November 2009 Grocery Challenge

Winged_one

We've only bought bread this week since the weekend shops. So I need to add another €1.40 to the spend amount. 3 NSD's too!!

This weekend, we are planning a quiet family weekend. But including a roast beef dinner on Sunday (with the first brussels sprouts of the season from the plot!! YUM!). Although I may do a mushroom risotto on Saturday night, which would not need anything bought. And we'll have another night of IKEA meatballs from the freezer during the week too. Chorizo potato bake. Pasta and bacon - perhaps veggies and cheese sauce or maybe a tomato sauce - I'd have to buy gorgonzola and cheese for my favourite. I have chicken breasts in freezer or prawns for another night. I may even bake a cake at the weekend - and I want to get started on some mincemeat for Christmas (think I bought enough fruit in past few weeks).

So it looks like I need meat for Sunday and perhaps one other night (maybe a lamb chop night). Some bread and milk and sandwich fillings. Dunkers for DD's lunchbox. Fruit (not apples or oranges). And that should be it. Woohoo! Should come in about €60 or so at max!

helen_jelly

Synonymous

Mark88man beat me to it, I was going to say about Freecycle aswell - I've got 2 of my freezers from there - brilliant site

Helen

girlonbudget

Hi there...I know this is too late but can I join this?? Am starting work on Monday...so will be off Jobseekers etc. I'd like to go on the challenge at least till the end of the month...but if I can do it will want to stay on it!

Ok, so single girl and my challenge is to spend £10 per week till the end of November on food. I'll readjust that next month when the wages come in and include toilettries etc. As long as I have shampoo, deodorant and conditioner I figure Im good to go on the toilettries front! I've never stuck to a budget before...hopefully this will help me get into the challenge!!! Is it too late for me to join...and any hints and tips will be great!!!!

mark55man

hi - good luck - well done on the job

for ideas just read through some of the early pages
don't try and be too frugal on your first month
don't go shopping !!
take packed lunches
try out the recipes near the start of the thread

others will be more helpful

elizabunny

Morning All,
I have fallen foul of the dreaded 'cold' and will soon be heading out to stock up on lemons so that will be the end of the NSDs for now. Feel as though my budget is being swallowed by medications recently. DH had swine flu in september, then I had my bad back, then DH got a cold which he has now given to me :eek: I'm already longing for summer!
Anyway I think it will be a fairly BIG shop today as I'm out of loads of things, but I was really happy to receive my £6.50 in vouchers from MrT this morning, which will come in very useful as I believe they have a good offer on tins of tuna at the moment. I've decided to try and include more fish in our diet as I really don't think we are eating enough. So
wish me luck -because there's a huge chance I'll end up blowing the rest of the budget for the month:o
Have a good day eveyone!

ariarnia

didn't do very well this week.

Far to many things disrupting the day to stick to the meal plans so over spent my aim a little. Still in budget and still got all the freezer to use up.

spent £60 in iceland on 43 items, including cat food and some quick cook items for when we're next disrupted.

then spent 1.80 on a load of fizzy bath cubes to split up into my Christmas hampers and £15 in wh smiths for Christmas stationary and some half price terry's choc oranges.

followed later in the week by a £30 run through tesco for a few other bits and bobs.

all in all, many no spend days to be had for the next week or so.

106.80 this last few days, 16.80 of that on christmas.

HH62

Spent more than I had planned to at the farm shop - £9.59. My target had been £5 but they had some lovely looking ham and bacon and I succumbed!
Spent £30 on a Mr T order, so for the rest of the month I've only got £89.41 left.

millienjacksmummy

thisismoneysaving wrote: »

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:
Did you manage without it? Or was you a bit sneaky last night?!

:mad:Well......I went to the freezer and it had gone!!! So I had a few cream crackers with butter and a decaff coffee instead - not quite the chocolate-ice cream heaven I was looking for but probabaly a few less cals!!! Was so disappointed!!

Sam

nmlc

Afternoon all

Just an update of the spends, have shopped today at MrT for a change (and had some vouchers to use up to keep the spending down!). Was pleasantly surprised that alot of the items that I buy are generally the same price as MrA (where I normally shop), so thinking about the possibility of alternating between the two, I would like to think I would get the best of both worlds as the MrA that we have locally is good but not a very big store so I very often find they don't stock some items. Anyway the spend for today was £49.49 (should have been £68.49 but used vouchers to knock money off), so have now spent £272.86/£350 budget - not brilliant but as only have one more shop to do and still plenty in the fridge, freezer and storecupboards should be able to come in around budget. Will be making bread shortly and some hob nobs to take away with us tomorrow. Have done a meal plan for next week and have managed to do a complete week, not just Monday to Friday and then wondering what we are going to do for Sat and Sun and ending up with takeaway at last minute! Have worked hard with the weight loss this last week and have lost another 2lb so total now is 2 stone 2lb, just want to lose another 6lb before Xmas - should be do-able if I keep my head in the zone!
Have a good weekend everyone, keep safe and well, hugs to those that need them.
nmlc

helen_jelly

Afternoon everyone

Grrrrrrrrr I have 16 yes 16 cartons of milk in the freezer and what have I had to buy for the last 2 days cos I keep forgetting to go into the garage and get out of the freezer - yes you guessed it MILK - how stupid of me.

Girlonabudget - welcome and hi - nice to see you on here and well done on the job, congratulations. Read the info at the start of the thread and check out those lush recipes that are posted by Rosieben on page 1, she collects them when people kindly post them on here so they are all in one place, good luck and don't forget to ask any questions as there are lovely people on here who are willing to help.

Elizabunny - really hope you feel better soon - hugs

Ariarnia - where did you get your fizzy bath bombs from as they are cheap and I need some for kiddies for Xmas - ta

Nmlc - well done on your weight loss, keep up the good work and go for it.

So, cost of milk to be added to this budget and the cost of some photo snow globes and photo magnet cubes to be added to Xmas budget - only £1 each so thats little Xmas pressies sorted for a couple of peolpe on the cheap. Got them from MrT - nice and cheap!!!!!

Have a nice rest of the day everyone

Helen