December 2010 Grocery Challenge

seductivesmile

Hi All,
Hope you have all had a good christmas?
Although i haven't been posting, i have been reading, yesterday i did some 'sale shopping' reduced fruit and veg in A*da and Sainsbugs... i spent £10.28 - for that i got *ready for it??**
3 pack peppers, x 3
Sprouts 500g
Carrots 500g
Broccoli 500g
Leeks 3 pack
Parsnips 500g
Swede 300g
hebry potatoes (last nights dinner)
Blueberries x 2 punnets
satsumas
bananas
tomatoes
cherry tomatoes
cucumber x 2
lettuce
Butternut squash
Christmas Veg Pack

So most of that (apart from what i gave to my parents) is diced/ chopped and blanched in the freezer for january, i also got some left over christmas bits, ie - crackers for cheese, 50p a box, x4 (:S) Shortbread @ 50p a box x4 (dad had two of both of these) Biscuits for a bday gift reduced from £8 -> £2, and then i splurged on xmas wrap for 2011 - reduced to 25p a roll! so cards, wrap and bows for next year for £2.50!

Anyhow - back to the subject in hand - 2011, i've had a good think about it, and i would like to set a budget of £2.50 per day, this is just for me, so includes any every day toiletries, shampoo conditioner, shower gel, toothpaste etc, i have a mountain of cleaning products to use, and when i have i will be condensing it all to buy some stardrops or zoflora, and use that for everything.
So it gives me a weekly budget of £17.50, anda yearly budget of £912.50.
Anything that isnt spent in the week will be going into the piggy bank for emergencies and offers i cant resist.
I will also post on the storecupboard challenge in the next day or so, with my mountain of goodies to use up, and i will hopefully have a very frugal Jan as i haven't been paid due to being off sick thanks to a car accident four weeks ago...

Have a fantastic new year and see you in January!

SS x

life_in_termoil

This month ive spent a grand total of 1120.39 !!!!

This has included food, last minute xmas presents and petrol!!! Although due to the weather we had last minute change of plan and ended up driving 160 miles on xmas day to take xmas to my mum who was supposed to be coming to us. Ive managed to freeze all the meat ive bought as mum went out and bought a turkey. gammon and pork!!!

My mission for January is to use up the contents of the cupboards and freezer and if this means eating a roast dinner every day for a month then so be it!!!

If anyone can give me any advice on how to cut down my spending (apart from chopping my hands off and disconnecting the internet) I would be extremely grateful.

elf06

life_in_termoil wrote: »

This month ive spent a grand total of 1120.39 !!!!

This has included food, last minute xmas presents and petrol!!! Although due to the weather we had last minute change of plan and ended up driving 160 miles on xmas day to take xmas to my mum who was supposed to be coming to us. Ive managed to freeze all the meat ive bought as mum went out and bought a turkey. gammon and pork!!!

My mission for January is to use up the contents of the cupboards and freezer and if this means eating a roast dinner every day for a month then so be it!!!

If anyone can give me any advice on how to cut down my spending (apart from chopping my hands off and disconnecting the internet) I would be extremely grateful.

Wow that does sound a lot BUT everyone is here for different reasons. We all have different family circumstances and different amounts of disposable income! You have come to the right place and everyone here is friendly and helpful.
Maybe it would give us a better idea of how you would like help if you told us a bit more about who 'you' are. There are lots of reasons why youur spending could be higher than you would like.
For me I just dont have the money to spend much more than I budget for so I try to mealplan where possible and make meals from scratch as I find in the long run it works out cheaper. I also bulk cook and freeze foods so that it is easier for us on nights where you just cant be bothered cooking . I am also currently trying to run down my freezers so meals may be a little repetative and more full of meat that I would normally have but once I have run them down then I can start again. There are lots of people here who make their own bread etc to keep costs down (and I do from time to time aswell) but I also shop around for the best deals. I am without a car so cant go round all the local food outlets but I have FF down the road so am able to get bread and milk from there.........considerably cheaper than anywhere else.
There will be loads of others along to give you some advice soon but in the mean time I hope some of that helps

de1amo

'Life' is that total including all your bils?? or just groceries?-

rosieben

life_in_termoil wrote: »

This month ive spent a grand total of 1120.39 !!!!

This has included food, last minute xmas presents and petrol!!! .
...
If anyone can give me any advice on how to cut down my spending (apart from chopping my hands off and disconnecting the internet) I would be extremely grateful.

