July 2010 Grocery Challenge

cw18

muffin_man_7 wrote: »

How would you plan a month if you were starting from scratch or if you had already used up what you had

I have an annual budget, which I split down to monthly amounts according to number of days in month (and number of days DS is here, as he's been away with my parents a couple of times this year and moves out in September).

When I use something I bought prior to this year (of which I have plenty), I'm deducting the cost from my grocery budget(s) and putting that amount to one side.....

That way I'll have some money to replenish stocks if I ever actually run low on things to make meals from and have space to do another stock-pile (it won't all fit in my kitchen now, and I'm considering down-sizing my house in the next 12-24 months which will almost certainly mean a much smaller kitchen :eek: )

doelani

HI everyone

Well almost half the month over and have spet £180 of my £350 budget. I also have enough meat/chicken in freezer for the rest of the month so hoping to some in on target

Doe

poppy-glos

it's official, i blew my budget over the weekend, but did entertain 20 people so have a bit of an excuse! just need 5 no spend days to bring myself back in line again.

Kitchenbunny

Evening, everyone. Just checking in with my total for today's big shop. I spent £32.55 in Mr T tonight, bringing my total so far to £94.52. I'll update my sig accordingly.

KB xx

Sunnyday

Hi everyone :wave:

i`ve not posted very much at all this month but as you can see i`m still reading regularly and updating my siggy

I`ve spent most of my budget already and even during the first few days of this month i was wondering if i would manage but have really cut back on the spends since then.

My first approved food order arrived a while ago and i`m surprised at how much money it has actually saved me, ordering bits and bobs for DH`s lunchbox has saved quite a lot and because everything has been hidden away its actually going to last all month for the first time ever

The contents of the freezer are actually shrinking too so good news all round atm. Fingers crossed for the rest of the month.

Ghanagirl - Interesting info re corned beef, i used to use an awful lot of the stuff but refuse to pay todays prices for it. It`s cheaper to buy a cheap cut of meat and whack it in the pressure cooker or slow cooker

ASC - I would just cook the same meal for DH as i do for myself and if he dosen`t want it - tough
I learned a long time ago that i was just making more work for myself not to mention the extra fuel for cooking and expense for different food by pandering to his whims. If he wants to pay extra for the food and cook it himself then thats a different matter. Tough love usually works lol

BBL after the next shopping trip :eek:

SD

Gintotmelinda

Hello Everyone!

Eating out of the freezer this week as I need to defrost it(it's only an under worktop one-actually an under a fridge one as it's built in). Never do this folks as when one of the appliances breaks down you're in trouble!

Also DS is away on hol so interestingly less pressure to cook the "right" meals do DH and I are pleasing ourselves and being frugal. Cat appears to be snacking elsewhere..hummm...

We had chicken thighs casseroled on the top in my little Le Creuset(bought on offer in Mr T a couple of years ago) with new potatoes and carrots and then I stuck some curry powder in the remainder for last nights meal with rice. No nan bread so didn't rush to Mr M and buy some..made do with what we had. Spag bol tonight with a tin of tomato Ragu that I bought when it was cheap-don't usually use them but I keep one or two in the cupboard for occasional use. Hopefully chilli the remainder for tomorrow night and fish, chips and mushy peas on Friday.

Going to France for 5 days from 25th so may come in under budget this month.

Thanks for all your tip and recipes-this is focussing my mind on what I spend and what I could save.

Take care.

Gintot

huxley

Hi all:D Katholicos how did you get on with your first dehydrator? Like the idea of one but never had one. I will get all my receipts together over today and tomorrow and update:o been chaotic. Lots of baking today as its LETS tonight and cakes and cookies are what I trade with although the cost of ingrediants does come out of my grocery budget, I find what I can pick up over the year saves so much on other budgets its well worth it:D. Good luck everyone, keep going.

highland_fling_2

Good morning everyone,
popped into farmfoods yesterday and bought two cartons of milk, bread rolls, and large bag of crisps. I didn't neeeeed the crisps but I wanted them.
Doing really well with budget this month cant believe how little I have spent so far (famous last words) but still have half the month to go. Going out with friends today but that does not come out of GC budget.
Hope you all have a lovely day.

brodie1_2

Hi all,
budget seems to be going well. Am planning to do an online shop (first in years) using ASDa this time. I have used the Mysupermarket site and just pop on my order things as I run out as even with alist I forget something. Will still use green grocer and butcher though. It has been so hot here , and as I have MS it will be so much more useful to online shop and use my energy on other things. Husband will be popping into !!!!!! tommorow for milk as usual. Yesterday he came home from work with 12 free range eggs as customer gave him:D (hes a postman) we still have some chillis left from last year he was given:)
Brodie1

spendaholic

I've been surviving with what's in the freezer and cupboard and last weekend popped to the Co-op and to Tesco. At the Co-op I spent £6.84; At Tesco I spent ... (wait for it) ... £3.16. My total, therefore, for last week, with a £40 budget is ... £10. :eek: I can't believe I did that. That's another £30 in credit, although I did spend £4.99 on 2-novels-in-1 as a treat.

Not sure how this week, my last week's shop for July, will go as I'm off on holiday on Friday and I have to buy a few things to take with me and a few things to leave behind for the cat sitter and cats. Holiday spending money comes out of the holiday budget, but as it's in the UK and as it's pay day next Friday, I think I'll be fine.

Oh, oh - and as an aside, I updated my current debt and it's come down by another £1.5k. Whoo-hoo. :T