February 2010 Grocery Challenge

PennyGrabber

Hi all.

Not been on for a few days, as OH came to stay for the weekend. Caught up with all posts, and it feels like motivation is generally high this month. Lots of people reckon they're going to hit their targets. Go us, go us, go us... (cheerleader-chant-style!)

I had 2 NSDs Thurs and Fri, but then did my weekly shop in tesco today - came to £8.17! All i needed was some fruit, milk and a few other bits, as rest of week food is from freezer etc.

I got a load of recipes from freecycle the other week, and as part of my new year's resolutions, i wanted to make at least something new each month. Last month was only using a new packet mix (bolognese pasta bake - nom nom), so this month i made some butterscotch squares. Mmm, they are lush, and as they're quite filling, you only need a little piece, AND they freeze for four months! Sort of a cross between a flapjack and a cake, with melted fudge in! I'll post the recipe if anyone is interested...

Sig updated with my NSDs and huge(:rotfl:) shop. Going to be tight, but i'm hopeful that i'll be ok for my first month back.

PG x

NJW69

I'm adding some money back into my pot as I bought some fish for my Mum when I went shopping and shes been today and given me the money. So I'm adding £2.65 back in and also £3.49 for a hair color. £6.14 in total will change signature now. No spend day yesterday and today.

slowandsteady_2

Evening all,

popped to Mr T after work last night for wine (every time im on here i feel like its because ive been shopping for wine-not got a problem honest!). It was about 10pm-they open till midnight now on a Saturday-got the following-

lagers £2.85
2 x marge £1.50
wine (cheapest!) £3.41
whoopsied pack of cooked chicken pieces 55p
whoopsied fromage frais for dd x 2 60p
whoopsied quiche 40p

total £9.31:eek:

Oh i have to stop 'popping in', had this sorted over Xmas and New year as had better things to do, but am finding myself doing it again. I think i might go over this month as ive relaxed a bit now my salary has been paid and things are not so desperate hence the popping in to Mr T. Shoudn't be by much though as my fridge is very small and freezer and cupboards choc full of stuff.

Tea tonight (and the next week i think!) is SC 'mince mix' as we call it. DH fancied doing his (very unique but gorgous) take on spag bol in the sc with mince, tinned toms, garlic, mushrooms, peppers and onions with just the right amount of chilli, and also a big pan of his mash which is just divine, so we have tons after all that stretching-ive taught him well:rotfl::rotfl:. So mince and mash, spag bol, chilli and maybe cottage pie on the menu for the next few days!

Am planning a nsd tommorow as need to go through baby's wardrobe and pack up clothes that dont fit now. Have tons that we have been given in recent months off my sister that are the next size up that i need to go through and wash and dry.

Good night all x

Long_tall_sally

slowandsteady - do you mind me asking what marge you got? I bought one tub of ICNINButter yesterday but we will soon need more but as Co-Op or Sainsburys didn't have any on offer, I only got one to tyed us over for a few days.
NSD grocery wise but still an expensive day cos we paid for 11 of us to have a pub lunch for SS's 18th which was last week.

slowandsteady_2

Long_tall_sally wrote: »

slowandsteady - do you mind me asking what marge you got? I bought one tub of ICNINButter yesterday but we will soon need more but as Co-Op or Sainsburys didn't have any on offer, I only got one to tyed us over for a few days.
NSD grocery wise but still an expensive day cos we paid for 11 of us to have a pub lunch for SS's 18th which was last week.

Hi Longtallsally, i got Mr T version of 'I cant believe its not....' (cant remember exact name and it tucked in back of freezer now!) on offer at moment 2 500g tubs for £1.50.

ragz_2

NSD today but £53 spent in Tesco yesterday.

We had fajitas for dinner this evening and I just worked out that's the most expensive meal I cook. More than twice the cost of most things I do and only feeds two adults and the little ones for one meal (Dh eats his in 2 sittings!). Won't be having them again for a while. If anyone's interested it goes like this...

FR Chicken breast £6.50
Fajita kit £1.50 (tried buying stuff seperately and it cost more!)
Peppers £1-£1.50
Onion 10p*
Soured cream 30p*
Lettuce 10p*
Cheese 50p*
(*approximate prices)

Making that £10 - £11 for one meal! More than I budget for a whole day's food. :eek:

Obviously would be cheaper if I didn't buy FR chicken, DH suggested beef instead so may give that a go...

ETA - Just edited my signature and realised I am over halfway through the month's budget after less than a week! Not even having a baby on Monday can excuse this much spending and I think I may faint! Ok, so yesterday's shop included enough for meals up until the 11th but still, OMG!

peedie

Well I made it though to the end of the week thank goodness. I think I might have been unrealistic in my budget. I hav'nt over spent this week But I have been using up lots from the store cupboard and freezer.

I'm just a bit concerned that at the end of the month I will no longer have much in resurve.

If I do a big shop at the start of next month will that be cheating?:D

purpletent

Please can you put me down for £360 for feb. Thanks.
I thought I was doing quite well, but did a £100 supermarket shop the other day:eek:! I will have to be more careful. Anyway, hopefully I have enough half price nappy pants and nappies and wipes to see my littlest one through until after potty training! I am still using my approved food bought last month and am batch cooking soup etc for work lunches. Also using the breadmaker daily with my bulk ordered bread flour from last month and also have enough juice and toilet rolls - all bought in bulk out of last month's budget! So.... I am still hoping to come in on budget this time!
Keep going everyone!

Mrs_Money_Penny

Hi had a spend of £1.24 for wheetabix yesterday MrT's own. Made some wheetabix cookies yum yum.

Maisie_M

small spend in Sainsbugs today as I had run out of bread and cheese for packed lunches tomorrow. So £3.80 added to my total. Still happy as £15.17 under budget for the week.

Hopefully another good week next week. Managed to have 4 NSD days this week. Will try for the same or better next week.