December 2008 Grocery Challenge

scotsaver

Morning everyone - just logged on to update my spends, feel like the month is running away with me but finally got the Chest Freezer emptied, defrosted and refilled with plenty of goodies for Xmas, moved any meals that were left into the other Freezer and have been working from that so that I don't touch any new purchases until everything else used up.:D

Had Roast Chicken on Sunday, was so big we had a Chicken & Bacon pie with leftover chicken last night and still have some chicken left so shall make a curry tonight and throw in some sliced peppers, mushrooms etc from the Freezer.;)

Made my first batch of Mince Pies yesterday with some HM Mincemeat, I just love the build up to Xmas.

Today I'm making my Buche De Noel, following a Delia Smith recipe from her Xmas book which is perfect as it means you make it to the Log stage and then roll it up and freeze it and then defrost when ready to serve so all you have to do is spread over some whipped double cream and sprinkle with Cocoa Powder for an impressive looking Yule Log.:D

MRSMC - hope all went well at the Hospital.

Hope everyone has a good day and we're all starting to get into the Festive mood. Only 9 more days at School for the Kids.:D

sharronej

poffigirl wrote: »

Hi All

When DH got paid in the middle of November we were £1k overdrawn, I looked at our balance on Sunday and we were £70 in credit with all bills paid. DH gets paid on Thursday so we're determined not to spend from the account now. We went searching round the house, in our pockets and down the sofa, we even opened a jar full of coppers. Do you know how much money we found? £76!!!!!! That will more than cover shopping and deisel until Thursday - so it looks like we would have paid off our overdraft in one month - admittedly its a 3 week month for us but still - isn't that fantastic!!!! :beer::j

That really is fantastic - we are finding a similar thing, normally by the 25th of the month I'm desperate for my dh's housekeeping however I haven't been to the bank yet and I'm still in credit (just!)

kayharcombe

NSD for me sunday and today, and monday spent 17.07 in sainsburys on milk, flour, fruit, veg etc. included sweets and drinks for kids cinema, ex paid for cinema. I spent a lot last week, but wont need to buy any meat except turkey and ham for christmas. Am considering aldi`s 3 bird roast for christmas. I have a fridge freezer and a chest freezer, both chocca with food, mainly meat and fish, so should be able to live for months with potatoes, veg and dairy. However, find it very difficult to refuse offers, which probably goes back to times when i have had no income for weeks at a time waiting for benefits to be sorted out. I think I need to go shopping twice a week, and only buy the things i need to get me through until next shop, i still havent seemed to learn that the offers will still be there next week, month, year in the heat of the moment.

Christmas has been paid for pretty much, no more presents to buy, only trimmings to go. reckon im definitly going to go for the 4k challenge in 2009. have done a budget and think its perfectly do-able, with a bit of effort.

Kay

WelshWoofer

Just my two penneth on the delivery issue....

I've used Sainsburys a few times and found them to be very good - the web site is easy to use and the prices aren't too bad (everywhere is more expensive these days!).

F&V and fresh meat etc is good quality and always has a good few days at least on the use by dates.

The best thing is that if they're even 1 minute late the driver gives you a voucher to use the next time for £10! They do call and let you know if they're going to be late too. There are 1 hr time slots for delivery and they cost on average between £3.50 and £5.50.

I'd happily use them again (and no I don't work for them!)

kookgekje

Sylvan wrote: »

Why don't you wrap it, ready to give? That might make you think twice about eating it.

I was quite impressed with DH today. He went to Mr T's for milk and cheese and the only extras he bought were 2 packs of RTC chocolatines @ 75peach.

Great idea. Thanks.:T

Free_in_Three

Morning :hello:

I have finally updated my signature and it's not pretty! I have £2.67 to last over 2 weeks:eek: but all I need is fresh fruit, a little fresh veg as I mainly use frozen which I have loads of and a couple of pints of milk. I will go over a bit but I have more than enough food in the house to make meals until the end of Jan!!!!

This is my second month on the GC and I think I am setting my budget by choosing a figure I would like to spend rather than working out a realistic figure which is probably why I am not hitting it. Still I have cut the amount we were spending on groceries, we have only had one takeaway this month, I have tried(and liked) a lot of value products, I am cooking from scratch, I dont throw fresh stuff away anymore (we had the most expensive compost in our compost bin:o ) I make bread, I buy fruit and veg from Aldi cos its cheap and really good quality and I have stocked up on lots of staples. I have even had my Mums old fridge freezer off her which was destined for the tip to go in my garage so I can stock up on y/s items, bogofs and all the bulked out meals and HM soup I want to make but cant fit in my current freezer.

One thing I could do with a bit of advice on I have 2 £9 off £60 shops at Mr S to use w/c 14th dec and w/c 21st dec. I was planning to use these to stock up further to give us enough stuff to last until March! We are one veggie and one meat eater. What would you all suggest as the best store cupboard items to buy to make the best use of this £120?

Thanks for your help

Free in Three x

gailey_2

free in 3 your budgets definatly too low considering what you spent last month and the fact its december/xmas could you raise it to £150? As thats still £220 less last month.

Im off shopping with oh today up high street wish me luck!

rosieben

Free_in_Three wrote: »

... What would you all suggest as the best store cupboard items to buy to make the best use of this £120? ...

I suggest anything that you use regularly that has a long date; I keep pasta, rice, dried milk, sugar, tea, coffee, gravy granules, tins - including peas, carrots, corn, baked beans, tomatoes, fruit, corned beef and fish. I also have a few jars (jam, curry paste, pasta sauce, marmite, bovril).

I list everything in my extra stockpile (plastic crates with tight fitting lids) including the dates so I can be sure of using things up in rotation.

oligeo

Hi Diva

I'm new to this challenge, and budgeted £400 for December, which would be a saving for me, but I'm confident that with the advice and support of all the lovely peopleon here I'll actually come in under budget :j
Stick with it!

Sarah

Sylvan

Free_in_Three wrote: »

One thing I could do with a bit of advice on I have 2 £9 off £60 shops at Mr S to use w/c 14th dec and w/c 21st dec. I was planning to use these to stock up further to give us enough stuff to last until March! We are one veggie and one meat eater. What would you all suggest as the best store cupboard items to buy to make the best use of this £120?

Thanks for your help

Free in Three x

Look at what they have on offer that you normally buy. That way your £60 will stretch even further. Take a calculator and don't go more than £1 over the £60 - remember you're going in again the following week and most of the offers will still be there. (Don't be afraid to put things back if you see whoopsies etc that will take you over - DH looked doubtful the first time I did it but when the bill came to only 5p above the required total he got the hang of it:D)

We normally go for:
Rice
Pasta
Tins
Stock cubes
Flour
Vinegar
Sugar
(I bought wine and cider vinegars and sugars for next year's preserving when I was trying to spend in Mr M's)
Herbs and spices
Vegetable seeds if you're likely to need any this spring.
Washing powder
Toiletries
Loo roll, kitchen roll, tissues, medicine cabinet supplies
Coffee, tea, long life juice if you use it.
Jams, syrups, treacles etc
Olive oil (or whatever you use instead/as well as)
Ginger - you can freeze it and just grate the amount you want at a time.
(It's also worth looking around for alternatives. I discovered Mr M sell frozen chopped garlic cheaper than fresh cloves and MUCH cheaper than the little jars...)

If you're still struggling on the second week pick up any little bits of cookware you need. (I have a new chopping board and extra loaf tins in mind for next time I need to spend.)