January 2011 Grocery Challenge

happycrafter_2

Im loving the purse/bank idea, I have to agree I was one of the people who bought convience food more so when I had my children and yet if you are prepared and organised cooking meals from scratch doesnt take that long. we treated our selves to a take away on saturday meal for 4 it cost £30 and took an hour to arrive and it will be the last one we have for a very long time!! I did walk round the house muttering I could have cooked one cheaper and quicker but it was supposed to be a treat for the family for being so good this month with money saving.

I also have a wish list 2 things have been crossed off as I was treated to my jam and chutney books from OH for reorganising the whole family (special off from the book people at work 2 books for £10 should have cost £25) and my circular needles set of 10 for £5.99 from ebay. I have just added a few more things on to my wish list eg piping set, sausage maker (is still on there), new chopping boards.

OrkneyStar

Nipped into Coop to get a small bottle of OJ (from my treat budget, wouldn't normally but trying to attack this cold with Vit C from every angle) and ended up getting some milk when in there. That takes me pennies over the GC budget this week but not overly worried about that!

Mothership

happycrafter wrote: »

Im loving the purse/bank idea, I have to agree I was one of the people who bought convience food more so when I had my children and yet if you are prepared and organised cooking meals from scratch doesnt take that long. we treated our selves to a take away on saturday meal for 4 it cost £30 and took an hour to arrive and it will be the last one we have for a very long time!! I did walk round the house muttering I could have cooked one cheaper and quicker but it was supposed to be a treat for the family for being so good this month with money saving.

I also have a wish list 2 things have been crossed off as I was treated to my jam and chutney books from OH for reorganising the whole family (special off from the book people at work 2 books for £10 should have cost £25) and my circular needles set of 10 for £5.99 from ebay. I have just added a few more things on to my wish list eg piping set, sausage maker (is still on there), new chopping boards.

I got something that had been on my wish list for years with your help (the planc) I LOVE IT!
And I needed two new chopping boards, I got them FREE for recommending a friend from that online butcher. AND I have a piping set on my list too, I search the Grabbit board every morning looking for one LOL. And I'm just about to venture into the world of chutneys and jams.

I see your a knitter, I am too. I write and illustrate children's books the illustrations are knitted, I'm too scared to post a link to my website in case I get into trouble, as when I first joined MSE I had wool I wasn't going to use that I was happy to give away free for the cost of the postage. I got jumped on from a great height. I was really surprised to see another author started a thread on Grabbit, I thought you weren't allowed to use this site for self promotion.

Glad you like the PURSE/BANK idea, it really does work, my girls do it now, we keep lookout for bargains for each other. We could take it to a new level on this thread.

MummyEm

Did an A*** order last night for delivery tonight. Only ordered what we needed to get us through this week as getting very close to target and really don't want to go over. Came to approx £60 will update when I have the total on delivery. Also need to get approx £10 worth of bits from Lidl tomorrow - milk, ham and squash. Will only spend what I have left, maybe keep £2 for anything I have forgotten.
I could have spent quite a bit less this month but have been slowly trying to fill our new freezer.
I am going to investigate the veg boxes too. I really like the idea but worry that it wouldn't get used. I will eat anything but DH would have green beans and carrots or peas and sweetcorn with every meal! I have expanded his tastes slightly as he does now eat broccoli but that has taken 3 years and only in small amounts!!
For example, what is Kale, what would I do with it?! Root veggies are ok as I would put most in beef stew.
I think I may aim to try one new recipe per week and see how it goes. We have lots of new meat cuts to use that I haven't ever cooked with I suppose we could try one new veg per week too.

Right off to make some fairy cakes as DD has a friend coming to play this afternoon and I have absolutely nothing in for snacks as have been running everything down. May also defrost some bananas to make a banana loaf.

happycrafter_2

Mothership wrote: »

I got something that had been on my wish list for years with your help (the planc) I LOVE IT!
And I needed two new chopping boards, I got them FREE for recommending a friend from that online butcher. AND I have a piping set on my list too, I search the Grabbit board every morning looking for one LOL. And I'm just about to venture into the world of chutneys and jams.

