February 2009 Grocery Challenge

rosieben

S_Wales_Saver wrote: »

...
I have been reading the stockpiling threads, and while I don't inend to stock three months worth, I think I'll use any leftovers from GC to stock up on items on special offer. Then I could spend some of next month's budget on buying other specials ( does that make sense?) Anyway this means that I won't be cutting the GC budget, but using the extra to buy ahead.

That's the joy of having a good store cupboard, you can concentrate on buying specials and bogofs instead of having to do a full weekly shop. It takes a while to build up a decent store but I cant tell you how much this has helped me over the last few years.

angelatgraceland

rosieben wrote: »

If I'm out and want to note something I use the voice recorder facility on my mobile; my dd has a note keeping facility (+ reminder) on her mobile; do you have anything like that on your phone?

I write notes in memo of my spends but I realy should use the voice recorder! What a great idea!
I also am now keeping grocery spends in my purse so if my notes go wrong it will still tally up with the truth.;)
Had a day out with dd today and her mate-didnt really go as planned moneywise but was still ok. Cinema ticket wasnt accepted for the film they wanted to see but at least they were charged kids rate.(no idea on age limits)
Promo vouchers for dining werent used as we changed venue to have chinese buffet instead. For £6.95 each it was "eat all you like" so for two 15 yr olds it was heaven. I didnt indulge but went shopping and used up my £25 M & S voucher instead-on food. Had a trek around the Mall and bought nothing, then to Asda and bought value hair stuff and painkillers. Popped in Waitrose an hour ago and their meat was down to silly prices-£4 odd down to about £1.25 so I spent £15 in there which cost me just over £9 as I used vouchers. I had about £35 worth of food for that. Got petrol for £18 and luckily DH MOT passed no probs except headlight adjustment-£58 odd. Yes-all in all-a moneysaving day.:D

S_Wales_Saver

(Martin usually has a Twofer on the boards here for them...:D)

Reverbe thanks for the heads up about Strada. Unfortunately offer is Mon to Thurs. Oh well have to be supersaving next week lol

queen_of_string

just about still on target. Made a lovely pie for tea tonight with bisquick mix

mix 1 cup of cooked chicken and 2 hndfuls of cooked veg with a tin of condensed soup. Put into a pie dish.

Mix 1 cup of bisquick ( or homemade equivalent) with 1/2 cup of milk and 1 egg until smooth. Should be thick but just pourable, pour over chicken mixture evenly to cover.

bake in 400F oven for 30 mins.

It was yummy with a slightly bready/cobbler like topping, made enough for 2 portions tonight and one left for my lunch tomorrow.

You could use any cooked meat and veg I reckon, I shall be experimenting :-)

Julimk

Declaring at £118.36 for February.

Looking at what I have bought this month I am really pleased with this. I have bought masses of meat/fish, which is usually the most expensive part of the food bill – 2 kg mince, 1 ½ kg other beef, 1 ½ kg chicken breasts, ¾ kg white fish, ¾ kg smoked fish, a couple of packs of lincolnshire sausages & smaller amounts of corned beef, chicken livers & oily fish. As well as all the breakfast & lunch bits & all the basics. :j

£120 for March please.

I’ve come in under this amount for 4 months in a row; I am comfortable with this & there is no pressing need to get it lower. I am a bit of a foodie & enjoy cooking as a creative exercise, not just because I have to.

Also, although it is a short month I want a little bit of leeway to ‘play’ with the grocery shopping, getting high ethics, high quality produce for as little as possible. I am now well stocked up, so I should be able to only buy especially the meat & fish when it is on offer or reduced.

DD is still at her Dad’s & I am working from home tomorrow, so I will have time to do the first shop of March tomorrow at leisure. I’m really looking forward to it!

Casperthefriendlyghost

Good evening everyone

No more grocery spending for me. I've started leaving my purse at home to stop me spending any money on groceries whilst the freezer and cupboards are bulging with stuff. It feels uncomfortable but it works and stops me from spending. Have to keep remembering that I have no purse with me as I nearly walked into the butcher yesterday and then remembered that I had no purse, that could have been pretty embarassing lol.

Good luck everyone, just six days to go till payday for me.

Cheers
Casper
x x

MRSMCAWBER

rosieben wrote: »

That's the joy of having a good store cupboard, you can concentrate on buying specials and bogofs instead of having to do a full weekly shop. It takes a while to build up a decent store but I cant tell you how much this has helped me over the last few years.

Thats what I do, I now find that most of my monthly budget is spent buying offers to use in the following months...
So this month it has been pasta, toilet rolls and soap, so for the next 2-3 months at least I won't have to buy any of them -so I will have extra to spend on other offers I see.
Im at the point now where Im pretty much working a month in advance at least on most things...
It has been great whilst we have had bad weather and then been feling a bit off colour..to just potter into the basement and fetch out what i need -and it stops me from picking up extras willy nilly :T

Tomorrow we are off to the Naafi, aldi, lidl and plus :eek: ..so I will report back how much I have spent when I get back

cw18

I went waaaaay over budget last month, but a large part of that was due to an unexpected invitation to join a friend on a Costco trip (enough chicken and bacon for several months, and a huuuge chunk of mature cheddar to start with.....)

In the main I'm using from freezers/cupboards this month, hence way under budget at the moment -- and hoping the two months balance out

So I've just overspent to stock-up, and am now playing catch up. Shouldn't need to buy full quanities of anything for the next couple of months (except elder DS has announced he'll be home over Easter -- for 3 or 4 weeks :eek: ), so I can then start to replenish supplies from 'underspend' -- while continuing to purchase any good freezable Whoopsies bargains (mainly meat) I see in the meatime.

annelouise_2

Hello all,

After a rather mad 4 months with a move from Spain to Uk then over to Darwin,Australia I can now have time and energy to concentrate on real life budgeting.

I'll commence my budget from next month.Although food here in the top end is expensive and there are very few basics/stripy foods.No basic bread!!!!! I have bought about 3/4 of my last 2 food shops basic brands in biscuits,washing powder,crackers etc so it's all a new learning curve.

Have got a new recipe book to rewrite all my recipes and a few from here too so I'm getting on with that.

I am planning a couple of days in advance but having to buy a whole new stash of all herbs,spices and condiments was shattering price wise.

Have read most of Feb so will get a grip now I have the internet and let you know how it's all coming along.I did buy 2 soy and linseed loaves for $1.00 and 12 white rolls for $1.00 which I've frozen for packed lunches.

But saying that we have bought 2 brand new cars,a 50 inch tv and a 10 place dining table and chairs with a lounge suite and day bed to match so the pounds/dollars have been spent..............

annelouise

scotsaver

Just updated total, getting really close now but confident that I'll make it as I've meal planned until the end of the month and have everything I need apart from more F&V and milk so fingers crossed.;)

elizabunny - thanks for the Oxtail Stew recipe, have copied that and put it on meal plan for March - can use the SC now that I've got the hang of it.:cool:

annelouise - welcome back, how are you finding prices compare over there?

Off to make a start in the Kitchen, have friends and their kids coming over for Lunch so loads to make.

Going to try Cheeseburger Impossible Pie from HERE for Dinner tonight, serving it with Mash and peas & sweetcorn.

Have a good day everyone.:D