December 2006 Grocery Challenge

mel_anthe

Can I join in again too please?

Ideally I'd like to spend £0 this month, but clearly that's not going to happen, so I'll try for £90 again like the past couple of months - hopefully I'll manage it this time, even with Christmas...

Karb

In the Style of the Good News/Bad news round on "I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue"

Good news - it looks like I've achieved my target for November.

Bad news - I have very little food left in the house.

Good news - I'm hoping to have moved house before Christmas, so plan to use up every last scrap of food I currently have, and not buy too much more

Bad news - This is the fourth consecutive month that I've said "I'm hoping to have moved house before the end of the month" (why are solicitors and estate agents so crap?)

Good news - I've got a few Nectar vouchers saved up which will help with towards the Christmas shopping

Bad news - I've still got the whole festive food and drink to buy, as I haven't got a single thing in so far

Good news - I'm on night shift the week before Christmas, so probably won't spend as much that week as I would normally do, as I won't be able to drink.

Anyway, after all that ramble, I'm going to aim for £350 this month, to feed 2 adults, 5 kids, a cat, a dog and two goldfish

debtfreehopeful_2

hi all

id like to join in this month, though my month runs from 24th nov to 22nd dec.

My aim is £80 - £100

Spent so far £80

This may sound like a lot but the only things i can foresee buying the rest of this month is milk and fruit so im fairly certain im on track for £90 which to be honest ill be really pleased with for 2 adults 1 child and a cat! This amount incudes the tesco delivery charge as im under drs orders not to go shopping (what a shame!!) Till this month my budget has gone down from £160 to £120 to whatever it comes out at this month. Ive been gradually cutting it for a while and as my meal planning and cooking skills have improved its become easier to lower it.

My other aim this month is to get my one week meal plan stretched out to a 2 week meal plan so that we have a bit more variety, id like to have it planned well in advance so i can set up a shopping delivery for the day after payday

Sue

newlywed

I'm trying a two week meal plan too. I also keep my old meal plans so I can check back and see that we haven't had any fish for 3 weeks or something like that! I seem to get into a routine of the same meals and when I look back a month or so and see another meal I think - we liked that why haven't I cooked it again since??!!

My month is from 24 November too. I've spent about half my budget but think we only need a chicken, milk, bread and veg and we'll be ok till 20 December, as long as I'm good and stick to my lists!!

debtfreehopeful_2

newlywed wrote:

I'm trying a two week meal plan too. I also keep my old meal plans so I can check back and see that we haven't had any fish for 3 weeks or something like that! I seem to get into a routine of the same meals and when I look back a month or so and see another meal I think - we liked that why haven't I cooked it again since??!!

My month is from 24 November too. I've spent about half my budget but think we only need a chicken, milk, bread and veg and we'll be ok till 20 December, as long as I'm good and stick to my lists!!

We just have a meal plan which is the same every week at the moment, were happy with it but id like to vary it a bit. So im looking at the same thing, a permanent plan but over 2 weeks as i increase my recipe knowledge!

Im really not much of a cook and if it isnt slow cookerable id rather not do it! Im disabled and pregnant so the thought of cooking properly and watching it etc just puts me right off as i know by the time the meal is done ill be too sore to enjoy it.

Sue

zoologygeek

Hi All,
I'm joining in this month 2, have just calculated the whole months shopping for December (thanks Tesco.com) & it comes in at about £100 including my turkey!! Theres only 3 of us & to get it this low is unheard for us!! Planned all my meals last night & will spend Saturday doing some bulk cooking of lasagne, cannelloni etc for the freezer. Am going down tesco now to buy all the food (I refuse to pay them to deliver!). Keeping my blinkers on in the supermarket, no looking at the specials & sweeties!!! LOL Sticking to that list!!! Should only have to buy milk & the odd bits of fresh fruit & veg here & there.
So wish me luck, Keeping my fingers crossed for the rest of you.
XXX

newlywed

debtfreehopeful wrote:

We just have a meal plan which is the same every week at the moment, were happy with it but id like to vary it a bit. So im looking at the same thing, a permanent plan but over 2 weeks as i increase my recipe knowledge!

Im really not much of a cook and if it isnt slow cookerable id rather not do it! Im disabled and pregnant so the thought of cooking properly and watching it etc just puts me right off as i know by the time the meal is done ill be too sore to enjoy it.

Sue

I always plan at least one meal a week that I cook double and then freeze so I don't have to do anything other than defrost and warm it up. Like Shep pie one week and at the same time I'll do a lasagne to chuck in the freezer or another Shep pie for the following week. I do the same with curry, cook double and freeze it for the next week. That way you can vary your week's cooking so that you get a night or two off!!

Peem

Well the first week of december, the results are in and



da da da



£37.34

for me that's a phenomenal result. Here's to the next one

bananakinz

ok been shopping, spent £54.58 in total including a bottle of wine as its been a long week, and hubby will only spend more in the offy if I send him later!

shell2001

Our month runs from 24th Nov till 24th Dec.

So have already done monthly shop from Tesco on-line that came to £180 (included bottle of spiced rum for DH as treat) This included 90% of the bulk things needed for my monthly meal plan. I just need to top up with milk, fruit and veg.

So so far spent -
£180 Tesco
£10 Chemist
£10 Butchers on Market (Gammon joint and tray of chicken breasts)
£20 Odds and Ends (Xmas cards for DD nursery, milk, coffee, veg shop)

Leaves £140 but as we go over to mums in spain on 19th really want to keep a weeks money back so gonna aim for £90 for rest of month, Got a bad feeling about this month but overspend is not an option.

Have a family birthday party to cater for on 18th as DD is 4 and got 7 adults and 2 kids - all gonna be HM stuff wish me luck!!