January 2007 Grocery Challenge

earthmother

Well, week one has finished (tomorrow officially, but not out to shop again this weekend) and up until about 10.00 this morning I was under budget. :j



Now I'm over budget by over £10 - and it's all your fault :rotfl:

I should really know better than to read this site before I go shopping - between self sufficiency books from The Book People and suggestions of cheap hampers in M&S I just hadn't got a chance.



As it turns out, there were no cheap hampers - but opposite M&S is a Co-op, who always have good reductions, so I popped in there instead - and I just stocked the freezer full of packed lunch gubbins (bread, meat, pasta, fromage frais) for under a tenner - will keep eldest going for at least 6-8 weeks - so I reckon my over-run isn't too much of a disaster.

Redbedhead

Doing ok so far, although over budget if you split it down on a weekly basis but that is because we did Costco today for mince and a few other things to batch cook, so that should do us some meals well in to the month.

I have also been using up some things in the freezer to ensure there is space for the batch cooking.

Off to start my bolognaise now!

loumac

Well I've just got home from shopping and need to update my signature! I'm very pleased though as I did my meal plan before I went and realised I'd more food in the house that could make meals than I thought!

I spent £3.17 in Aldi and £1.51 in Tesco express (Aldi don't sell skimmed milk).

I'm going out for a curry tonight with family though so should I take money for that out of the food budget? Hmmmm.... not sure!?!

benjacksmum

Really chuffed to bits with this week, only spent £8.66 and we still have lots of food left. Still have £71.34 to last till the end of the month and I am sure we can manage this.

Need to do a new menu plan for next week, that will be tonight's job. Think I will introduce a belated New Years Resolution though and that will be to menu plan with an aim to get everybody's 5 a day in somehow. Hmmm, this could get challenging, especially with the eldest. Ho Hum, right I'm off to research what actually constitutes 5 a day.

Continued good luck to everybody else.

Ang x

miggy

I had fun making soup out of odds and ends of veg and it turned out to be a hit! It also used up some bargains that had been in the freezer too long and weren't very appetising - they are fine cooked in butter and whizzed in the blender with a pint of water added.
I also did the main shop starting at Netto then going on to the usual supermarket for things I couldn't get at Netto. I have spent slightly on the low side of what I would usually spend: not a dramatic saving but then I'm not so used to what's good in Netto. There were some good bargains there, though - celery for 39p, aluminium foil for £1.09.
When I find a calculator I will update my signature - I've spent about £55 plus kids' lunch money.

miggy

earthmother wrote:

Now I'm over budget by over £10 - and it's all your fault :rotfl:

This made me laugh, Earthmother - I have been looking at recipe threads and am torn between having a massive cooking spree and buying shares in tinned tomatoes. (I wonder whether Martin would do an article on them?)
Glad you did so well with your shopping - if you can keep that lot hidden from the family you will be well ahead with your future budgets.

Penny-Pincher!!

We have spent quite alot this past week but £50 was on diesel as we have done some travelling and are travelling tomorrow too. We have bought our 6 monthly stuff from Makro (loo rolls, kitchen rolls, fabric conditioner, washing tablets). Also have bought alot of items reduced-well OH has:D

We have loads of food in. Will need fridge stuff and fruit/veg by middle of the week but have a ton of vouchers that I can use in waitrose. As its quite a trek to get there, I may buy as much as possible for the freezer, tins etc as I have about £40 in vouchers that need using soon.

PP
xx

liewe_heksie

Hi everyone,

I am having a great time sticking to my grocery budget, but today I spent £2.25 on a latte from starbucks and £1.70 on some potato chips on the way home. Didn't feel to bad though as I haven's spent any money on food since my week started on the 01st January, so suppose I deserve a treat, the chips were gross though so won't be eating them from that take away again. Tomorrow I will have a day in so won't be spending any money then . Am really proud of myself, and have only spent £3.95 of my weekly grocery money.

:T

hypno06

A great start to the year for me - less than half my weekly grocery budget used and still a freezer and cupboards full to bursting. Hopefully only fruit and veg and some dishwasher tabs to buy this week.

I have a new way of not being tempted in the supermarket - I only take a basket, rather than a trolley. Once you have put a 4pt of milk, some fruit and a week's supply of cat food in there, you can't get a lot more in (plus with milk & cat food my arms are ready to drop off carrying the bloomin thing!) - thereby easily able to resist temptation and saving cash!

Obviously this will not work every week - sooner or later my cupboards will require a bigger weekly shop, but while I am only topping up, it is working for me.

So, anyway, thank you all for focusing my mind on what I really "need" and what I actually already have if only I opened my eyes, and got off my backside a bit!

abbecer

Thanks hypno06 thats a great idea. I would struggle to do it when i have my youngest son with me but if i go without him i will definitely try it.

Rebecca x