February 2009 Grocery Challenge

OrkneyStar

As I said in January challenge, as well as working on reducing spends I am also trying to support local producers/shops/meat/produce. The two aims sometimes don't go hand in hand, and it can be difficult sometimes- cheap from Tesco or expensive from local shop ?
This however is my personal grocery challenge, and by no means would I expect all of you to do the same or agree with everything I do, and so I completely agree with nikki:-

angelnikki wrote: »

But it's completely up to you what you buy, as it is your challenge that you have set yourself, so you make the rules! Work out what you want to achieve and take it one step at a time

Nikki interesting figures re the meat:-

angelnikki wrote: »

So the actual meat cost for Jan was only £19.61 (which would have cost £24.80 if it was all FR). This made 15 meals for the 3 of us. The rest of the meals we had for the 28 days were: 7x fish meals, 3x takeaways (this was for b'days and new year) and 3x veggie meals.

From my understanding you are saying that buying FR/organic meat may not cost you that much more as you have a diet which includes a lot of other options as well as meat dishes ?
Interesting, and kind of agrees with our meal planning too. Also much better for you too, of course remember to include chocolate somewhere in the list too!!!
x

Changingme

I would like to try again this month please,way over in Jan but neen to get down so will try again at £240,fingers crossed.:o

angelnikki

OrkneyStar wrote: »

so I completely agree with nikki

Thanks

OrkneyStar wrote: »

Nikki interesting figures re the meat:-

angelnikki wrote: »

So the actual meat cost for Jan was only £19.61 (which would have cost £24.80 if it was all FR). This made 15 meals for the 3 of us. The rest of the meals we had for the 28 days were: 7x fish meals, 3x takeaways (this was for b'days and new year) and 3x veggie meals.

From my understanding you are saying that buying FR/organic meat may not cost you that much more as you have a diet which includes a lot of other options as well as meat dishes ?

Yeah exactly - its not such a big change to us to switch to free range, as we have already cut down on the frequency and quantity of chicken and pork (as well as other meat) that we eat

On an average week I try to have:
2x fish meals
2x veggie meals
2x meat meals (usually beef / lamb - sometimes pork sausages)
1x poultry meal

So it's really only one or two meals a week that I need to "upgrade" to FR

Nikki x

frazzmunch

hello folks.....can i be put down for £250 this month please....intending to do an awful lot better as have lots in freezer and cupboards but lets see how i do....:rolleyes: have tried this many times in the past but been abismal at it...!!!

kookgekje

Evening everyone. Well I have made the first dent in the February budget. Unfortunately it was mostly at Waitrose. Don't get me wrong, I like Waitrose, but for the same money I always seem to come out with fewer things. Plus they have so many nice things, that I get tempted to buy things I don't need. Having said that, I finally managed to find some free range chicken livers there. I had started wondering if all the happy chickens I have bought over the years were a very rare breed indeed and didn't have any livers .

Another necessary spend due to my and DD's nasty colds were the various cough syrups, throat lozenges, etc. Since DD is only 6, I have to buy different ones for her so it doubles the cost. MIL made a lovely hot chicken curry for us (DH & me - DD does not eat anything too spicy yet). Always helps to clear me out and make me feel better. And it's better than I could ever make it.

I'm hoping for a NSD tomorrow. Lamb tagine is cooking in the oven as we speak (and making the house smell lovely at the same time) and I have everything else for tomorrow in the house already.

CurlyTop

Hi Mrs Mc

Can you put me down for £250 for February please. Having come in under budget for January, I am reducing this months budget a little and am going to try and trim down even further.

Thanks to all for the help, advice and tips I've picked up from here. I feel so much more positive about the future.

fedupnow

OK.

Although I came in under in January I am going to stick with the same budget for February.

£184.45

I think if no no no not if WHEN (confidence) I come under for three consecutive months then I will dip my budget a little.

Sunny_Donny

Hi All
Done my on-line order for Asda (using t he free delivery codes) - came in at £59.38, trip to Lidl £5.11 and reduced veg in the shop at the top of the road 50p each for broccoli, cauli, carrots £2.00 in total - sorted out veg for rest of the week. Off to Netto tomorrow night for the rest of the stuff I need and the market for the fresh chicken portions on Saturday 11 for £10 - absolutely delicious then I'm done!!!!
Have been told a trick to revive the second freezer in the cellar which kept defrosting - cover the top and sides (but not the back) in a blanket as apparently it is too cold for the sensors and it switches itself off - yeah don't I know it!!!! Will switch it on tonight in preparation for the Asda delivery on Saturday - will keep you informed if it works - (apparently also good for freezers in garages and outbuildings). Hope this helps you all in the same predicament.
Will update on Saturday after town shopping done.
Keep warm tomorrow as it's supposed tobe cold - hands are cold now, so off to warm in front of the fire
Byyeeeeee

katholicos

Well i just about managed to stay within my budget for January, but i also included Christmas gifts i bought in the sales, in the amount i allowed myself, so i am very pleased...and it was my first ever GC too....and especially as it was a 5 week month!

This month i am dropping down £40 off my grocery budget...so i'll be going down to £280. As before my budget will include all groceries, meals out (hahaha - we never have any!) toiletries, cleaning products, dog food etc.

As of today i have already spent £74.27 :eek:

Moniker

I'm in for February. Please put me down for £275 for this month Mrs M.

Thanks

Moniker