March 2009 Grocery Challenge

fletch3163

laineyc wrote: »

I am making sticky onions at the moment. Hopefully, i can squeeze a few bags in the freezer somewhere.

Hi there

Any chance you could share your recipe? I just LOVE onions. I always find I have 2 or three (or four or five:o hanging around at any one time). It seems to be the only veg I never run out of and I'm always interested in things to do with them.

I was spurred on by my checking of bank balances yesterday that I went and compared my spending from the same time last year. Turns out my last year's monthly budgets were around the £550 - £600 mark. So, here's hoping I've broken the habit of a lifetime then. I spent another £20 last night but that was on baking stuff for DS school but I'll count it. I didn't count MIL 4 for £15 on Sunday though. Oh, and I found a receipt for B&M at £15.

Barring possibly one more jaunt for bread and milk I should be all done with March, bar the shouting.

jintyb

Is it me?
Ive just been doing my calculations for April & it seems as though its a five week for me in terms of number of shops. My month starts on the 20th and ends 19th, and I usually shop once a week on a Friday. Am I seeing things?
Therefore could I please change my April budget to £200 please?

Cornishpixie_2

keys wrote: »

Please can you add me for the APRIL £250.00 As i have just been watching the thread and am already so shocked at how much ihave spent on things already ..i have been really motivated by you guys and have been reading all the threads about cheap meals and recipes and have began to write a shoping list down for online shop i plan to do. Th elast few days i have been out tio loacl shops an dbought munchies , and a few frozen bits / tins etc and have already spent £24.46 on nothing really .
I have found alot of money has gone on things for dd whilst out shopping i bought her a hot dog today , but decided to share with her instead of buying 2 , also ice cream at the park etc, is really eating !! pardon the pun} into my budget over a fiver in the last couple of days ..so any ideas would be great?
But on the good side of things i have saved money when ive bought discounted bread an froze it for later in the week , so the ideas on her are fantastic and hope i save loads..thankyou:rolleyes:

Hi, That's the thing I have to be careful off, kids treats as I have 4. It's difficult when kids expect it. I give them small treat coming out of school,i.e. a lollipop. Then when in town (which I try and avoid with kids), its a case of negotiation, so they may get a small treat on the way back till they get home for lunch. Have you tried shopping for bulk online? I would try avoid town where poss. and take DD to park or beach with picnic. Also HM treats are a good idea. HTH's

Cornishpixie_2

moonflower wrote: »

Oh no I have failed miserably. I have still until the 30th March to go.

I do have food in the freezer although its mostly bread.

Also masses of pasta any ideas.

Pasta salads, can also make up for packs instead of sandwiches. Also with pasta a little, meat, chicken, fish go a lot further. Pasta and bolognaise. Pasta with cream cheese sauce, pasta with pesto and roasted veg. pasta with tinned toms as sauce with cheese on top, pasta in HM soup. HTH:D

meanmarie

Spent another €24.21 to-day, bringing my total spend so far to €276.72...will need milk and maybe bread before next Tuesday so won't declare yet....if OH gets these and pays for them they come out of his pocket but not sure what will happen yet.

Mrs MC...you can put me down for another €300 for April...we will be away for 10 days but self catering so will see if I can manage within that even though we will have extra mouths to feed for some of the time

Good luck to all

Marie

Barneysmom

HI I spent £2.70 in the Co-op on a couple of bananas for work, some whoopsie bread and whoopsie hot cross buns and a packet of 2 finger KitKats which I just couldn't resist when I saw them.
It's getting close to the end of the month now, hopefully we won't get that threatened snow and April will bring some sunshine. :cool:

mrspoor

Just spent £5.90 on essentials - bread, milk, sugar, marge, salad. Thanks for the tip Miss-spent on not using marge with chutney etc, another thing that seems obvious now it's pointed out, but hadn't occured to me!

Bought a 6-pinter of milk this time, had to go to a shop slightly further from home, but I'm sick of buying it. We seem to have gone through 8 pints in 4 days :eek: between 2 of us (OH's weetabix habit)!! He won't even try own brand weetabix, so I'm paying for the expensive stuff, and he got through a box of 48 on his own in about a week. Think I'm going to save an empty box and sneak cheap ones in to see if he notices the difference

I've got to get some studying done this eve, just trying to summon up the willpower, and now my downstairs neighbour has helpfully put some bangin choons on to thump through my floor :mad: Will have to drown it out with tv or radio, which means I'll keep distracting myself, and I really don't need any excuses!!

rockie4

I'm going to declare at £193 for March :eek:

I'm a bit miffed at going over but I did get £20 of whoopsied meat in Sainsbugs, quite useful as I'm veggie but OH likes meat so he now has steak and chops galore in the freezer for when I'm having something he isn't keen on
I'm also well stocked up on tea, coffee and milk so shouldn't need to go near a shop until next week

Mrs M can you put me down for £170 for April please?

Planning a new tactic of drawing the month's food money and keeping it in a seperate purse....OH reckons I'm turning into my Mother :rotfl: 'cos that's what she used to do but it worked for her!!

S_Wales_Saver

Today I got ham for sarnies, bananas we couldn't get at Aldi yesterday and a whoopsied pack of enchilladas. Also bought a 2k pack of locally reared, low fat beef mince at the butcher's for £3.99. I think I will be visiting him more often :j . I won't need this till April so it will come from stockpile money. I have split into 250g lots. This will be enough for a meal for two plus one to freeze, if I bulk it. That makes 16 meals for two people :beer: Excellent value IMO.

JayJay14

Have one a little more over budget as OH called at Aldi on the way home tonight and got stacks of grapes while they are still on the super six offer.

will update sig in a mo.