January 2009 Grocery Challenge

Happy-Rags

Hubby did Asda shop today, spent £41.42 and I've written cheque for £35 for school lunches for January. If we are to stay within our £300 monthly budget we only have £38 a week until end of the month.... we've been spending over £80 a week, so am not sure how we're going to manage this!!! All hubby and mine lunches this week have been bought, lots of whoopsies in Asda with a good date on them for lunch... soup, shepherd's pie etc (hubby's very good at bargain hunting )

dreamingofmoney

Hiya (again)
Well been to Asda today and spent £51.48, i hope this is the biggest shop of the month, got enough mince to make plenty of chilli's, shepherds pie etc, but did get a bargain 16 loo rolls for a fiver so not too bad,
There were loads of bargains to be had in the freezer section but held back as mine is groaning anyway.
Does anyone keep their receipts so you can look at the end of the month and then see what was a waste of money? and does this work, goodness knows i need to learn how to stop buying rubbish
Dreamer

mardatha

can anybody point me to the posts on making your own yoghurt? I can't find anything in search...:mad:

fatcattaff

I'm keeping mine Dreamer. I want to study it at the end of the month (sad but true) I also want to trawl the supermarket comparison sites, maybe when I'm watching telly, see if I'm paying over the odds for stuff in Aldis/Lidl's/Mr T or Mr S's.

I'm looking at the recipe sites/links too as I've been a lazy so and so in the past and bought ready made everything!

I wish we had an Asda near us. Still...we have got Aldi's, Netto, Farm Foods, Morrisons, Sainsburys and Tescos on the doorstep (well within a mile or two) so I shouldn't grumble.

Baileys_Babe

2 NSDs for us. Had 12 friends round for a get together last night (8 have spent the night), asked them all to bring something to contribute to the meal. Had plenty, also covered brunch this morning and have a vat of HM soup left over for tea tonight so a very cheap & socialable weekend.

I have managed to meal plan for a few nights this week
Monday: Likely to be eating at parents
Tuesday: Vegtable lasagne
Wednesday: Mushroom rissotto
Thursday: Fish pie
Friday: Pasta & HM sauce

Lunch is likely to be HM soup (yet to make, which flavour? carrot & cummin or spicy parsnip) HM bread. We also have plenty of cheese, chutney, pickles, fruit & yoghurts.

Desert (if we have any) will be apple based, fruit, yoghurt or remainder of Christmas cake, mince pies etc (not sure if we will have any left over at the end of the today).

Breakfast will be porridge, cereal or toast (HM bread).

We have all the ingredients in for this so should be no extra costs, we will just have to see.

Flat_Eric

day 4 of my first GC of the year and I am over halfway through my budget :eek:

I shopped in Morrisons yesterday and despite my best intentions the odd thing crept into my basket that wasnt on my list (pak choi, diet cream soda, a pineapple, some minced beef, and a red cabbage!!) and I ended up spending £34.44 I almost found myself getting caught out on a few things, picking up organic (more expensive) veg rather than the bulk standard or value veg. As I dont normally shop there, I found the whole experience stressful particularly as i had the trolley from hell!!!!!

Combined with what I have left over from xmas, this shop should see me through until at least the 21st Jan, hopefully later than that and even the end of the month perhaps??!! I only anticipate having to buy milk and sandwich chicken and the odd item for packed lunches so it should be possible to come in under budget.

I havent done my food planner yet so will try to sit down tomorrow and do this. Might have to do another stock take of my freezer / food cupboards etc as all the xmas bits I bought, I didnt add to my list.

I find the other posters really inspiring - turning todays roast into several meals lasting into next week.:j.
finally - and as an afterthought - ive never cooked with red cabbage or pak choi? can anyone give me any pointers??

MRS M - Please can I amend my January budget if at all possible to £122.92 Many thanks

searching_me

right i spent alittle today as DD decided she wants pack up tomorrow so had to get a few things was alittle naughty and bought a creme egg. can you believe they already have the easter eggs out :eek: but i will not spend gonna make lunches for tomorrow after dinner freezers still packed. went through the cupboards and very very very annoyed with myself had to throw away 6 packets of gone off flou and 2 carrier bags of stuff that used to look like something else... o well fresh start eh hope your all well x

nigdeb2002

can someone point me in the direction of .... spicy parsnip soup please.
Too many parsnips left to waste

sharronej

Just been to Mr M's and spend £10.69 leaving me with the grand total of £4.31 FOR THE MONTH :eek: However, I shouldn't need anything other than bread flour and probably some ladies products so providing I stay away from the shops then it shouldn't be a problem. I picked up some good reductions at Mr M's and my fruit bowl is now overflowing with Apples, Bananas and Satusumas which always makes me feel nice and healthy I shall stew some of the apples to have in a crumble for later in the month and if I need to I don't mind going a bit overbudget if it's for fruit (got loads of frozen and tinned veg). I think the remainder of this month is going to be an exercise in will power!

Say after me

I will not go in the supermarket and buy things I don't need
I will not go in the supermarket and buy things I don't need
I will not go in the supermarket ....................:rotfl:

Baileys_Babe

dreamingofmoney wrote: »

Does anyone keep their receipts so you can look at the end of the month and then see what was a waste of money?

Oh yes, I find it very informative or am I just sad?