April 2012 Grocery Challenge

meg72

PennyGrabber wrote: »

I've just worked out my totals, and if I spend £40 next month, I will more or less have caught up with where I am in the year percentage-wise. Wow, that's the stars!!

Make my own bread, water down the milk, eat from the freezer, use what I buy, don't buy too much fruit and veg...

I've actually bought some new plates - the smart price set. They have dinner plates that are smaller. Now, I already use a side plate for my dinner, and this would be bigger, but it would look more spread out, which I like, and I would then have the same plates as the children. So, the old big plates are going to go out into the shed, and I'll have more space in the kitchen. Maybe. No, I will, as it'll free up a whole shelf.

Right, off to work with renewed enthusiasm. Being observed for an inspection today, and have an interview on Thursday that I NEED to get, or I can't afford food come Sept! That's my motivation to not muck it up. I know I could go to another school, but I don't want to!

Have a good day peeps!

PG x

Good luck with the inspection and interview, fingers and toes crossed for you.

I have the same smart price dinner set and find the plates an ideal size and I love plain white, I think the food looks better
and of course easy to match up if you break one.

Need2bthrifty

Oh Dear - I'm getting pretty close to the wire - another shop yesterday to declare = £5.20 for fruit & veg. Just checked my receipt and a cantaloupe melon I bought must have gone through without scanning - Result :j -

I'm left with £1.28 to last me 6 days :j instead of the £0.28p it should have been. I've run out of bread but do have some pitta's in the freezer which will have to do, if I start craving some I will just have to make some scones instead.

So a mini challenge is to see if I can do 6 NSD's and put my whole £1.28 in the money jar :rotfl:

Maisie_M

hi

We have not had a bad month. I have £12 to last me to Thursday and then my new month begins. Managed to get 3 legs of lamb and a big beef joint at easter as they were such a good price. Had one leg of lamb at easter but have the rest for throughout the year. I have done an inventory of the freezer in the utility (part of an american fridge freezer) but need to do the chest freezer that is in the garage so that I can meal plan properly for next month.

I am planning a spend of £350 again for this month. It is a 5 week month for me this month but that should be fine as I have loads in stock.

Will post my final total on Friday morning.

lovelife79

well a spend of £12.51 today which i will be honest and say it was a spend full of rubbish!

went to get frozen chips (to go with all my pile of frozen meals) and paracetamol/brufen for after the root treatment :eek: that i had this morning.

As i am petrified of the dentist, i think i did a bit of comfort shopping! as i bought pre-made tubs of jelly and custard, as well as ice cream, they were all on special, but really not needed! going to blame my post -dental stupor/shock!!

[Deleted User]

I am on my 4th nsd - really do not need anything - not even milk, as i buy the uht stuff, which i store in the pantry.
PennyGrabber I am the same as you with regards spending. I don't really spend loads, but I know that i could do so much better, as my house is brimming with supplies that don't get used, so i am going to join you next month on £40 if that is what you are going to try, or will try anyway, and i will have to use that for salad stuff, cold meats, as i have everything else.

NickJW

Hello all!

A top up of £5.25 in Mr T for some lunch items for the week. I'm sorted for lunches, but unfortunately I will need some extra small spends for veg and milk before I declare next Tuesday.

Florenceem

PennyGrabber wrote: »

My issue with this, Florenceem, is that I know everything you're saying, I'm just not able to follow it!! I get sucked into buying too much, or I cook too much and don't plan a use for the los. I'm just not as disciplined as you!

My new aim for May, is to do as well as you. I know that's like shooting for the stars, but hey, I may hit the moon on the way! So, having had such a terrible month in April (please don't look at the sig!!!), I'm starting afresh with May. No junk, no unnecessary spending, no overcooking unless I know what's happening with the los.

Thanks Flo for your presence here, it's really inspiring.

PG x

Bossy Florenceem will have her beady eye on you this month!
Re los - just get them boxed/bagged up for the fridge/freezer as you serve up the meal.
I shopped yesterday with a list - stuck to it apart from - got a bag of As.. sultanas - 84p - for when I am short of fruit - eat a few for morning/afternoon snack. It is your money - I tend to think - it is my cash - I will do what I want with it - let the sms take it from someone who isn't MSE. I would hope more folk do become MSE.

Florenceem

PennyGrabber - hope all goes well re inspection and interview. Don't know if you are TA/teacher/office in school - 3 of my children are teachers. They must take after me - bossy!

fozziebeartoo

I had 3 NSD's in a row and that makes 10 for April :j

Today spent £1.99 in Co*p (3 handwashes Buy1Get2Free) and £16.74 in Lidl - signature update.

Had the last of my HM bread toasted for brekkie.

Then baked 3 sorts of cookies for charity fund raising thing, so lunch was a white choccie cookie, a Mars bar cookie and a Snickers cookie......or possibly 1 or 2 more

Tea was egg fried veggie rice and a shop bought chicken korma - I didnt enjoy it at all!!

I am so used to my tasty home cooking now, that what I was considering a "treat" was actually tasteless and boring compared to my usual homemade teas these days.

So boohoo for not enjoying tea but woohoo :T for my cooking from scratch!

And I daresay another Snickers cookie will cheer me up!!

rising_from_the_ashes

Ohhhhh my - I'm way behind on the thread - had no internet for nearly a week :eek: (tried - unsuccessfully - to change ISP.... now back with my original one:mad:) may not quite manage to catch up

Anyway, I'm going to be over budget (again:() - not by a lot but still ...... hoping (fingers crossed) that the budgets start to balance out a bit soon (toiletries stocked up until end June & a few bits for the rest of the year) so I have no need to spend a lot in May either!

Will be joining Pennygrabber on trying to spend as little as poss in May:T (freezers & cupboards are just about overflowing:o) but it will be more than £40 as my milk spends will be over £30:eek: - will have a think / stock take over the next few days and try to come up with a realistic figure and post it on the May thread.