February 2010 Grocery Challenge

SunnyGirl

Just quickly updating signature with today's shopping which has just been delivered £86.01. Leaves me with £57.17 by my calculations for next week which I don't think I'll do. It'a amazing the difference that shopping at Asda has made instead of Netto where I used to shop. I used to get bits in Asda but when I took into account the price of taxi fares back and the extras it seems almost the same price to shop at Asda IYSWIM?

Think I'll up my bduget to £90 a week from March and see how I go.

cuffey

OH managed to pick up quite a bit of whoopsied bread last night from Mr T so that's all gone in the freezer.. . . . except the 4 chocolate muffins (15p)! They were never going to last long!!

I've now got into the habit of bringing my lunch to work everyday which has twofold benefits. Firstly it's cheaper to bring a sandwich (or whatever) from home, but also, it means I don't go into a shop and end up buying random rubbish.

I now have a reasonably big piece of cheese and some mayonaisse in the fridge at work though for 'emergencies' (like forgetting my lunch or being really hungry!) If I really need to I can go and buy a plain roll from the bakers and make a sandwich up.

We intended to go out for a meal with friends last Saturday night, but really couldn't afford it so I offered to cook instead. They were relaxed about the change of plan - and it worked out well. Cheap chicken and lots of roast veg (butternut squash, parsnips, spuds, carrots) - so all done in the oven at the same time! Best of all, we heated the leftovers up in the wok next day and had a sort of roast dinner stir fry. It was exceptionally yummy!!

CherryPie

Have just added up all my receipts for the month and I'm dangerously close to my budget! However have plenty in so there's no reason why I can't do it. I could prob get away with just milk, bread & F&V if I plan ahead.

Was thinking of doing my first ever online shop for March. I live so close to tesco it's ridiculous, however, since my car broke (or I broke it!:o) I've not been able to get to asda which is about 10 miles away. I've no idea where to start but as I'm not working today I think I'll have a look at last months receipts and see exactly what I've bought. Any hints to get me going would be gladly received.

Have a good day everyone

CherryPie x

SarahNeedle1872

Another £11.57 spent yesterday.... having no money is really helping with this challenge! Lol!

Sx

Keiss_21

ragz wrote: »

May I ask how many yours is for?
mine's for me, DH, DS1(3) and DS2(2) - little one's don't eat a lot but DH does and I have to make his packed lunches from that too. Also includes nappies for DS2(2) and DD(2 weeks)

Ragz - mine is for "only" 3 of us, DH, DS2 and myself of-course. DS1 (20) will be joining us mid March for a month (home from Uni). DS2 will be 17 next week, and is a large (6'2", 17.5 stone) rugby player.

He was told at the rugby camp earlier this week he isn't eating enough!!!
We did a 5-day food & exercise diary the week before so they could calculate his needs. Looks like we will have to drop the fat a bit and up his carbs and protein...he is to eat another 1000 calories a day (they are recommending 4,700 cals per day for him!! :eek::eek:) DS2 is also diabetic, so I make a lot of his snacks with less or no sugar..but now have to drop the fat too....I can see lots of fat-less fruit loaves being made (and consumed!!).

Sunnyday, our stew is cooking as I type! Had two rump steaks left over from Sunday, so DH and I are having them stewed. DS2 doesn't like stews/gravies...so sausages for him, together with baked potatoes and veg.

Oh ragz, I also include all household stuff, including cleaning stuff, pain killers and vitamins, as well as all dog food for our lovely 11 year-old golden retriever (she like Lidl's thank goodness!).

DS2 is starting to take different protein shakes, which we got on offer yesterday, but I think I am going to have to start a separate category for rugby stuff!! We should hear in the next three weeks if he has been picked for the Scotland under-17s team...exciting! He should get plenty of freebies then (clothes-wise at least) and we might consider getting the protein suplliers (who are local) to sponsor him...and get free shakes...fingers crossed!!!

Right, off to check on the stew.

Have a good day folks.
Heading off out later to pay for both cars' MOTs and the work the mini had done.:eek:..:eek:.don't ask!

brodie1_2

Hi,
i am now over my budget by 14.02. this months budget is 40.00 less than last month so wasnt sure if it was going to be possible. Popped into town (I have a free pass) to put some money in DH acc to make sure mortgage money was there and to get cat bics. Went on a local butchers stall (all free range] and saw some chick portions 3 for 1.99. Turns out they should have been 2.99 she had priced them wrong but let me have them for 1.99 anyway. Spent 12.62 in Somerfield £2.00 for cathederal chedder, needed icing sugar, large bag on m ini chocs 1.43 on offer and a few other bits I needed.
Had a good morning, came home, then my son said 'look' and there was a hearse outside one of our neighbours. We knew she had cancer but hadnt realise how advanced. It was only a few moths ago she had left masses about 5lb of walnuts at our back door when her walnut tree was subjected to the winds.
It makes you really appreciate what you have.

Brodie1

slscarborough

Well almost used my budget up and have over a week to go yet. I could use some ideas on what to buy to help me acheive budget.

I really need to be tough on myself now as I am now on the unpaid part of my maternity pay. I wont get a full wage now until beginning of May so really need to watch the pennies.

Long_tall_sally

I feel like an addict. More spends today on bits & bobs. DD is having her 2nd ever sleep over tomorrow night & had requested lots of fruit and some sweets for some melon hedgegog thing that has haribos on cocktails sticks sticking out of it! Plus pizzas and biscuits etc! At this rate I am going to be really lucky to come in on target this month and I was so sure that I would be ok particularly as we have had a few meals out this month either at friends or for SS's 18th birthday. I am really, really going to try much harder next month.
I did make soup from my bag of shredded cababge & leeks plus a carrot & a stick of celery & some chopped fresh coriander and it was really nice, so now have another lot of soup in the slow cooker from a whoopsied bag (40p) of mixed veg that I just got in the co-op. I much prefer home made soup to sandwiches for lunch but only do it on the days that I am not at work.

earthmother

I had intended to be NS until tomorrow, but the snow has started in again, so I brought the stock-up forward a day. Lots of milk, some sandwich fillings, some super-cheap Andrex and some reduced chicken later, and my spend so far is now £194.92.

Next shop should be Monday - meals are still in stock to the end of the month, so again it will be milk, fruit etc - so it's looking good *touch wood*

brodie1_2

mrssnowy wrote: »

Day off today,WM on,DW emptied,bread rising,house clean(ish),so a pottering day today-unless ....well there we are.

Just a thought,does anyone else read the blog from Oz by Rhonda Jean, down---to---earth?
Lot of sound thoughts on simple living,including using old cloths/rags in the house instead of kitchen roll etc..
(there is even a thread from peeps who use them for EVERYTHING:D)
I haven't bought kitchen rolls for years-certainly buy toilet rolls tho':)
Its one way of saving a bit more money and storage space,keep a big bag of reusable rags in the kitchen,sling in WM after each use until really worn out.

See you all

mrss

thanks for the Rhonda Jean blog mention. I have just had a look at it and it is excellent.
Brodie 1