December 2009 Grocery Challenge

WelshWoofer

Hi!
Just updating the spends - meant to spend £10 on the weekend on bits needed prior to holidays on Weds but managed to spend £21:eek:
That means that I have only £18 of budget to see me through until the end of the month BUT on the positive side we're in Mexico from Weds until Xmas Eve, at MILs for Xmas Day and then in Wales with my family on Boxing Day and the following day so won't need anything until Dec 27th at the earliest.
We'll see......

cw18

poppy-glos wrote: »

choc fingers 2 for 1 (i think) but checked receipt when i got home and they are charged at £1.39 each, so will present it next time if i remember..

Tried to check this offer out on my way into work for you (the aisle is one route to the staff section for clocking in etc),. but it appears our store - which is only a small one by their standards - doesn't even stock them !!! None out either in the aisle, or on an aisle end where they move goods on offer - and no gap or label for them in sight anywhere either

Surprised me as I would have thought they would be a good seller

ajmoney

Our current total for December is £75.28. We are only eating one more meal here before Christmas due to work nights out and going away and we already have that meal in. The next time we need to cook after that is the 29th so I feel that I will have quite a low total for December, just need to get some more lunch stuff for this week.

Moniker

Hi everyone

I am not officially doing the December challenge but have been lurking this month! DD2's wedding was at the weekend and all went well. Had the day off today to 'recover' but used it to go Christmas shopping. Bought a turkey breast crown for Christmas dinner as there will only be 5 of us and we are going to visit DD1 in Germany afterwards so don't need to stock up on lots of stuff. I have a pudding already in the freezer and so should only need to buy perishables (milk, cream, fruit and veg) for the big day.

During the past year I saved £1 a day for Christmas till the end of November and I used this money to pay cash for most of the presents I bought and for the turkey etc. It is great not having to use the credit card! I know £1 a day is a lot, but even if you only manage 50p a day it all adds up (£167 to be precise!) I bought food stuff for a hamper for my elderly parents as they live in a small flat and have no garden - it was fun thinking of things they would like to put in it. And I still have nearly £50 left towards the food bill next week even after buying all the other presents for the family. It was well worth the sacrifice during the year.

Hope everyone else is ok. Will post properly after 2nd Jan when we return from Germany. Keep up the good work everyone and have a peaceful Christmas and a happy and healthy new year.

Love Moniker

skintbint_2

just popped into update and catch up. Everybody doing well considering the time of year. Back on track after last weeks disaster, armed with my list went to MrT's on way home from work and managed to spend £29, but that has included a lovely big silverside which will do for christmas eve and boxing day. (cant wait to see how far it will go now i have my all signing all dancing slicer) must move got 6 christmas cakes to decorate before thursday. keep cosy

franby64

Spent £7.21 today and the Co-op has helpfully given me a £4 off £40 voucher!

I find it hard enough to spend the £2 off £20 vouchers - I have to carry it all home. The trouble with this one is that I don't really want to commit that much money and I definitely won't be able to carry it home.

Maybe I'll try and think of as many essential, expensive but light and small items as I can - or maybe I'll just bin it!!

elizabunny

Evening All,

Just popped into MrC for something quick for tea tonight -bit naughty but been very busy lately. Don't think I will come in under budget this month, as I'm already in damage limitation mode, so will try to keep it down as much as possible. I really do think long and hard before buying something now, so hopefully impulse purchases are becoming a thing of the past.

I have all my mince pies, sausage rolls, stuffing balls and sausages made for Xmas now, so hopefully I'm on track for a calmer Xmas. Better not speak too soon:D

1 NSD yesterday. I need to do a bit more meal planning now. I hope everyone else is doing ok.

dazzle21

Hello all, OH got entrusted with cooking as i have come down with strep throat (caught from DS bless him) he's done ok, spent £45, but this was lots of veg, cat food and various 'healthy' options rather than his usual batch of erm.. rubbish food! Tempted to defrost a beef joint, there are two in the freezer, but i might make us have pasta once more!! We really need to save the pennies this month, as i missed a day of work and as i'm self-employed i don't get paid unless i go! Not good! Hey ho! I hope everyone is well and looking forward to Christmas

tiggr212004

Flat_Eric wrote: »

what do you buy your feline friends ? I have one cat and always used to buy him the pouches. He isn't fussy :j (well most of the time) so I would buy whatever was on offer. So brand names or supermarket own brand. I would always try not to spend more than £2.50 on a box of pouches so would always look out for offers. I tried him this week on the tinned variety and he loves it. One tin will do him a day's meals. previously it was a pouch for brekie, teatime and then one just before bed. (to avoid early morning wake ups !!) occasionally he would get a pouch at lunchtime too !! so buying the tinned variety will definitely save us money. :T

My cats are on kitekat, which most of the time comes in cheaper than any of the supermarket brands in the area that my 3 eat... My one has allergies at loads of things so have to be careful and the youngest cat can only digest either whiskas dry food or Kitten biscuits..... The main prob is thou that my one cat is the size of a medium dog.... No word of a lie... and as the vet says in perfect size and shape for his height and length but he eats like a horse which is as the vet descibed perfectly normal.... They are on tins as pouches worked out way too expensive but between the 3 of them I go through 3 tins and 2 bowls of biscuits a day.... and none of them are remotely overweight. In fact the perfect weight for their respectable heights and lengths....
So that is the predicament.... The only other cat food I know the one doesnt have a problem with is Katkins which used to be really cheap but I cannot get that anywhere in my local area and Cannot find it online.... Bit confused...
As a treat every week (once only) they share a tin of value tuna flakes.... 48p but that is only once a week...
That is where my money seems to go
Laura

WendysWorld

Quick update, I'm up to £185 of my budget. Had in-laws over for the weekend so got a bit more expensive, and I've bought the dear alcohol (brandy/port/sherry etc). Should be fine for wine as I bought a box of wine in November. Don't know if I'll keep to the budget but fingers crossed!