January 2009 Grocery Challenge

angelatgraceland

gillst-Oh do let us know how you get on because if you are like me its not easy! Food in the bedroom tho is hubbys fault not mine as he is the one who hides it there from the kids so it will last. Food in the boots of both cars and in the garage too. Im cussing as some bananas got wasted the other day which had been shifted around in the garage and we didnt know about them. My fault that one! Just going to postpone my Asda order which is due on 11th as I wont be needing it. I will pop out while on lunchbreak tomorrow for baked beans. I will admit to what I actually buy tomorrow!
Yes-if you have debts it really would be good to stop buying. Its not a problem I have so I do get carried away.
What I did once was-when I used something up, I put the cost of it into a jar. With that money, instead of going into a shop and buying more-go to the bank and pay it off a debt-even if its only a fiver! The bills would reduce and so would the food. I did that when the kids were small and I had some stuff on interest free which I really just wanted to pay off(Ive always hated owing anything).

procrastinator

Hi
Walked into town the eve and got some YS bargains in Mr T.
6 Kingsmill rolls 12p
fruit soda bread 20p
4 oven muffins 07p
seedy pittas 15p
stilton with apricot 25p
Kids have buttered and clingwrapped their bread for tomorrows packed lunches and I will freeze most of what is left when finished on here. Bought full price whole meal loaf and a baggette, apples and plums and also some organic milk and natural yogurt. Total bill came to 6.50, amazing, total amended in sig. Tomorrow will have stir fry quorn, onions, mushroom, peppers and noodles and the remaining pittas - DS has been enjoying these this eve so hopefully there will be a couple left for tomorrow. Aldi have changed their promo veg offers, now 49p but the pototaes are twice the weight (but not maris piper) will try and get some of the tomatoes tomorrow, nothing left today. Easily make it to end of week without a big shop, last one done before xmas. Really need to save this month, bought a new tv for xmas and intend to clear the credit card bill in full.

gillst_2

angelatgraceland wrote: »

gillst-Oh do let us know how you get on because if you are like me its not easy! Food in the bedroom tho is hubbys fault not mine as he is the one who hides it there from the kids so it will last. Food in the boots of both cars and in the garage too. Im cussing as some bananas got wasted the other day which had been shifted around in the garage and we didnt know about them. My fault that one! Just going to postpone my Asda order which is due on 11th as I wont be needing it. I will pop out while on lunchbreak tomorrow for baked beans. I will admit to what I actually buy tomorrow!
Yes-if you have debts it really would be good to stop buying. Its not a problem I have so I do get carried away.
What I did once was-when I used something up, I put the cost of it into a jar. With that money, instead of going into a shop and buying more-go to the bank and pay it off a debt-even if its only a fiver! The bills would reduce and so would the food. I did that when the kids were small and I had some stuff on interest free which I really just wanted to pay off(Ive always hated owing anything).

I am sitting here now having a quiet laugh to myself now - I thought I was the only one who hid food (crisps mainly) in the car boot to stop my DSs from eating them too quickly!:rotfl: I did not want to admit this earlier.

angelatgraceland

Ah crisps! Yes! Guess what else I hide??? Cat food! The sachets-cos dd23 gives our cat too many and they get wasted and they are too expensive for that! Loo rolls and kitchen towel in the loft too-along with "ladies stuff" in the past. biscuits,coke,etc etc. Oh and we have a 2nd fridge too in the garage with a padlock. I wonder why????? Cos it holds all the "nickable" stuff that they would take in quantities. OH just remembered-tins of tuna-they also have to go in the boot-the cat again! Maybe Im just barking but now you know how I keep down the bills!!!:shhh: :shhh: :shhh:

dumpling

Hi there everyone - phew, this thread is growing quickly...I'm loving all the different moneysaving tactics that people have on here though.

Well, I went for a long walk this morning with one of my DD's and our hairy hound and got nagged into buying her a sausage roll. I felt guilty about all the others back at home so bought another 4 and a cup of soup for myself. I nearly passed out when the woman serving asked me for £7.55!:eek: . I couldn't believe it. Next time I'll buy them from the local supermarket or even better, just turn a deaf ear to the pleading!!! Anyway, off to update my signature and check out the leftovers thread.

turkolina

Hey everyone..

Well ive just sat down from 8am this morning.. and i'm so pleased with myself !!! I think i can seriously see my halo tonight..

This morning i woke up.. Sorted DD out and whilst she played with her new toys i made a pot of pasta sauce and froze both portions for me and DH. (used half a pack of small mince instead of a large pack in one go for one meal !!!)

