January 2007 Grocery Challenge

chewy62

Didn't do as well as I planned in Mr. T's today, even though I left my 4YO DS at home! Spent £80 instead of £50!!!!!
Did buy 2 x chickens which I will stretch as far as possible and also bought lots of healthy fruit and veg to do soups to freeze for lunches. Should have enough meals for rest of the month, just need top ups of fruit, veg,milk,bread,ham and cheese!

MonstersMummy

Well I've done really well today, have spent nothing at all but have gained a meal for next week, 2 days of lunches and a massive cake, as well as being able to knock cheese off my shopping list!!

My family came over for dinner but as it was short notice (sat am I was told!!) they brought most ingredients with them. All I provided was a HM bechamel sauce, a HM garlic foccacia, some herbs from my garden and a couple of tins of toms. Family of 7 fed to bursting and I get all the left overs!!!!

Dont want to be tempting fate but my shop tomorrow should be about £11! Woohoo!! And I have no kids in tow, although they are now pretty good and wont ask for everything in site anymore!!!

Kazonline

As there's nearly 200 posts since I joined this challenge this month I've not been able to read through and see how everyone is doing, but I do hope it's going well. I take it most are updating daily? I think I'll probably do it weekly - I keep track daily by reporting in on the 'what have you spent today' thread on DFW. Just thought I'd let you know that I am still taking part as I have been known to wander way off track by now. Yep, I know it's only been a few days, lol.
Best wishes to all
Kaz

House_Elf_2

Hi Guys!

I have finally found the Grocery Challenge thread after a week of looking! My New Years resolution is to join in this months challenge. So here goes.

Two adults, 3 children (13,11,5) and a dog, cat, chinchilla and 2 fish.

I thought a nice round £100 a week would be a good start. Total receipts for this week were £85.93. Felt slightly smug until I realised I should have included todays 'Big Shop' which took the total up to £138.68. Ho Hum.......

Slightly cheered up by 'money off coupon' total of £10.70.:T

Must try harder!!

jcr16

i not spent a penny today. but while hubby was out on a call out he stopped at shop and got bread , milk and baby wipes as we were low . he used money that he was given as a tip. so i don't think i am gonna count this in with my budget. um not sure ? should i ?

anyway as for the huge chicken i cooked. it did 4 meals. ( one of which is in the freezer. as i have done a meal planner for 2 weeks. so will use it after that date) i could of make it 5 meals. but my daughter stunned us by liking sweet and sour chicken. so we let her eat as much as she wanted.i am so chuffed.:T

i am going to have to buy some fruit on tuesday. and bottle of squash.also some eggs.i sure there will be a few other things on the list by tuesday tho. but hey still doing loads better than i thought i would.

donnajt

Morning All,

Thank you for the welcome loumac!

I did my first shop today and I spent only £35.09 and £2 on Tesco Saver Stamps, so grand total £37.09

DH's deodorant brand was half price so picked up 6 cans - normally buy 2 a week so have made a saving of £5.52 and haven't got to buy any for the next 3 weeks - happy days!

8th Jan-8th February
08 Jan Tesco £37.09

good start but just need to keep out of the shops until next Tuesday LOL!

MonstersMummy

I'm doing well so far, todays shopping....£10.53!!! Yippeee!!

Almost £5 under budget last week and £9 this week!!! I can do money saving, me!!! :T

MissMuppet

I haven't spent anything since Saturday and I've also decided that I'm going to seperate my lunch money from my grocery money. Will keep my monthly grocery target at £150 for this month and then my lunch money will be £15 per week. See how things go and then reduce it next month... Need to make some adjustments to my spreadsheet at home then I'll update my signature.

BusyGirl

Second week and I'm still inside the budget!
I was really good today and only spent £3 more than I intended to. My total spent so far is only £73 out of a budget of £200 for the month and as I do my food shopping only on a monday, I've only got two more mondays left (get paid around 26th this month).
It seems to work for me if I:
1. work out what I already have in the kitchen
2. write a meal plan
3. write a list and stick to it
4. pay with cash not plastic
5. shop in Aldi first then get bits in Asda/Tesco

I'm hoping to stay inside the budget and I might even be under it!

carinska

Please can anyone help a struggling newbie?!

I'm looking for ways to get the cost of my weekly shop down. I always meal plan, and next week i have roughly planned this:

Fri: HM burgers
Sat: out for tea yum yum
Sun: roast chicken, potatoes and veg (making soup and pasta for lunches with leftovers)
Mon:Sausage casserole
Tue: Quiche from freezer & veggies
Wed: something with eggs!
Thurs: baked potatoes
Fri: pizza, with dough from BM

I do my shopping online at Tesco, I know it would be cheaper to go to Lidl but ours is quite far away, also I always pick up stuff I don't need. I find shopping online makes me stick only to my list!
I buy loose veg and own brand stuff, my shopping list basically only has the ingredients for the above on it, plus milk and some loo roll etc. Oh, and fruit, we eat loads of that, but not grudging that! There are only 2 of us in the house. Each week I meal plan, hardly ever buy biscuits etc, just cooking ingredients. I buy in bulk when there are specials on, but we only have a tiny freezer. Anyway, overall I think I am quite sensible, so....
...why why why why can't I get our weekly shop below about £40-£50?

I am in awe of these people who are quoting £80 a month for a family of 4!! I feel like a total spendthrift! Please help!

PS I work FT so does hubby - much as I would like to be a total Old Styler I am never going to have time to hunt round loads of shops for bargains etc!