September 2009 Grocery Challenge

earthmother

It's the end of our week one, so I'm updating.

For the first time ever, I acheived 5 NSDs in one week!! :j:dance:

I've spent £159.45 so far (two bulk shops), which leaves me with £40 a week for the next three weeks, but I'm well stocked up and shouldn't need to shop until Tuesday, possibly Wednesday, this week, and then only for milk and cheese, so I'm forever hopeful.

I've already alerted the family to the fact that we will be storecupboarding this month - there are a few new things in the pantry and freezer that were bought before the school holidays to try out, that haven't actually been touched yet (well, it was the holidays - we didn't cook half what I'd planned), and some dry goods that are coming up to date, so it's got to be used, and hopefully it'll not only help the budget but increase our rather minimal range of meals.

Beth86

ChocClare wrote: »

Funnily enough, I was just wondering the same thing as I had my shopping delivered this morning. My own executive decision is NOT to include it, as when I suggested to my DH that I got off my backside and WENT to Tesco's to save the delivery charge, he pointed out that by the time I'd spent a good hour schlepping round it AND the petrol to drive there (we live in The Middle Of Nowhere) that £5.50 is a bargain - plus I usually get codes to negate the delivery charge... except I didn't this week.

Anyway, I'm not counting, so there!

My weekly shop came in at about 60% of the usual this week, so we'll see how it goes: life would be cheaper - but nevertheless poorer - without teenage sons munching their way through pizza and assorted !!!! and turning up their noses at HM versions (except cakes, but I can only bake so many). Wouldn't be without him though...

NSD yesterday, woohoo!

Same here... We have a local Tesco (but it's TINY!), and I generally prefer ASDA anyway.
But our nearest ASDA is a good 15-20 miles away, unless I want to pay £5.00 bridge toll + fuel and go to Bristol... lol.

At £3.50, it's cheaper than going there.... And it looks like I'm not going to be including it either.

Beth86

I've just noticed a problem with my budget....

There are FIVE Tuesday's in September... which means FIVE weekly shops... At this rate I'm going to come in almost £30 over my budget.

B

Fire_Fox

We've just spent another £7.50 as we had to go to Tesco on a mega recycling mission and I knew Raisin Wheats, Mr. Fire Fox' favourite cereal was on offer so we bought five boxes! But we didn't buy anything else so that's a bonus. So only £44 left until the end of the month ... :eek:

cw18

Another NSD for me today 3rd this month, and 2nd in a row....

It was a close-run thing though!! I was itching to go down to our local C00p and Mr M around 3pm to check the Whoopsies, so had to give myself a serious talking too :rolleyes2

The only things I'd really be looking for/at were meat and cakes/snacks.

But I've absolutely no freezer space for meat, and having done some work on my grocery spreadsheet I've realised the 'snacks' category is the one I need to keep a very careful eye on...... It's my second largest spending category so far this year (second only to meat) at a staggering £148.48 - but if I knock off all the cakes, biscuits, sweets and nuts (other than those bought for birthday teas) my 'approved' spend is just £46.15 :eek: So that's an average of £12.80 a month that I'm wasting on !!!!, which is the equivalent of one weeks grocery budget for one adult each and every month :mad:

freakyogre

I haven't been out today as didn't need/want anything. Might go for a wander tomorrow though.

I took what I thought was bacon out of the freezer earlier (I remember putting a few rashers in a bag) and defrosted it to be used in my quiche...and it turned out to be beef! Oops. I already have my meals planned for the week and that wasn't included in that (obviously ) so I just stir fried it with some veg (including broccoli stalks i'd usually bin), some chilli sauce and noodles so have a portion in the fridge now. I'll either have it for lunch tomorrow or try and wedge it in the freezer for another week.

So with no bacon for the quiche i've settled on broccoli, cheese and layered it with tomato. I've only made a quiche once before and it was lovely, but decided to try this one without cream. Hope it works.

That's in the oven now along with a blackberry and apple pie (looks very rustic as i'm not the best at making pastry) and some rice i'm baking for dinner. Once cooked i'll do a couple of sausages to go with it (with pie for afters...it'd be rude not to)

missymouse

i made flapjacks and banana cake today and a chicken pie thing with mash potato portions from the freezer so quite pleased with myself. kids moaned about the potato though. apparently it tasted like cardboard (charming)

Beth86

I think I'm ready to say that we had a NSD today! Woop!

Something I'm pleased about anyway, as it's our second so far. :beer:

However, I know tomorrow isn't going to be as good.

B

millienjacksmummy

NSD here for us
Baking - made apricot (dried) and blackberry (fresh) scones - 1 lot in freezer plus some fresh choc discuits , I'd better get back to ww as all this yummy food will go straight to my wobbly bits!
Spent the day cleaning so that kept us warm and out of mischief and got stuff ready to ebay (old prams and child carrier) to make some ££££

Also, done a roast chicken with the works (fresh stuffing and bread sauce mash sauages/bacon, veg and gravy) it was so yummy so have plenty of leftovers for sandwiches, soup and risotto in the week

Kids last day off school tomorrow DH is at home with them so should be another NSD hopefully

oceanspirit

I've had mum staying since Thursday and she brought with her some bramleys from her garden so I had to buy some oats to make crumble topping (mum and I don't eat wheat) from the village shop - 99p for a small box!! However she also came armed with a corn on the cob and a large bag of runner beans.

I plan to do a stir fry tomorrow evening, then on Tuesday something for 2 days using lots of carrots and parsnips! I shall then be ready with an empty fridge for another weekly shop on Thursday.