January 2012 Grocery Challenge

sonastin

I've got £16.61 left in my January budget and a growing list of things we've run out of. Wasn't feeling too bad about that because I reckoned we could last until the end of the month but OH has just phoned to ask if I can pick up teabags on the way home from work. Apparently we've gone through 160 in under 3 weeks - and I'm at work 5 days/week!

So I've been canny- I've prioritised what we need first of the shopping list, been onto mysupermarket and figured I can get most of the urgent stuff for £16.60. If their pricing is right, I resist the urge to stock up on anything else and I don't need to visit the supermarket again until Feb, I should come in a whopping 1p under budget for January. Not bad seeing as 2011 averaged about £80 over budget :rotfl:

Wish me luck - I'm off to Mr T to see if I can find everything on my printed list... and nothing else honest :T

scotmumof3

:)Hi can I join for FEb please going to go with£280 this is for 27th jan til 23rd feb thanks

Cool_Nanna

Sorry I haven't got time to read back through all the posts as I have a lot of stuff going on at home at the moment.

I have been to Mr T's today, the first time I have been in a supermarket since last Friday. I only went in to top up my phone and ended up splashing out on an impulse buy, wait for it.........22p.:rotfl:

I popped into the local butchers yesterday for some eggs and a couple of slices of bacon, so that is all I have spent since last Friday.

I am officially £4 under budget and that is without too much effort.
I have put the £4 onto my club card ready for Christmas.

I have found that doing the GC, meal planning, baking etc has helped me take my mind off the crap happening here.

I am going to budget for £300 in February.

meg72

hex2 wrote: »

Some interesting recipes/menu planner on the potato council website:

http://www.lovepotatoes.co.uk/recipes/budget-meal-planner/

Leek and camembert risotto for dinner, a new to us recipe and rather nice.

Thank you for sharing this, some really nice,frugal recipes on here

mi_jardin

I spent £3.20 today. I got a just over 3lb apples and 1.5lb lychees form the market for £3, and got a bone from the butchers for stock for 20p. Just £3.16 to last tomorrow! Still, there is nothing I need, so unless I find some cheap fruit or veggies at work tomorrow that will be it for January!:T

mrs-moneypenny

spent £15 in Te5c0 needed cooking oil and loo roll and got some cheap ready meals for rush teas for eldest DS when hes dashing off early

moneysaver13

Nearly achieved 3 NSD's in a row but came across some M&S muffins reduced to 50p. Had one at lunch and froze the rest. My trouble is that I work 7mins from the high street and if I stay in work at lunchtime people think its acceptable to still give me jobs so l always take my full hour, however when it's warmer I will sit in the park! Whilst its cold I walk around the shopping centre, but I am learning to be controlled and just look. Meeting a friend for lunch tomorrow so will just have a drink, and I might be able to have a free one if I can find my completed loyalty card. Have a good evening everyone!

Florenceem

Another spending day here. I had to visit my Dentist and on the way home is Al.. I was good - only spent £3.85. Then I walked into town but stayed out of shops - just cancelled DDs for mag offers.

meg72

helen_jelly wrote: »

Afternoon everyone

I've been closing my eyes to what we are spending this month so decided to do the banking today - to say I feel sick is an understatement. I can't even type the figure down its so gross! I chose to do this GC to make DH and I aware of what we are spending. I upped the budget to include other things - big mistake - HUGE MISTAKE. I kidded myself that the new budget was just for food - gone over that and some.

So for Feb I am going back to the food only budget, I'm doing the banking on a daily basis and DH is fully onboard with buying only what we absolutely have to - we'll be bankrupt within a few months if this continues. Kids are suffering too - they need new uniform etc and I haven't got the money [could feed them for a month of Sundays if needed] and I'm baking more

Ta ra for now - I need to sit down now - feeling rather faint, coffee needed to survive the shock of how glutinous [sp?] we've become

Helen x

Awwww Helen dont feel bad,so you have invested in food, use it up now and release your cash.I am sure if you take note over the next month the stocks you have in have increased in value, i.e. prices
are increasing so much that what you have in is a real bargain.

Use it now and liberate some cash. I am still using corned beef bought god knows when at 50p and big tins of salmon that were a£1 (now nearer £4).

Good luck love,February is going to be a fab month for you.

Fiasco55

Picked up some more yellow stickered food. Large pack tomatos 50p, twin pack cos lettuce 50p, chunky chips 50p. Also got some pasta, cooked meat, bread, milk and some fruit and veg.

Total £2.67 & £7.24

I have went over budget this month but on reflection I think I set the amount too low as I have been taking advatage of some bargains for the freezer. Oh well...live and learn. Nearly done for this month so will try again in Feb.