October 2010 Grocery Challenge

Chloris

Long_tall_sally wrote: »

Franby64 - can I ask - when did you receive your co op voucher? I have been a member for nearly two years & in that time I have only ever received one voucher for £3, I think!

I haven't had my "christmas" one yet, they usually send them out about November/December. Lots of c0-0p vouchers go missing in the post apparently so phone up customer services. I was advised to do this at my local c0-0p about summer-time, they apologized and sent me a cheque instead of re-placement vouchers!

NickJW

£6.55 spent in the C*stcutter last night.

I know I'll go over budget this month, because it's someones leaving meal for lunch today, and I'm going for roast at the pub on Sunday. I don't want to cheat myself, because I said everything apart from alcohol would be included this month.

I KNOW I'm spending less than before, because I worked out I'm saving £60 on lunches alone, but my figures are still less than impressive. However - it works for me, because I don't have a family, so it's just 'me' to look after. I'm paying off my debt much quicker which was the main aim of the challenge. I went over my old bank statements from earlier this year (because I bought most things on debit card), and I USED to spend around £200 - £250 a month on food, MAINLY because I bought lunch out everyday. Nowadays I bring my own lunch to work 95% of the time, and each meal costs less than a £1.

Oh well...going to stop making excuses for myself now.

Diflower

NickJW I don't think you need excuses, you're doing really well!

Ok, bad news - already well over the guessed budget:o
As someone else said though, I'm being ruthlessly honest and determined to count it all properly.
Have to go to the main Sm when OH and car are available, so quick dash this morning to MrT and the new MrM (for the beans!). MrT of course have the big packs of beer on offer so he got 2 of those, plus more wine.
We'd have run out of dog food, coffee & loo rolls before he could come again, so had to get them now.

I think we have more sensible stocks now. I have stuck to this week's meal plan, but have decided it suits me much better to shop with a reminder to self that I need a plan, buy seasonal/bargains if I see them, and then work out the meals. Plus of course include meals that can be done solely from the freezer/cupboard.
I can't for instance plan in moussaka, because it would depend on the price of aubergines, I'm better off knowing I have a pack of lamb mince in the freezer, then grabbing an aubergine when I see one cheap enough.
Bit of a ramble, sorry, thinking aloud helps though:)

seductivesmile

Hello All,

OH My Goodness, i seriously need some help here! i have only been buying the essentials and trying to empty my small freezer (its eating the electricity) so i want to get rid of it and survive using my fridge freezer and better planning, which will all be good and well, just means one tub of ice cream nad not 4 in there - glad of it with the bug i have atm tho -
but i went thru my cupboards / freezers and made lists of what was where, then i remembered there were bits under my bed, and found 4 bottles of fairy laundry detergent... and a load of food... i have so much food in my flat (and just me to eat it) i could open a corner shop!

so, i really really need to be very good and not buy anything for 2-3 weeks, i have UHT milk (2 bottles) to use, i have 5 bread mixes, 6 packets of crackers, 3 tubs of marg in the fridge... about 2 dozen tins of fruit, without the apples and plums and pears, and peaches and banana's frozen in the freezer to be emptied, i have all the veggies from the garden to eat my way thru, carrots, peas, green beans, cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage in the freezer then more in the fridge, so i really dont need to buy anything! so i will be setting myself a lil challange (can anyone tell me how to set up a thread so i can detail it and hopefully ask you all to join in with supporting me please?) that as of Monday, i will not spend more than £1 a day for the duration until my little freezer is empty, and any of the £1 i dont spend will go into the spare change jar.

I will appriciate your support, and in the means of a good start i have got 3 meals out of the freezer for the next couple of days, i have shepherds pie base & a portion of mash, Chicken and chick pea curry and beef stew with another portion of mash... i have a portion of chicken soup and a lunch of couscous with summer veg in the fridge to eat so lunches and dinners sorted til saturday night. . .

Thanks in advance
SS x

franby64

Hi Long Tall Sally

I was sent these C*op vouchers in June this year and it tells me they are my share of the profits from Jan to Dec 2009 minus an interim payment they sent me in Dec 2009 (they did).
So I'm guessing I should get some more in December and perhaps yours will come through too then. If not I would email them.

I earned £38.20 in 2009 just from fairly regular cornershop shopping and now the vouchers are bailing me out so it's definitely worth following up!

wssla00

Morning all

No spends as of yet for November but I'm sure there will be some soon!

I am struggling today as I'm having tons of side effects from my meds and it's making me feel really really sick not sure what to eat as don't want to make it worse. Anyone have any ideas on really plain foods? To give you an idea- tomato soup is making me feel sick as that is too strong today.

Anyway have a good day all. I am going to go out later to get some fresh air and maybe some ice poles which seems to help

Have a good day all

NickJW

Thanks Diiflower

seductivesmile - there is a thread called 'Storecupboard Challenge' which would be good for this I think. I don't think I could go as far as not spending ANY money, but I could do with reducing some of my stock so I'll pop along. I remember it used to be a good thread, but not so many people post on it any more.

XSpender

Great minds think alike seductivesmile and NickJW as I too need to shift my huge stocks of food so I will see you both over on the store cupboard challenge thread:D

NickJW

XSpender: I will do an inventory on Saturday and post my bulging cupboard and freezer contents on there . We can all help each other out getting our stocks down

~moneysavingnovice~

£4 spent on stupid posh lunch today *hangs head in shame*

Even with these moments of weakness, I'm still under budget and with only one weekly shop left to do this month I should be ok.

Will also be reducing the budget by £10 next month- slow and steady wins the race eh