January 2010 Grocery Challenge

Spirit_2

I had let the grocery spend 'admin' slide and we are up to £376. The budget for the month is only £350 and that is not the worst of it....

We had guests last weekend and shopped accordingly. £65 at the butchers including a large rib of beef. Only problem was the cooker broke down on Saturday so we took everyone to the pub for Sunday lunch.

I cannot think when we will eat the beef...it is big......will just have to be sociable again some time soon.

poppy-glos

sorry, quick pop in to update. spent money on birthday celebrations and cake ingredients this week, just under £20 left for next week so should be ok.

BigMummaF

Like many I have spent a little more than I had hoped for the month, but know that it includes a few bits I'd picked up for me muvva during the 'white' period She buys the tea when we're out together so the costs are evened out one way or t'other
I also had a splurge on the BOGOF batteries as they're for the poota, remotes & things so still household, a replacement lighter thingie for the gas cooker SIZE=1]sometimes the ignition on it doesn't ignit!![/SIZE & several cartons of long life milk. I had used the ones from my cupboard anyway & with the snow & all, thought I'd better get a couple whenever I managed to get to a shop rather than the one of each I would normally store. Consequence is, we're having a rice pudding today cuz I'm fed up with moving it every time I want to get to the microwave :rotfl:
Think I'll give my current experimental budgeting figures another go--one month hardly seems a fair trial period--so can I have a monthly total of £196 for Feb please MrsMc.

pipkin71

I did an M&S shop last night and am still on target for this month, but need to make sure I pick up on essentials now, rather than luxuries.

Last night's shop was definitely more luxury than essential

SilverCo

Hi everyone :hello:

Another £1.75 spent this morning, will update sig in a mo.

Reading this thread, I think everyone's done really well, even those of us who have gone over budget! We've all been trying really hard and the motivation and support from everyone is fantastic :T

angelaatgraceland, Bobble-Off is a great little gadget! I've salvaged many a bobbly jumper, cardigan etc. over time

Have a lazy Sunday afternoon everyone

Silver x

earthmother

NSDs are on track, the milk is holding out, and as hoped, there is no need for me to shop until Tuesday. However, I'm going to be near an Asda (which is a rare event) tomorrow so if time allows I may pop in for some bits I can only get from there - save the delivery charge and the inevitable 'make it up to minimum order' spending I generally end up doing online.


And there's been a small victory in the 'find new meals that won't be moaned about' challenge :j - I may have finally won the family around to cottage/shepherds pie - I know it's a basic for most people, but my lot are picky, and there are texture-issues with DS2 too.

Picked up the Sainsburys £10 meal deal the other day as I needed some wine for someone, so thought it would be a good cheap way to try the pie (and have a Gu pud as a treat when the kids are in bed one night ).

The concensus was they didn't like the seasoning (which I couldn't even taste - that's what I'm up against here folks), but the theory behind the meal was ok, and that if I made it from scratch they'd probably like it. So, are there any tried and tested, basic, recommended recipes out there in OS land?

Souk08

Nearly there and only a few days to go as I get paid on Thursday :j:j:j. When will the Feb challenge be ready to go so i can join up again? LOVE this thread!

HowlinWolf

mama67 that's a good suggestion, the only slight flaw being that when I leave notes for him he tends not to get them. But, bearing your advice in mind, I think I will leave a cheque for him with a neighbour if he fails to show up this week. I have politely reminded him that I have (for months) adjusted my working schedule to ensure that I am at home during his collection round as I feel bad about him not having his money!

greent

Hmm - a week left to go and less than £50 to do it - which *would* be achievable - except I'm going into hospital tomorrow for an operation (if they agree to do it still - I have a wee chest infection ) and will be in there for 3 nights or so. That leaves DH in charge of spending for the week (I won't be able to drive/ lift for several weeks either) - hmm, methinks takeaways could be his easy option!! IN which case the budget'll be easily blown - argh!!

However, I am impressed that this is the lowest budget we have ever set ourselves - and (If you look at my sig) it does include everything food related. I've also included newspapers this month (about £20 so far), so we're doing well. DS3 is also now on solids, so that's a difference - although very little, as I'm doing baby led weaning, so none of this mushy pureed stuff - SO much easier! He is still b/f, too - which saves a fortune on formula thankfully (I remember how expensive it was for my 1st 2 - my third was b/f until nearly 3 and only ever had about 3 cartons of ready made formula when I was once on too-strong anti-bs and ran out of EBM)

5 of the 6 of us have been ill, so we've also spent out on tissues, calpols and paracetamol - which have all been included.

DH is under STRICT instructions for spending and to keep the freezer inventory updated!

Will report back sometime when out of hospital probably with month end totals. Need to think of budget for Feb, too.

Good luck everyone!

greent x

LINKYPIE2009

Hello all,

Back again - just been to Mr A and spent £82.25!!!!!!!:eek:

But only £14 to go on grocery budget - rest was on school uniform and underwear etc for DD and £5 on toilet rolls for DMiL who piad up straight away.

£5 for 16 rolls of triple velvet - seemed a good deal to me.....

So another £14 over budget but new month starts on Thursday.....so my feb challenge is to spend £300 again......28/01/10 - 24/02/10 please when new challenge starts.

hugs as always

Linkypie
xx