December 2008 Grocery Challenge

thg

Posters above have covered the main points.

Homemade cupcakes are cheap, easy to make and keep well in a tin. Buy some of your carbs in bulk then work around them. You can get big bags of rice and pasta in Asda for about a £1. Try making a little meat go a long way. A small packet of mince can make a lovely lasagne or pasta bake when teamed with frozen spinach, peas and a bit of cheddar. Always take a packed lunch to work.

Elsewhere on this board you'll see some people (inc families) living off tiny budgets but still eating well. You've got a slow-cooker and bread maker so I'll assume your a competent cook - make stuff from scratch > use leftovers imaginatively > anything else can go to the cat.

Hardup_Hester

I find home made cakes & biscuits much cheaper than bought ones, also you know what's gone into them. A friend of mine serves a pudding every day as she finds it stops her hubby picking throughout the evening.

beemuzed

Ouch! December was somewhat overdrawn! Still, we did have three extra mouths to feed for a week, and it was Christmas - and yes, I'm waffling, trying to find excuses! Never mind, I see a nice shiny new thread up there....here's to 2009!

bullet_2

Declaring December at £417.02 for two adults, two young children and 1 cat. Worse than I wanted but inevitable I suppose as it includes a family meal out, Christmas shopping and the every day stuff.

JayJay14

I am declaring for December at £178.98 which would have been £9.50 less if I hadn't just called at the Chinese takaway on the way back from town.

I'm really happy with £1.02 under with Christmas and New year sorted and have loads left in the freezer.

Will see you all over on the January Thread.

:j Happy New Year:j

sparklymessygirl

Hi All - I'm declaring £160 for December which is the first time I have come in on budget :j . This is thanks to OH paying for one shop (just as it should be!), me not succumbing to Quality Streets promotions, and going away to my parents for 4 days! I think also it is because I didn't do any big shops but just bought things every couple of days.

Happy New Year_party_

Sparkly

prophecy_grrl

Hi all

I'm declaring £198.44 for Dec - came in well under my £250 budget, so am well pleased :-)

Happy 2009 all x

procrastinator

Hi
Lost the plot near end of month as DH has stopped giving me his receipts. I think we were nearer 300 than the 250 I budgeted so will declare at 300.00 and try again in Jan.

pinknfluffy

Hi all
Will declare at £456.28 rubbish really as I allowed an extra £50 but still went £56.28 over target, never mind new year, new challenge and freezer and cupboards are full so should be able to cut back a bit in Jan.....

taka

Opps I just went over the Dec budget - £147.35 out of £146.20.

Only £1.15 over Actually as I spent £1.21 (well £26.21 but I had a £20 Mr S voucher and used £5 worth of [EMAIL="nect@r"]nect@r[/EMAIL] points ) stocking up for 2009 I'm not too upset! It should go in the Jan budget really but it would confuse me no end as I spent it before the end of Dec so here it stays.

Happy new Year to all and see you on the Jan thread!!