December 2010 Grocery Challenge

de1amo

weve had 2 out of 3 nsd this weekend--so we are weening ourselves off locally bought food and buying in bulk at the supermarket. seems cheaper! even where i am.
while i was at the supermarket i bought a computer and recd a 50gbp voucher to spend between the 21st to 31st of decemeber. i am also considering buying a big screen tv to receive a further 100 in vouchers--i dont know whether to buy now while the vouchers are there on offer or wait til january and hope the tvs are reduced--i can spend the vouchers on food for my business and get cash in return and spend my money in another shop that is offering 10pc off shopping after the 16th dec.-i had my xmas last month--EİD--in Turkish/muslims

Winged_one

I spent €188 in Dunnes this weekend, but I had vouchers for €37 and I am allowing €20 for the bits I got for my hampers (which is probably too low if anythign).

I got the coffee for 2 hamper presents. And I also got a lot of storecupboard items for the 2 hampers I am giving to the local goodwill organisation. So I am reckoning on €131 overall spend on groceries. But I may reduce that when I check the receipt later.

But I have lots of special offers too, like the 2l bottles of fizz were over €2 each, a 2 pack was €3, but a 3 pack (orange, coke and sprite) were €3.50! So I got 2 packs to keep us going a while. I got deals on wine - one type we like is reduced by over €5 so I got 2 as a treat, and another brand we like was 6 for 5 and reduced price also. Won't need wine for a while again.

As we are drinking lots of lemon drinks, I got 15 lemons! Plenty of fruit and veg. I got steak for last night (which we changed to tonight as we were invited to neighbours on Sat and I had to use the chicken pieces last night instead from freezer - already partially thawed when we got invite). I got a tub of icecream as I have freezer space and we haven't any for a little treat some evenings! I needed things like loo rolls, and the soap we use was on a 3for2 deal when I already had it on the list!! The trolley was full, but I was happy with what I got.

I want to get into the store on Wed before the weather turns again. DH is away for most of the week (not a problem for me - but he's panicking about us being left in bad weather) and we have used lots from freezer so I want to get some extra fresh meat then (large bag chicken breasts, mince, some chops) and milk - most meat will fill freezer but want to get a little bit more space and use up more of older stuff first.

jintyb

Just back from Mr A, put my blinkers on and igonored all Christmas offers etc and stuck to my list;) With OH being away, there's no point stocking up on tons of food, so small spend of £8.70. We will do our "Christmas" shop on Friday I think, although I'm trying v hard not to buy things that will get wasted.
Picked up my prescriptions - prepaid so no spend, and I was going to put money in my PO account but the queue was at least 3 miles long, so I've put it into my "other" purse instead.
Going to tackle my ironing now, then feet up and book this afternoon!

Off to update sig:)

NickJW

Hi All!

I'm back off holiday and what a lovely break it was! I actually UNDER-spent on food! The breakfast was amazing - full Scottish every morning, and cold ham, cheese, cereals, juices etc. After breakfast I didn't need anything extra to eat until 7-8pm, so I only had to spend money on dinners! :j And that's despite walking around all day - I'm very glad I bought some boots, because it was cold (but the snow made Edinburgh look very pretty!). I'm not including holiday spends, but I reckon I spent around £80 in restaurants/snack stalls at the Xmas markets over 5 days. I didn't get to try food at the restaurant you recommended jintyb

Anyway - got back Saturday night, and did a bit more Xmas shopping yesterday - so £50 to be added to the total. LOTS of cheese, the meat and wine was bought. All I need to do now is get the vegetables for Xmas day and cold salad stuff (coleslaw, potato salad etc) for Boxing day. Plus Zovirax because I have a coldsore on the way...

Back to work tomorrow, and I haven't bought lunch things yet, so I'll have some extra spends over the week. Friday is my works Christmas party so I'll have food accounted for here as well.

jintyb

Hey Nick,
Glad you enjoyed your break here in Edinburgh, thankfully you missed the worst of the weather, and although it was cold at least it was dry for getting about. That was good that your hotel wasnt too frugal with the breakfasts, we hear of some awful tales of tourists getting ripped off here sometimes.:o

Funnily enought, my OH is in your neck of the woods ATM, although he's working ( shame) He's in the Gherkin, so I see him when I watch The Apprentice LOL!;)

NickJW

It was lovely! I stayed in the MacDonald Hollyrood hotel and the breakfast and service was worth every penny (especially since the deal I got was only £10 more than the Travelodge)

I can't believe how much of the city I covered - The Lanes and Dean Village are lovely! The Castle, Leith and Brittania Yacht were amazing as well. I didn't have one bad experience (apart from paying £4.50 for a pint on the last day in the old town!:eek:), and coming out of Waverley station to the view of the castle is a lot nicer than the view when you come out of London Kings Cross for sure :rotfl:

Back to reality now though - people say that they would get bored if they won the lottery, and didn't work. I certainly wouldn't!

Diflower

Hi all, I haven't disappeared but haven't had much time on here. Sorry haven't had chance to read except the last page.
Also have been spending time on the Grabbit board to spot presents, it's been worth it:)
Bought quite a few in b00ts (3 for 2) and m$s (3 for 2 or half price) too, so have done quite well.

Foodwise doing ok, haven't got turkey yet as not enough room in freezer, will be freeing some space this week. Enjoying now having l!dl nearby, it's definitely saving us quite a bit.
Have updated sig, it doesn't include presents or things like the tin of Roses, I'm keeping a record so I know how much Christmas will have cost us altogether.

Otherwise, my poor dad is still in hospital, he's so much better but unable to walk yet so can't go anywhere. I was going up to see him yesterday but s/mother was ill so couldn't go there and really couldn't manage the long drive there and back without a break (or lunch!). Now hoping to go next weekend.
Have thawed turkey mince to make Nigel's turkey shepherds pie tonight, intrigued to see how it turns out (it has butternut squash topping).

wssla00

Hi all just wanted to say I may not be here in reality but I am in spirit. Hoping once things settle in January I'll be back with you all. Mum and I are going to have just a small dinner as it really doesn't feel like christmas without dad, but we will just watch the TV and eat snacks and that will do us.

Enjoy christmas everyone!

Spiggle

Love and hugs to you wssla00.

Being there for each other is the best medicine.

See you in January,
Spigs

CupOfChai

Hi guys, seasonal good wishes to all. I've been shopping again and just added up my total, and promptly forgotten it. It's in my sig if you're really that curious!

I shouldn't need anything else really as I've got enough in now to last until I go away, including things to make packed lunch for the journey, but I'm not declaring yet as I might decide I want "bits".

Question: How does everyone else count things like baking ingredients where they were bought to make Christmas presents but not necessarily all used up doing that? I'm not sure whether to include the couple of things I got to make cookies as part of BF's family's gift, as I haven't been including things that were wholly a Christmas gift, but these I didn't only use for that and will also use up in other baking if you get me?