October 2010 Grocery Challenge

mrsbowie

so glad to have stumbled on this thread, my shopping bills have gone throu the roof lately and I end up dipping into my personal spends to cover the bill.
I do try batch cooking and using leftovers, more cash goes on pop for ds2 and proper meat for hubby, we don't tend to eat the same stuff. personally I could live dead cheap if it weren't for them lol! my usual budget is £200 every 4 weeks, but ends up being more like £280, I even work in a supermarket and 10% discount but it doesn't help much.
There's me hubs ds2 and dog, ds1 at uni. I hope to share tips and gain some tips on here and bring the spends down.
Thanks for the thread.

Hippeechiq

Pasties sound yummy kezlou

I used to be good at making pastry, but I can't make a decent batch anymore to save my life

DSS pretty much only eats a particular brand of pizza and chips just about every day of the year. I know! It's :eek: but I've tried over the years to change his eating habits to no avail, and given that he's now 21, it's his choice. He's old enough to know what he wants.

DD has an illness and the medication she takes for it affects her appetite, sometimes she has one, sometimes she doesn't. And sometimes she craves certain foods for long periods of time. So it's impossible for me to plan meals for her.

Therefore I have to cook separate meals for them, which means all the meals I plan and cook are for two, which can be a real pain, as I have to halve most recipes I find, which is why it would be so much better if I could palate re-heated frozen meals

guccigoo

hi everyone and a BIG welcome to all the newbies :beer: one word of advice if you dont succeed just keep trying and this is your own personal challenge, dont see it as a competition

Im starting my challenge tomorrow on payday :j:j through to 30th Oct.
Im hoping tomorrow will be a nsd as im going to do my online shop for Friday

(((hugs))) to those that need them

kezlou

Hippeechiq its really hard isn't it, coping with children needs and trying to keep everything together. My youngest is a nightmare, if i say to him were having pasta and sauce he will expect just that. If say i put bacon he screams an shouts because i didn't say i was putting it in.
He on the autistic spectrum so everything is literal with him. He's does eat a variety of things now because i'm a mean mum and make him try new things.

I would just carry on doing what your doing and halving it. They is no point making double if you can't stomach it. I for one go by the saying food is there to be a pleasure not a hardship.

Snowdonlily you'll recieve planty of support on here love! We all need our wine and choocy! Especially me, thank goodness for sainsbugs 35p basic choccy bars!
I

zarazara

can i join in please? 3 adults 1 part time visitor adults and 2 cats. we'll try for £200,

huston_kw

Good evening all, I use to do the grocery challenge a while back, then we moved house which had to be re-decorated through out, new stuff etc etc so all our organisation went out and we haven't done a monthly budget since Feb as we were spending on things we normally didn't buy, and lack of time energy meant many more take aways and junk!

So for October I'd like to start again, me, oh, dd6 &ds4 for food, cleaning, toiletries etc etc can I put down a target of £150 this will include also the money for the butchers meat crimbo club!

Anyway off to rejoin flyladies as my !!! needs a good kicking!

NickJW

Hippeechiq wrote: »

Doesn't it just! Which is all good

I've been meaning to ask......I think I'm probably alone in this, but am I the only one who doesn't batch cook main meals?

I don't not do it because I can't be bothered, I'm just not very keen on the taste of something that has been cooked, frozen, and then re-heated? I especially can't abide the taste of re-heated potatoes - bleurgh

With the exception of Shepherdess Pie (minus the mash) Cheese & Lentil Loaf and Onion Tart - which all contain no meat - I cook all my meals from scratch on the day I eat it.

This isn't a dig at those who do - I wish I could, it would make life a lot easier, but to me, meat never tastes right when it's been re-heated. I just wondered if I was alone in this?

I'm the same Hippiechiq! The only thing I freeze is uncooked meat, which is defrosted for a meal I choose to do on the day. It's not that I don't like the taste, it's just that I tend to like experimenting with different recipes and it's just as easy for me to defrost what I need when I need it...

Also, when I make too much, I find excuses for seconds (or thirds!) so I try not to cook too much. Occasionally leftovers will be for lunch the next day but that's as far I can go...

JayJay14

Had my first spend of the month last night at A$da and OH has been out to poundland today for some crisps.

I will be losing my gofer as of Monday though as after 8 months out of work we learned yesterday that he has at last been offered a job:j

It's opened ended temporary/might become permenant, but it means that we don't have to put our house on the market and lose our home - I just can't believe it really, it's just such a relief. He starts on Monday so I'm going to have to get a bit more organised as he won't be at home anymore to ring up and say 'can you get milk out of the freezer'.:rotfl:

So spends so far total £19.99 but will need a few bits tomorrow or Friday. Really need fruit but can't believe that A1di has none on the super 6.

Hope everyone has a good October.

brummiebabe

Having failed miserably in September - I'm determined to stay on track this month!!

My target is £350 - have done a Morrisons shop today (which is working out much cheaper for me than Mr T's) and been to Home Bargains for loo rolls, tin foil/cling film and stuff for lunchboxes - total spend so far is £109.76!! Did also buy some saucepans at Morrisons - to replace a couple of mine which are WELL past their best!! Am stocked up with sugar, cereals, biscuits (all the essentials:rotfl:) Tea bags, washing powder/washing up liquid etc...so will hopefully just be buying food - and no extras for the next 4 weeks!! :T

youngmummy

hi all,
can i join ..
please could you put me down for £3400 = (£200 p/mth) (plus extra £200 each december) to last till january 2012 .. if thats ok :money:
that includes this year and next years xmas dinner
cleaning products
cat food ect :A
good luck all :T:T:T