July 2011 Grocery Challenge

TheThriftyScrumpers

:wave::wave::wave:Hello

Nsd yay!
DD(age 5) really enjoyed washing the new potatoes I dug for our dinner. She was so attached to the smallest one she has put it in her jewellery box with all her precious things!

I made a batch of millie's cookies tonight. They are so nice. I recommend them to all the newbies along with the twinks.

Tomorrows dinner - freezer surprise

night x

Sue14

Can I please be put down for £130 for July. So far this month I've spent £15.06 in Mr T's and £2 in i*eland.

[Deleted User]

Well aren't we all doing brilliantly Its being on the GC that makes you focus on what you are spending, so even if you do go slightly over budget its not a crime as you are thinking about what you are buying and storing.(a bit like a free WW's IYSWIM)
We are all doing well at thinking before we buy, which is half the battle when it comes to spending. I always think of my food budget as though I was running a business which in effect we are, as if a business just went out and blew all the profits they would soon go bust, so by using a little improvisation and adapting what we have, our own little business's (our food bills) are becoming more healthy, which in turn gives you more cash to spend on what ever takes your fancy.My surplus goes towards our family holiday, and in just over five weeks time when I am sitting on the beach (hopefully in the sunshine ) with my grandsons. If they want an ice cream or whatever, I can say yes, no problem, as I have a fair bit put by now towards their treats.I am sure some of you may want to put it away for other bits ,maybe some clothes or shoes or even something as mundane as bills but at least its there and we are all so supportive on here that even a little blip isn't that bad
Good luck chums we are doing great so far this month
JackieO xx

rej-c

NSDs for us on Sunday and Monday; yesterday Him Indoors ventured out for bread, but only got as far as the nearest little convenience store and splashed out £1.49 on a Hovis Best of Both - still, that's all he bought, and I got the apology 'It was only after I'd had the sandwich that I remembered there's bread in the freezer, sorry!', so he's showing willing.

Anyway, that takes us up to 19.07/250 for the month, which I'm pleasantly surprised by. This 'shop from your own cupboards/freezer first' principle is proving pretty effective so far.

There will be a bit of outlay on my way home from work either today or tomorrow, getting some more veggie sausages/burger-type goodies for the freezer. I've just realised I've somehow missed the end of the £1 Linda McC sausages deal at Mr S, but it's still buy one, get one half price on everything at H&B, which can make it worth stocking up on certain frozen and chilled items that are difficult to find elsewhere. I won't go mad, though, promise, and will try to resist popping into the adjacent Waitrose while I'm there for end-of-day whoopsies

peony40

TheThriftyScrumpers wrote: »

:wave::wave::wave:Hello

Nsd yay!
DD(age 5) really enjoyed washing the new potatoes I dug for our dinner. She was so attached to the smallest one she has put it in her jewellery box with all her precious things!

Thriftyscrumpers, that is so sweet of your DD. So lovely to read this having just depressed myself by reading the front page of the Daily Mail.

Well, after my optimism in my last post, DH went out last night for what I thought was one bar of chocolate for us to share and came back having spent £34 in M&S:eek: His bounty did include a packet of jacket potatoes and two tins of chilli con carne, but the rest was chocolate, apple pie, chocolate dessert etc. I guess that he had a sweet tooth! I just asked that we try and avoid eating it all too quickly to avoid chocolate overload so hopefully this will minimise the effect on my grocery budget. Oh well, it's a whole new day, and today I plan on it being a NSD grocery wise.

rosieben

Welcome to the GC allym464, good luck!

JackieO wrote: »

... My surplus goes towards our family holiday, and in just over five weeks time when I am sitting on the beach (hopefully in the sunshine ) with my grandsons. If they want an ice cream or whatever, I can say yes, no problem, as I have a fair bit put by now towards their treats. ...

Jackie I've been thinking about your savings scheme and I've decided to do something similar. My surplus will probably go towards my crafting addiction though

[Deleted User]

That is a serious addiction rosieben I too craft and have around 6 big plastic crates of bits and bobs If I live to be 120 I will never use it all.Now and again I have a sort through and pass some bits on to my grandsons infant department where it is very gratefully received .I go to a craft club once a fortnight and we all have a day now and again where we all make a big bag of cards for the local charities to sell.

boultdj

Spent $43.22 yesterday between market and Mr. S.

uropachild

Hi guys! I am not part of this challenge yet. I saved all of my receipts for one month last year, but then DS was born and it all got pretty busy for a while. Maybe i will have a look at starting again when DH gets paid on the 18th.

I do have a question though, which you guys might be best to answer for me. I currently buy the meat that is on offer in Mr T's at 4 packs for £12. I just buy it and then section off into meal size portions and freeze. Is it good value this meat? I've not tried a butchers as i always assumed it would be more expensive, but we do have a butcher in the village. Am i wrong in assuming? Would i be better buying from the butcher? Or is there another supermarket that i could try for better value meat? We don't have a costco or makro nearby, so driving there would probably be a false economy.

Thanks! xx

quintwins

i don't have any surplus lately lol, however i will get better i asked oh to grab me a big bag of spuds today i think he'll forget tbh if he does thats fien i have a few spuds so can do the kids chicken dinner and we'll have beans on toast or chicken burgers or something from the freezer and i'll grab some when i'm out tomorrow, i worry about sending him cause the farm shop is very expensive for anything other than spuds or there on offer fruit and veg but he loves there chicken pie and apple pies, i have to admit there yummy but theres no way i'd pay £4.50 for a chicken pie or £3 for an apple pie, but he'll just lift it and not think