February 2009 Grocery Challenge

nickynoo08

Evening everyone, was a bit naughty and got a few bit reduced from work:rolleyes:, cant find my recipt but reckon i spent about a tenner putting me just over budget. I'm not too bothered tho coz i've got enough in to see me through the first week or so of march. i'll still need to pick up milk and fruit for next week tho.
Off to update siggy.

pinknfluffy

Only a week to go and 100.00 still left in the budget (first time ever) and going away for a week on Wednesday.

PennyGrabber

Hi all!
A NSD for me today, thank goodness! I also saved a bit of money, as we were at a friend's house for lunch. I took the remainder of the flapjacks we made the other day, and another friend took some raw veg and biscuits. The friend who was hosting did pizza, wedges and garlic bread! Result!! It also meant that we weren't very hungry this evening, so smaller meal needed!
I'm OK about having gone over budget, as I had set such a ridiculously small one, but I have a much clearer picture now of how I need to shop to make it the cheapest I can.
My March starts on Monday, and I don't have my children on Tuesday night. I will have done a rough meal plan for the month by then, based on what I have in, and then I will go around the supermarkets searching for bargains to either use instead of a meal idea, or to start stocking up my outside freezer. Then, whenever I run out of something, I'll write it on my list on the inside of my pantry, and go to get those things while I don't have the children. That way, I still get to go shopping regularly, and won't feel I'm missing out!
Let's hope it works!!
My budget for March (23rd Feb - 22nd March) will be £125, for me, DD(3, but 4 on 01/03), DS(2) and 2 cats
PG x

SunnyGirl

Have spent more than I wanted to in the last few days as my Dad is in hospital & Mum & I keep popping into Asda to get him pj's, bits of fruit, a paper etc & I spot things that I like & end up buying them :eek: I've spent £19 in the last three days on ............... I don't really know actually! Apart from bread, milk & some shampoo there really was nothing I needed. Certainly not the bags of large chocolate chip cookies which I ended up eating 3 of (cookies not bags!) for my breakfast today on the way to the hospital :rotfl: The cupboards are heaving though & so is the fridge/freezer & the kids are back at school on Monday so hopefully I won't need too much next week. I must get my menu's planned out so I can do a shopping list at the same time. My week runs from Wednesday to Tuesday so I've got a couple of days yet though!
Off to update my sig now & see the damage

Edited to say: Just done the maths & I've got £23.34 left for next weeks shopping. Do-able but I'll have to get creative!

Rowan9

off to update sig - spent a few £ today but not much. Got 75% off some good quality sausages and 50% off celery. A few other bits. I'll manage to come under budget this month but next one will be a toughie as Dh is home for the whole month (yippee).

Flat_Eric

angelatgraceland wrote: »

Well the simplest way to keep on track it to keep a purse with just your weeks grocery money in it. And-when its gone-its gone! When you see it dwindling down in real money you will no doubt put the brakes on. That is what Im doing this year and believe me-it works.
I think the fact that you are having to "find" receipts is telling a story in iteself. That may sound critical but its aim is to be helpful. I keep all my receipts but whether or not I mislay them-my purse will tell the truth!

Hello. Yes you are right. When I first did the GC, I kept a separate bank account for the food shopping and a separate purse. I didnt get cash back which confuses things when you just look at your bank statements rather than the receipt. I also ensured I kept my receipts in a certain pocket of my coat and not just chucked in my handbag so that when I got home, I sat down and inputted every item into a spreadsheet. I think this was the October spend and I literally spent quids.

I think I will go back to keeping a separate purse and also a separate bank account and once its gone well thats it. No dipping into savings or the overdraft just to endulge my food tastes.

Still cant decide on a budget for March BUT my fridge is full and in a mess, my freezers are full so simply - nothing to be bought except milk, spuds and eggs, loo roll and cat food when needed. Desperately need to get my spending in check as Im on reduced hours at work and with the increased in the price of food, its quite literally putting me in financial meltdown - each month is getting worse! so budget for March £100

bluetimone97

Can I join please, hoping to save enough to get a food processor and new breadmaker (my freecycled one will not cook).
Do I just put on here what I think I want to keep to?
There are 5 of us, 2 adults, DS's 16, 15 and 11.

sistercas

declaring for feb £285
just managed to stay in budget this month :T

£400 for march please (but hoping to be under this)

Julimk

Bought a few bits today. Double checked what I needed for the planned batch cook tomorrow & decided best to get a little bit more fresh veg. And a couple of bits DD likes for when she comes home (she’s been at her Dad’s since last Sunday – really quiet here!:( ) So have spent half the month’s money in 2 days!

But that’s fine. Still more than £20 less than this time last month & should only actually need milk & fresh fruit for the rest of the month, so the remainder is for picking up whoopsies & special offers.:)

Have taken the meat out the freezer ready for cooking tomorrow. Yesterday I got a couple of Mr T’s seasonal veg bags (some carrots, a parsnip, a swede & an onion in each - £1.10 each or £1.50 for 2) so I’ll get some beef stew in the SC first thing. Then the usual suspects of bolognese, chilli, cottage pie etc. Ching-He Huang’s Chinese Chilli Chicken:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/database/chillichickenwithjas_89288.shtml

and her Mango Chicken too; can’t find a link, but it is like a sort of sweet & sour with mango instead of pineapple & is yum!

scotsaver

Just logging on to let you know of this recipe I tried this afternoon and really recommend for anyone with a sweet tooth and good way of using Semolina in a different way, recipe is for Mincemeat Slices, posted by BOBS in post number 31 - enjoy.;)

Just caught up with the last couple of pages - egon - congrats, that's fantastic news.

*BigBird* - I keep my spuds in a cupboard under the stairs so they are in the dark and never had a problem with any sprouting.

SunnyGirl - sorry to hear that your Dad is in Hospital, hope he is better soon.

Off to put my feet up now - enjoy the rest of the evening everyone.