January 2009 Grocery Challenge

ifonlyitwaseasier

welcome to all the newbies!

we're a friendly bunch and have a LOT of recipes to share, have a look on the first page of the challenge and read through a few. if you want to post any they'll like as not get added as well.



ioiwe x

little_miss_moneysaver_3

philsmum wrote: »

Hi Everyone, and a big Welcome to all newbies.

Just to say that I keep a spending diary, page a day from poundland, I write down everything I spend in each shop and I keep every single receipt in a A5 envelope which is stuck to the back cover just in case.
A really good idea is to always check your receipt before you leave the shop it is unbelievable how many times I have been overcharged just in the last month. Dont mind if it is Tesco though.

Good luck:D

That's exactly what I do. It's amazing how much i can spend just nipping to the corner shop! Otherwise I can kid myself i've stuck to budget

Went to Mr Ts today, but there were so many whoopsies I couldn't help myself. On the plus, for tonight the salad leaves were only 38p and toms reduced to 55p. And the coleslaw was 20p lol, I won't be telling the guests that!!!!

LMMS x

MoneyMission

First time of posting to this thread. New year new start and all that. Please add me in for £350. Thats for me, OH, DS and DD. To include all food, household and toiletries. This is for the calendar month Jan '09.

philsmum

Hi Everyone.
Happy to see lots of newbies. Good Luck, you will find lots of help on this thread.:D
Recovering Spendaholic. Welcome, were you watching the M&S advert with Michael Parkinson, Mary wanted the Christmas Pudding Cheesecake, wonder if she liked hers. I would definitely return it I am sure they will refund you, it would be a lot easier also if you still have your receipt.
Your Stollen should freeze well and you could try making posh bread and butter pudding.
Also there are lots of ideas for turkey leftovers. Turkey pasta Cacciatorre sounds really nice I am going to try this with chicken for our dinner tonight.
Good Luck
Pat

efesbaby

Hi i am new to this forum, but i would like to set myself a limit of £220 for the calendar month, for me my partner and 9 month old daughter, this is to include her food, milk and nappies

Thanks

angie_baby

angie_baby wrote: »

Hi can you put me down for £100 this month. Have already spent £14.51 but i cant seem to update my sig at the moment.

Ok, ive changed mine now to £20. Have gone through all the cupboards and freezer and think i can do this until the 29, it will be a long month but worth it as its DS birthday on the 22nd. Have managed to meal plan from the freezer until the 29th. Just need some eggs, veg, fruit and milk. Will get some frozen veg too. Is Icelands any good for this? Anyone got any recomendations for cheap frozen veg thats good?

Angie

kookgekje

My first supermarket expedition this month. What a nightmare! I drove (queued) through Mr T's carpark for nearly half an hour without finding a space :mad: , got fed up and went to Mr A instead. I was all stressed out by the time I got there and DD was getting stroppy as well. I can't blame her as we were going to Mr T in the first place to exchange one of her Christmas present that broke as soon as it came out of the box. I ended up buying her a magazine to keep her happy. It wasn't all bad news though, because I found that Mr A had reduced the price of the free range chicken (will only eat happy chicken) and the other things I got were cheaper as well.

Unfortunately I will still have to go back to Mr T to exchange the toy:( .

OrkneyStar

recovering_spendaholic wrote: »

I have just read through the thread so far and have a few newbie questions - please bear with me if the answers seem obvious - I am easily confused!

does spending on GC include any or all of the following?:

toiletries
cleaning materials
medicines (paracetamol, tampax etc)
payment for window cleaner or wheeliebin man
petrol
school trip money etc

We are a family of two adults and 1 DS, who is 18 months. I include all food, all toiletries, and pet food. DS is in real nappies and eats mainly the same stuff as us, although obviously needs full cream milk and gets some things like raisins etc, and also some special wipes and toiletries. Cat food is from Lidl or Tesco own. Petrol is separate, as is our 'treat' money, holiday savings, car maintenance etc. We don't eat out in expensive places and the odd meal our or takeaway normally comes from our treat money.
Welcome all newbies, this is a great thread, be sure to read the guidelines at the start and that will keep you on track and save any confusion over what it is all about!
HTH

savingfortravel wrote: »

Hope everyone is doing well. We are going to make some spicy parsni soup using the monsters that OB has just dug up from the garden. Very pleased as parsnips are my favourite but quite expensive to buy.He spent this morning planning the crop rotation of the vegetable patch.

Hope everyone is doing well with their challenge. Will report back next week.SFT

I got a whole bag for 10p whoopsied in the coop and need a spicy parsnip soup recipe, can you recommend a good one ?
Thanks

little_miss_thrifty

Hi all - I am ready to go in January!!

Can i set my budget for £300 again.

December was the first month i tried this challenge, with a £300 budget and i came in at £238.62!! :T

Good luck everyone!!!

x

savingfortravel

Hi Everyone!!!
Just been food shopping in ASDA for the first time in years. Prices seem to match Tescos-penny for penny but what I did notice is how good their whoopsies are. So picked up some bits for OBs lunches and some dinners in February. Worth going as we were in the area anyway.
Will adjust my signature.
Hope everyone is doing well. We are going to make some spicy parsnip soup using the monsters that OB has just dug up from the garden. Very pleased as parsnips are my favourite but quite expensive to buy.He spent this morning planning the crop rotation of the vegetable patch.

Hope everyone is doing well with their challenge. Will report back next week.
SFT