February 2009 Grocery Challenge

gillst_2

Evening. My month runs from 19th of the month, when DH gets paid, so am already a third of the way through my February grocery challenge, but have already spent over half. The problem is that I have had a couple of meals out that I did not really budget for. At work everyone decided to go out for lunch to a buffet chinese, which was lovely but unfortunately cost me £10.00 and then OH and I had a £20 Mr T club card voucher for use at Pizza Ex, that had to be used by the end of this month. Our bill came to £34.00 so had to pay £14.00. We did have a lovely meal and was nice to spend time together so was actually worth it, but has made a severe dent in our grocery budget. Don't need too much yet, can get away with what is in the freezer meatwise, but will need some fresh veg and bread by the weekend.

Moniker

In case anyone didn't see my post in January here is the Ocado money off code - you need to spend a minimum of £60 - code is VOU104705. I think this only works if you are a new customer. But I haven't tried it again as i try to have one big shop at the beginning of the month and then just get F&V and milk in small weekly shops. That way I stay out of the shops and spend less - well it seemed to work in January!

Payday tomorrow! And January's almost over - can't be all bad!

take care everyone

Moniker

eireaine

Hi Guys
Could I please sign up for Feb at £200, trying hard to get on track and stick to a budget. Unfortunatly neither Hubby or I are good with finances so this is a struggle. Feeling inspired by your posts hope that subscribing to this thread will keep me motivated.
Thanks for all your tips

elizabunny

Have just watched the 'Jamie Saves Our Bacon' programme and found it really harrowing in places, to say the least. It just made me think how little I think about what goes on the plate everyday. It's not that I don't care about animal welfare because I really do and would love to buy everything free range/organic/British. However, when push comes to shove, it can be really difficult to do the best thing on such a tight budget and we do have to eat. I wish I was a born/converted vegetarian and then I wouldn't have to agonise over this so often. On the other hand I do enjoy meat -not loads of it but now and again. So I will try as hard as I can to be very careful about what I buy and where I buy it and hopefully it will be British.

Maisie_M

Just incase you dont get a chance to pop back to the January thread, Mrs Ms could you put me down for £160 for Feb please.

Thanks

miss_keep_counting

Can I be put down for £80 for Feb. This covers all meals including sweets/ takeaways which I've managed to cut down quite well

-

Well I'm still technically in Jan's budget, I gave myself £30 for the last two weeks of Jan and so far have £5.32 to cover me Friday and Sat.

I just got home from a late shift and I went to the butchers for the first time in my life on Wednesday, I bought 280g kidneys, 600g stewing beef and a massive cheap cut of chicken thigh for £6.62, is that good???

The chicken I spent time cutting off the massive breast, so much bigger then I'd buy from the supermarket with or without their bloody water pumping techniques (you can tell the despatches program put me off buying meet from supermarkets) and I've put that in the oven with a tin of cheap chickpeas (going to buy dried from now on) and a pot of tika masala wight watchers sauce I bought for a pound. Will be my lunch tomorrow and dinner saturday.

the rest of the chicken, and there is a lot, went skin, fat, meat and bones and making a stock.... first time for this too. So I can freeze and use in the future. Going to scrape the meat off the bone too. Even had what I think was a bit of liver or lung and that was chucked in

The steak and kidney I'm making a pie out of it. My ex took me for a £35!!? meal last weekend so I've offered to make pie and also bake brownies in return. I've gone through what I already have and my £5.32 has to buy me an onion, beef stock, 3 large eggs, some soft brown suger for the brownies but may try and alter this, dark chocolate and pecan nuts.

I also want to buy/ make my own pastry for the pie.... hmmm...

Any pie pastry recipies and brownie recipies (may have one better then the one I found)??

-

and lastly! I was at my exs and realised I had left quite a lot of stuff at hers. Rather then leave it all I decided to pack up what I know she wont make use of, I've moved home quite a lot and have left microwaves, dvd players, and a really nice bin set :rolleyes: not to mention a lot of food at old homes but this time decided to take what is rightfully mine. So yay I'll have some flour/ sugar etc in my cupboards to start off feb right!

Lucycat

Hello all!

Mrs M, can you put me down for £300 again this month please - this is going to be the month that I crack it for once & for all (thank God Feb is a short one - I might be in with a chance!) :rotfl:

Thanks in advance, and good luck fellow challengers! :T

Kiwisaver_2

I feel like my February is doomed already - popped to shop for three things and came out with fifteen. :eek: None of them any goodies or nonsense, just bread, salad, fruit and veggies and a small pack of mince came to $41.56. It's not strictly February yet and 1/3 of my budget is gone - blimey!!

When I got home and unpacked my one bag of shopping I thought to myself, really there's stuff all here to come to that much? Checked my receipt and lo and behold, 4 large potatoes (1.1kg) I got for jackets that were $1.99 per kg have been rung up as peaches. Peaches are $6.99 per kg :mad:

So will the shop believe me if I go back and tell them I never bought bloomin peaches? If I did I sure as heck wouldn't have bought a whole kilo of them. :eek: As if it isn't hard enough trying to stick to a budget. Grrrr!

scotsaver

Kiwisaver - glad I could bring back happy memories of Dartford Market, I have been before but was just hoping there would be somewhere closer for F&V but hoping that the amount I save will make the journey worthwhile.;)

elizabunny - I'm watching the Jamie Oliver programme today but had already decided that once the Freezers are starting to empty, any meat that we need now I will buy from the Butchers. I did post a message on Page 4 yesterday, looking for anyone who can pass on any tips about shopping at a Butchers?

The Tuna Lasagne was a hit last night, will log on again later to post the recipe, need to get the kids up in a few mins.;)

KITTY_2-2

Morning all

Been very quiet this month, just plodding along. Have to add up the Jan totals yet but won't be too horrendous - I hope.

Going to leave February at the same level £250 please Mrs M.

Catch you later, K xx