I'm eating out of the freezer and cupboards challenge

Edwardia

I would have whipped out my BlackBerry, photographed the weevil, corralled it into a matchbox (well as long as they don't fly/hop) and emailed manufacturers before mailing back for my money back !

OH found a bug in his porridge once at a previous house but we couldn't rule out something hopping off the hedge next to the window in summer and chomping all winter.

Lynsey

ms_night_ryder - beware of the porridge then on "veggie week". lol

Kirri - makes sense (for myself) to do the veggie week from the Sunday and able to get bits if needed on the Saturday. Splits the weekend, if that makes sense??

Deleted_User - did you not start your budget last year or did you start with "zero" on the 1st of January. I'm sure I posted to you not to be too hard on yourself when you overspent last year?

Haven't totted up yet, but this £60 month has not been the easyest!! Probably because I'm not "whoopsy" shopping and not using coupons. 31 days also (should have done Feb instead. lol) Not that much wasted either!! prices must be creeping up and the importance of having freezer full of reduced stuff is of even more importance!! From April 1st, I'll start filling the "empty" freezer again with reduced stuff and I'm looking forward to it.

Hubby's just had the 15p blackberries (allowed him some ice cream as I need the space).
Anyway, he said the were the sweetest blackberries he's ever had - they were grown in Guatamala.

Coffee, then add up.
I did spend the £6 on 12 cartons of UHT milk for foodbank. I feel like I didn't get much for my money, but they do need it. I'll bulk with at least 30 tins of 5 Beanz and maybe some of my tinned pears "stash".

Lynsey

zafiro1984

Hi All,

Breakfast fruit
Lunch cup a soup and pistachios
Tea:- was going to be my last plaice and veg but OH has an upset stomach - thinks I'm poisoning him - so the plaice is for him. I Googled 'Foods to eat with upset stomach' quite a list, most of which he doesn't like, so it's jelly and half a banana afterwards.
I on the other hand will be having a small fillet steak and vegs, followed by chocolate mousse. One has to look after oneself, doesn't one!!!:rotfl:

Florenceem

Went to Al.. - stocked up on fresh stuff - Super Six plus some other bits. Popped into As.. for milk on way home - cheaper there. Walking with shopping trolley so no cost/hardship going to two shops.

Breakfast - left over HM fruit cake + custard.
Elevenses - free biscuits + cup of tea.
Lunch - half a tin of beans on toast - Baked Beans £1 for 4 when on offer. Used slice of my HM bread and had an apple - bag of 8 Braeburns - 99p so 12p each.

Welsh_Poppy

Evening Ladies

Computer died on me and Hubby has fixed it for know goodness knows how long it will last!!

Lots eaten from freezer and tiny pockets appeaing.
Dinner chicken curry for OH homemade with rice
I am fasting so just salad for me as was very naughty with a bag of chocolate peanuts(i dont even like them) TOM munchies:-(

ms_night_ryder

Edwardia I'm sqeamish for one and two it was a free pack using.coupons from last year. Just had a lovely steak and rice now off to do cinema audits, decided I will stay for.the last one as i want to see django.might as well for free.lol.

[Deleted User]

Kirri - buy for 2 , plus whoever comes over for dinner once in a while!!
Just re-added 2013 budget and actually have only spent £192 which is a LOT less - think I must have started adding 2013 budget from december!
Lynsey - you are right! and yes will try to be less hard on myself , hard to do when I see the low low spends everyone on here manages!

Msnightryder - oh dear on the weevil!! think I woulda done the same and chucked the stuff but not nice when you are about to tuck into breakfast!!

Florenceem - you seem to manage great low spends, well done! and your pics always make me hungry!

Welshpoppy - how come you are fasting? one way of saving money I spose

Feel a bit better that food spends not as high as I thought, if can stretch to 40 meals to last till mid march say , will still be averaging £100 p/m ish , but agree with everyone food prices definitely seem to be going waaaaaay up!! and even with whoopsies not always that lucky!

Florenceem

Prices have really risen - I will plod on trying to spend less than £100 for 4 weeks - Mr F, me + dog to feed.
I did well in 2012 - all left over shopping money saved! :j

Jelly_Biactol

Sorted out car tax today, so decided to make it a 'spend day'. (Yesterday I hit my monthly NSD target:j)

Restocked the spice jars from the Asian supermarket, and dried herb jars from the wholefood shop (also got some free-range orgasmic tomatoes:p at 49p/tin). Also spent £7-odd at Mr S including lunchtime sandwich things and a few other bits (might make a batch of chilli tomorrow).

I walked to the shops, through the woods (in an urban setting, tho'), to enjoy the snow before it all melts (very heavy snowfall last night, but melting fast now), so I've defnitely done my 5,000 steps for the day:)

I also found a really good fresh veg shop, have walked past it a couple of times but never been in (doesn't look much from the outside); it's Middle Eastern owned, so as well as the usual stuff sells lots of wonderful and strange ingredients (including tins/dried food)...will have to ask the staff what some of them are:think: next time. Best thing is, it's open till from 8am to 9pm, and only about 800 yards from my house:).

So I think I could manage 40 days without a supermarket, too

Lynsey

Deleted_User - please adjust your budget and take the pressure off yourself. £192 and with all your stash is what counts. 2013 is a new year. Good luck with the rest, a long 11 months to go.

Florenceem - I like your break down of meal costs, that will help some.

Spends today:
Lidl - cherry tomatoes (59p), mature cheddar (£1.49), large f/r eggs (£1.09) = £3.17

Aldi - 2 x potatoes (98p), parsnips (49p), red onions (49p), gravy granules (75p), finger buns (49p) = £3.20
£6.37 on the day and as planned'ish.

Need milk tomorrow or hopefully Monday and maybe spread later in the week, but apart from Aldi Super 6 from tomorrow (carrots mainly) - that's it apart from bread.

Took out diced chicken breasts for hubby to have tomorrow (grilled on skewers) and salad (he's fasting also. lol).
Rest of chicken will do for a curry for him on Monday.

I'm not normally a "meal planner", but will have a think about veggie week. Pasta with sauces will be a big part of it along with stir fries. I need to get all the veggie stuff in the freezer in one place and get rid of the vast majority.

2013 food spends = £46.06 and almost £14 to get to Thursday. Am I scared ................................... no way!!
I might treat myself to a minimum £100 for February though. I fancy a M&S £10 deal.

Lynsey