January 2011 Grocery Challenge

Mothership

minnie2 wrote: »

mothership - what is the second purse idea? i appear to have missed that post!!

Page 107 2123 Any questions let me know.

redkids1972

OK Im declaring my budget for jan as £255.46.
I have found it difficult this week as I have started to run out of things yet Im reluctant to go and buy any more untill I really have to. I have my wage every 4 weeks so tomorrow I will be paid so will start my FEB gc tomorrow so can I be put down for

• £220

Its going to be tough again but I think it is doable my OH is good and we now make everything from scratch (except bread) he is in charge of cooking and I am in charge of shopping, it works well and kids aren't complaining.
I have reduced my cat expenditure from £40 a month to £30 a month just by shopping around and using discount codes (10%) pets at home. Which only leaves £190 for us but I dont need any household things this month as I have been stocking up at M&S HALF price , voucher and 20% staff discount. Alcohol is still remaining from xmas so gunna tell OH he got to polish off that before I buy any more.
I feel that meal planning has helped me so much in keeping me focused and help OH as he knows what to cook so this will be a permanent thing for me.:
£190 after pet food is scary!!!!!!!!:eek:
However Im gunna give it my best shot and will keep you all informed of my progress.
On a positive note i am going to save the money Im saving which this month should be £180 into a pot till next xmas and then decide what to do with it should be a tidy sum:j

NickJW

£2.08 spent in Mr T today and £2.20 spent in Mr S. Have updated signature

You know what - I reckon I'll come under budget for once! :eek:

UnluckyT

Still got my £30 unspent.
Get paid thursday (in 2 days) and would like to be put down for £40 for Feb please.

mongmoney

Evening All,
Just a quick update, as my updated sig states I am incredibly under budget this month. Thanks to my auntie for giving me meat mostly. She has always fed me, I'm skinny but not unhealthy, however she says she worries about me. Wonderful eh?!
I'm going to leave out my cat food spends from now on and just concentrate on how much I buy for me. Frugal but never going without is the premise I use. My freezer still has lots in it so I'm going to try to eat out of it as far into Feb as I can. I look to all of you for your recipes and tips and am truly thankful for keeping me motivated.
I worked out how current inflation would affect me, on the bbc site, and it came back at 5.4%. Couldn't get a savings account that will pay that so every penny must be closely guarded. Bulk buying on lots of items is an absolute must to keep overall costs down. Lets keep sharing news about deals.
I can't declare yet, got a week to go.
Mongy

scotsaver

Hi everyone - another NSD today and still holding on to my £1.35 - only got tomorrow to survive now and not planning to leave the house tomorrow, want to get some baking done and have everything in that I need so should be another NSD and I will be under Budget.:j

Dinner tonight is Haggis, tatties and neeps - altough we live near London we don't forget our roots - no pudding needed as we will be full enough - off to start serving up now - have a good evening everyone.;)

bella121984

OrkneyStar wrote: »

No worries, for some reason chorizo and chicken compliment each other. I tend to stick the chorizo in first and fry it a little, then remove, cook the chicken in same pan, and then add chorizo back just before adding cream and pasta. hth
I think it can also be used in jambalaya, kind of similar to paella but not quite lol! I have used it on pizza too, in place of pepperoni!

Theres a great little mexican restaurant near us that puts chorizo in with their chicken fajitas...they are amazing

boysma

Evening everyone,

3.88 today for cheese and biscuits for packed lunches. I am definitely going to go over my budget for this month as will have to replenish meat, fruit and veg on Friday but hopefully not by too much.

I have really enjoyed this challenge and hope to do better next month:D

kippers

Hi all

NSD for me today.

Tonight we had fish in parsley sauce with roast carrots & parsnips, mash pots, swede and brussel tops....we have never had brussell tops before but i decided to try them as i had them at my allotment and my brussels are rubbish. I'd heard they were nice and they were. They tasted like cabbage but a little sweeter.

I also used the last of my homegrown parsley for my sauce (from the freezer)...i'm wondering whether to try and grow some more on my windowsill, to tide me over until i grow it on my allotment in the summer...not sure it will work at this time of year though.

Spiggle

ebayqueen wrote: »

... What will happen to this thread as its named JANUARY Groc challenge...sorry if its a dumb question

Not a dull question at all ebayqueen. At some point over the next week you'll see rosieben posting the three recipe lists (much as MrsMcCawber has done in posts #2156/7). Then Pink-winged will come along take the all the lists and set up the February Grocery Challenge as a completely new thread and post on here a link to it. Those of us who haven't finished will keep on going on here until we've declared our month end totals at which point we'll start using the Feb thread. HTH.

I tried catching up yesterday and failed as I only got to page 106 but I'm here now!

Wssla, fantastic news on the job. I hope you will be happy in your new role. :T

Mothership, your posts are so entertaining and I particularly like the 'How not to make marmalade'. :rotfl: I hope things improve soon on the family front and send you hugs. :grouphug:

MrsMcCawber, please would you list me for a budget of £240 again for February. Thank you so much. :A

I don't have a great deal to update except a horrendous total of £17.26 for milk (16pts in all), butter (six packs and I have to pay the premium for it being Welsh!), bananas and a 95p whoopsied trifle from MrT. OH has been trying to console me with "It's a £1 a pint in the local shop", bless him.

I'm also a bit miffed that I bought stuff other than milk there but I was tired, it was raining and the thought of having to stop again at coop on the way home from work was just too much. If I'd had a long list and needed a full shop I would have done but for three items. So much for my morals, eh?

Trying to be positive, the NSDs are stacking up nicely. though OH has just informed we need potatoes and so may spend again tomorrow but not if I can help it. We've got loads in and I'm quite happy with an omelette tomorrow so I'll hold out as long as I can.

I'm really tired tonight (when am I not?) and so I'm going to have a very brisk browse and then go and put me feet up.

You are all wonderful - determined, enthusiastic, supportive, encouraging and inspirational. Keep it up, the month is nearly over.

Right, nighty night all and take care,
Spigs