February 2010 Grocery Challenge

fabforty

Hi everyone

I have updated my signature with (hopefull) my final spend for the month. I had another 5 NSDs, but was tempted into buying M&S chocolate puddings when I just went out for salad stuff and milk. It's payday on Friday and as I'm at home this week, I should be able to get there without buying anything else. As usual, my cupboards are fully stocked with basics but surprisingly my freezer is also pretty full. I have bought a lot of meat, fish and chicken but have used relatively little of it - portions are smaller now and I am having more meat-free days. I will work out a meal plan and shopping list for March's GC and perhaps from April onwards, I might consider reducing my £150 target. I am looking forward to the March G.C thread - hope to see you all there.

Coxy11

Hi everyone,

First day of my March GC challenge. Was out of control last month so determined to rein in the spending for March.

Total so far includes the milk bill of £28.60 and school meals for the 3 children up to 19th March (£92.65) plus a small spend on cheeses/veg in the farm shop yesterday (£11.72).

Have all main ingredients for meals this week, so will just need veg for tonight/tomorrow night. MrT delivering to me tomorrow which will be around £100. DH and DS1 off to scout camp this coming weekend and DH then off to Boston on business on Monday for a week. I always spend less when he is away as the children don't mind the odd pizza/something and chips scenario. He is a definite food snob and admits it!!

Absolutely stair rod rain here today. Wherever you are, hope you are safe, warm and dry!

Coxy
xx

Taadaa

I am going to join in for this in March, I lost control of the usual food budget in Jan, knocked in Feb and as a result there is no food money in the budget. I am getting by so far with stuff from the cupboards and freezer. Going to have to be imaginative.

I have got a four pack of tinned toms on the side as they won't fit in the cupboard, i'm after noticing that we have got about four tins in the cupboard already, I thought we had none hence why I bought them - I don't like the cheapest ones, but they didn't have middle range so I bought brand ones as well, they were nearly 50p a tin! :eek:

We would normally spend £280 a month. I think as I have failed miserably over the past couple of months, I will stick to this for the first month of March. Am going to get meat from the butchers and will try Aldi for everything else.

franby64

Hi all

Spent £4.69 today and kept things to a minimum -milk, bananas, chips and a couple of yoghurts for me which I could have lived without but you have to push the boat out sometimes don't you?!

Spiggle

BigMummaF wrote: »

This is the thread with links & tips around the Economy Gastronomy programme that was on BBC a while back, where they made beef last for 3+ meals Might give you a few more ideas & they also talk about using cheaper cuts; have a look at the many Slow Cooker threads on this site for lush recipes for them too.
RSPB site for Feeding Birds, haven't read it all but there may be some advice for cheaper or home made alternatives.
As for the cats, could you get the food cheaper on-line? Just a few suggestions & Good Luck on your Challenge :j

Thank you Big Mumma for the link and advice.

We did used to make our own feed for the birds using RSPB recipes (from a book rather than online though) but it is far more messy, can encourage pests and because of the mess can cause problems with cat control as the birds tend to be on the ground much more.

Unfortunately I have so far been unsuccessful in getting the cats' food cheaper online though I have tried. The strange (but often found in my experience) thing is that 9 times out of 10 its cheaper buying it from our small independent pet shop than from the big pet superstores who in theory should have far lower prices due to scale. But hey thats the way of the world.
Thanks again,
Spig

losingpatience

Had a bit of a disaster spending wise over the weekend

Saw a farm shop advertised in my local paper so went out for a drive to it on Friday. Had lunch there which was very nice and also bought a couple of things from the shop. Spent £19.54 there and don't have much to show for it :-

4 Pork and leek sausages £2.49 ( HUGE sausages though )
2 Rib eye steaks £10.56
3 Bottles of local beer for OH £5.50
Pack of shortbread £0.99

Then went to Mr S today for a couple of bits and pieces and spent £29.48!! So total this month stands at £227.13 :eek: which is £27.13 over budget

I just can't believe we spend that much on food for 2 people! It puts me to shame when I read that people feed a family of four on less. Looking through my receipts I have spent an awful lot on junk food this month, much more than normal and have had alot of trips to the supermarket. This has been down to the fact that I was diagnosed with depression and for some reason find that food shopping cheers me up and so does junk food ( I've always been the type to comfort eat ) as well as me indulging OH and buying him lots of treats whilst he was having radiotherapy.

Will try to get this under control next month. Have made some cakes to cheer me up though nom nom nom

On_an_Avon_Mission

Hi. Please can I join in for the March challenge. Really want to reduce the amount we spend on food to free up more money for other things. I'm sure I can do this if i really put my mind to it.
I have decided to use Aldi more as I am a sucker for supermarket 'special offers' of the type that mysteriously make you spend far more than intended . Has any one else found that Aldi just offer low prices and not buy 2 get 1 free etc ?
Reckon we've been spending well over £400 a month :eek: and so intend to start slowly and give myself a budget of £380. That's for 2 adults, 2 children, cat and dog and includes alcohol (plenty consumed usually:D).

freakyogre

£1.86 spent today. Went to Tesco on my way home and got a bag of potatoes which are on offer for £1 and 2pts of milk. The potatoes are lovely and apparently local, they have an almost sweet taste and make fab roast potatoes! I bought them to do wedges, but will need to do that later in the week as am struggling for freezer space at the moment

Shouldn't need anything else and won't be going to the shops during the week as have so much to do at work, I won't have a chance. The weekend may be a different matter though. Eeek...!

earthmother

Did a top-up shop today - milk, ham, fruit&veg, and some jars and cereal that had run out quicker than normal over half term - brings my total spend to £216.99 - which leaves me with £63.01 to get me to Sunday - how did I manage that?!

Other than picking up some baking parchment that I forgot, I don't need to shop again until at least Friday, so things are looking good

winterfrost

I am setting myself a bit of a challenge next week! I'm going to a dinner which costs £25. My normal grocery budget for 1 week is £30. SO I am going to try as far as possible not to exceed my normal budget! I have a lot of things in the fridge, and my housemate and I go halves on £5 each week for 3 work lunches each (we take it in turns to cook them; it's my turn next week). I calculate that I *might* be able to do it, if I cheat a tiny bit and buy my bag of dried fruit using the remainder of my Christmas Tesc0 giftcard...