December 2008 Grocery Challenge

scotsaver

nickynoo08 wrote: »

I'm still within my budget, but considering i've been taking part in this challenge for months and months it hasnt got any easier for me. I know prices have gone up, and mrT's have gotten rid a lot of there value ranges but i still seem to struggle every month. I know everyone says that meal planning is the best way to go, and believe me i've tried it, but my OH isnt interested, he changes his mind about what he wants then changes it again so ive given up.
Any suggestions?

nickynoo08 - don't know what to suggest other than just telling your OH that that's what he's eating and if he doesn't like it then he should make it himself!! I'm quite lucky as my OH and the kids have never complained about what I put in front of them - what sort of things do you cook - does your OH like what you cook or is it just that he changes his mind about what he would like?

nickynoo08

Thanks mummysaver, cw18 and scotsaver for your suggestions and ideas. Think writting a flexible list would work best. I'll be giving it a go in the new year. I dont think OH doesnt like my cooking i think he thinks his cooking is better than mine, which is fine coz some things he can make better than me and some things he cant.
I'll try 'the not giving him an option' approach again. Must admit when i used to say we're having this or that he would never quibble its only since i've tried involving him in meal planning that it all seemed to go a bit pear shaped.

mummy2mygirls

Well i do have a meals set for the week but if one day me or oh fancied someting else from the list i dont mind changing the days around a bit (as long as things are not ou tthe freezer etc.) so maybe a flexable plan might be a good idea......or just be harsh and say your having whats on the list and thats it!!

Well i have to add a whole.....£1.12 today for mushrooms and bananas. trying to hold of a big shop and see how long ill wait....... also going to try my best to lower the freezer as much as possible as i might need to do a buffet on boxing day so will have a look for ideas on what i can do now to freeze..........

scotsaver

gailey wrote: »

Nymedia that approved foods looks interesting.Must let us know what its like.

Im in dillemea as i set £250 for our challange this month which is prob what we normally spend on average month depsite saying 200.
Wev have shopped aroudn this month and saved lots but did run cupboard and freezer completly bare so still short on basics and a turkey!
We went in iceland yesterday wanted to spend £40 spent 80 so thats all £250 now spent.
So I think sadly will have to withdraw from challange this month and start again in jan as still need bird and other stuff so prob another £50 making spend £300.
My fault was being unrealistic.
Good luck everyone with challange will keep reading see how you get on.

gailey - don't pull out now, just ask for your total to be adjusted to what you feel is a more realistic figure, Xmas is hard to calculate for, at least that way you will still have a target in your mind.;)

huxley

oh dear going to be tight me thinks!!!! doing ok but went to costco last night so got lots of yummy christmas cheese and a bulk buy of sugar, I only use it in cooking but it works out at 53p a bag!!!! So seeing as there is alot of christmas cooking going on, I trade with some of my cooking at my local LETS group which in return I get hair cuts for us all and 2 trays of eggs each month and other bits for next to no money so it realy balances out in the long run. Also went to look at the allotment we have been offered, know where we will be burning off those cheese calories! Good luck everyone keep going:D

dink1

Hi GUys,

Clicked on today to update siggy but found I have not been put on the monthly list on page one...... Did I do something wrong? I know I joined this month pretty late but I did put my figure in red. Hope its still ok to post.... Dink1

kookgekje

nickynoo08 wrote: »

I know everyone says that meal planning is the best way to go, and believe me i've tried it, but my OH isnt interested, he changes his mind about what he wants then changes it again so ive given up.
Any suggestions?

I soooooooooooo know what you mean. I have tried mealplanning. Even when OH agrees to it, he tends to change his mind at least once ("don't fancy that now"):mad: . Not giving him a choice doesn't really work for me as it spoils the atmosphere and he goes moody. I like dinner time to be nice not stressed. I now send him an email during the day with a few choices from that week's mealplan (the plan he doesn't know about ) and he then chooses what he fancies most. Usually two of the choices are in the freezer already so no hardship if he doesn't want it. It'll keep for another day. It works for me most of the time. I think he likes to feel he's in control .

Good luck!

belfastgirl23

Nickynoo - agree with the others. If I ask DH what he wants he'll dither for ages. So what I do is in the morning say something like 'think I fancy chilli for tea'. At that stage of the day he's generally not really thinking about dinner so agrees on auto pilot. And it means he is sort of looking forward to it by the time it comes Whilst I mealplan a bit I never mealplan particular days, more a sense of the kinds of things I'll have this week.

Gailey I'd suggest adding a contingency budget of (say) 20% and sticking with the challenge. That would leave you another £50 to spend. Sadly my experience is that otherwise you go mad!

Good luck everyone, we're half way through.

Just a thought, does anyone think it might be good to have a 2008 GC savings thread?? Might be nice to get a sense of what we've all achieved over the year. Or whatever part of it we've done.

cw18

Mrs Mc was in hospital for a while, so it's possible she's not caught up with the 'late arrivals'. I wouldn't worry about it, and carry on posting

MRSMCAWBER

Hi Dink1

Sorry -you haven't been bannished :eek: as CW18 said - I went into hospital for 10 days and have not been great since -So I have probably missed you - sorry..will get off and add you now