February 2011 Grocery Challenge

gdyr1945

:kisses3: to everyone that needs them.

I get my life into perspective reading these boards. Some of you are having very difficult times with seriously ill family members, some with scary financial problems, some who must feel everything is going haywire and yet, somehow always manage to make the rest of us smile, give wonderful support and advice to everyone. This group must be the most supportive bunch of people you could find anywhere. Thank you
:grouphug:

kitschy

Hugs to all that are having a horrid time. Work is a bit pants at the mo, as I am having to deal with several complaints and grievances, as well as knowing our contract ends in two months. We have been invited to a meeting on Weds and I have a sinking feeling we'll be told we may not have jobs after April.

But, I am still in budget! Just spent £5.29 this weekend on milk and diet coke while it's still on offer at Mr S.

highland_fling_2

Good evening everyone.

Mrs.Mc: what an amazing achievement with your weight loss.:j

Was treated to a delicious lunch today and I am still quite full up.

Will have to buy some milk and cereal soon but will try to hold out for one more day.

Good luck to all.

CupOfChai

Evening all, I've been spending on groceries over the weekend so have added these to my total. Looks like I'm left with max. about 30 quid for the rest of the month which should be doable, even though I ended up spending more than I'd intended or put on the list! Bloomin' man! I should write out 100 times "Do not take men when shopping!"

He sort of helped though, wanting to go and look at the wine when I already had some tut tut... Only we found Mr T doing a red, a white and a rose on offer at £3 per bottle, which were originally a bit more than £6 per bottle. Only got one red and one white though, I was restrained!

All of you saying about your menfolk wanting to know where their meat is rings a bell with me now! I was heating an aubergine and chickpea curry I'd made and frozen, when BF decided he was going to play funny beggars. "What's in it?" "But what meat is in it?" "Where's the animal?" Grrr, lucky for him I know he was only kidding, and he is great about eating whatever he's given (I can't be doing with fussy eaters!). In the end I said I thought I might have used chicken stock in the sauce and he was satisfied with that!

2joanne

Sooooo pleased only £184.85/£300 spend for Feb so far!!

Getting really good at this now!!!

PennyGrabber

NSD today - this is the most number of those I think I've ever had, and I'm only halfway through the month!! I'm really enjoying NOT going shopping, and using whatever there is in the house. No children tom or weds for dinner, so i'll have a squizz through the cupboards and have something random. I've really got a thing for twice baked potatoes lately, so I may have one of those one day, or some noodles - my two not so keen on them. Still got lots of bread in the freezer, but will need milk come the end of the week, unless work has some they're going to throw out!!

Off to plan for the rest of the month - ish now, my meal plan has gone haywire with various different things happening. For example, didn't use today's dinner, as had friends over yest who ended up staying for dinner, and had leftovers which was enough to feed the 3 of us tonight! Result! Also means I didn't have to cook today, which is even better.

As part of my stocktake last week, I organised my jars, tins and packets in date order, so I'll look through those first to see what I can use up, and what matches it in the freezer so I won't have to buy anything to make it. Then I'll make a bit of a list if I have to. Today's NSD means that the daily allowance is now £1.33. Sure I can make it for that as loads in. I know I've said that before, but it feels different saying it today. I actually mean it and understand it today. IYSWIM.

Lots of love,
PG x

becky170

Haven't managed to update for a while, but I've now spent a total of £76.39. As I was away at the weekend I haven't managed to do a weekly shop for this week, but hoping to make do with a little shop from the local co-op and then just eat out the cupboards and freezer.

I've been quite wasteful recently and have ended up throwing out fruit and veg. I have good intentions to eat healthily, but when I get home from work I'm too knackered to cook a proper meal and just grab easy meals and then things go off I feel so guilty thowing things away as it's a waste of money and resources.

lotti379

Right, back from the evil T*sco, £23.43 later and my total is £164.17/£200

Lovely OH has just put £40 into joint account, to cover his savings going out and match my extra contribution (£20), and now we have plenty to eat for the week (and he's v. happy as I got him a nice pizza for his lunch tomorrow - very reduced, of course!). So, barring the pizza express business, we are back on track.

Has anyone had experience/success with cooking bloomer loaves, i.e. without tins? I would like to start making bread but only have a 1lb loaf tin for fruit cakes, and am reluctant to buy big bread tins until I've had a few goes! (My 1lb tin was from p££ndland for the same reason! :rotfl:)

freakyogre

Popped into Tesco after work. I did go to look for a coat I spotted in the sale last week, but it had gone. I didn't need it anyway!

I did spend £3.38 though (which i'm blaming you guys for ) I noticed a few posts about the 3 for 2 on cereal so got 2 bags of porridge oats and a box of multigrain hoops. I rarely eat cereal but every so often do fancy a bowl. The oats are for baking. I also got a bag of pink lady apples, I don't usually get them as they're so expensive, but they were half price, so I thought i'd treat myself.

Eek! I didn't realise I was quite so close to my total. I'll have to try and avoid Lidl's weekend offers for a bit! I am going to need milk and probably body spray before the end of the month, so may go over my total by a bit.

mummyjane

A £41.30 spend for me today in Mr W. This included a special steak dinner and card/gifts for dh plus more fresh fruit and veg which was whoopsied.

Have decided to wait until next week before ordering another shop from sainsbugs. I actually did an inventory of my freezers today and found 16 meals for dh and myself :eek: (the kids have different foods mainly because of ds). Scary stuff and to think I would normally have had another weeks worth coming today - no surprise really that we used to waste so much food