February 2010 Grocery Challenge

huxley

Running a little over budget still:mad: realy hope to get back on track. Think its comfort junk that has thrown us!Life is throwing alot of curve balls and we dont seem to be able to dodge them, but never mind. Going to go to market at end of day today and try to get a couple of veg bags, they fill a carrier for 2.50 so if lucky for a fiver could get a lot of mainly veg dinners. Off to update signature:D

JayJay14

Updating sig.

Only about £11 left of my GC fund this month so think I might be in for an overspend:(

However this is entirely due to the £58 I spent in Costco at the begining of the month but much of what was bought will carry over into next month and beyond:D

Next month however may need a sea change as it looks like DD2 will be moving back home soon. (She has had to give up her tenancy due to breaking up with her boyfriend and also her job finishes next week - she's coming home for some breathing space, reluctantly, as she values her independance.) I'll have to have a hard look at how this will change the totals.

OH has now been out of work for 3 weeks and there is no sign of any temp work - it is the first break he has had in nearly 3 years of temping. So at least my garden is now ready for planting, and we now have lots of fruit bushes and a cherry and a plum tree (Aldi), may not help this year but the future looks tasty. (he has worked very hard in the cold)

I am now on a weeks hols from work so will be looking at how much I can organise my freezers to maximise meal appeal.

Ayeshalush

Spent £19.96 in A*da last night taking me £4.27 over budget!!!:mad:

It did include an easter egg for my nephew and a new sieve but that only accounts for £1.79. The rest was mainly fruit and veg but I did buy a pack of bacon for a treat at the weekend.

Just need to avoid shops next week so that I don't blow my budget any further. I shouldn't need anything else so there is no reason for me to go to any supermarket until the end of the month.

poohbear59

This must be my worst month ever. I spent £67 last night at Mr Al. I am so far over my budget I don't know why I am still posting.

I now have anothe adult living here. That means there are now 6 adults and my budget was £240. That is all I had left for food after the bills! 3 not working, 1 part time and 2 students. All men except me too.

franby64

Another £9.08 on fruit, veg, ham, sausages, rolls and biscuits.
Don't think I'll need much for tomorrow as I'm going to cook some chicken from the freezer (must take it out of freezer asap!) and we'll just have to live out of the freezer as much as possible next week!
£4.47 a day left .

WelshWoofer

Well, managed to spend £39.50 in Mr T's this morning - bum!
Is it me or is everything getting more expensive again? I buy a lot of F&V and this now appears to add up to at least half of my total spend.
I'm getting fed up with the price on things - £1.99 for 2 corn on the cobs for example! I put them back - we'll have frozen peas instead!

I'm over budget but won't need anymore shopping this month. Not looking forward to March. Boo!!!

NJW69

Just done an online shop from Sainsburys to be delivered on Tuesday.

Spent £55.70 so this takes my total to £219.28.

Won't need much more other than some milk maybe so I'm going to be way under.

I'm amazed at how this is helping me control my spending.

Last month was the first month and I estimated £350 and spent £318 so I cut it down to £300 for this month and may come in under £250.

If I do I'll cut it down again next month.

Going to make some soup this afternoon for tomorrows lunch with some veg I have hanging about in the fridge and lift out some minced steak and some frozen mash from last week for a Cottage Pie for tea tomorrow.

I've got pork chops in the fridge for tonight and we've had bacon, beans, mushrooms and egg for brunch today.

laurasavon

Another £14.34 to add on for me. Going to do a menu plan for the week so hopefully won't need to buy much more

NJW69

Linda32 wrote: »

Thanks, I've been thinking about this and there are ways in which I could cut down, for example, we use 4 loo rolls a week, so I really should buy 16 at the start of the month, rather than 4 every week.

Just had a quick look on Sainsbury's website 4 loo rolls work out at 49p each where as 18 rolls works out at 37p each :T

Likewise Co-op bacon is £2.36 for one pack or £4.00 for two, I buy this every week, but only one pack at a time.
Worst of all, I do know you can portion it up/freeze etc

Of course, doing this will stop the "nipping to the shop" bit as well.

I buy toilet rolls in the large packs whenever they are on offer and keep them in the linen cupboard. I got two packs of 18 in Netto last week for £5.00 (just under 14p each. Not Andrex but they look okay).

I buy bacon whenever it's on BOGOF and then freeze if I dont use it. Again Netto had 250g packs on offer for £1.00 and I noticed in their flyer this week they have a mishapes pack which is 907g and is only 99p which would be fine for cooking but it actually looked like it had large slices in it.

I also stock up on any tins and jars when the are on offer and get ready meals for the freezer the same. Bought some Findus ones last week that were £1 each and some Youngs Prawn curries that were £1.50. These come in when I'm working away or for my DS when he gets in from college when he's starving.

Keiss_21

Went into town for a free Qigong session this morning. It was my first one and I really enjoyed it. It looks like this will be happening once a month or so...and every session will be free, what a find!

So managed to get there and back...without spending anything!! :T

I did take my purse, but decided as I will be back in town on Monday, I could buy stuff then...so notching today as a complete NSD :j
DH working in the garden so I will pop out and do a bit of tidying while he is there. It is a lovely day today and very sunny, but still with a bit of snow lying still in the shade.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend.