July 2012 Grocery Challenge

Bluegreen143

No spend day today again, Really quiets down here at the end of the month! Still have 6 days to go myself.

HM fried rice with egg, cashew and veg tonight for dinner, mmmm! Though burnt the bottom of the rice onto the pan so will have some scrubbing to do. It can wait though as I'm off out to see Batman

Suffolk_lass

Bluegreen143 wrote: »

No spend day today again, Really quiets down here at the end of the month! Still have 6 days to go myself.

It does, doesn't it. And I guess the first week of the school hols sees lots of people away and grandparents covering here and there while the parents are at work. Since DH started teaching we have tried to get away straight after he breaks up (resembles that advert with the "School's Out" music with all the teachers jumping in the pool). This year it's just a few days away as we've got a major project underway but I already know we should have gone anyway!

I'm here until his payday Friday but I keep reading and thanking until nobody's posted for a few days before I unsubscribe as it always feels slightly bare and I don't like to think of people asking for help and there not being anyone there. I do start reading "next door" though or you never catch up enough to post!

On a grocery level a NSD here and I've just made half a batch of Twink's Hobnobs and DS has hoovered up three within two minutes of their decanting to a cooling rack :eek:

All the best
SL

mummyyof5

Just added £20 spent today..will need eggs and salad stuff tomorrow.

jasmin10

Thought I would come on an post seeing as I'm going to be doing my last shop of the month today. Cant believe how little we have in the cupboard (2 tins of chopped tomatoes, 3 beans, 2 ravioli, bit of frzn broccoli and 4 fish fingers and one carton of milk) dont think I have ever been able to list what I have in the cupboards as it would normally have been to big to list.

Monday was the first days of hols and proved to be truly awful, mostly down to me being up all night with baby and DD (6) was sooo bored, felt sorry for her as I just didnt feel up to doing anything. Didnt even have anything nice to offer her bad mummy. Then I had an idea of making the banana icecream which went down so well. Yesterday was better as we were out in the garden for the most.

I must admit I was wavering yesterday with the GC, so hot and nothing nice in and feeling sorry for DD(6) as she should be have lots of fun in the hols, ok she loved her paddling pool (rather large one with a water slide) but I feel I should be able to do so much more with her, but obviously funds are limited, especially as DH shifts are changing so will be down £150 from 28th onwards. I realised last night that for the past 3 months I have cooked every single day !!

So whilst on the holidays I'm going to take it a little easier I think, not be so harsh or strict with the budget. I have still done a meal plan for the week and will shop for this and also most importantly stick to it. So I still have my £40 for the week and I have £7 left over from last week (only spent £33 last week). I will get everything I can and any money left I will get a few little extras. I wont be cooking for Tuesday as it's my birthday so asked DH for my birthday present I would like a day off from start to finish seeing as I'm not having a present. Think I will enjoy that more anyhow. So he will be sorting baby out and making for bacon sarnies for brekkie in bed, treating myself to a chinese takaway and a bottle of wine. So I will also have a second shop for next week this being the win and bacon, plus anything cheapie things i see for DD(6) to do.

I must stay strong and keep at it as our bank balance is looking good and we are able to put a little away. first time for a few months that we having used the overdraft.

Will report back spends later before closing off for the month.

Hope every one has a lovely day

p.s. forget to say that I treated myself to a bread keeper that comes with a cutting guide (quite impressed so far, and a new set of kitchen knives (kitchen devi! ones) but they have to go back as you cant get the knives out of the rack once they are on the counter underneath the higher cupboards - gutted as I have been eyeing these up for ages.

Coxy11

Morning everyone,

NSD yesterday and today. Have settled up with 2nd purse and I'm slightly over my GC budget. Will have a few more 2nd purse spends before the end of the month. Hoping to keep out of the SMs though.

Have placed a DR order from 2nd purse of steak mince, pork chops and venison burgers (never had them before so hope they are nice!).

Dinner tonight is a BBQ for the youth club leaders paid for from subs. Last night I made two desserts - baked maple cheesecake and Nigella$ ice cream dessert so just the meat and sides to cook later. Hoping DH will be back from work to assist me

Have a great day everyone.

bossymoo

Updating to add Mr T online :eek: was more than I thought, plus I had a small spend at home bargains getting medical supplies... Suspect I've overshot the target a bit, will add to sig now...

eveie189

Just popped in to declare £399.85/£400 so well pleased with this. This includes 4 takeaways and a grand total of 2 NSD. I would have had more NSD's because I have hardly been in the shops this month but then I always seem to spend in my SP shop. I think in future I will pay the 2nd purse once a week or if I intend spending money anyway. Then I should have more NSD's.

See you all on August thread.

Eveie

meg72

Oh Jasmin so sorry about the knives, I have a set and they are brilliant.

In_it_not_to_giveitaway

Hello all,

Been busy with year end these past two weeks.

Want to report £225.12/£177. This total is based on cash outlay. Although I have increased freezer stock, everything now has price labels on it. Cupboard stock has been depleted so that it is a mix of price-stickered and non-price-stickered items. I know how much the toiletries and fridge items cost from spreadhseet records.

Overall, disappointed. Went in the cafe a few times when snowed under at work and bought items for the freezer that will be used but were an unnecessary cash outlay at the time. It was my first month it serves as a useful benchmark.

For August the budget will remain at £177. With the Olympics right on the doorstep of home and work, this will be a difficult month.

Have just read all the messages. The one that caught the eye was the banana ice cream .

Hope everyone has fun in the sun.

Best regards,

NickJW

NSD yesterday and hopefully NSD today (I have lunch and my housemate is doing dinner), but forgot to add a £5 in M+S on 3 for £5 Orange juice on Saturday.

Will add to signature

Will also need to spend tomorrow