January 2011 Grocery Challenge

Rebelle

Hey everyone :wave:

Still here and loving this thread even though it has taken me ages to catch up! Fab reading everyone's tips and ideas tho - to be honest I just like being nosy too and finding out what other people have bought/had for dinner!

Have had 3/3 NSD so far this year, not bought anything since New Year's Eve but will have to spend today on milk, bread and w/up liquid as running out of all three. Don't need anything else and have batch cooked enough dinners for about the next week or so, with ingreds in the freezer/cupboards to make at least another fortnight's worth, if not more.

Been trying to cut down on waste as much as poss by eating stuff that's about to go off, most meals in the past few days have been jacket spud based as had some that were starting to sprout, gonna start on the big bag of sweet potatoes next! Also got 4 bananas and some apples past their best and a tub of natural yoghurt that needs using up today, so gonna do some muffins - not that we need anymore sweet stuff, but will give some to my Dad when he pops round later and put the rest in the freezer for pack ups etc.

Am really enjoying the challenge of trying to stick within the £50 and 'fessing up to you all when I've spent, it's a lot more fun than just thinking, "S**t, I'm skint this month!" and being miserable about it, and if I can manage this it will spur me on to cut down more even when I do have the money to spend.

Kazsaver

morning all

so far this year I have not spent any money. just wish it would continue. I do need to buy bread today but that is all until Thursday when we do our weekly shop,which should't be much apart from some fresh, fruit, veg, milk, etc. not sure what Im going to do for dinner will look in fridge and see if anything needs using up. still need to start meal planning I keep thinking about it but haven't actually done it yet.

hope everyone has a good day

Kaz x

XSpender

Today will be my 4th NSD of 2011:D DH could not find the new pot of black shoe polish last night so I said I would get some more but he has taken DS car seat to work in the back of his car so I can't get to Mr S. I did intend to have a proper look for the polish this morning (not a man's look;)) before I went so it will probably turn up, if not I will go tomorrow as DS will be needing a new tub of formula too.

I am not intending to buy anything else until Friday when my organic veg/fruit box, milk and eggs arrive and, fingers crossed, should only need some extra fruit and another tub of formula next week. I find if I do the shopping when DH is at work I get what is on the list and few, if any, extas. I have done a meal plan up to next Thursday built around the contents of my veg box, if I stick to it I don't need to buy extras.

Tonight we will have the last pork chop out of the freezer (DH), quorn fillet (me) with roast pots, roast veg to use up what's lurking in the fridge and some frozen green beans. Might do some stuffing as well as got some left after Christmas.

I am making another sour dough loaf for sandwiches tomorrow so will put that it later this afternoon and I keep meaning to make the carrot cake from my new HFW book as my carrots are getting bendy so will get that done today too. I will also cook some of the bag of frozen cocktail sausages I got to serve over Christmas that never got opened. These will supplement DH lunch box over the next couple of days. Must remember to make another sourdough sponge this evening so that I can make another loaf tomorrow. I need to establish a bread making routine so that we always have fresh bread when we need it:)

I am also going to attempt to sort out my pantry cupboard. It has a plastic shelf unit in it that it leaning forward and bending at an alarming angle under the weight of all my stuff:eek: One of these days I will open the door and be squashed under an avalanche of tinned tomatoes and bread flour:eek::eek: I want to put some proper shelves in there over the next few weeks so will list what I have got, reorganise it and try and use up what I have.

david69_2

I've had 2 NSD so far bought some milk yesterday £1.29
I've set a target to not go to mr s for the next month just use mr al if i can stick to it i should have a monthly spend of around £130

patentgirl

Mothership wrote: »

I just did that about 4 weeks ago, when I go shopping I've been leaving my cards at home, just taking what I can afford to spend. Its working for me.

Think this is going to be my new years resolution only use cash definatly does make you think more and only buy what you need another on NSD for me

Gorgeestwo

Morning

Back to a bit of normality today as the children are back at school, so hopefully I should find it a bit easier to get back into a routine. Although its only a small thing I've bulk cooked a few things last week as I had some chicken due to go out of date, which I probably wouldn't have done in the past and would have ended up throwing out the chicken :eek:
Hoping for a NSD today :j

babyboysmommy

I spent £27.33 in Mr T this morning. I did buy some things not on my list as they were on offer & things I would have bought before the month is ended anyway I wont be going shopping now for a week unless we run out of fruit, hopefully we just about have enough.

sazzledazzle

Popped into Mr T's yesterday and spent £16.50 but there is enough food there now to keep us going for the week with what is in the cupboards and freezer. Was quite proud of myself as went along with my list and pretty much kept to it apart from two rolls of xmas paper at 50p each and 2 bags of bows at 33p each but that will save money next xmas. Only extra was a bottle of wine for £3 which was our last of the month as today is official cut back and stop drinking day.
Was hoping for a NSD today but got to pick up two bags of logs as OH used last log last night so my only spend will be £7.
Tonight is dinner of meatballs (brought reduced in snow weather and 12 in a pack so we only need half a pack) with tomatoe sauce I will make myself and pasta.

SilverBird_2

Have spent £7.98 in Lidl on laundry tablets, UHT milk and tissues.

Btw, I've discovered £23+ in Nectar points so can look at spending some of these in Sainsburys next month and put the money saved in the piggy bank.

mrs-moneypenny

am gong to follow all the rules this year, meal plans shopping lists etc and only buy what we need not just keep throwing things in the trolley that we always have incase we run out.

so far so good have only had to go shopping twice
sainsburys local as we were out of soya milk (£2.70) and went Aldi for 12 eggs (£1.70) the only spend i did for the sake of it was i had a £5 B&Q voucher that went out of date today so rather than waste it i bought a bag of orchid compost DD wanted and a pack of fat balls for the birds so went over by 46p.

Doing a veggie lasagne for tea tonight and plan to make some muffins this afty for pack up