October 2009 Grocery Challenge

ifonlyitwaseasier

wooop wooop new thread!!!

Good Luck everyone!!

666paw

Hi everyone

10 days in and half the budget has gone already although have brought new scales and mixing bowls. 5 nsd's so hoping for a few more.
Have finally completed an inventory of cupboards, just freezer to do.

Good luck to everyone

P.

CRANKY40

I didn't have a budget for September, I just wanted to cut down and use some of the food in the freezer (my single portions) ready for dh coming home in 2 weeks. My meals when he is away tend to be made up dfferently.... for instance on my own, I will cook a chicken and freeze it in portions ready to make dinners for ds and I. When he's home we tend to go down the normal rubber chicken route ie roast dinner, followed by curry or pie next day, followed by chicken soup. I tend to have more "whole" meat joints (ys where possible :T) when he is home, so needed to make some space ready for them.

He is quite good - he was a mature student, so he says it was learn to cook or starve. He will happily take a turn in the kitchen and is happy to try and eat tasty, healthy food made "economically" IYKWIM. He already owned a slow cooker when I met him, and he is quite disappointed that I won't let him try and buy just one carrot (when he was a student, just one carrot for his soup weighed so little that it couldn't be costed on the scales and sainsbury's just used to let him have it!).

Anyway, sorry for rambling, just trying to explain why my food budget varies over the course of several months. For October I will go for £40 per week, total £200 plus £40 I have saved from my last 2 months housekeeping so that we can go to the local farmer's market and buy some meat there too. £240 for me for October please.

candygirl

I'm only starting on Oct 1st, still doing sept GC, but I am determined to be mega frugal, as have just booked to go to Goa in Dec, and need to save up my spends:T:T

searching_me

*hangs head in shame* .......... im just over half way through my october and ive blown it soooooo much ive lost track due to feeling low not shopping properly and OH's birthday it went to pot so my nov starts on the 10th so just using what ive got til then x

mrsclarkie

Hi can I join this month from October 1st i'll aim for £150 as I have done freezer and cupboard inventory and there are only 2 of us this is half what we normally spend on shopping a month

Ninno820

Second week in and I have spent £79.06 / £160. Judging my the entries of others £160 for one person is beginning to sound rather extravagent - and I am beginning to realise how much I wasted. However I am loving the challenge - especially the "risotto" night where the leftovers are utilised.

Good luck to everyone.

DizzyK_2

omg heeeeeelllllp!
We have to go through to Nov 1st this month as are changing jobs. We did a massive costco shop at the weekend so I upped the budget a bit (so I could drop it next month ha ha ha ha ha) and I did a Tesco online shop today as well.. All that means I have spent £350 of a huge £445 budget and it's not even :mad: October yet!!
Oh hang on, it's also my son's b'day next week so cake and family party need doing and I've always said that it will say on my gravestone "never knowingly undercatered" :eek:
Oooh AND I start a new job next week doing different hours so will have to feed the kids every night where as they used to eat at nursery 3 nights a week..
Methinks I should go bury my head right now... *sob*

tessasmum

Haven't quite finished September yet, but please put me down for £300 for October - it has half term in it so I need to allow a little extra for that! Thanks for all the inspiration in September - I think I will come in a little over the budget but not too much.

Julimk

Small spend of £2.09 today on milk (fresh ‘n’ low @ 70p for 2 l, but neither mysupermarket or Tesco.com are showing for how long) and 12 Butcher’s Choice British pork sausages (½ price @ £1.39, not even listed on either site here! But it is £1.87 for 8!) Sausages were one of the things I was looking out for on special and/or RTC. Currently more than £20 ahead of this time last month!

I’m now into the routine of batch cooking from what I have in & then while we use those up picking up the meat & fish when I see the offers or whoopsies & then using them the following month.

Dinner this evening was chicken fajitas using some of the left over chicken from last night & cooked by DD. She was so pleased with herself having made our meal & seeing how quick & easy it was from bits & pieces that were already in. And I was really proud of her too.

DizzyK If you just did a big Costco shop I assume that you are now well stocked up?? I’m sure if you post up what you have in, how many you are catering for, what sort of things your family prefers to eat etc. then the lovely people on here will be able to come up with lots of ways for you to make it last for minimal additional outlay, as well as cheap & cheerful party food ideas (how old is DS, and how many catering for at the party? Mostly adults or kids?)