I find its easier to keep my grocery budget separate from christmas gifts etc, but its up to you how you do it. I have a GC budget which includes all food/laundry/cleaning/toiletries, and I have a separate christmas budget which I put money by for during the year.

best advice I could give is (1) know what you have in stock (2) make a meal plan (3) write a shopping list and (4) stick to it!

whatever you do, don't get rid of internet else you won't be able to get here for all the great advice that will follow!

[Deleted User]

Well just sticking my head around the door to say Good luck to all in the coming year with the GC.I will as usual have my £120 for the month of January but as I have lots of bits to take home with me from my Dds over the next few days I don't think my shopping will really kick in untill the end of the first week in January.I have been given lots of bits and pieces which will go into the store cupboards and I think I ended up with four tins of biscuits so I won't be buying them for awhile.I know my freezer is full and I will probably only have to buy fresh veg for awhile.I am going to look to be cooking few veggie meals this coming month for a change and will have a look in the book shops for some veggie cook books as I have a few book tokens.I think I will be cutting back a bit on meat and upping my fruit and veg intake for a healthier New Year.Plus I really do have to sort out my tins of stuff and use some of them up.So hopefully I will be putting a bit extra into my holiday fund by the end of January.anyway good luck to everyone in the coming month I am sure we will all do our best.Belt tighening is definitely on my agenda in more ways than one .
May I wish a Happy and Peaceful New Year to everyone on here and I'm sure we will all survive the coming months of frugality .My DD lost her job at the beginning of Christmas week so she is worrying about the New Year along with a lot of other no doubt.I'm sure we will all manage somehow though
Cheers chums
JackieO xx

SilverCo

Hi everyone :hello:

It's been a long time since my last GC, but it's time to dust off the New Year's resolution once again and attempt to make 2011 a MSE year! Lot of water under the bridge this year, including loss of extra income, huge vet bills (and darling girl being PTS ), moving house and general tardiness on the spending front, all of which need to be addressed NOW!

As such, Mrs Mc, can you put me down for £200 for January please? This includes 2 adults and 1 elderly burmese.

It feels great to be back already and I'm looking forward to new friends and some fantastic OS help!

Silver x

angelatgraceland

life_in_termoil wrote: »

This month ive spent a grand total of 1120.39 !!!!

This has included food, last minute xmas presents and petrol!!! Although due to the weather we had last minute change of plan and ended up driving 160 miles on xmas day to take xmas to my mum who was supposed to be coming to us. Ive managed to freeze all the meat ive bought as mum went out and bought a turkey. gammon and pork!!!

My mission for January is to use up the contents of the cupboards and freezer and if this means eating a roast dinner every day for a month then so be it!!!

If anyone can give me any advice on how to cut down my spending (apart from chopping my hands off and disconnecting the internet) I would be extremely grateful.

Wow, that IS a lot but you are not useless! Firstly, you are aware of what has happened and secondly you are on here with us!
Re internet-if you do it right(and you will)you will find it SAVES you money each month-and is not an expense! You need your internet.
One thing you said struck me "if we have to eat roast dinners everyday for a month". Dont be in such a hurry to use up the expensive meats bought over Xmas-they are good for at least 3 months-to use them is a hurry will mean you are spending in essence, more than you should each week and it could become a habit. As you have so much food in rather than hit yourself over the head over it-think of it as your free hamper for 2011. Mealplan those meats with some good storecupboard ingredients-these may be the only things you need to buy in January.
Have a good tidyup of the cupboards(one per day) and list the contents-replacing them in date order/type of food. Leave out a few items on your worktop which you really need/want to use up and build a meal from there. Don't necessarily have what you normally do-if you need peas say, to go with sausage and mash but you have lots of carrots then use the carrots-you get the idea I'm sure! If you want to b e really frugal use the site called Cheap family recipes-feed a family of 4 for £100 per month! Truly-it IS possible-I don't do it-I don't need to restrict myself that much but there are lots of interesting recipes which will use things up which you already have or can buy cheaply. I just use a few of the recipes each week to reduce my foodbill. For me-it is going to be the difference between going to work-or not working!
Never go shopping hungry! It really is the best tip Ive been taught. Everything you put in your basket(not trolley)ask yourself DO I NEED IT? Separate want from need. Its hard at first but after about 3 months it will feel natural. Plan some "no spend days" Stock up on longlasting products if they are on a good offer but dont go mad on them(you save more on these than interest in the bank).
Well thats my advice-which I have to thank a lot of people on this forum for.
Today I had a huge Adsa delivery-well-some wouldnt think so-nor would I three years ago-£114 and my cupboards and freezer are full to the seams. Not a readymeal in sight though! That is really most of what I need for the month and included FR chickens x 2 and FR eggs x 24 which were on offer. The chickens worked out at only £3.79 each as they are £3 per kilo-checked my recipt as packet says abot £6.50 each! Had homepride curry sauces x 4 instead of the 9p smartprice ones also as subs. Free delivery because of the spend and its on my Asda card, a very good start to the New Year. So DO check the price per kilo of everything! Good luck :A

