February 2009 Grocery Challenge

Changingme

Doing better this month still have £54.50 left will need milk in week but nothing else ,went over last month so trying really hard.

Casperthefriendlyghost

Hi everyone

Have totalled up my grocery spends and so far I've spent £ 154.05. This is £4.05 over but I'm not unhappy as I managed to buy two small whole chickens at our butcher for £ 3.98 (£1.99 each) so that'll last me absolute ages as I've only myself to feed, to good an offer to pass up.

I made mushroom and sweetcorn pasta from my storecupboard, used a little bit of corn pasta, loads of sweetcorn and a value tin of sliced mushrooms fried in a little butter, garlic, parsley and pepper. I used the juice from the mushrooms to make the sauce, added some milk and corn flour and it's lovely.

There's even enough left over for dinner tomorrow night and a portion for the freezer so am pleased with that. Usually I make far to much pasta, but decided to only use a little bit and it stretched a long way.

Hope you're all having a good Sunday. Chat again soon.

Cheers
Casper
x x

TrixieB

I have to add some unexpected spends onto my total spend grrrr, I must have missed some stuff off my last tesco delivery as we ran out and had no choice but to go to the corner shop so ended up spending another £14.

I need to go and make a list of what is in the cupboards/freezer ( nowt left in fridge!) and then redo my Tesco shopping list. Managed to get a lot of whoopsied stuff the other day that's not been used for meals yet, so at least can save that way

Lalaladybird

I'm sure most of you will faint clean away at the thought but I am a bit shocked myself. I just loaded up the trolley as usual and then passed over my credit card to pay for it all. How long would this last you?

I got 2 whoopsie mince, a whole chicken, usual amount of fruit and veg, value sliced meat for sandwiches, fish fingers, burgers, veggie haggis, bacon, cheese, value weetabix, porridge, noodles. About £10 of that total is for toilet roll, bleach etc. But that seems an awful lot for just me, OH and our toddler. I've written out a menu plan but it still only will last me a week. Where am I going wrong?? I feel like I really need to change my shopping or cooking habits and I've been reading these boards for months. Can anyone give me any pointers. I realise this is such a busy board and there really isn't room for everyone to post individual menu plans etc but if I could get some help this time I'll not start another personal thread :A

My menu plan is....

lunches:

HM soups, sandwiches or mini muffin pizzas

dinners:

breaded chicken (from the freezer), chips and veg
roast chicken, mash, veg
chicken and leek pie (with leftover chicken from roast)
veggie haggis, neeps and tatties
chilli con carne
cottage pie
fish fingers new pots and veg
tuna pasta bake (tin of tuna in cupboard)

That is 8 dinners!!

Please help.

LOUBOB

Hello all havent done too bad this week only spent about £8.00 although I know next week being half term will make a dent in the budget!!! Still freezer is full so we wont starve and have a few batch meals tucked away, still trying to get through cupboard stuff....I finally have space!

pigpen

That would last me about 5 days.. but there are 10 of us, 4 cats 2 rabbits and a fish!

I spent £210 last month at tesco and about £100 at a local frozen food shop and about £60 on fresh fruit and veg.

I cook whatever I have time or motivation to cook each evening and usually manage some leftovers for my lunch.

All bread is done in the BM

I buy mainly value brand everything (though HP beans were cheaper than SP in Mr A this week!) and we go through maybe a box of cereal a day.. sometimes 2..

kazmeister

OMG pigpen you put me to shame :eek: last month we spent £372 on groceries for 4 of us and 1 small dog.

Lalaladybird - I'll PM you my meal plan as in theory it works - I think the huge spend is just that neither myself or OH can resist stocking up on stuff

PS pigpen I havent forgotton about the book - and I've been in the confession thread about the flying this week

Lalaladybird

pigpen wrote: »

That would last me about 5 days.. but there are 10 of us, 4 cats 2 rabbits and a fish!

.

That sounds like such a lovely big family to have, I'd like a house full like that....How do you find the time to come on here?;) Glad you are here though :T

Lalaladybird

kazmeister wrote: »

Lalaladybird - I'll PM you my meal plan as in theory it works - I think the huge spend is just that neither myself or OH can resist stocking up on stuff

That is really kind of you thanks x

MadMonkey

The only way i managed to reduce my shopping bills was to do it on-line.

I have a Tesco delivery every week - i go on-line and load my "trolley" up - then i go through and delete at least half of it or replace items with cheaper ones.

Tesco now has a facility to show you "cheaper" items for things you choose which makes it easier.

I don't meal plan as such - i have a list of whats in the freezer and cupboards and choose from the list.

We spend around £60 a week on shopping and there are 2 adults, 3 ankle munchers, 2 dogs, 2 cats and a rabbit.

I don't scrimp on some things and still buy "treats" - i just re-evaluate my trolley and there is always a fair bit of stuff that gets deleted before i check out.

If i were to go to Tesco in real life these items would be in my trolley and not removed before paying so my shopping would be more like £100 a week

If we run out of milk or bread i go to the Tesco express and make sure i only buy what i need.

The only shop i go in is Iceland and even then i have a list and stick to it.