I made a pot of ham, mushroom, parmesan and cream sauce for pasta enough for dinner and for Dh to take to work ( used up some grated parmesan in the fridge and used up half the packet of opened turkey ham (hubby muslim doesn't eat pork).

Then made a pot of savourty mince and put half in the fridge for us for this week and half went into the freezer. and finally made a massive pot of curry.. Cooked a load of pilau rice and potted it up into 6 large individual portions for hubby to take to work with him..

I also made dinner for tonight which was roast chicken. Peeled all the potatoes from the potato box which were starting to look a bit manky and then mashed the potatoes and mixed with parmesan cheese, salt pepper and the other half of the turkey ham box cut into small pieces.. I then made them into small risoles.. Finally made a salad with one tomato, small piece of cucumber, half a red onion, half an avocado and a snip of celery.. I usually make twice the amount and throw it all out but tonight we finished it all off and hubby was very complementary about dinner and his curries !!!

So now i need to get some sleep cos im whacked..

Today is also 4 out of 5 days as NSD.. woooo hoooo.

Is it me or do you all constantly think of the contents of your cupboards or fridge.. I did try and explain how this works to my brother who thought i'd taken leave of my senses.. ahhhh well noone deafer than someone who doesn't want to hear..

xx:D

30_something

Hi all.

Just visiting to update sig really. I've been shopping twice this week - the first time was NOT very good I am afraid. I went with a list for 5 items, came back with about 10 items and even managed to forget one item off the original list :mad: . I was just so tempted by all the yummy looking food we didn't need that was on offer. That's why I prefer internet shopping, I am really bad at resisting impulse buys!


Today's shop was better - I went out with a list of 4 items and came home with 4 exactly as planned . I think I am going to have to take out the EXACT amount of money I need before I go to any supermarket in future so I can't overspend.


My online order from Mr T is still due to be delivered Wednesday so I won't add that amount to my sig until it's delivered and paid for. I have a relative who works for Mr T so his staff discount will be taken off final amount too . If everything's in stock we should then have enough food in to last until the 19th, and still be well on track with our budget :T .

Hay_2

Am I too late to join in for January?:o
This is something I NEED to do~new year new start iynwim?
I've tried to budget before but family stuff got in the way but this time I'm determined!

We usually spend a fortune each week for 2 adults,3 kids,2 large dogs,5 cats and two guinea pigs~by my reckoning around £130 minimum per week:eek:
A big problem is me not planning ahead so I end up in tescos pretty much every day grabbing bargains(or not)whenever I see them.
My new plan is to go on designated days(mondays and fridays) and stick to my list.
Slow cooker is out of the cupboard,I've spent hours trawling through everyones amazing ideas for cutting back,I'm ready!

I hit tescos today after carefully planning a weeks menu and checking out my cupboards and freezer.In total,inc petfood and nappies for a full week,I spent £49.55 for meals uptill friday.My meals planned for fri,sat and sun will come to no more than £12 I hope.
Being realistic if I can drop our spend from approx £520 (:eek: ) and this month aim for £400 I think that'd be a good start

Then once I get into the swing of things I can gradually cut that back.

Here goes!

gillst_2

angelatgraceland wrote: »

Ah crisps! Yes! Guess what else I hide??? Cat food! The sachets-cos dd23 gives our cat too many and they get wasted and they are too expensive for that! Loo rolls and kitchen towel in the loft too-along with "ladies stuff" in the past. biscuits,coke,etc etc. Oh and we have a 2nd fridge too in the garage with a padlock. I wonder why????? Cos it holds all the "nickable" stuff that they would take in quantities. OH just remembered-tins of tuna-they also have to go in the boot-the cat again! Maybe Im just barking but now you know how I keep down the bills!!!:shhh: :shhh: :shhh:

:T :T :T :T :T :T :T :T :T :T :T :T :T :T :T :T :T :T :T :T

gillst_2

dumpling wrote: »

Hi there everyone - phew, this thread is growing quickly...I'm loving all the different moneysaving tactics that people have on here though.

Well, I went for a long walk this morning with one of my DD's and our hairy hound and got nagged into buying her a sausage roll. I felt guilty about all the others back at home so bought another 4 and a cup of soup for myself. I nearly passed out when the woman serving asked me for £7.55!:eek: . I couldn't believe it. Next time I'll buy them from the local supermarket or even better, just turn a deaf ear to the pleading!!! Anyway, off to update my signature and check out the leftovers thread.

Where on earth did you buy those sausage rolls??:eek: