July 2012 Grocery Challenge

jedi82

Hi, have been awol again as mum and dad were here til yesterday. OS seemed to go comletely out the window last week but didn't actually spend much as they got a big load of meat in from the butchers.

Have gone straight back to being OS today and have menu planned with whats in the freezer and so shouldn't be a big shop at L!dl this week.

For the first time ever I am 30% thru the month but only spent 25% but I have to be a good girl and not start thinking that I can spend more cos I have more available. I WILL be under budget this month!

On another note, I got a lovely present from my mum and dad, a 'rumpot' which I can make a kind of fruit/rum concoction that is in my wine making book so ccannot wait!
Going to read thru all the posts I have missed :-)

NickJW

Hi All

Have a spend of £4.44 in Mr T yesterday to report on milk, mushrooms and eggs.

I didn't do the Jansens Temptation with Swedish IKEA anchovies on Friday because I opened the pack and they tasted disgusting - they were in some sort of sweet syprup. I didn't want to waste cooking a meal (potatoes, cream etc) on something I knew I wouldn't like. So they were binned - oh well...

Instead I had burger, wraps, hummus and salad (which was supposed to be for today), and tonight I'm just doing a mushroom and parsley omelette with the rest of the salad. I don't feel that I'm being particularly inventive with meals this week, but stuff needs using up...

Lunch today was a Mr W ready made from my online delivery, and will have the other one for lunch tomorrow.

Shouldn't need any more spends until Wednesday now I hope!

I don't know if I will do well this month though because I have 2 weeks of meals in the freezer, still need to buy lunches, and then I want to get another online delivery in before the Olympics start (I think there will be problems because of road closures for the 'VIPS' :mad:)

Florenceem

Hi all - special hugs to those feeling fed up. I have had to watch the pennies all my life - try to be in the mind frame -

It's a great day for being alive!

So many in this world are worrying about whether they will eat today/be able to feed their families - will have they fresh drinking water even.

We should all try - to count our blessings. If you have a roof over your head/some warmth when needed and food/water - you are among the fortunate 2% of the world.

sneakyspender

So true Floscrenceen. Every lent I make the dcs give up all juice,squash and soft drinks (dh and I give up alcohol as well) we send the money to a water charity.

Have to get sugar,cereal and bread. This challenge has made me determined to buy just that (aprox £5). This leaves about £90 for 13 days. Going away for.weekend so next shop monday.

GreenFairy

Just my train ticket today, so that counts as another NSD. Thought I'd have to fork out for lunch as loaded the bread maker last night but forgot to turn it on before bed - boss brought us all out for Subway lunch. Am so stuffed I might not even manage much dinner tonight!

Have started adding a couple of bits to my Mr T shopping basket as a sort of shopping list with prices, and am trying to keep it as small as possible. I find it handy for keeping track of what's on offer and for keeping an eye on the budget, even though I'll be shopping in store. Hoping to get at least another week before I have to go in though.

sneakyspender

Updating sig

forever_saving

I have spent £149.01 so far. Can't believe how quickly i spent that :eek:. It doesn't take long.
Can somebody help, do you have to fry frying steak or can i treat it as braising steak and cook it in gravy? Thankyou in advance. We don't have beef very often so i don't want to ruin it.
Everyone else is doing well.
FS

liz-paul

It would seem that you can reheat fish & chip shops fairly well in the oven. Might sound a bit gross to reheat chips but we had two unopened portions from last night and they made lovely chip butties for lunch!

In_it_not_to_giveitaway

There's nothing like an expenditure spreadsheet, if you are going to be honest with yourself, to open the cost cupboard and lay all the skeletons out.

I have decided to be brutally penal and set myself an entertaining budget (all-encompassing to include the occasional curry, takeaway, DVD, or whatever). I don't drink at home at all, nor do I smoke etc. However, I do have a 'social' pint, aherm. But I have been keeping a record of my last three weeks' entertaining expenditure :eek: and nearly had a coronary!

Though I have noticed that since I started policing my GC budget, my ents costs have dropped quite a lot, especially at the weekend when I tend not to feel like going out after cooking for about 3/4 hours. During the week is much more difficult to control because it is mainly work colleague related.

Anyway - set myself the same budget as for GC - £40 per week and so far it is going to mean a pretty miserable next two weeks. But I don't think there's much point in saving a lot on the GC budget, only to go out more. If I can reduce both by a lot I can be debt free by next Easter.

Sorry about a post that is only marginally GC-related.

Best of luck everyone,

jumblejack

liz-paul wrote: »

It would seem that you can reheat fish & chip shops fairly well in the oven. Might sound a bit gross to reheat chips but we had two unopened portions from last night and they made lovely chip butties for lunch!

We have done that before now!! I reckon they taste better rewarmed too! Especially when you open up a can of Tesco value mushy peas to go on em which are currently 6p:j:T