June '06 Grocery challenge

Lewby

Count me in for the challenge this month. Had a pretty dismal May so looking forward to a fresh start in June.

I have set my budget at £200 for 3 adults and 3 teenagers. I usually spend about £400 so will be doing really well if I come in anywhere near £200. I have drawn the cash out so I think twice about spending it!

Lewby xx

jazzt1

I'm gonna try this for the first time too - and be really careful with what I spend money on. My budget will be £80 for my food, cat food and litter, and non-food stuff - cleaning products, beauty products etc. Just about managed this in March I think (£83 or so) but need to be more careful.

Good news is that Lidl opens near me in a couple of weeks so should be able to save a good bit on food and non-food stuff, although probably not until July. Another thing that helps my budget for beauty products is that I have sooo much already that I REALLY don't need to buy anything - cleanser, moisturiser, shampoo, shower gel etc etc etc for months (maybe even years in the case of shower gel....:o ).

Good luck to everyone!

pink_fairy_7

I gonna join this month as I have fell off the wagon lately. Budget is £200 from today for 4 weeks. 2 adults, 2 teenagers (adults) and one 12 year old.
Freezer is stocked, spent £24.52 today (used 22.50 nectar points) but going to count the full amount so £175.48 to use until Sunday 2nd July. Meal planner needed as I dont get paid until next week.

pink fairy x

Bellie_2

I have budgeted £80 for the month and have spent £39.71 in Asda on the first week!! :eek: Thas not all i still need to buy chicken, a piece of fish for me, and some steak for my bf as I promised him he can have some on thur, so need to really stick to the store cupboard challenge to stick to the rest of my budget. Will scour MSE for recipies I can make from what I have already. Though my bf is a very plain and picky eater so it may be difficult. Good luck everyone, x

nicki_2

Well I managed to put off the weekly shopping until today but did have to pick up some little bits from local shops yesterday.

Budget 2nd June : £82.70
Co-op 4th : Spent £3.09 - OH gave me £1 and I have a £1 divi so I'm counting this as a £1.09 spend
Bits 6th : 49p (multipack cleaning sponges - cheaper than Asda), Salad £2.48 :eek:
Asda 7th : £14.25 (taken the cost of my new headphone off the bill)

Left :£62.39

I also know where the rest of my money went - I had to pay out £8.50 for snackmoney for DD (I pay it on the first day of each half term in full so I'm not trying to find 30p a day for her! ) and I've had to put £5 in a birthday card for a party she's going to tonight as I have no idea what to buy a 5-year-old boy :rolleyes:

So...£62.39 to last me until 27th but only £10 available without dipping to savings? I'm completely confused!!!!!!

jayarr_2

ok..so 7th day in..and i'm £10+ over, altho ive been sticking to the meal planner, so, as the freezer os full to overflowing, i wont need to have a big shop, just the added extras, salad, bread etc..
ive got either 5 or 6 bags of mince, 2x4 chicken fillets, and some lamb chops, so thats:
chilli,
lasagne,
shepherds pie,
chicken curry,
fajitas,
and a lamb hotpot...thats without having to buy the main ingredients..

i posted on another thread asking how long veg lasts from the delivery type place-would love to start doing this for organic, but am not even sure that we'd get thru a small one in a week, would they last maybe up to 10 days and still be good..?

twoboysdad

I have a budget of £150 per week for food, petrol, clothes, entertainment, ATM withdrawal, practically anything that isn't a DD or annual like RAC, insurance policies or car maint. That is for 2 parents, a 5yr old and an 8yr old.

So far this year:

Weekly average £134.51 (23 Weeks)
Best week £67.96
Worst week £221.03

In the kitty £356.26

Cheers
J

oOMiaOo

jayarr wrote:

i posted on another thread asking how long veg lasts from the delivery type place-would love to start doing this for organic, but am not even sure that we'd get thru a small one in a week, would they last maybe up to 10 days and still be good..?

Hey jayarr - I used to get veg delivered...it kinda depends on what you get. Salad veg goes off in a few days, but I find the rest lasts longer than I expect - probably because it's getting from the field to you in much less time than supermarket veg. I'm not sure most things will last as long as 10 days though - although I often carry things like onions and potatoes over a few weeks if I can keep them cool and in the dark.

My supplier gives you info on storage for each veg on their website - following their instructions really helps prolong the life of the veg.

Having said all this, I live by myself and used to get through a salad bag and a small mixed (fruit & veg) box a week - I really had to stick to the menu planning though...

Chell

Jayarr, could you make things with the veg to freeze that way it would last eg add carrots or root veg to shepherds pie, courgettes, mushrooms etc to lasagne. If you had a lot left you could make soup which you could again freeze.
I admit, I wouldn't use a veg box as I am fussy with my veg. I'm one of those people who likes my veg to look perfect (sorry!).

I am finding the grocery challenge harder now as my cupboards are bare, week to week I don't have much left. I no longer feel the need to have 8 cans of tinned tomatoes, 13 tins of beans etc. By a Wed (shopping day) the cupboards are empty. I am meal planning for our evening meal but not lunchtimes as that depends on what we are doing day to day and how much time I have.

gallygirl

chelltune wrote:

I am finding the grocery challenge harder now as my cupboards are bare, week to week I don't have much left. I no longer feel the need to have 8 cans of tinned tomatoes, 13 tins of beans etc.

If the urge strikes come and see me - I've got tons!!! Plus loads of curry sauce, cook in sauce, lasagne sauce etc. Mainly due to kids bringing back stuff from uni. Nothing to cook with them though. Thinking of doing peas in curry sauce tomorrow night. Or fruit cocktail in peppercorn sauce (well, have read about strawberries sprinkled with black pepper, this is my version! )