I'm eating out of the freezer and cupboards challenge

ammonite

Its a shame you won't be doing the challenge next year Lynsey as I for one love reading about how it is going for you but I do understand it takes a lot of effort. The July-December budget I have (need to update signature) meant I didn't have to struggle too much to rely on YS shopping but equally has made me question what we actually need to buy each week.

My usual lunch-items Sunday shop will NOT be happening tomorrow as we have lots of lunch items and the only things we are missing are salad and bananas and I know if I go the supermarket I'll spend more than I intend to. I may go to the local shop for lettuce and bananas Mon/Tue but I feel like I've saved £30 this week by not shopping :rotfl: The meal plan for the week means I don't have to buy anything for dinners either so apart from milk which we may need by Wed/Thur and the aforementioned bits I'm not entering a supermarket.

P.S - Where does everyone find the cheapest place for buying sugar?

Edwardia

LOVE the wallpaper Lynsey :j I think that looks fantastic ! :T I doubt that ypu'll start spending recklessly but I agree that doing the challenge must actually be one more thing to worry about.

OH can't wallpaper so we always have paint. MIL gave us dosh for Christmas 2010 - we found a 50% off coupon in London Evening Standard for Brewers so bought Farrow and Ball. We're using the leftover F&B emulsion and Brewers own brand eggshells.

NSD today but Monday we're doing non food shopping.

Hope everyone OK xxx

Becky_2

Thanks for being so friendly. I did my inventory list this afternoon. The cupboard looks so neat and tidy now and I have put up the list on the side of the fridge. Found a tin of fried beans that I will be giving away.

Now I just need to the same for our 2 freezers. I have been invited for Sunday lunch tomorrow so wont have to cook tomorrow apart from preparing my lunch box for Monday.

Lynsey

Morning all.

Edwardia - I think my "challenge" next year is NOT to take part in any "challenges". lol
We've always looked for bargains anyway and in the past have set "for fun" a weekly budget of £20, simply because we had too much food and to try and stop adding to it.
Bargain hunting is addictive as well as couponing - getting paid to take stuff away give a real buzz (to sad little me anyway).
Getting free/almost free stuff that's not wanted/needed, but to be passed on, also give a buzz.

ammonite - Asda and Tesco have white sugar (1kg) for 88p, Tesco has (2kg) for £1.64.

Anyway, stuffed after eating late last night, so toast later for breakfast and the beef casserole is half-made.
Probably snack the rest of the day, crisps, nuts, cheese and crackers and a yoghurt. Depends what I find in Tesco later and possibly Sainsbury's.
Target this week for spends is approx £25 - last week at setting low weekly spends. :j

Lynsey

Soworried

Morning,
Lynsey I think that might be your hardest challenge yet.

Breakfast is cereal, Lunch is YS hot and spicy chicken legs with YS coleslaw and YS potato salad. Dinner will be YS chorizio and YS peppers made in to a stew.

I will be going out later for milk so I will go at YS time to see what I can get. The only thing I really need is a decent strong cheese. I can't hold off getting it much longer and may need to pay full price for.:eek:

A lovely day here, going to get some gardening done.

Edwardia

Morning all, feeling overly stuffed with Black pudding atm

Becky - belated hi there :T:j

OH is itching to go order the chairs so I'm dragged out in a minute. Reminder that shopping around isn't just for food.. Tia wall art 64.99 Homebase, 54.99 Argos, £50 and free delivery Debenhams I saved 14.99 and that's 1p off being threequarters of Lynsey's weekly food budget.

ammonite

Thanks for the sugar info Lynsey.

Send the sunshine this way Soworried please! It is drizzly mizzly here

I've been freezer diving and now have a spreadsheet of meals. I think we should be fine for dinner for 2 weeks without buying anything. This takes us to mid-September as I originally predicted

I need to make a chilli, sausage casserole, chicken casserole and macaroni cheese to keep us going but have all the ingredients for them.

No shopping this week except for essentials like milk and then it'll be lunch item shopping next week and then back to the "big shops" the week after including bulk meat purchases.

Can't believe I've actually got to the end of the freezer items (or will have in 2 weeks time!). Most of the cupboard stock will be gone then too save some chopped tomatoes, pasta (still using it for pasta salads at lunches) and lasagne sheets. :T

Only thing is of course, I'm so used to £25 shops per week I'll probably pull this face :eek: when I start the re-stock shops :rotfl:

miss_emmajane

Good morning all,

ammonite - you're doing fab, it is spurring me on

Today I am starting off as I mean to go on this week with a NSD - won't be going YS hunting this week. Got our fruit & veggies from ALDI on Friday and tuna for my lunches yesterday so we're sorted. Not going to step foot in a supermarket, the only thing I may need to pay out for is petrol.

This morning I had porridge, blueberries & honey with a cup of green tea (same everyday!) and OH finished off the second half of the tin of beans he had yest with fried YS organic mushrooms and toast. We will have something light for lunch as OH's parents very nicely rang him up yesterday to ask if they could take us for a carvery today so that should be a nice treat.

Hope everyone has a nice Sunday x

Soworried

Your right Edwardia, bargins can be had across the board, not just groceries.
I am just starting to realise this. Thankyou for the reminder.
Well done Ammonite and EmmaJane.:j

ms_night_ryder

Afternoon all.

Edwardia deffo right, i bought my food processor at half price, bought some nail varnishes less than half price, body shop stuff 75% off, i really hate paying full price for stuff now lol.

I am going to pop to waitrose in an hour for their wine/chocs and 3 sides for £5 everytime it came up i missed it, it closes at 5pm, so hopefully reductions will be done by then, i do find that waitrose aren't particularly generous with their reductions, but if you get it reduced and on a mney off deal it works out really well and give you money off, i really want to try spinach mornay, never tried it before but sounds right up my street, will get a box of chocs instead of wine, as i dont like wine, choccies will be my treat, will check my freezer to see if i have space for 2 lots, glitch finishes on the 4th sept.

I seasoned the ribs with a dry rub and it is in the oven now on low, it was too big to put in the slow cooker, will have the remainder of spinach and brocolli, with spinach mornay if they have it and either rice or pots.

My slow cooker has served me well for a freebie, but there are cracks in the crock pot, so i want a new one, so i have my eyes peeled for a deal, i won't spend more than £10 as it's only me, i'm hoping to get one that originally cost £20 though lol, saw one in argos for £15 but it was too big.

Also seasoned the pork in a jerk marinade which is now in the fridge, will cook tomorrow, i really fancy having some saltfish fritters, will make some during the week, might add some of the organic spinach, which really has lasted well for a ys.