September 2011 Grocery Challenge

minicazzybee

Wonderful, thank you for having me.

Just to introduce myself, I'm a 27 single working mum with an almost 2 year old little boy. I work as a chef in a children's nursery which is fabulous, and an added bonus means I get leftovers to take home freeze, so my little boy has proper meals all the time. Money is a bit tight at the moment what with Working Tax Credits being reduced, so I'm always looking to make my budget stretch a bit further, whilst not relying too heavily on £1 frozen pizza's!

I have quite a full freezer already this month, so think that £60 is a realistic and acheivable target for my grocery shopping this month.

Did my monthly 'big shop' this afternoon at A!di and spent £26.88 which I think was pretty good considering I got toilet paper/washing liquid/laundry powder as well. Stocked up on fruit and veg too, so my fridge is looking very healthy!

I haven't done a meal plan previously (although I do at nursery to plan the children's meal a week in advance) and tend to leave it to what I fancy on the night. I'm really going to try make an effort to do a bit of forward thinking in order to make sure I don't have cupboards and freezer full of foods, but unable to make a complete meal out of it!

recovering_spendaholic

Spent £13 in Sainsbobs earlier on dog food, puppy pads, poo bags and some reduced milk and salad stuff. I also got a packet of their irish sausages which were only 95p but I don't know if they will be nice - I am going to use them to make sausage stuffing for with our Roast chicken tomorrow night. Then I went to the little Tesco because I had forgotten bread rolls for lunchboxes and spent another £7:eek: - I bought the bread, some half price dried fruit (impulse), some value midget gems and half price skittles (impulse and totally not needed) and really I only went in for the bread! So another £20 to add to my total and only £40 to last until next Monday!

annem38

evening all, not been on all week but still been trying to be a good mse'r (is that even a word??) anyhoo, have come in at 36.21 for the week which is good from the point of view that i am on 50quid a week, but not so good after such an overspend the week before, sooooooo am now at 174.69/200, so with a bit of luck i should get back on track this week, just need to stay away from the shops (gosh is it really that easy?)

am also trying to use up stuff in the freezer, bit of a joke really as i can barely shut the door on it i have had that many whoopies recently, but need to clear it out so it can be defrosted (annually is good enough isn't it) and then fill it up again with xmas goodies, don't cook dinner but will be having about 10-14 for a buffet on boxing day (take it in turn with 3 other families) and want to get as much done before as poss, also i don't want to spend a fortune on going to marksies like i know one of the other familes does!

right must go and finish the veg soup i have simmering on the stove, which together with my HM hoummous means i at least have lunch sorted for the next few days, yum!

anne

freakyogre

I've been slacking at updating on here lately, I must get back on track again!

From what I can remember I have spent the following: -
Last Sunday - £3.95 at Sainsburys on cream, butter, chocolate and digestives (guess who made a cheesecake!) - estimated using current prices online as haven't got the receipt anymore
Thursday - 50p on strawberries at Tesco
Friday - £1.52 at Lidl - soup, angel delight and biscuits
Friday - £4.00 at Farmfoods on toilet rolls

I will try harder from now on!

cattysmum

Hello peeps just reporting a couple of spends chicken at tescos x 2 bits and bobs =£11 and Morribobs 18.61. I also picked up a breadmaker for £12.00 and some Beer for OH but not including them in my monthly challenge, cant wait to try breadmaker, I feel like a real thrifty group member now!!!

tessie_bear

hi....we had the second half of the m and s meal deal for lunch and tea out....i have got to make a meal plan for the week and i need to use up a few leftovers that are lurking in the fridge...

just made ajelly up for pud tomorrow....a cheap pudding and as sugar free quite healthy....need to write a shopping list for aldi tomorrow as need some veg...might get some extra carrots and make a carrot cake...lovely

take care tessa

sproggi

Had a good day today,
managed to keep to my planned nsd,
DD2 had fun making her nan a birthday cake
and then, despite it being her birthday, my mum gave me
a present!!
a new breadmaker :j
Love her to bits

OH has been warned that if he knocks this one off the side, it won't just be the breadmaker that will be replaced :mad:

Now looking forward to giving it a full workout

Sproggi

FoxFace

Kept to my NSD as planned

Made three lots of biscotti, to last us throughout the week (maybe longer)... mixed fruit & spice, honey & sesame and mocha :heartsmil

Also made lamb casserole for dinner, but some of the stock and veg were left over, so I shall blitz in the blender and turn it into a soup for mine & hubby's lunch tomorrow

Have had a lovely relaxing day, and became an auntie again yesterday as my sister had a little boy... so exciting! :beer:

Winged_one

I never made it up north so I want to spend a fair bit doing a stock up in Mr D in the next forthnight, so that I'll get 10% back inthe Christmas mailing and otherwise keep it low enough. I already gained the max back in Mr S (well, I spent €140 to get €14 off on 2 of the 4 possible weeks). But I went to the local butcher, fruit and veg shop and small supermarket this weekend as we didn't need a lot.

angelatgraceland

poppy-glos wrote: »

Can anyone advise me if the tesco value is ok? or has anyone worked out if powder is cheaper?

poppy x

Well I am thinking you mean the value packs of custard costing approx 6p per packet? They say they will make 3/4 a pint but unless you like it watery only make it up to half a pint. I keep them as standbys as they are so quick to make but theres nothing like custard made from custardpowder and milk! whether you buy Birds or Tescos own I don't think it matters-I've used both and I only ever used to buy Birds. The packet ones(value)have a taste I can only describe as "skimmed milk" and I prefer a creamier taste but they are a good backup for your cupboard. Try a few but it is a matter of taste.
Ive returened to Weezls site and printed off some more recipes and made the bacon and onion pudding today except that I turned it into chicken,bacon,mushroom and onion pudding! I had a lot of chicken still from 2 days ago and had to freeze the last breast portion so as not to waste it. DH DS DD had chicken curry for lunch, I had herby bread and cheese. For tea we had the Chicken and bacon pudding with boiled pots,carrots and corn on the cob with a few very thinly sliced pots(cooks quicker). I made 2 of the "puddings" and have also made the pepper and tomato pasta dish which is also on the site ready for tomorrows tea. Just cooked up the last of my bacon I bought yesterday to make DD sarnies for college. Asda order resubmitted with a few changes after looking at the shopping lists on Weezls site-deleted the meat from the order as I don't have room in the freezer and I have a couple of non meat meals lined up and I realy do not need it. shame I can't stock up on the bogof chickens I believe are on offer in Mr T as Ive nowhere to put them! Tin stock is going down in my cupboards as I am buying less tinned foods so I am realy pleased with that. DH says "stock up on tins" I think-NOOOO but he simply does not understand :male::D:rotfl: