May 2009 Grocery Challenge

katiecoodle

I can't believe my OH - I was adamant that I'm not going to nip to the supermarket in the next few days for a loaf of bread, or a pint of milk, (that's where most of my spending comes in). He just called me from the pub to ask if I minded him eating out - I told him no, come home, dinners here for you - so he came back, WITH HIS MATE!!! So I gave them both huge bowls of pasta carbonara, dead filling, with a poached egg on top - it looked lovely. And between them they polished off three quarters of a loaf of bread with it, making sandwiches out of it! (Philistines) So now I'm going to have to nip out tomorrow for more bread for DDs lunchbox on Tuesday. I'm determined that's all I'll get tho - I've got to be dead strict about it.

belfastgirl23

OK I have got to get a grip this month so I'm in for a realistic (hopefully) £150. Don't have time to turn around these days and it's a lot harder to be OS when you're racing in and out of the house all the time. Fingers crossed.

At least this challenge is making me keep an eye on my spending though

I've already spent £64 on an online shop but that covered ingredients for a family party etc...so another £84 for the month...

sharronej

katiecoodle wrote: »

I can't believe my OH ..... He just called me from the pub to ask if I minded him eating out

At least you stopped him from buying a pub meal which would have invariably needed more beer to go with it! Why not give him the exact money and send him to the shop for the replacement bits?

Jaycee1972

Hi

Back now I have done my sums. So far I have spent £98.03 at Sainsb (home del), £14.49 on veg box del and £26.84 at Tesco. Total £139.36. Budget is £200 this month (including alcohol to be consumed at home).

So that is £60 left to last the month which should be no problem as my cupboards are bursting. Trouble is I can't resist a bargin and I have to go to the shop to do my mums shopping each week and I end up spending more than I need to. Not sure how I spent £26+ at Tesco after getting my veggies and Sainsb del already! I thought I only needed milk, bananas.. Oh well, it will all come in.

Off to do an inventory/meal plan now. Did my cupboards the other day but still need to go through the fridge/freezer and have been putting it off as I can hardly shut the fridge door. Will feel better when I have had a sort out. I hate to waste anything and the trouble with having to much in, is I might miss something and let it go off.

A lot of what I have will last the month, I have enough baking ingredients (appart from eggs), 3 wks cat food, loo rolls, cleaing stuff, washing stuff, toiletries, might need another pk of nappies depending how the potty training goes wine (6 bottles included in order), will need pepsi max (as I am addicted and only have 2 wks worth in - I try to just have one can a day and get it from farmfoods or on BOGOF), I will need coffee, pasta, bread, mushrooms, fruit, other veg....

Just to add, my household is just me, my 2 and a half year old son and 2 cats. Husband eats here a couple of times a week and if he stays over may take pack up a couple of times too (we are separated but trying to work it out...). I work part time so take pack up 3 days. My boy eats at nursery/with Dad/Grannie on those 3 days apart from tea on Wed. We have home cooked meals together on the other 4 days the other meal being soup or toast, sandwiches with various fillings/toppings. I often take leftovers to work. On the days M has eaten elsewhere I might make curry when he is in bed for my tea and take some to work the following day/freeze some for another time. We have just discovered baking which M loves. We are having mixed success but lots of fun

Will keep posting this month to try to keep on track!

Jane x

gailey_2

Right im back in the game after few months off need to get focussed again.

Am expecting baby no2 in septemebr which has messed up our grocery shoping last few months

On plus side was so sick dident eat much myself but amount hubby and toddler eats makes up for it!

Havent been able to face cooking as just being in kitchen has made me very sick and not just been mornings.

Did go through weird craving for weightwatchers ready meal maybe as it was creamy and bland.

Had some changes with daughter too as shes over 3 now and heavy [EMAIL="wetting@night"]wetting@night[/EMAIL] in oredr to get any sleep myself have switched to disposables and shocked at cost of them do miss my cloth!
Plan to use cloth for next a baby.

Daughter also started preschool and they have to take fruit to share each session sent apples 2 days in a row last week must make mental note to take more intresting fruit next week but fruit bowl empties fast here and bananas have habit of getting binned.

Also got to bake 2 cakes for preschool next week god knows what something cheap!

We been doing supermarket challange and not been to lidls in last few months and have mainly shopped in sainsburys which is nearest but also gone back to old faithful tesco.
Our local co-op is well expensive couldent get over sepnding 33quid today that was me just cherrypicking the offers, own brands, reduced and things on our list we needed.

Daughters still a squash monster so get through that fast I cant bear to touch squash but got craving for pop which aint cheap habit baba did prefr sprite now its coke! I try to shop round for deals.

Think we need to do mix if lidls,tesco and saisbury as they all have good deals its just finding tome to do them all.

Been really pleased with saisnury as yeo valley organic yougurts and mouse been on offer for ages at half price!

Hubby still takes packed lucnch every day.

Now im bit better have started cooking again which I love have 6portions of lasgane in freezer and 3portions shepards pie so quite pleased with that.

Things we struggling with is

bread-tried making my own but hubby not keen

snacks family like their crips,choc, biscuits and icecream

fresh fruit and veg using it all without waste potatoes keep spouting despite being put in dark cupboard!

The whole family big snackers eveing meal not too much of an issue its lunch stuff like sandwiches and snacks which bump up my bill always running out of

bread, cheese and ham!

Even resorted to sadwich pastes on deperate days.
tried grating cheese to use less of it.

Hubby gets paid 15th may so put us down for £200 will try our best!
Need the challane to keep me focussed and give me ideas!

Glad to be back.

milliejo

Please put me down for £300 in May.
The first month we tried this -september 08 I think we came in at £420 & are feelling very pleased that we have been gradually reducing the total each month

Julimk

Didn’t need to do any cooking or shopping today. But with DD not here took the opportunity to use up a few bits that had been knocking around for a while.

Had ¾ packet of ground almonds that were past BBE date & 1/3 jar Tiptree strawberry conserve from when we went to the factory last year. So made a Bakewell tart. 3 sad apples & 2 sad peaches stewed up & added to flapjacks.

The chicken (already had two meals out of it!) had enough meat left to add to l/o bacon joint for a chicken & bacon pie. Last bits of chicken & carcass & l/o butternut squash made into soup with a couple of sad toms & even sadder spring onions from the bottom of the fridge with a couple of carrots & an orange pepper, so it is a gorgeous orange colour.

Only £30 left in budget, but only 2 ½ weeks to go & should just need milk & fresh fruit, and maybe a few bits & bobs. So should be no problem!

grandmasam

whoops, sorry mrs m,made a big mistake when i said £125 for may :eek:

should be £60 for may!!!

added in ds3 family shop for when i drive to germany in the summer, they've given me their list and i had to price it and added this to my mthly shop list,

thank you, and sorry!!

sillyinthepast

Well I went to Tescos today to get what I needed for the week and it came in at £25.01 so I was very pleased.

It was mainley for things I don't buy weekly like coffee and ketchup. OH was a bit shocked about the amount of value stuff I bought though;)

jinky67

Up to date i have spent the grand total of £24.74....how the heck I have managed that already I dont know:rolleyes: