September 2009 Grocery Challenge

cw18

I didn't have everything organised by category - that's something I sat and did last weekend.....


With all my grocery spends itemised in a spreadsheet (by month), it didn't take a lot of work to combine them all and then separate back out by category.

The longest bit was changing the descriptions of what I'd bought to simplify the split (eg. "pork steaks" became "meat, pork, steaks" and "ham" became "meat, cooked, ham"). But I'm now adding things to my September spreadsheet in that format, so once we move into October it should be much quicker to sort/split/transfer in order to update my category totals to the end of September

Moniker

Hello folks

Not been on for a few days as have been busy at work then away yesterday helping DD2 with wedding clothes shopping! It was too hot! Anyway as a result of a long hot day I succumbed to Waitrose's Dine for £10 offer yesterday evening! I had done very well in my weekly shop at Sainsbury's on Friday but this has tipped me over £40 for the week. However, I have about £80 left in the budget and only two more 'big shops' till the end of the month so I am not too worried. The meal from Waitrose was ok for a ready meal and it was a lot cheaper than going out! (And I was too tired anyway).

I am going to cook a chicken today so that will see DH and me for a couple of days and I have several of my home cooked ready meals in the freezer. In between cooking I am hoping to do some gardening. My veg boxes need sorting out ready to take my winter veg!

Have a good day all - off to catch up with the posts I have missed (well, some of them!)

Moniker

highland_fling_2

Good Morning everyone.

Had planned to buy an organic chicken yesterday but then realised that I had chicken breasts in freezer, so we are having those instead. Will just serve them with a mushroom sauce and lots of veg. Quick and easy and I don't have to make stuffing, roast potatoes etc. So an easy meal for me today.

Also will free up some room in the freezer as I need to find some room for leeks which are coming from my brother's allotment. Hope to eat out of freezer this week. Have lots in there so will be quite easy to make meal plan.

Off work next weekend, brother is picking brambles for me and I am planning to have a massive jelly making session. Will have to look out and scrub all the glass jars I have kept over the year.

Thought I might put a jar of bramble jelly in Christmas hampers.

helen_jelly

Morning everyone

Just to let you know that as and when you post your totals I will let you know I have got it [helps me keep track] so...............

SEARCHING-ME - thank you

Helen x

ellemm

Morning all. Lovely sunny day here in central Scotland so going for a wee jaunt to Ayr this afternoon - as OH wants some fishing stuff from the £ shops there to take on hols next week. (£ shops here don't stock them and it's a good chance for me to visit a lovely deli for possible foodie hamper bits again!!)

Bought some cooked beetroot in Lidl - 2 packs @ 49p each and value vinegar from Mr M @ 13p a bottle. Someone on the Preserver's thread had suggested pickling these cooked beets so thought I would give it a try this morning.

Added a little sugar as OH likes his beetroot on the sweet side and got 5 assorted sized jars with very little effort with some vinegar left over.

Preserved my 2 bags of pears from Lidl last night, let OH taste test a couple and he pronounced them gorgeous - so much so wanted to go out there and then to buy some ice cream to have with them :rotfl:

Now out of jars and cupboard space will have to be found too !

Lasagne made last week taken out of the freezer for dinner so an easy cooking Sunday for a change although will probably make a pot of Scotch broth later.

Enjoy your day.

missymouse

i spent £20 in Marks yesterday. some was food but i had to buy a gift for someone. also went to debenhams but that is another story. also spent about £1 in greengrocer

i am definitely more aware of what i spend now i am taking part in this friend.

[Deleted User]

Good morning folks ,
just had a count up, and because I'm over budget from this weeks spending, I have £12.14 to last until my next 'payday' on 22 September
I make my 'payday' a Tuesday so I'm more likely to use up bits from the weekend ( a bit of a throwback from when I used to get my family allowance years ago on a Tuesday). But I have nothing to buy at all this week foodwise so I am hoping for quite a few NSDs ahead.
I have some cooked chicken left over from my sis-in-laws visit, and I'm going to curry it and portion it up for the freezer today.My £2.00 chook did very well It fed us both on Friday night with HM wedgies and salad, and in sandwiches for our picnic yesterday, and there is quite a bit left over so I should get at least three portions of curry from the remainder.I am also going to have a delve into the freezer and update my freezer stock list which is stuck on the front as I know I have got some extra in there over the past few days.I also have a litre of chicken stock to go in there left over from my week-end chook which will make some soup by the middle of the week when the veggies start to get a bit past it . Must stock check my spuds as well to see if they are sprouting or not .I have two of those potato bags from Lakelands that keep them dark One is for 'whites' and one for the tiny new potato's Must check and if the whites are starting to sprout then I will peel and mash and freeze in portions.
Well its almost the middle of the month, and we are all doing very well, I think we are all thinking positively, and even if we go over a little, its not the end of the world. We are still thinking about our spending, which can only be good .Well done Chums we all need a pat on the back
Cheers JackieO xx

OrkneyStar

Hi folks,
Well thats me done my last shop of this month (ends 14/9/9) and give or take £1 or so (I don't count exactly) we have managed to survive on the £200 budget we set. Think I will try that again next month too.
Have taken GC out of my sig for now but will add back in on 15th once new month starts.
Take care all
x OS

freakyogre

freakyogre wrote: »

I'm a bit worried I might muck up my first attempt at this though as i'm already over halfway through the amount I said and [STRIKE]only a week in[/STRIKE] duh, it's 2 weeks! That makes me feel better. Hopefully I should be ok as checked my meal plan for this/next week and I only need to get a lemon, some garlic and some chickpeas (which I could do without) as have everything else, so will see how I get on.

I went over to see my dad and stepmum last night and had to stop for some money on the way, but the cash machine was out of order so I nipped into Coop to get some cashback planning on picking up anything. I thought sensibly for a minute and got the three items I actually need (above) so that's another £1.20 spent. A bit more than had I gone to Tesco but at least I won't be tempted in there now.

I'm hoping I should be able to do this until the end of the month, but will have to wait and see as i'm running the cupboards and freezer down, so will need to buy some more stuff at some point. I shouldn't need anything except milk next week. I have loads of pasta and rice though so will plan around that if need be and use the 'stranger' things in my cupboards in something! I know my sister got some chicken breasts for me when they were on offer, so I owe her £4 for them (8 breasts) when I see her (and have room to freeze them)

I'll stop rambling now

WelshWoofer

Managed to stagger around Mr T's with a niggly hangover this morning (flipping rose wine!) and spent £35. I have meal planned for the week and only bought what was on the list plus a bit of extra bread rolls, baps etc that were whoopsied.
Added to my foray into the butchers that makes a total of £50 for this week but I bought enough meat to last at least 2 weeks so won't need to buy any next week.

I have £30 of the budget to last one more weeks shopping - might be a bit tricky as I've been spending about £40 a week but I don't have to buy any meat and will meal plan cheap food using up what we have in the freezer so hopefully I'll make it!