January 2012 Grocery Challenge

JIL

I will be changing my name to 20% over as it suits me better. Im over £218 /£180 so over by £38. No excuses I just cannot resist buying something if I deem it a bargain.
It happened today in Sainsburys we get the first 15 mins parking free but after that theres a refundable charge. I parked and ran in. I was buying a packet of their basic tortilla chips and a bag of basics salad.
Came out with 3 quorn ready meals as they were 3 for 2, salsa, sour cream dip, cheese and onion rolls, cooked meat, birthday cards and fizzy drink on top of what I went in for, all done within my 15 mins. £15 gone just like that.

I made fahitas for tea for the carnivores and I really fancied a quorn lasagne hadnt had one for ages and didnt want to go to all the effort of making one just for me (thats why i easily succumbed in sainsburys) What a disappointment it was. What do they put in ready meals to give it that plastic taste? No wonder there was so few calories in it, there was nothing to it. To top it off it was so hot I burned the roof of my mouth.


Next month my budget which I have already posted will be £180 and no ready meals, absolutely none, not even bargain ones.

boultdj

Crowdpleaser wrote: »

Hmm have a load of pouting in the freezer what to do with it? Suggestions? Gotta be dairy free and tomato free. Am so bored of just baking or pan frying it!

X

How about fish pie, fish cake's or fish curry.

wannabee_in_credit

I'm sorry I've not been on for a couple of days so am way behind with this. But I've done my last shop for January and can declare that I've gone over budget. And spent £270.66 for January. I'm not as disappointed as I thought I'd be because £20 over wouldn't be a patch on how far over I would have gone if I'd not been budgeting. Already submitted my £200 budget for Feb. If I go over again I might up it to £55 a week by March.

luvabargain

My first ever grocery challenge. Budgeted £450 (£90 a week) and have ended the month on £374 saving a massive £76!!! Can't quite believe it! I know my budget is high compared to a lot of you on here but i had to start somewhere. Hoping to be under budget (setting £90 a week for February again) and will be trying really hard as not nearly as much in freezer now so will be trickier to come in under this.
I am now a dedicated Ald* shopper lol.
Good luck everyone x

Rainy-Days

Spent £44.79 at Tesco on Wednesday just gone.

Declaring again for February a budget of £200.00 as we have a butchers shop to do as well which will bump it up!

Tabbitha

Hi, I haven't updated in a while, but I'm currently under budget with 4 days to go at £254.29 / £300, must admit it's been hard going, but enjoyable at the same time. We've had 2 of our childrens birthdays and made cakes for each, it just the preparation and being organised, but it's certainly paying off, my poor breadmaker is churning out a loaf a day and the kids love all the different varieties of cookies, tarts, cakes, rice puddling and all sorts of savory recipes I tried. BIG thanks to the recipe list at the beginning of this thread, my main source of inspiration. Think I will stick at £300 per month as my grocery challenge limit seems just about doable and I'm saving approx £700 a month as opposed to what I used to spend!!! Well done everyone

mumwithamission

Really struggling to stay on top of the thread - that in itself makes me feel like I'm failing. Need to do some sums before I can update my spends and plan Feb's budget. Does anyone else find a greater temptation to spend at certain 'times of the month'? I swear that for one week a month I'm driven to spend arghhhhh :eek:

MissOrganised1972

mumwithamission wrote: »

Really struggling to stay on top of the thread - that in itself makes me feel like I'm failing.

I know exactly what you mean. In previous months it's been my bed time read but this month it has all moved too fast. If you miss a day, there is just no catching up!

So, based on the above, I am sorry if this question has already been asked and answered but is there a February challenge because I can't seem to find it? Thank you

mumwithamission

I'm a newbie to this - I kind of thought it would just become the Feb Challenge, but I hadn't really thought about it - maybe that happens on 1st...? A wiser GC'er will advise I'm sure.

Florenceem

I had a NSD here.

I made Onion, Walnut & Mushroom Tarte Tatin tonight for the first time. I had this when I stayed with my Son/family. It is a GF Mag recipe. MR F thought it was delicious - but then he says that about everything I cook!
The plates are looking tired - must be 30 years old - belonged to Mr F before we met! Well - if it ain't broke - don't fix it!

We had some Cous Cous and Salad with the Tarte. I made the Rough Puff Pastry. I have enough left for two more meals.