Billie-jo

Hi Everyone, havent posted since the 17th Dec so I hope you have all had a good christmas and are getting ready for a great Money Saving 2011.:rotfl:

This christmas has gone down as our second worst, it was our first without our daughter which we found very difficult, then I have had flu, still not right but better than I was but cant believe how weak it has left me. It takes just ages to do the smallest thing and then have to sit down. On Christmas day we had all the family over for the day and thank goodness that DH can cook as he did it all. He did tea as well, all the usual things, rolls, meats, pork pies etc etc. He wouldnt let the kids help either except to take a few things to the table. Early hours of boxing day morning I had to get the paramedics to him as he had chest pains. The upshot is he is still in hospital on the cardiac ward and they undecided if he has had a heart attack or if some tablets he has been on for a while have damaged his heart :mad: they are doing some tests tomorrow so should know more then.

Boxing day the family were coming again but I cancelled it as no way could I have cooked and to be honest just didnt want to see anyone really.

All this has resulted in still having the following items unopened - 2 nets of satsumas, cucumber, celery, lettuce, cabbage, cheese, bacon, eggs, dips, carrots, sprouts, pickled cabbage, nuts, eggs, bacon, crisps, crackers and loads of cream as was going to make two trifles and some panna cottas (anyone know if these freeze if I make them a day or two before the use by date on the cream?). also some alcohol left which is a first in this house at christmas. :rotfl::rotfl:

I have cut the left over ham up and there is enough frozen for 6 meals for us, cut the rest of the roast rib of beef up and about 12- 15 portions that will feed the 3 of us gone in freezer, pate frozen, 40 uncooked mini sausages and 40 already cooked, about 40 sausage rolls, pork and cranberry stuffing and the large turkey roll we had has been cut into three generous joints and is in mums freezer as our two are packed solid. Mince pies are ok yet but will have to freeze them in day or two if they not eaten which will be doubtful.
One daughter has taken 12 large rolls with her today and the other one is coming for a loaf tomorrow. The beef bones have gone for some stock tomorrow and the fat has been cut up for the birds. although we havent eaten much, I can say that thanks to this thread and the help and comments of everyone I have not wasted much at all. Just a box of savoury scotch eggs that are going to the birds tomorrow. :T Before I would have just binned the lot and written it off. :eek::eek:
The only think I should need for the rest of this year is some dog biscuits and a paper.

Am thinking of doing a yearly amount as well as a monthly amount so as soon as decided on a figure will post it.

Good luck everyone for 2011 and lots more money in pockets for US not the shops etc. and thank you to everyone in helping me achieve what I have this year. :T :T :T

Rebelle

First spend of my Jan GC today - went to Asda for milk to get their "2 for £2" on 4 pt milk and ended up getting 5x 2pt cartons reduced to 20p each, dated til 4th Jan! God knows why they're reducing it so soon, heard a few folk walking past saying "Oh I bet it's dated tomorrow" and not bothering to look! Well chuffed to get 10pts for £1 anyway.

Also got pepperoni pizza and frozen chicken goujons reduced to 50p each, they'll do nicely to add to snacky stuff for NYE. Only other purchases were frozen waffles and baked beans x4 for OH, he's funny about eating leftovers (much to my annoyance!) so can easily serve them up for him with bacon/sausages etc when I'm having something from the freezer.

Oh my other reduced bargain was small white loaf in the corner shop, 42p instead of 85p, dated today so have put in freezer to use as and when. So total spend so far is £5.26... £44.74 left for the rest of the month...gulp!