April 2007 Grocery Challenge

poohbear59

happyathome_withmyboys wrote: »

Tracy - I'm married to an ostrich too - he can't understand that even though he is earning less than half the average wage (which was a positive life-changing choice we both made) he can still drink the same premium beer as he used to when we were both earning considerably more than average ... he also cannot understand why I think it is immoral that he wants more than my fruit & veg budget for the whole family for beer... I can't understand that he doesn't understand, so we are at an impasse.
It also doesn't help that 18 months ago I acknowledged that I had a problem with booze - so now I don't drink at all - so of course any comments I make are taken as 'holier than thou' and 'you are worse than an ex-smoker'....
Takeaways are also an issue! I'm tackling that one very very slowly... baby steps in all things!
Don't worry - you've got lots of 'neighbours' here who are only too ready to offer a shoulder and a virtual cup of tea. I had a big baking session yesterday - so if you fancy a total blow-out: just let me know!

Snap, Sounds like my DH and your OH could be twins!! I find it so frustrating to know that my OH is spending more on beer than on grocery budget. We downsized 13 years ago and beer spending has gradually crept up and up. My DH has gradually given all finance planning etc to me but blithely takes out cash that is ear marked for other things out of the joint account. I too am working slowly (baby steps) to reduce his beer spending, but it is hard work. We do not eat out or takeaways but DH felt deprived of his fried chicken so I buy him some from Aldi and on Saturday nights he has his treat. I also make some healthier versions but he prefers the unhealthier!

belfastgirl23

Just trying to get my grocery budget back in check after being away for a week. We brought most of the staples with us and budgeted elsewhere for eating out etc. I'm creeping up on the £150 already but I think will only need a couple of small fruit and veg shops before the end of the month so should make it in around £180 I hope. Will be up on last month though.

Interesting discussion on buying beer - my own DH has a real taste for expensive wine. While I might have a glass here and there he definitely drinks the bulk of it. In the end up we agreed that he buys wine from his own money rather than our joint account. Doesn't work though if you pool all your money

And thanks Mrs Wossinge for the price book tip, I will definitely be doing this having been caught out several times by supposed bargains. Latest is aloe vera loo roll from Lidl. What was I thinking?

poohbear59

I have gone over budget too. Only £2.10 so far but still have to wait 'til 24th for payday. I think I was a little ambitious as we have had a 21st b'day and farewell parties this month. And an extra 21yr old to feed through Easter hols.

Solwaykid

I think I'm up to budget limit this month, daren't look properly and haven't updated my sig. The couple of months I've been doing this I've tried various approaches. 1) only take out a weekly amount in cash - this had it's drawbacks when offers were on or big stuff needed. 2) take the whole month's money out in cash -this month - I've ended up treating it as a bottomless pit and while my cupboards are groaning and the freezer's well stocked there's no cash for perishables left. I also think bad organisation on the catfood front is to blame, daren't even do a breakdown on that! Maybe I'll try a combination of the two in May and put this down to experience.

I do like reading how other folks keep their budget and am miles better than I was but I still think my £120 for just me and 2 cats is plain daft.

lil_me

Could scream at myself. So close to the top end of my budget, didn't need much more shopping but was then informed we were having a bbq and people over last week so had to go shopping. Costs a bloomin' fortune doesn't it.

I have been using a price book, but I need a new one, so many crossings out lately as prices changed so much, unfortunately regular buys like flour etc gone up price books become a tatty scribbly mess. I do use mysupermarket to update with the larger supermarket prices it's just so much easier. Considering a spreadsheet for prices, then can work out on a weeks shopping which ones the cheapest by just editing the file and keeping the original for a base, but haven't had the time lately.

celyn90

happyathome_withmyboys wrote: »

I think the main problem isn't actually the takeaways - it is having a 40-year-old OH who likes being 'naughty'. Still, better the Chinese takeaway than some younger flat-tummied floozie with pelvic floor intact!

:rotfl: I now have a mental image of a noodle in a miniskirt :rotfl:

I'm currently dealing with OH's shopping spree - he didn't buy alot, but I don't know how I'm going to use it up this time. He's worse with the yellow stickers than me sometimes! I have two packs of stir-fry that have to be used today and we had stirfry last night so I don't know what to do with it. I've converted half of one into spanish omelette (having methodically picked out all the beansprouts!) which will do for lunch tomorrow, but as for the rest I really don't know. Might try some spring rolls as I think there are some wonton wrappers lurking in the cupboard and maybe turn the rest into egg rolls? That way OH can have the sweet and sour sauce on his (which he loves!) and I don't have to eat the red slime! I just about managed to wedge the meatballs in the icebox, but they might be a funny shape by the time he gets round to eating them!

helping_hubby

I'm feeling rather pleased with myself as we're doing quite well. Although hubby is cheating because he keeps stealing food from his parents fridge so it's hard to tell if we could have coped without it. It's only been a packet of cheese, a jar of branston pickle and bread. I don't think it's affected us too much, as we could live without the cheese and pickle and the bread only meant we had to bake one less loaf.

Anyway, we spent £16.76 this week, and £4 of that was a mystery shop But I won't take that off. We did also have easter eggs to eat all week, so there was no need to buy any chocolate/biscuits.

Now my challenge is to try and eat healthier, but it's hard healthy eating on a budget.

I'm going to try making a half and half bread, so that will increase the cost of bread as wholemeal flour is more expensive.

I've been looking into dips (going to take carrot/cucumber sticks instead of chocolate ), but making dips doesn't compare in price with the Basics dip pack (94p). This pack will do at least 8 portions, maybe more depending on dates.

EagerLearner

Our challenge this month is going badly - the move at the beginning of the month totally upset the applecart and we haven't recovered. Batch cooked some vegetable marroccan curry yesterday and also some roasted veg for freezer, feel slightly better. This month def £3 or £40 over budget, which blows the last 2 months savings out of the water. Feel really dissapointed and can't believe it's still only 18th of the month - 12 days to go and feels like an eternity! Def baked beans on toast and pesto spaghetti featuring on next weeks meal planner...

WelshWoofer

Hi,
Just a quick post to let you know that I think I am slowly converting the OH! He said last night that when its his turn to pay for the shopping I can do it and he'll just give me his card to pay! This avoids all of the extras and impulse buying that he just can't resist on his way around the supermarket.

Anyway, I caved in last night and bought some chocolate as a treat for us and a reduced cake - total £2.80

The new running total for April is £25.88.
Will need to do a bigger shop this weekend though - am starting to run low on a few bits and pieces and have very little meat left for OH (loads of veggire stuff for me left in freezer).

Still aiming for £100 spend on all food, household and toiletries.
£74.12 to go (I'm skint this month so will try to stick to even less if possible!)

belfastgirl23

rachelmk wrote: »

Hi,
Just a quick post to let you know that I think I am slowly converting the OH!

In the last week my OH has said "isn't that quite expensive" and "there's a mistake on that receipt we should take it back". I am still reeling from the shock. For those of you struggling there may be light at the end of the tunnel!

I don't think I'll ever win the expensive wine argument but he is now seeing that it's stupid to spend money on food you'll throw away or to fritter pointless money on basics like toilet paper when it only takes a minute to check the price Maybe we've found a compromise!!