January 2009 Grocery Challenge

redmel1621

Laurasbump - I think for a first most people just work out what they usually spend in a month and then shave, say, £20 off it... they then try and stay within this lowered budget by changing the way they shop.i.e buying own brand, where they would have bought premium brand. Or scratch cooking or using less meat etc, etc...then lowering it each month until they are at a level they are comfortable with. A big tip is to plan ahead and bulk cook. So instead of using a 500g pack of mince for a bolognese for 4 people it is cheaper to bulk it out with lentils/veg etc and then use it for 2-3 meals worth of sauce...therefore saving money.

mumzyof2 - I always eat it cold the next day. I use it in a salad or on sandwiches. and save some for chucking in a curry too.

Mel x

scip789

Hi

Can I declare at £338.40. This is £38.40 over budget, but am pleased as this was the first month.

orchid-96

mumzyof2 wrote: »

with this chicken i cooked yesterday if i strip all the chicken do i have to reheat it or can i eat it cold?

You can eat it cold, I take it you have kept it in the fridge...if so no problems, if you want to re-heat thats fine, but you need to make sure it is hot throughout...

orchid-96

Laurasbump, Jan was my first month in the challenge for a long time - I wanted to get straight into it, so basically i decided what I wanted to spend and worked from there...

It is a good idea to consider what you have to buy regularly and see how much that would be first...also if you are not on a tight budget literally, you can start with a more generous budget, see how you go and then try to reduce it over following months....Good luck anyway

redmel1621

I am going to stick with the same budget as last month, as I haven't made it at all (yet to update sig)

I have planned 30 meals and am in the middle of writing a shopping list based on what I will need. I have done the same for snacks and lunches, and have added up how many of different items we will need minimum...I will order slightly more though that way any left over can go towards next month, but it will still be cheaper than topping up on them from the local shop.

The plan is to buy fruit/veg and milk from down the road once a week!!!!! Not every other day as I do a the moment!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mel x

gunsandbanjos

I made a right hash of januarys challenge:o I stopped counting at about £270! Need to pull my finger out big time, i WILL manage it this month. It is a nice short month and my freezer looks reasonably healthy.

Steel_2

I would like to declare £117.49 for January's total, an overspend of £17.49.

Lessons learned from January to be applied to February's challenge:

• Either don't include cat food or increase budget. By the end of this week the little !!!!!!s (hedgehogs included) will have eaten their way through nearly 84 cans of food and four boxes of munches in 31 days and cost us £38.25 of our budget. That's almost 40% of our intended January grocery bill gone.
  
• Don't buy expensive sausages at the mobile butchers
  
• Eat more meals with eggs (as our girls are back to laying 3 a day)
  
• Start switching in greater proportions of dried milk to fresh milk
  
• Don't be daft enough to put the whole batch of Twink's hobnobs in the biscuit tin or they will be secretly taken to work with husband and the whole lot eaten in a day.
  

Next month's budget will be £112.49, £5 less than last month so going over there now to say howdy.

laineyc_2

I have enjoyed reading this thread. I have got myself organised now. I would like to join in for February. Can you put me down for £470, please?

orchid-96

I am not finished yet with my January budget but am feeling a bit lonely on here now, so will pop onto the February GC....see you all there!

Keeping_Positive

Declaring at £260/250 so not too bad. Going for £300 in Feb as will be a 5 week month. Already spent £110 :eek:. Found too many bargains in Tescos may need to stick to online shopping!

Thanks
KP