I'm eating out of the freezer and cupboards challenge

Kirri

dexydoll wrote: »

Hi all
I am new to this forum, in fact new to forums full stop. I am fascinated by the idea of this challenge and wondered how to go about it. Are there any specific rules, do you limit what you are allowed to buy or how much you spend and do you all have to buy the same things, limit the same amount etc. I would love to know more.
Also, as a newby, I am wondering what whoopsies means and also NSD? I haven't come across them before. sorry if I sound stupid or naive.
Many thanks in advance. xx

Everyone uses the challenge in different ways - I really wanted to save money and use up stuff in the cupboards as I had too much, kitchen was crowded and stuff was going out of date before I used it.

Some people put lists on here, sometimes helps to plan and see what you have in stock and what you can make out of it.

I think most of us, even me who has tried not to buy, have still ended the year with a lot in the cupboards! I've saved about £1000 compared to spends the previous year though so still happy

Meadows

Kirri wrote: »

I think most of us, even me who has tried not to buy, have still ended the year with a lot in the cupboards! I've saved about £1000 compared to spends the previous year though so still happy

I seem to recall about January/February saying I really need to empty both my big (6' tall) freezer and my little one in the garage and here I am still struggling to find space for things. One step forward two steps back as I take a small pack of meat out, make a meal which we eat that night but a meal for another time goes back in only thing is now it is three times bigger than the original item I took out Then there are the must have's, can't not get's when you peruse the reduced or offers :eek:

Have to say though my spends on meat have been reduced this year and my stock pile of herbs etc are starting to diminish (same with the many, many bulk buys that were too good not to get). Just really need to see the back of the freezers (but when Lidl have large turkeys at £9.99 what's a girl to do, just think of the number of meals and packed lunches I can get from that when I defrost, disassemble and cook up more meals - which then take up more space in the freezer ).

Kirri

^ I have that problem, take one thing out make a meal then try and squeeze all the portions back in!

I've got my dried goods reduced a lot from the beginning of the year, I still have too many for me but it's well down on what it was.

With baking and cooking from scratch though I find I accumulate a lot of bits..

Lynsey

Kirri - well done on the hamper win, well done.

The one thing I've noticed this year and remember the "conversation" with Kirri earlier in the year, is that we now eat much less and that what we think we need to eat and what we actually need to eat differs. Very rarely do we eat 3 full meals a day or indeed 3 course meals (restaurants not included).
I didn't buy as much junk earlier in the year as I feared wasting the budget on junk when extra value could be obtained from buying reduced stuff instead. Pressures been off for a while (quite a while), so junk has sadly increased of late ......................as well as the waistline!!

Lynsey

Lip_Stick

Hi all. Been a bit busy with Christmas shopping, cleaning (easily distracted from that though) and other things like seeing ds in his Christmas play.

Done a bit of food shopping over the last few days, but it's been mainly fridge items like veg, which I was dire need of, although did buy the odd treat like Mole sauce from Tesco world food aisle. Anyone tried it? It's made with chocolate, chili and lime, has a nice deep flavour and is fab with chicken in a wrap (note to self.. buy wraps!).

Done well at eating out the freezer, haven't bought a thing for it so space is beginning to show. Need to drag something out of the freezer for tomorrow, and also have a think for Friday's tea, as having my two nieces over to sleep and they're slightly more fussy than ds. Have to say, am not looking forward to it lol.

Lynsey - was watching something about the Romans the other day which said they would only eat one meal a day at midday. Anything more was seen as gluttony!

Welsh_Poppy

Afternoon

Breakfast was out as walking day with mum and fetch a cooked breakfast back for Husband.

Dinner will be something light so not out of freezer maybe a sandwich or some soup.
I need to eat less but seem to be hungry usually eat 2 meals a day and trying to cut out snacks.

Kirri

Lynsey wrote: »

Kirri - well done on the hamper win, well done.

The one thing I've noticed this year and remember the "conversation" with Kirri earlier in the year, is that we now eat much less and that what we think we need to eat and what we actually need to eat differs. Very rarely do we eat 3 full meals a day or indeed 3 course meals (restaurants not included).
I didn't buy as much junk earlier in the year as I feared wasting the budget on junk when extra value could be obtained from buying reduced stuff instead. Pressures been off for a while (quite a while), so junk has sadly increased of late ......................as well as the waistline!!

Lynsey

^ I doubt the Nestle order helped, it's too tempting!

Thanks, very excited for its arrival (hoping it's not meat though!).

If anything I still buy/eat too much, though some days I only eat 2 meals, mainly eat 3 if I'm going out in case and I eat more when working (boredom plus more money). I can never eat a 3 course meal, prefer to snack or have a dessert a few hours later. I still think I can eat quite happily on a lot less than this year even. I reduced my dinner plate down to medium sized this year given that I'm not a big person so don't really warrant a big man-sized plateful... that has helped and means I can stay in my weight range and still fit in a sweet treat. Must admit sometimes on here I read what others have and I think it sounds a lot of heavy to digest food in one meal!

ms_night_ryder

Right

Deviated only slightly from the plan, found 4 mini burgers while rummaging in freezer, had this a bit of mayo and home made sweet chilli sauce, defrosting the pack of prawns, will have those later.

I'm off to Costco friday, will get pork shoulder pieces and a tray of chicken drumsticks, that should fill up the meat drawer or at least halfway rest of the drawers will be filled with reductions and free Icecream, ready for the new year. Just need to remember to take cod mornays out of their packets.

Welsh_Poppy

OOh well done on hamper win how exciting for you:-)

Kirri

Welsh_Poppy wrote: »

OOh well done on hamper win how exciting for you:-)

Thank you! Couldn't have come at a better time ie no food in and no spare cash for many Christmas treats so it really will be a treat