March 2009 Grocery Challenge

busy_mum_of_4

Hi, I would like to join in the March challenge. My financial month runs from the 12th of March to 11th of April. I have never posted before but have I have been reading lots of posts and finding it all very inspiring. There is myself and my husband and 4 kids, ages 7,5, 1, 6months, and a dog. Our budget for food and all essentials like baby milk, nappies and household goods is £600. Alot of money! And if fritters away bit by bit. I would love to get this amount down and put the rest in to deocorating our new home.

clair2305

.....can anyone direct me to the biscuit recipes (or cakes or even easy "one pot" dinners)

It's been a while since I've been here and now I'm out of work, need to save every penny I can.....but I've noticed being at home all day my shopping bills is going up NOT down!!!

I've got twinks hob nobs and lovely they are but can I be directed to other recipes please....

Thanks

Clair (a returning moneysaver)

dreamingofmoney

Hi All
Well this is my third month on the GC and i think i have finally cracked it, went to MrA on mon got loads of whoopsies including pints of skimmed milk for 10p and it doesn't go out til 23rd, packs of runner beans for 10p etc etc.
I have got a sausage casserole in the slow cooker (a recipe some kind person posted on febs GC which is delish) which i am freezing, and got everything in to make a few lasagnes which i think i am going to do tomorrow. I am currently on maternity leave and am off til Oct and just got my fingers crossed that when i go back i will be able to keep it going, hopefully i will have had loads of practice and help by then

Good Luck to all
Dreamer

GC81

Accidental NSD for me today as been waiting in for a man to come look at my car so will have to count up my march NSD's and update my total.
Will need a shop some time over the weekend for milk and bits (think I have a grape monster in the house!!), I'd like to hold out til sunday though.
I've got 11 days of my March GC left and I'm hoping I dont blow it, its been a 5 week challenge. April is a 4 week challenge so it'll be intresting for me to see how it pans out.


Question about reduced milk (probably been asked before and its probably a really daft question)....if its only got 1 day left on its date can I still freeze it and how long should it be ok for once defrosted?

clare1701

hi,
done the weekly shop online, made a menu and only bought the things i needed, theres bound to be something i forgot but at the moment it come to £27.47 instead of £60

meanmarie

Spent €64.14 to-day so think that I am going to easily stay within the budget this month....trouble is that OH and I were away for 8 days and DD seems to have bought her own food for most of that time, so it won't be a true reading IYKWIM, the money we spent on food in Italy came out of the holiday budget and OH's pocket, so nothing to add on for me, not even the kilo of Grana Padana we bought to bring home and for which paid something around €8!

Good luck everyone

Marie

flowerfairy159

Hi,

Ive been watching this thread for a while and thought if you dont mind I'd add my shopping list from this week and what Im making so you can see what Im doing and how much it costs me.

Please note I am feeding Myself , my OH with HUGE appitite and son whos 2 and an appitie to match (Like father,like son).

Today I brought

Value Mushrooms
2kg Value onions
Blackberrys
Loose Parsnips
Swede
7.5kg Potatoes
I tin Tuna
Value apples
3 tins chopped toms
cup of soups
1 medium tesco loaf
hot cross buns
3 packs of muller stars for son
mozzarella
1 pack of special fried rice (treat for OH cos Im not making it)
Pork Loint Joint
3 bottles caffine free and sugar free coke
value carrots
Value whole chicken
Popadoms
Mint sauce
Plain yoghurt

This came to a total of £24.93

This will make (including goods from store cupboard)

1 roast dinner (chicken) with veg and roast potaatoes
2 pizzas (chicken)
my lunch will be the cup of soups with home made bread rolls (from store cupboard)
1 pork joint with value apples cooked in slow cooker
jacket potoatoes with tuna and sweetcorn
Home made chicken curry
Pork and apple rolls
Vegetable stew in slow cooker x2 (chicken heated if any left)
Chicken Pie and mash

As you can see I manage to make my meals go for a while.

Does this sound good to everyone as Im still learning.

Thanks in advance for any help and any ideas would be great

:undecided

booklover

Hi everyone

I have spent another £34.22 in the last few days...

Hope everyone is doing well!
You are all such an inspiration! :T :T

Fiona

JayJay14

clair2305 wrote: »

.....can anyone direct me to the biscuit recipes (or cakes or even easy "one pot" dinners)

It's been a while since I've been here and now I'm out of work, need to save every penny I can.....but I've noticed being at home all day my shopping bills is going up NOT down!!!

I've got twinks hob nobs and lovely they are but can I be directed to other recipes please....

Thanks

Clair (a returning moneysaver)

Hi Clair,

Just go to post 5 on this thread, all the recipe links are carried forward each month so they are easy to find.

booklover

My total for March, so far is therefore: £155.64

Fiona x