February 2009 Grocery Challenge

sashanut

Hi all
Just checking in to report for the first week of Feb - 5NSDs so far:j had to send DH to Mr M's yesterday for a few bits - but he always sticks to the list! Total for yesterday inc newspapers/headache tabs which I don't normally count was £6.34, bringing total so far to £58.26. For the first time I have had the courage to snowball my debts - well the ccs/loans etc - & have made the first overpayment :eek: Now I am obssessed with looking at the totals & hoping to use enough GC money left at the end of the month to get the first CC total under £1000 - it is currently at £1052.94........next weekend though we are away, but not counting that in GC spends.

Am enjoying first week at home with no job - I reckon I can save more than I earnt by making all our own meals & getting stuff ready for ebay/website selling. Not to mention cleaning. decorating etc:D

Good luck all for Feb, keep smiling

Hollysan

Oh my goodness, I will never catch up with all the posts! I have read the last few pages though. Lots of offal around in Feb!

My spend so far is enormous, but that is because I went to the wholefood warehouse this week. There is a lot more there than you would think. We get all our washing powder, toilet cleaner, shampoo, shower gel etc there, as well as big sacks of chickpeas, lentils, rice etc. (mentioning this because of earlier discussion on the post about cooking large batches of chickpeas). Worth doing if you use a lot of these things, eg red lentils, peanut butter, tinned tomatoes too.

Also we have had a Tesco delivery, so we should be able to last out the month now with top-up shops in the nearest town.

I am struggling at the moment to find time for cooking, baking, so we have been living out of the freezer (mostly 'prepared earlier'); but we are running out! Had the last frozen quiche last night. Don't worry, I de-frosted if first:rotfl:

My biggest problem at the moment is feeding my children! My son is ridiculously fussy, and whatever is on the menu plan (displayed on side of fridge) he says 'Oh no, not THAT!'
They are eating a constant rotation of HM pizza, veggie sausages, pasta and veggie burgers, oh, and soup. Does anyone have any suggestions for quick and easy meals for kids? Must be veggie! I am so bored cooking the above!

I think my budget for this month might be busted... we have family staying in half term, and OH is at home all week (mental note: stock up on coffee!). Hate to think how much we will spend over the week.. Must start menu planning now, and have some homebakes in the freezer to keep them happy.

Have a good week everyone,

Hollysan

orchid-96

Having a busy weekend what with ds's birthday party here yesterday (10 7 yr olds mainly boys - never again :eek: ) and with my parents and nephew staying the weekend...will read all the posts later but thought I had better pop on to update sig and keep focused...parents will be back soon with some bacon/eggs for a big brekkie yum..... popped into MrA yesterday as went out with mum for a bit of retail therapy (after the kids party) and managed to just pick up my fave yogs on a great offer there (acivia 8 packs on 2 for £3) and 400g cathedral city for £2...so thats just a fiver yesterday....and managed a nsd on Friday (and hopefully today too)....

tessie_bear

hi...i did chicken in sc and it was ok...more like chicken casserole than roast but everyone ate it and there is enough for a pie today...iv got to go to sainsburys today...im sure their economy peppers are better than asda...u get more colours...also onions are quite cheap....i read tu houseware is reduced as well so will have a look...have a great day tess

procrastinator

Hi
Have spent 47.48 this week ad that included items for a birthday present so I think I have done well. Didn't get out in the week due to lethargy and snow must make a greater effort this week. Need to up the exercise and fruit and veg stocks need replenishing. Haven't been buy much from Mr T - as the price has gone up the quality has gone down.

Girl_least_likely_to

fatcattaff wrote: »

I know I'm a bit late with this (haven't updated my sig for a while...just off to check my receipts/bank balance) but have you tried Sainsbury's Gold Roast? It's about half the price of Kenco and the likes and tastes very similar imo. And I lurve my coffee. Hope this helps.

Thanks for the tip

I actually cancelled it off my tesco order as I checked mysupermarket.com which said Nescafe is on offer at Asda and Sainsburys. The 200g jar is either £3 or 2 for £6 there as opposed to £4.45 (of the top of my head) in Tesco. So I'll pop in there later in the week as DH has enough to last for the rest of the week, he does only have 1 cup a day so I shouldn't grumble . There are brands neither of us won't debrand like heinz tomato soup and tom sauce, hellmans mayo and ribena. We have tried other makes but they're really not as nice and I do buy other value items like tinned sweetcorn, flour, loo rolls, washing powder, choc for cooking, tinned toms, beans and sausage to name a few.

Anyway my big tesco delivery came yesterday. The total price came to £61.87 so feel I will stay within budget this month, hopefully . I'm quite well stocked up and just need to stay on track towards the end of the week when the milk begins to run out.

russetred

Spent £22.63 in farmfoods yesterday as I wanted to use a £2.50 off voucher so stocked up on teabags,crisps,biscuits and other store cupboard things for the rest of the month.Going to slow roast a shoulder of mutton today with parsley,capers,lemon and anchovie stuffing.A new one for me but it looked good when HFW did it.

mummyyof5

Well,bang goes my Shepherds pie for today,OH has come home early from tour and wants a chinese takeaway,Fine so long as he is paying!
His money is not in my grocery challenge so a NSD for me.

fatcattaff

Just updating my signature. I spent £20.87 over in January and it's taken me til now to identify the exact amount...so I'm actually quite pleased. I've carried forward the overspend into the current spend, just to keep things accurate.

I've spent loads this first week, but we should be stocked well for the coming month. I went to Aldi, Farm Foods and Sainsbury on Saturday. They still had the Smarties cones for 50p for 4, but I can't cram another thing into my freezer. I also like the 18 yorkshire puddings for a pound. They're just as good as Aunt Bessies imo but again, I'm short of space. Aldi was great for carrots, green apples and baking potatoes, all 69p each. Sainsburys had fairy dishwasher tabs for less than half price; posh naan bread on buy one get one free, so just 55p each and the crisps were two 6pcks for £2.

I'm going to have to be really careful for the next 3 weeks but I'm still hopeful of coming in on budget. It'll be a case of plundering the freezer, which I don't do often enough, so it's probably for the best...

Lucylocket01

This is the first time I have joined one of these challenges so here goes.

We are a family of 3. Two adults one child and one dog.

I'm doing February as 4 weeks. I pledge £155.

I have already made good progess and have been trying loads of Asda Smart price brands. Some of which I have been impressed.