March 2009 Grocery Challenge

procrastinator

Hi
Very late joining, I was not going to bother as am v. down but then I thought if I don't I will let it all get beyond me. I know even if I don't post often just reading all your stories inspires me. Last month I was 20.00 under budget so I will follow the same routine. Unlike most others I don't do big shops and NSDs, as I find I buy too much and at full price. I go every couple of days looking for reduced items and turn those into meals for the following days. I only have a small freezer but it mostly contains reduced quorn, veg and bread. I'm trying unsucessfully to lose weight so walking to town is my way of exercising, still struggling to make 5000 steps a day, heaven knows how I will get to 10,000.
March budget 200.00.

princess_leia_3

I am so :mad: with Mr A delivery, I was out when it arrived and when we unpacked it we found that the main reason for the order (breakfast cereal) was totally missing :mad: I phoned customer services who were rude and just told me they would refund, when I asked if they could phone the van to see if they could drop it round all they said was they would call the store and hung up on me :mad: So I got no cereal which is why I did the flaming order so I will have to go out and get some, this is they second time Mr A have done this and each time the after service was poor so I am not using them anymore! I will update sig later when I have worked out how much it comes to including refund and buying the stuff from Mr T!

Hope everyone has a nice day and not too affected by the snow

S_Wales_Saver

mrspoor wrote: »

I've found it's best not to tell him (or give him any choice) what he's having for dinner - if I just put it in front of him, he's going to eat it whether he fancies it or not!:rotfl:

I so agree. If they are hungry they'll eat (didn't I used to say that about the kids???:rotfl: :rotfl:

procrastinator hugs to you. Don't give up and if you find little shops work for you then do that. We are all here to support you when you need it. Keep posting, it does help.

moonflower_2

Sorry I'm late ! Please put me down for £230 that may be bit low.I shall see how I get on.

However I went to Mr S on Monday and spent £141 which far more than I ever spend.

Although the cupboads and freezer were bereft as I have not really bought much since Christmas. bought loads of 241 in Dec.

FiBe_3

reb wrote: »

It'a 49p for the large liter bottle in ASDA at the mo!

Damn I knew I'd paid over the odds, although I've got to get through all my other cleaning products first anyway so won't need cleaning stuff for a long time!! lol :rotfl:

I have to admit I hardly ever go to Asdas as Tescos, Sainsburys, Lidl, Nettos and Aldi are much nearer!

OrkneyStar

Morning all.
Did a 'weekly shop' in Lidl and Coop yesterday, stocking up on fresh veg such as onions, carrots, cauliflower, mangetout and peppers etc, also milk and various other sundries (incl crips as DH wanted some of those!). Spent more than normal but got plenty of stuff. Trying to go OTT with veggies right now in a bid to stop getting colds/flu/tonsilitis!
Off to make carrot and red pepper soup for lunch and a chicken thigh, lentil and mangetout curry for tea later.
Hope all well and snow not affecting anyone too much.
Welcome all newbies.
x
PS We cannot get Stardrops here . Our Tesco does not stock it, or Coop or Lidl and no local shops either. When I next go to the mainland I will bring back loads though!

Casperthefriendlyghost

Hi Pink-winged.

Thanx for starting this month's challenge, I was rather confused at first lol as the first post states - Welcome to the February Grocery Challenge, so thought I had the wrong one lol.

I would like to pledge £ 40.00 this month for my challenge. I really enjoy this challenge as it keeps me focussed.

I have already spent £ 39.78 so far as I had an unexpected guests arrive, but that's ok as I've loads of food in now for the rest of the month, will just have to buy more fruit at some point.

Am off to catch up with the rest of the thread as it's been such a busy month for me lol and I'm only just catching up with stuff.

Good luck everyone and enjoy the challenge.

Cheers
Casper
x x

cw18

procrastinator wrote: »

Unlike most others I don't do big shops and NSDs, as I find I buy too much and at full price. I go every couple of days looking for reduced items and turn those into meals for the following days. I only have a small freezer but it mostly contains reduced quorn, veg and bread

I'm another who shops little and often to make the best use of Whoopsies - but only 'cos I live in very easy walking distance of a C00p and a S/flds.

I've been known to go down early morning, and if there's a lot of something in the first reductions (that I'm not in desperate need of) I then go back after the second and/or third (and final) reductions in the hope I get them at an even better price Sometimes this pays off, other times it doesn't. But as I only do this with things I have no desperate need for (eg. pork steaks when I already have enough for 2 or 3 meals in the freezer) I rarely end up kicking myself for holding off.

This month I have a meal plan using what I already had in stock, so any meat I find in Whoopsies at a 'too good to be missed' price will be frozen for next month.

I'm currently 11 days into a 6 week meal plan, and haven't been tempted to chop and change yet. But I have discovered a strange phenomenon whereby the contents of my freezer aren't actually decreasing in line with what I take out - even without putting any new purchases into it :rolleyes2

This is down to the fact I'm now "batch" cooking more often (a lot of meals make 4 or more portions, and there are normally only 2 of us), so I reckon that in a few months time we'll be able to have a full month of varied meals with me cooking none of the meat parts of a meal from scratch :T

Mellika

tjp70 - Congratulations on paying off the car loan! What a great moment it must have been for you!

elizabunny - The oxtail stew does sound delicious. I almost bought it reduced last week and for some reason I didn't. Instead I got some brisket which we always have and some lambs hearts. I am thinking of putting the hearts in a saffron rice dish my mum always made when I was little... Oh now I want to eat!

mommyof4 - Thanks for your response. Yes it was closed yesterday. I shouldn't have waited for OH's permission He deals with all our finances, everything is in his name, only recently got our bank account in both our names...

---

This thread is so helpful. So many great ideas! I've decided I will do my shopping on Sat morning (start of my challenge week) as usual, but not spend much (my freezer and cupboard are reasonably stocked) and will start walking to MrM's in the evenings to get whopsies. The weather is turning a bit (no snow here!) plus I really need to lose weight for a holiday in Spain in May (father-in-law's present), so every little helps!

Meli :hello: xx

kezlou

Mellika wrote: »

kezlou - A fellow Teessider! I just moved from Boro to H'pool. Can't find anyone from the North East around here so this is a first for me!

:j a first for me too!!!!

egon:- hope your all feeling better x
Tracy:- great news :T , bet you have a beaming smile on your face now!!!

Tess:- Think they sell them in Wilkinson's, sure i saw them last week.

Just updating signature bye for now x