November 2009 Grocery Challenge

russetred

I think this month's budget is not going to be easy to keep to.I've spent loads already.I picked up loads of whoopsied meat and stocked up with half price ducks,the cheap pork shoulder and slow roast beef joints which will keep us going well into next month.I need to buy just the essentials now and keep out the shops more often!I think I'll check out the store cupboard challenge.On a positive note for me I smashed my holiday target already and had a lovely day on Saturday booking our holiday to Kenya.

Jevvers

Morning all! Had an NSD on Friday but then DH came back after a week working away (and I mean hard, physical work,not swanning round hotels!) turned his nose up at the idea of Thursday's leftover chicken and suggested takeaway... so we did, and very nice it was too although £23!

I've included it in the monthly total for now - not sure whether to or not, it's a bit of a grey area. But I did stick the chicken carcass in the freezer so he's still going to get his OS rubber chicken meal sometime this wk

Also spent £23 on food ahead of my veggie friend coming for the weekend but in the end we didn't touch all the nice cheese so I'll have to see what to do with that. I do find it hard to cut down when having friends over, I want to feel like I'm treating them.

Planning a very quiet week now and then away with relatives for the weekend.

Keiss 21, I know what you mean about the bottles, I bought M&S cordial just for using the bottles for our sloe gin the other year

cw18

JillS wrote: »

Is that the dried stuff or fresh pasta? I can't imagine eating dried pasta.

Dried pasta isn't as bad as it sounds - though spaghetti is the best (fussilli is a bit tricky to nibble at )

I normally end up with a raw strand when doing a spaghetti meal, if DS is in the vicinity he pinches one too, and if I manage to drop any the larger dog tries to get to it before I have chance to bin it!!! Fortunately the dog doesn't get nasty about having food removed, so if I get a hand (or foot) on it before he gets there, then he knows he's lost it and finds a corner to sulk :rotfl:

helen_jelly

Afternoon everyone
Budgets all done

just off to update siggy as bought a few bits from MrA

Hope you are all ok
Rosieben - hope the move went ok

Helen x

huston_kw

Better check in, haven't been too well and lost my appetite (4 days now).

Went to costcos last week, for bulk buying didn't want to go crazy, as oh is on sick leave so I'm going to have to rain in the spending, anyway spent 49 quid, takes spend so far just over 63.

nikki20022008

38p more for me today Mr T had breaded haddock reduced from £1.96 to 19p so couldn't resist

Synonymous

Evening All! Well, today is the start of my first ever Grocery Challenge! I started off by going shopping of course (!) we've been on strike at work and today's paypacket was considerably lighter than usual so gotta get to grips with this, so spent last night watching X Factor and doing meal plans

I started off at Lidl where I rarely go and got most of my food for the week for £13.98, then popped in Morrisons on the way home for the rest - £5.82.

After a suggestion on here, I got some Freeway Cola from Lidl to try as I drink a lot of coke on nights at work, just having some now and its not too bad, although I might just use it for mixing drinks and keep getting Coca-Cola when its on offer. Has anyone seen the Freeway stuff in cans? Plus my only treat not on my list was some Tropicana which was half price so I think I did quite well and some things for cooking will last me into next week.

Hope everyone had a good weekend, its been good to hear everyone's ideas and progress, I'm gonna update my sig now - how exciting!!!

PS. Is there any particular reason people use 'Mr T' 'Mr A' etc etc, or is just an abbreviation, I've not come across it on any other part of the forum so just wondering!

elizabunny

Keiss_21 wrote: »

elizabunny - you could re-fill the bottle to give as a Christmas pressie. Try home made sloe/damson gin, a flavoured oil or vinegar. I am always on the lookout for nice jars, bottles and tins. I have been known to buy a product only for the packaging that I can re-use! Not that I do that much nowadays, well hardly ever!!

keiss 21 Thanks for that, what a great idea! The bottle I had was lovely sort of oblong shape, it would be perfect for a flavoured oil or vinegar and I know just who I could give it to for Xmas:j Hope you are feeling better now, my son had asthma when he was young.

3 NSDs in a row . I made chicken stir fry tonight with rice -DH helped. Enough for 2 meals for the freezer as well.

Hope everyone is doing ok.

ellemm

sheba wrote: »

But seriously, although not doing too well at the moment the challenge is re-training my brain little by little and it's oh so easy to see how I got in stum in the first place. Fingers crossed the 'great awakening' continues!!

Good Luck All

Sheba

Think you nailed it on the head there Sheba, it is about re-training the brain a bit at a time. I have been doing the challenge for a few months now and feel I am not only saving money each month but wasting less and am far more organised.
I do find I am more disciplined when shopping and less inclined to be tempted by the supermarkets' marketing ploys!:rolleyes:

ariarnia

Just spent £72.33 at tesco online - well not really, with b1g1f and multibuys, I figure it's closer to £47 and I get £5 cashback from topcash back (if it tracks) so more like £42 but won't know until it arrives if they actually have the stuff in.

I always mark down no subs, and they never seem to have the gammon joints I want from the 3 4 10 but hayho. :rolleyes: I kinda hate the fact that they only tell you a guide price, but what can you do? if I go in store I spend so much more...

That plus the asda spend of £50.78 should be all for this month (less bread, milk and eggs which are delivered and already paid for in advance for this month)

I'm going to add it to my budget as 92.78, but I should be getting £5 back from the asda spend too, plus should be able to update with the actual cost of the tesco shop at a later date.