away from the shops and keeping warm. Less shopping means that hopefully I can catch up with some cooking. A few asda codes about for free delivery so Im ok for December! Was discussing Martin at work today-my workmates are now watching him on tv and have totally changed their views on shopping! So at longlast Im not the odd-ball!



Well it really depends what you include. Is it just food or is it nappies and formula and allsort s of other things too?


Well you sound similar to me but it depends if its "just food" or not. Mine wass about £80-90 on average per week but Ive now cut down to about £60 pw at present. Took most of the year to get to that stage though. I still have good quantities of food in the house(if I added it up about £500 worth at a guess)so Im not running on empty. Try to set about 3 no-spend days each week and never run out of things like bread milk and loo rolls because that is where it goes all wrong. We pop into a shop for 3 things and end up with 30! I always keep longlife milk dried milk and frozen bread along with about a months supply of loo rolls. Sound silly but that is what I find stops me spending. Good luck! Very acheivable I think but do allow yourself time.

thanks that is for everything toiletries as well but i have a few bulk buys of shampoo etc on bogof's, i agree on the toilet roll front we go through 4 a week! i dont tend to go out of the house in the week (apart from school)unless i have an appointment downtown or summut and im trying to do all of my shopping online to save me buying rubbish and stops hubby putting rubbish in the trolley, just have xmas to get through, dont have to worry about xmas dinner going to my mums for that

OrkneyStar

reventon wrote: »

Please can you add me in for this. As its my first month and with Xmas looming im going to go for £275 for the month. Thats for me and the missus and our 18 month old bubba.

Is that a lot ?? opinions please !

( I run my months from payday to payday so actually have been doing this since 25th Nov)

I spend approx £160-£200 per month on groceries and toiletries, depending on if it is a 4 or 5 week month- for me, DH and 17 month old DS (and an ageing cat). Our DS is in real nappies though (sposies at night sometimes) so we don't have that cost every week . TBH its hard to compare with others, even similar sized families, the idea is to cut your budget gradually, don't over stretch yourself . TBH we could maybe get away with a little less (if I went whoopsie hunting more and made more HM biccies etc) but with a toddler, I just sometimes need to sit down with a ready to scoff snack such as a kit kat or caramel wafer .
Good luck this month, keep all your receipts and check where the pennies are going! We were strict for first few months, now more relaxed as I am better at not spending on random 'stuff'!
X
PS I did say I would only post once this month but well, here I am, posting again lol.
Hope its useful.
While I am here, Scottish Coop have a few decent BOGOF deals on just now (not listing them all as too many) but if any of you have one near its worth a look. they are also seeming to have random till spits (I got £2 off £20 last week which was great as I only needed a £20 or so shop on Sat!)

kayharcombe

Please can you put me down for 400 for december, for 1 adult and 3 children. Tried to do the live on 4k for a year challenge this year, and failed miserably, but need to get more organised and am adamant will do the live on 4k in 2009

had sainsburys delivery of £63 this morning, made chicken stew and cooked lamb mince with veg for shepherds pie tomorrow. Will find exact amount and update sig later

im good with online delivery once every 10 days, meal plan etc, then get rushed and end up with takeaway or rubbish, need to be more organised, hence have freezer full of food that i dont use.

Kay

procrastinator

Hi
Lost track of November I'm afraid. Will start again in Dec and will try and keep to 250.00. Have been reading but not posting as nothing much to say. Love all the tips and receipes so please keep them coming and if anyone has any veggie xmas quick meals I would be very grateful.

KITTY_2-2

Hi all

Not been keeping up with the threads lately as been out of the house too much. Hoping to spend more time at home now we've been discharged from hospital.

November budget was shot but added extras on to it for Christmas and couldn't be bothered to work out how much so declared at £427.23. Not bad for a £350 target!

December will be more as I have a birthday party and an anniversary party, both at my house, as well as the Christmas get togethers.
I'm upping the amount for one month only to £450

Best of luck everyone, K xx

soulbalm

OrkneyStar wrote: »

I am lurking for the rest of the month (so this is my first and last post!).

Oh, please don't go. I'll miss you
x

soulbalm

Having gone slightlyover budget last month (my first month of doing the challenge) and aware that I have friends to stay for a week over Christmas, I'm upping my amount for this month, to £275. I REALLY will try to keep in budget this time, but I do struggle to keep to menu plans.

kookgekje

poffigirl wrote: »

Lol I sooo know that feeling! coming back with a phesant is beyond though!!! how come they never come back with actual food??

Unfortunately the pheasant turned out rather dry, chewy and not very nice. I tried roasting it with a couple of rashers of bacon (to stop it from drying out - ref interweb) and it was only in the oven for 40 minutes. Well, at least DH didn't like it either so he won't be buying it again:rolleyes: . Glad the mash and beans turned out ok or we would have had to go hungry .

Needed some bits and bobs and thought it would be no more than a few pounds. Turns out it to be £14 instead :eek: . I need to take a calculator to the supermarket next time. My maths is obviously not up to scratch:o .