September 2012 Grocery Challenge

Longships

I would like to start this for September please with a budget of £180. Have spent way too much on groceries etc the past 2 months due to school holidays and visitors staying but my cupboards and freezer are well stocked now.

Billie-jo

[QUOTE=XSpender;55467751_DH_asked_me_if_we_had_run_out_of_lunch_things_today_as_I_had_padded_out_his_lunch_box_with_a_few_odd_bits._It_wasn't_so_much_run_out_as_I_don't_know_what_to_put_in._He_has_either_sandwiches/Ald1_ready_meal/jacket/HM_chilli_and_3_fruit._He_says_he_doesn't_want_chocolate_biscuits_because_he_wants_to_lose_weight_and_the_yogurts_I_put_in_he_never_eats_or_gives_them_away_and_if_I_buy_crisps_he_scoffs_a_12_pack_in_3_or_4_days:eek:_He_doesn't_really_like_sweet_things_so_I_am_at_a_loss_really._Any_healthy_ideas_please_????_[/QUOTE]

how about putting in his lunch box some pasta salad, rice salad ,naan breads, wraps with cooked chicken & salad, chicken legs or pieces, pizza slices, something like a pasty or quiche, scotch eggs, a ploughmans type meal. Does he have access to a microwave if so put in some jkt potato that just needs reheating and something to go on it chilli, curry etc.

xxlouisexx56

Can I be put down for £230 this month please. More than last month as there are a lot of special offers on lunch box fillers at the moment so want to stock up for my 2 girls.

I plan to empty my freezer to do more batch cooking for them, we have tonnes of chicken at the moment.

Suffolk_lass

Just a quick post to say well done to happy chick! Your signature shows you are really getting to grips with your debts. Fantastic job!

I bought a beautiful rib of beef joint last week. Last night I cut two rib steaks off and then froze the remainder which will do a future roast, cold with salad and possibly minced with breadcrumbs, onion and tomato if any left over!

Jennypennysaver and others, I dye my own hair but I also have a touch up kit which includes a mix bottle so I divide the dye in two now my hair is short so I mix the second half when I need to re-dye. As my cap is grey I go slightly lighter than my original colour as my skin tone has changed as my hair has lost its' original - that way it looks more natural. I don't mind if a little grey shows through, it just looks more natural.

Good luck everyone, it's like January again with everyone joining after the holidays!
SL

sneakyspender

Hello all. Back from a.wonderful break very money saving too.
Unfortunately already spent £97 (£54 Mr T delivery, £14 butcher and £32 Mr M)..But well stocked now so going for£300for september (until 22nd) including what I have already spent. This includes food,tolietries and house hold goods for 2 adults and 2children aged 5&8. We all take a packed lunch so 28 meals a week.

Suffolk_lass

Just took delivery of 2 x 25k sacks of flour and a box of yeast sachets that will last all winter. Bought the beautiful organic Bacheldre Watermill flour - wholemeal and strong white. Just have nowhere to store them. DH already spotted them and asked if the siege was imminent... Like Helen Jelly I expect the prices to rise. I have some pasta and flour but must still get another sack of rice, oil and dried beans/pulses. I already have full larder drawer of cans (tomatoes, B-beans, borlotti, chick peas and condensed soup).

I am planning to only need meat, fish, eggs, dairy and fresh fruit and veg. The freezer is full of frozen runner beans now and I think we are additionally feeding the whole sheltered complex where D-MIL lives - third trug-full being taken there tonight!

I've started following the coupons thread and have some printed but only for the brands of things I know we use - finish DW tabs, puppy-brand moist tissues (great for a quick wipe up in the bathroom), kanco coffee (prefer the douw brand really). The illusion of preparation.

We've got tons (literally) of apples this year but they are all really small. Might make sauce and apple butter rather than just prepping and freezing (and giving away).

Hope to go plum picking this weekend as there's a fruit farm nearby with a Victoria orchard. Our little tree (planted Feb '12!) had 3 and they are yum. We have about 12 Czar trees but extensive pruning last year means there is much less fruit than normal. Same with the gages and damsons. Still loads of strawberries and raspberries though. Well worth planting soft fruit bushes and trees. After the initial outlay; fantastic.

Going to a party later joint 50th. It will make a change to be out socially.

Take care
SL

prophecy_grrl

Hi all

I'm aiming for £100 for September - This is a very tight budget of £25 per week as it's a 4 week month for me, but I have to pull out all the stops as I need to save as much money as possible.

Good luck all :cool:

p_grrl

jumblejack

I am declaring this week to be over budget at £38.15 total.

As I did last week, I am going to penalise myself next week. Tomorrow I will put £10 on my total immediately which leaves me £20. I don't like to fail but will recoup the overspend.

I bought a few bottles of wine which were too cheap to say no to. There were lots of vouchers that expired today so I had to redeem them. I am bursting at the seems with incredible stocks now in my pantry, shed and 2 freezers.

I will update sig but reset it with a £10 penalty tomorrow.

[Deleted User]

sjprmc01

Soworried wrote: »

Would it not be better to just set yourself a new budget starting from today to last until your next pay date? It might stop you blowing out any worse. x

Thats exactly what i was going to post.

Helen Jelly - re stocking/stuff going up, i think the food crisis will probably affect meat prices as loads of livestock are fed wheat, etc.

Soworried

Flo hasn't been on in around 6 weeks. I am very concerned.
Does anybody have any real life means of contact?