March 2009 Grocery Challenge

Barneysmom

HI this is the first chance I've had to check my spending lately and after adding my receipts I've spent a further £95.
That leaves me with £15 to last till payday though there's loads of food in the cupboards thankfully.
We were going to make pizza tonight but have no tomato puree so we'll do tuna ans pasta instead.

MRSMCAWBER

Barneysmom

Might be to late now but if you have no tom puree for pizzas.... philli style cream cheese is nice as the base of a pizza -I never use anything else...and the garlic n herb one is nommy -ooh and as you have cheese on the bottom you don't need as much grated on top :T

Casperthefriendlyghost

hi everyone

Several NSDs for me, am trying hard to come in on budget this month. 3 days to go to my new month, so I am hoping it all goes well, won't declare just yet, as that always gets me into trouble lol.

Cheers
Casper
x x

fletch3163

Well, was shocked today to find my Asda bill at £63.82 :eek:

I had the tiniest list with me but, as per usual, DH thought 24 cans of juice at a fiver, washing powder at £3 and Capri Sun at £3 for 2 packs too good to pass:o so I think it should have been £14 less (at least). Then I discovered DS had treated himself to no less than 2 batches of mini deoderants and shower gels thus taking up another £4:mad: . So I reckon it should have been at around £45 if I'd gone alone.

I've one more shop to do and I do think I'll come in under budget. Problem is though, I thought I'd come in WAY under budget and it won't be

I'm going to go and check online banking and I can check back a couple of months because I might just be being overly ambitious wanting to spend so little.

tessie_bear

good evening...on the rubber chicken subject i do
roast chicken dinner then a combo of depending on size chicken;
chicken and mushroom pie
chicken pasta
chicken sarnies
chicken salad
chicken in tomato sauce
chicken quiche
chicken rissoto
chicken fried rice
soup

i made a nice chilli in sc for lunch and have half left...might have it on monday...we are having the m and s deal tomorrow...got a lamb joint....it looks good and quite big....i am going to make a crumble for pudding...i love crumble...i got some reduced blackberries in asda for 40p...wouldnt normally buy....we pick and freeze but have run out so bought some...they werent as nice as ones from the local wood and they had come from mexico:eek: makes u think

have a lovely mothers day
tess

CurlyTop

Hi everyone

Not had time to post but have been keeping an eye on the boards daily before I start work (naughty I know but hey, what's a girl to do....). Anyway, have updated sig as below and am still on target for the month. I'm away in London for three days so that will ensure no shopping spends. I think I am doing okay as all the cupboards are full, as is the fridge and the freezer is 3/4 full and its only 10 days till pay day. Have had 6 NSD this month and am pleased with that.

Am enjoying seeing how everyone else is geting on. Loving the fact that my bill for the month is coming down all the time. More to the point, I can see where I can make further changes (biggest one being to stay away from H&B because of the biscuits and sweets, lol).

Roll on the end of the month. Good luck everyone

Coxy11

Evening all,

Well that's me done for the March GC and I'm delighted to say that I've come in underbudget at £355.54 :T .

Have just made a meal plan from Monday 23rd March to Wednesday 15th April and have arranged a MrT delivery for Monday. We have DH birthday next Friday, SIL getting married the following Sunday then Easter, so a lot of things going on. It will be nice not to have to think about what to have for dinner as it should all be pretty straightforward. Website is saying £125ish for the delivery before savings, so hoping for about a £10 reduction when it arrives.

Thanks everyone for the many, many hints and tips this month regarding recipes, using leftovers, supermarket bargains etc. It all helps to give me inspiration when meal planning and shopping. We used to have several 'repeat' meals during a month, because I used to find it easier to cook the old favourites. Now we are having the same meals about every six weeks - DH and children always excited about what dinner might be.

MrsM please can you put me down for £400 for the April GC? Many thanks for all your hard work putting this together :A .

Coxy

GC81

Morning all

Happy Mother's Day to all those to whom it applies to.

Did a bit of shopping at Mr.T yesterday when I got home from Blackpool, cost me £11.15 for what didnt seem like much. Am going to Icelands and Wilkinson's today though so budget will have a battering. I have until (and including) next sunday for my March GC currently have £97.46 left so I am predicting (in true Mistic Meg style lol) I will be in budget
Got my dd1 (7 year old) meal planning with me, she decorates the weekly menu and helps me make sure meals dont clash with the school lunch. Bless her.
I've also noticed since starting the challenge that I waste a lot less, take more notice of portion sizes and buy less packaged foods.

Have a lovely sunny sunday (if you are lucky enough to have some)

xxx


Amazed how quick march has gone.

cw18

GC81 wrote: »

Got my dd1 (7 year old) meal planning with me, she decorates the weekly menu and helps me make sure meals dont clash with the school lunch. Bless her.

Wonderful to hear she's getting involved :T

You're really lucky to know what's coming up on the school menu - round us (and where we used to live which is 35 miles away and a different education authority) you find out what's on the menu when the kids come home and tell you what they were offered that day !!!!! This is actually a bug-bear that DD and I have, as younger GD (almost 4) doesn't seem to know what any the meals are - so tells us "nuggets and chips" almost every time she has school dinners (2 days a week). We get a slightly more reliable version from her elder sister (who will be 6 in August), but even she often ends up trying to describe the meal to us 'cos she doesn't have a clue what it's called

mumofjusttwo

We have a meal plannerlist from the school but many times DS description of what he has eaten does not correspond to what is on their list. He just tells me that he likes Jacket potatoes with Beans and cheese and he has that every other day.

Doesn't make the planning easy but lucky enough DS seems to eat anything.