I see your a knitter, I am too. I write and illustrate children's books the illustrations are knitted, I'm too scared to post a link to my website in case I get into trouble, as when I first joined MSE I had wool I wasn't going to use that I was happy to give away free for the cost of the postage. I got jumped on from a great height. I was really surprised to see another author started a thread on Grabbit, I thought you weren't allowed to use this site for self promotion.

Glad you like the PURSE/BANK idea, it really does work, my girls do it now, we keep lookout for bargains for each other. We could take it to a new level on this thread.

I saw piping sets in Ikea at the weekend £5.10 i think they were you get a cake leveller, spreader, bag and nozzles. I didnt get one as I wanted to see if there were better sets any where else.

can you not put a link to your website on your MSE use control panel, I did a link to my blog that way just copy and paste the url in to the space for it. Then anyone can use the link to see what you get up to. lots of people on the crafty threads all have blogs and some of the stuff they make is amazing.

rosieben

Mothership, your 'other purse' idea is really great! I'll be thinking about this and whether I can start something on the same lines, thank you!

Like you I've been through the buying convenience foods etc etc; years ago I gave away ALL my baking and cooking equipment - I was working full time and living in town and shops/take outs were all around me

sending positive thoughts your way as you deal with your difficulties

kalojac

Just popped in cause I've been into my spreadsheet to update it, and I have been dreading my total but it looks good so far.... 220.48.

Have kept a spreadsheet since 1/1/11, and have different sub headings, groceries, petrol, school lunches, lotto, work coffee, birthdays etc and have been keeping tab of every penny and just totalled my groceries column to find that nice surprise, and pay day is on Friday and have enough meal planning done to cover the next 4 nights supper, so I don't think my total will be much more than the above.

My mam is great though, if she's in Tesco she does often come up by with her BIGIF freebies to me once or twice a month which is a fantastic help.

On the downside my column does only show 3 NSDs so far, and alas it looks as though my 10 NSD target for January will not be met this month.

Thanks for the thread, and all your tips x

wssla00

Morning all Right.... declaring at £170.58

Pretty good and on the plus side after a very sad week of worry- I HAVE A NEW JOB!!!!!!! I start next week and am really pleased. I am happy because although the job I was doing was on paper a "good job" I absolutely hated it and the stress of it made my illness worse. So everything is back to normal once again

Going to be asked to be put down for £200 this month again, as I will need lunches and OH is back on day shifts so he needs dinners again! Plus we are both joining WW again so will be needing to keep an eye on things again.

Going to make some chilli tonight and either have it with jacket potatoes or wedges. I'm not sure yet.

Anyway- have a good day all, I'm off to clean up the house and ponder my new job

XX

Mothership

happycrafter wrote: »

I saw piping sets in Ikea at the weekend £5.10 i think they were you get a cake leveller, spreader, bag and nozzles. I didnt get one as I wanted to see if there were better sets any where else.

can you not put a link to your website on your MSE use control panel, I did a link to my blog that way just copy and paste the url in to the space for it. Then anyone can use the link to see what you get up to. lots of people on the crafty threads all have blogs and some of the stuff they make is amazing.

I added the links to my websites, I had them on before but took them off, when I got reported for offering the free wool.

This might be a good time to tell you all I'm working on a POUNDSTRETCHER book at the moment. My PURSE/BANK stuff will be going in and possibly my Grocery Challenge experience too. It wont be like Martins book. Just based on my own experience. My girls have adopted my ways, and are doing really well.

Jolaaled

rosieben wrote: »

Mothership, your 'other purse' idea is really great! I'll be thinking about this and whether I can start something on the same lines, thank you!

I'm going to try PURSE/BANK starting in February. This month (Jan) has been my first ever at trying in the GC and altho I've done ok, I also spent more on stocking up when things are on offer, than I'd planned for (e.g. £1.00 Branston Beans x4). I don't want to miss out buying these cheap deals when they're around, so I think P/Bank is a great idea.

THANKS MOTHERSHIP