January 2009 Grocery Challenge

Tracey.32

TheBees wrote: »

Tracy.32 - Just wanted to suggest that with making packed lunches we always make ours either while our meal is cooking or immediately after. If you leave the kitchen and sit down it's really hard to motivate yourself to go back to preparing sandwiches! I also buy reduced sausage rolls, pasties and pork pies if I see them on offer to break the monotony of boring sandwiches every now and then. I know they're not particularly healthy but some evenings if you're in a hurry it's also much quicker and cheaper to throw something like that into the lunchbox. You could also get some rolls, tortilla wraps and pittas and keep them in the freezer until needed. I also buy most of my drink cartons from Lidls as they're very good value. I've never found a drink bottle that doesn't leak!
We hate making the packed lunches every evening but can't afford to buy school dinners every day.
Hope this helps.

Thanks Bees - you are so right - sitting down is fatal! Sausage rolls and pasties are a good idea (don't think I could get a pork pie into her tho' - she's not fussy but would make a big fuss about the jelly!). Plus, TBH, even when they're not reduced they're pretty reasonable. At the mo I'm trying to make her packed lunches hot, just while it's so cold out. Monday I thought I could scald her flask, warm the soup AND put my contacts in at the same time - oh, dear!! :eek: May have to get up a wee bit earlier :rotfl:

Rachel021967

Yesterday was a NSD. Daughter decided Mummy needed to go walkies so we went to Tesco Express and spent £1 on Pepsi and £2.80 on cucumber and crumpets.
So that leaves a food budget of £148.56.

Just done an online order with Tesco's and it initially came to £30 but with a delivery charge of £3.50 we decided to top up the store cupboard. So it's more like £40 now.

LydiaJ

TheBees wrote: »

Tracy.32 - Just wanted to suggest that with making packed lunches we always make ours either while our meal is cooking or immediately after. If you leave the kitchen and sit down it's really hard to motivate yourself to go back to preparing sandwiches! I also buy reduced sausage rolls, pasties and pork pies if I see them on offer to break the monotony of boring sandwiches every now and then. I know they're not particularly healthy but some evenings if you're in a hurry it's also much quicker and cheaper to throw something like that into the lunchbox. You could also get some rolls, tortilla wraps and pittas and keep them in the freezer until needed. I also buy most of my drink cartons from Lidls as they're very good value. I've never found a drink bottle that doesn't leak!
We hate making the packed lunches every evening but can't afford to buy school dinners every day.
Hope this helps.

Agree about sitting down, and that making the sandwiches is boring. Years ago (pre-kids) I used to do bread rolls rather than flat sandwiches, and make a couple of weeks' worth at a time and freeze them. You just take them out of the freezer before work/school in the morning, and they have defrosted in your lunchbox by lunchtime.

I give my kids their juice in little coke bottles - the smallest ones. They've learnt to drink out of a bottle without needing a sports top or anything, so the lid is a proper lid, and the bottle doesn't leak. It took a while, but I've eventually trained them to bring the bottles home to be used again, instead of throwing them away.

Hay_2

I am loving reading this thread!
I had to post to say that today was the first day in months and months that I didn't spend a single penny!I'll usually pop into tescos to grab lunch and end up coming out with various toys/clothes/food etc turning it into a £40 impulse shop:o But!Today me and the kiddies peeled and chopped up our veggies and made a yummy veg stew type concoction for our lunch meaning that todays lunch cost around 50p for 4 of us rather than £40:rotfl:
I've stuck to the plan and am actually really enjoying not having the usual "what shall we have for dinner" dilemma we have every night.

Only issue I'm having is that the kids/hubby aren't used to making things last so they're guzzling crisps and biscuits like they normally do despite my warning them that once it's gone there's no more till my next shop.If only my family could be as motivated as I am!

HeidiBoo_2

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HeidiBoo_2

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Kiwisaver_2

Can't believe I have been to the supermarket three times this week already, usually only go once or twice, but on a mission to hunt for bargains. So another $27.50 spent tonight - all on specials and a few more bits towards my dinner party.

Thankfully shops still have plenty of Christmassy bits going cheap, which is helping no end with my party food. Got huge trifle sponge; two slabs for $2.80 (just over £1). I was going to make sponge for dinner party trifle, but at that price I couldn't make it and now I have sponge enough for England in the freezer. Well enough for six huge trifles at least!

I also got a big selection box of mixed crackers, for cheese and biccies at half price.

Frozen fish fillets for $4 will be enough for two dinners.

Still got to do my usual weekly shop tomorrow, one day earlier than normal as we're out on Friday. :eek: Will be carefully planning tonight to spend the absolute minimum possible.

scotsaver

Tracey.32 wrote: »

Oh, and what's a 'happy chicken' please?!!

Hi Tracey.32 - a "Happy Chicken" is a Free Range Chicken.;)

Will have to pop to Lidl on the way back from taking DD2 to School, run out of Bananas as 3 are getting used for Brekkie this morning - promise not to buy anything else.

Have a good day everyone.:D

Penelope_Penguin

clareybabble wrote: »

I want to reduce my grocery budget to about £200 a month which will include food, drink, nappies for 2 and toiletries. Our current budget is about £280 - £350 per month.

The best place to find help and inspiration is the Grocery Challenge You set your budget and report how you're getting on in the month. I'll add this thread later

Penny. x

FrenchMaid_2

I'd swap them to reusable nappies. I love Motherease one-size nappies which you can use for both and the motherease wraps. Also have Little lamb nappies which I love.
Is your 3yr old toilet trained yet?

My grocery budget for 3 (DH, me and DD) and 3 cats is £200 but I aim to only spend £120 - £150 so I can save the rest for treats and holidays.