March grocery challenge

Sarahsaver

curry queen tescos frozen veg are ok and it means they dont go off. I get their broccoli, green beans and peas. Also stuff like onions and potatoes keep ages if you can get a big sack and put it on a cool place - mine are in the utility room which is 'light and airy' to say the least!
Swizzle babe, this is what i did before xmas to save money to buy presents - write a weeks meals down, made entirely from what i had in the fridge/freezer/cupboards. If you try you can do it - its fun being creative, Have a look at the storecupboard challenge thread for some ideas;)

Spendless

I want to join in for March too. Various reasons means i struggled to join in for Feb. We spend about £60-£70 a week for 4. One child in nappies. Husband went shopping last night £85 but it did include a microwave oven! He refused to take my vouchers though (and i've got over £11 worth!- anyone elses husband refuse to hand over vouchers?). So i think i'll go along with what tiff had £160 for the month.

On the subject of pre-bought sandwiches i have a problem with this (we have a seperate account for it too) but i don't want to hi-jack this thread, so i'll start a new one outlining the problem to see if anyone can suggest ideas.

summerday

jazzyjustlaw wrote:

You say you apportion yourselves pocket money - bit personal but what do you allow yourselves and what is it for. I give myself about £30.00 but thats for bus fares and extras.

Jazzy- no that's okay I don't mind you asking- we allow withdraw £30 each pocket money each week, I know to some it sounds like a lot but it does include stuff like bus tickets, birthday cards/ presents and my necessary sweet rewards (ie chocolate!) It also includes all our entertainment money.

Sarah

fazer6

Last month I had £20 in my entertainment purse for us both - this is for take away and dvd rentals, cinema... (my other half is self employed so we don't actually have much time for a social life). I have £5 'other odds and sods' for me for a month which might cover if I leave my lunch in the kitchen or if I meet someone for a coffee.

Sarahsaver I totally agree about the spending on bought sandwiches, I just couldn't justify spending more than £15 a week on shop lunches. No matter how rich you are everyone has a dream holiday/dream car that they would love to have. Also without being too sensible imagine how different your life would be if you paid an extra £15 a week into your pension fund. After tasting my own pizza I won't get take away again, and after last night I'll always remember to put the paddle on the breadmaker before it's been running for 20 mins. But chinese is my downfall, it'sjust so tasty. Now and then (once a month absolute maximum) we do get a chinese which is my little treat.

tiff

We were talking last night about how much we've saved on groceries since Christmas. It works out at nearly £300 a month, we then said so over 10 years thats £30,000!!

Then we were imagining what we could have done with that 30 grand!

r.mac_2

gosh - well done tiff I am really impressed.

now, I MUST try harder!

Caterina

Sarahsaver wrote:

I wouldnt get takeaways that isnt very moneysaving is it? Seeing as you could spend a whole weeks' grocery money in one evening

If takeaways are planned as occasional treats you can have them fairly cheap, for example we ALWAYS boil our own rice and sometimes even have frozen naan bread in the freezer bought at a discount, when ordering Indian.

We have a very good takeaway which makes very large portions of veg for £2.50 each, and if we get 4 of those we have a very satisfactory meal, for 4 of us, the teenagers eat more than the adults so it is great value for £2.50 a person. The takeaway people always throw in a couple of poppadoms and a bit of salad so it is even more special.

I know it is an extravagance (with £10 I could cook curry for the whole street) but sometimes we just need a treat.

Caterina

r.mac_2

another good tip for 'take aways' is to buy the take away meals when they are reduced in the supermarket and then freeze. When you have enough to have a whole meal - have a chinese or indian banquet on the cheap!

Lillibet_2

r.mac wrote:

another good tip for 'take aways' is to buy the take away meals when they are reduced in the supermarket and then freeze. When you have enough to have a whole meal - have a chinese or indian banquet on the cheap!

This is my favourite trick!

Murtle

tiff wrote:

We were talking last night about how much we've saved on groceries since Christmas. It works out at nearly £300 a month, we then said so over 10 years thats £30,000!!

Then we were imagining what we could have done with that 30 grand!

Tiff it's even better it's £36,000!! Wow that's it brilliant