Store cupboard challenge

rosie383

You are doing well with your meal plan. I need to try to do one now. Only problem is that dh will have a go at me if I ADMIT i HAVE USED ALL MY BUDGET FOR THIS MONTH. i AM REALLY FINDING IT HARDER TO MAKE THE MONEY DO THIS YEAR COMPARED TO LAST. iS IT JUST ME OR HAVE THE PRICES GONE WAY UP? (OOPS CAPS LOCK!)
I have a lot less in than you have, tootoo. We have money in the bank, I just have a budget to stick to and am finding it hard. My problem is buying 'treats'. My kids aren't very keen on HM stuff. Over the past week I have bought no 'outside' treats, apart from a bag of smartprice crisps.
I think next month I will just have to get better at saying NO!

The_Dragon

Well after a stock up this evening is fish cakes with salad (oh and Dr Dragon is having home made potato wedges)

tootoo

Hi Rosie
I think food is so much more than it was!!
Treats no longer come from our food budget it also makes me realise how much i spend (or use to!) on 'treats'!!
this will be the first month (hopefully) that I manage to stick to my budget!
I need to start looking at may and mealplanning, maybe you could to and we could compare for some ideas?
Happy Easter!
Tootoo

rosie383

I am going to look at all my receipts for this month to see how much I have spent on crisps etc. I really have to get into the freezer today and make a proper meal plan. The one thing that is essential that I don't have is a bag of spuds. I have 2 small ones left so I have to use those up to make potato bread. Saw a recipe somewhere for potato pancakes. Going to hunt it out and see if the spuds would go further in that recipe.

lovecrafting

what i have started doing i dont know if it qwill help but, re the treats, i issue each person with a set amount of money each month for treats and fizzy juice etc, i generally find it isnt the kids that eat most of them its actually my other half (even tho he denies it) but removing treats from the budget and giving them a set amount has really helped to show them just how much crap they really do eat.

rosie383

That's a good idea. Can't see how it would work in my house. My dh eats very little of the 'rubbish' apart from the drinks. It's myself and the kids who are the culprits:o.

I think if I look at the receipts, that it will give me a kick up the bum. Will count up and report back in my shame!!

lovecrafting

cant be as shamefull as mine, last month we spent 120 on crap.. 400 on meat only ten pounds on veg plus here is the really shamefull bit 400 on eating out and takaways... time for a big change in our house

rosie383

Well, I looked at my receipts and have spent around 30 pounds on treats.
That's it...... I suppose it could be a lot worse. But we have managed for the last week with one packet of SP digestives, SP crisps, popcorn and fruit. I think I will just start making more of my own things that the kids like to eat and stop buying as much rubbish.
So, popcorn, choc muffins, cookies. The problem is that my kids aren't as keen on HM treats. They much prefer shop bought. Mind you, if it's not here, they can't ask for it, and I won't get any fatter too lol.

rosie383

Think I will cheer us up today by making some 15s as I have the digestives, some marshmallows and can make some condensed milk to bind them. Who doesn't like a nice 15?

patchwork_cat

Get yourself over to the grabbit board and have a look at the Tesco price check thread.