January 2011 Grocery Challenge

*Twizzle*

Morning :wave:

Happy Happy Friday x

I should have another NSD today :j Unless i decide to have a bottle of wine

Not GC related ....i was telling my parents yesterday that my mobile phone was on its last legs (switches its self off and the back keeps falling off!) but i was going to make do as its not a priority, anyway dad went off into spare room and came back with a brand new mobile phone for me :j:T:j:T Sightly worried as to why he has a new one in spare room and he has just got another new one tho!!!!

Back to GC i am going to do a meal plan sometime today for next week and my shopping list......i have saved my basic shopping list (stuff i buy every week) on sainsbug site so i know how much that is and ten i can add to it and remove as when i need/don't need things i am hoping it makes things easier

Spike x

happycrafter_2

Hippeechiq wrote: »

Hi PennyGrabber - I think if you try clicking on the links below, they might be what you're after .....perhaps happycrafter can confirm this?

(click me) LINK FOR NEW THRIFTY GIFTY THREAD

(click me) LINK FOR HANDMADE GIFTS FOR CHRISTMAS & CELEBRATIONS 2011 THREAD

Thank you Hippeechiq the top one I am subscribed too plus they have a sister thread on making money for thrifty gifty, the Knit your square is in old style money saving.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2940122 this is the money making thrifty gifty thread

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2514569 the knit your own square thread.

HTH

x

adelight

I'm going over this month i blame it on stocking up on tinned tuna in mrS last week!! otherwise i'd have an extra £3 to finish the month nicely.
Went to Lidl yesterday and spent ~£5.80 on lots of veg, fruit, stilton, yoghurts, pitas and sardines. I will need to spend ~£2 next weekend to get f/v to finish the month. It's only a tiny bit over, but still!

It does feel good to have so much fresh fruit & veg in the house again though I feel much better when I can grab a piece of fruit in the morning and just look at all the fresh green veg

mummyroysof3

i have updated my sig and keep thinking i must have missed something as it seams really low lol

going to try to make it till next thurs, when i have my next tesco delivery with minimum spends...im doing better than i thought

kez12

[

QUOTE=69chick;40146000]I am going to join you all in February as I am already way over my intended budget for January (currently on damage limitation)

I just wanted to ask, I have 3 young children (and a dh) and was wondering if any of you in similar circumstances could give any advice about making the budget go further...I know there is loads on here and I regularly have a long reading session for tips etc. but even when I am trying to be really good I know I could do a lot better..

I estimate at the moment I am spending around £400 a month on groceries and I tend to buy most things when they are on offer or if not from the basics range...

Anyway am planning on going for £300 for Feb (well it will be 21Jan to 21Feb for me) so I look forward to coming on here for all the usual helpful tips etc.

Keep up the great work all x

[/QUOTE]

Hi 69Chick, I am exactly the same 3DD and DH and my normal budget also £400 but I started this challenge at begining of January and I have only spent £114.68 and I have to say I didnt and still dont have a lot in the freezer but I have been to Farm Foods for my Hovis Bread 2 loaves + £1.25, and my milk from there as well as some other bits, I have been to Aldi or Lidl for my fresh veggies and then to Mr M for the rest, I used to go to MR T or Mr S or Mr M.

We are loving then challenge and have done really well, havent starved and the kids are loving it we have made welsh cakes, curries and tonight they are making HM Pizza, Jamie Oliver stylie and OH and I are treating ourselves to Steak, HM Wedges and Caramalised Onions with a Blue Cheese Sauce.

Enjoy the challenge and I look forward to reading about your success in February:D

rosieben

I've put a link in the recipe list (external links) - a post by granma 247 about Sprouting seeds and beans which includes a link to a free pdf guide

Spiggle

Hello All,

I just thought I'd pop on now to update and have a natter.

We managed another NSD yesterday but will be spending today. I have to go to the god awful giant MrT at some point today as I worked late last night and intended going after. As the roads were already like mini rivers, it was belting down with more rain and it was later than anticipated I decided to get home instead. The downside of course being that instead of the reasonable one near work I'll have to visit the one that puts me in a bad mood even before I've finished parking the car!

Even more irritating is the fact that Coop have been very unhelpful about the Welsh farmers co-operative produced, organic, non-homogenised milk that I buy. They have a 'national' contract so tough seems to be the attitude. Trouble is that bl**dy contract means they don't have available any offer of non-homogenised milk. :mad: So unless I can persuade one of our local independents, perhaps our butcher, to stock it, I'll still be putting profits into the coffers of the big three (that are available to me) come February. Ooh I'm so very frustrated by this! :sad::wall:

Anyway, on a lighter note, the achievements so far this month are blooming marvellous! :T This is especially true of the huge number of newbies that have joined us. You are all doing so very well and even if you've gone over don't be hard on yourselves. It's your first month so your budget is likely to have been a bit of a guesstimate anyway. And honestly, what would you have spent if you weren't setting the budget?

Thanks for the tip for blackmoor wssla. I'm going to take a look at them today. OH and I came to a decision on the weekend. Last year we grew loads of veggies primarily on our patio. It did in the end become a bit much in terms of space and watering and I breathed a sigh of relief at the end of the season when we regained the space. Couldn't beat the veggies from plant to pan in less than a minute though!

So, our garden has been maturing for 20 odd years and the many shrubs and trees planted over the years have now attained more or less their full height. This has left us with a lot more lower level border (much of it south facing) into which we could plant fruit bushes or trees. So this we will do. :dance: Also our garden is almost two 'rooms' where the furthest from the house used to be the prime place for sitting of an afternoon or evening. We very rarely use it in this way now and so we're going to turn over much of the lawn area and put a couple of good sized raised beds there to grow veg. The one thing we grew on the patio that will retain its position is the fantastic yellow cherry tomato Sun Baby which did fantastically well. So there's a plan! :T

Right, I suppose I'd better get myself sorted out for the dreaded sm, oh I do hate it. Only good point is that we'll get everything today including the butcher etc so should pick up another couple of NSD over the weekend.

BTW, what are we all going to do tomorrow without the forums?!?!

I'll see you all later and try and get back on to update town spends in the sig.

Take care and have a great day,
Spigs

babyboysmommy

I spent £27.27 in Mr T this morning. Still hopeful I will come in on target.

minnie2

already had to put petrol in car today so as it is not going to be a nsd overall i think i shall go shopping!! scary stuff!! need to go ideally to asda morrisons and sainsburys but only one i will be near is sainsburys - so i am a bit cross as ill have to go to the others another and then thats another nsd gone!!!!


so far this month ive spend £13.70 on groceries and in that i include things for garden, laundry, cleaning,everything you need to buy for house etc! and had 11/14 NSD

so hoping i wont be silly tonight!! going to write a list in a bit!

NickJW

£3.05 spent in the Mr S local today on some mushrooms, tomato puree and 2 packs of Casserole veg (it was £1.50 for 2 packs or £1.25 for 1 pack). I was planning on getting the veg (carrots, leeks etc in singular portions) for a stew tomorrow from Mr T, but when I saw the veg in Mr S I thought it was a better option. At least now I don't need anything extra tomorrow, and have enough for a few meals (a veggie curry for instance ) next week. It also means that I won't be tempted to buy extra things in a bigger store.

Tonight I'm doing pasta, with celery, garlic mushrooms, chillis and chopped tomatoes, with parsley on top. I've done the recipe before and it's very nice: here