October 2012 Grocery Challenge

xx_Jo_xx

Pernicious wrote: »

How do you lovely people fight the dreaded takeaway cravings?

I remind myself of how much money Ive not got... :rotfl:

Seriously though, I buy things like pizza bases to keep in the cupboard, or a packets of microwave rice/noodles (normally cheap from H0me Barga!ns).

I also buy packets of curry sauce/prawn crackers etc which lurk around in my cupboard so if I decide I fancy curry sauce and fried rice, it can be done in a few minutes I also used to keep bits from roast chicken leftovers in the freezer, which can be quickly defrosted and cooked up in curry sauce with some mushrooms/peas etc if I fancy something more substantial...

Pizza bases are great for using up leftovers too and although its nothing like having D0min0s, it satisfies my craving for pizza and I feel good for having saved money

I always have mushy peas in the cupboard, so if I decide Im in the mood for Fish n chips, I take it from the freezer and put lots of vinegar on the chips (cos thats what my chippy does :rotfl: makes it more authentic!) and have it with my mushy peas, bread & butter and a mug of tea...

The little extras like prawn crackers etc make it feel like youve had your take away and treated yourself...

I know None of it is the same, but like I said, its close enough to make me happy and save me money...

katholicos

£26 grocery spendies, some of which was for son to take on a camping trip.

lovelife79

well i had a great time in london but since then i have been rather busy so not posted here for a while!

completely lost track of what i have spent on groceries these past few days (nightshift has addled my brain!) so will put a round £20 onto my tally as im sure it wasnt much more than that!!

absolutely skint after london - forgotten how expensive it is just to get around!! and then to add insult to injury i had a flat tyre leaving work the other morning!!! :eek: will get that fixed at the weekend. and then its not to long til my next pay day. so wont be too bad!

however i will have to eat out of cupboards and freezer for next few days! made an attempt tonight with a sloppy salmon fishcake using lo salmon, lo mash potatos, some grated cheese n chilli flakes all mixed up with a bit of flour. no breadcrumbs in the cupboards but gently fried off the mixture and it tasted rather good!

whats more i have 2 left over for packed lunch or dinner tomorrow! :j

fjell

I was doing so well, but as usual, have come a bit unstuck with booze

2 bottles of wine this month at a total of £11.90 have jumped my budget. On both occasions I was invited over to friends' to eat and couldn't show up empty handed.

Anyone have any advice about how they would do this? Eg would you maybe count those spends as from a different budget, as maybe more entertainment than groceries? Or am I clutching at straws to justify my poor budgeting?

[Deleted User]

fjell wrote: »

I was doing so well, but as usual, have come a bit unstuck with booze

2 bottles of wine this month at a total of £11.90 have jumped my budget. On both occasions I was invited over to friends' to eat and couldn't show up empty handed.

Anyone have any advice about how they would do this? Eg would you maybe count those spends as from a different budget, as maybe more entertainment than groceries? Or am I clutching at straws to justify my poor budgeting?

I think this is a necessary and you shouldn't flog yourself for it. There are some points in the whole situation where economising is just not appropriate - manners are more important.

I personally put my eating out spends into my budget because I have a friend I see 2-3 times a month, I have to get food when I am out between shifts at work, and also am trying to get out of the house more - hence my spends. But that's a system that works for me.
If you fancy a glass of wine with dinner - have it! You only live once and no one is going to think badly of you.

Cheers! :beer:

mossy

Well my month has almost come to an end and I had to go AWOL in the end although did work out how much I could afford and pretty much kept to that so I didn't go crazy!!

Will start again on the 20th!

sweetpea26

Morning all

£38 to add from As*a delivery

£9 in Sainsbugs yesterday. Got quite a few yellow stickers so meal plan was changed yesterday. Had reduced cooked ham, reduced Romaine lettuce with onions and home grown tomatoes. Served with home made chips. Boiled a few eggs too. Nice salad for a change.
The 10 slices of good quality ham was reduced to 99p

Local shop has offer on big box Daz which I always use and spent £13 their including some reduced biscuits.

So all in all a good week and on target with the challenge. Hard to believe that we are over half way through the month. The year is flying.

take care all and keep on going.

fedupandskint

Pernicious wrote: »

How do you lovely people fight the dreaded takeaway cravings?

I tried avoidence and chucked out all the menus and took the number's out of my phone and reminded myself how much the takeaway cost and how much cheaper it was to buy a ready meal version instead.

That worked really well and helped me prepare better for that craving. Then after quite a while longer, when I was losing weight I stopped buying ready meals and cooked from scratch. I found an easy version of a curry to make and then froze portions in the freezer for an easy Friday night tea. I took it out to defrost in the morning and stuck to my mantra of 'I know what wI'm having for tea, don't buy anything' to stop me!

I do have the odd pizza in the freezer too for those nights when I can't be bothered - again £3.99 for ready made ones instead of £15 for takeaway version

I just have to remind myself of how much money I have, how much a takaway costs and know I almost always have something in that's better and cheaper and that works for me.

I can't afford it and it takes too much out of my £100 grocery budget!

bossymoo

Eish. Someone needs to take my purse off me
Been to tesco. Huge spend, although mostly non-grocery. Did remember all my coupons and club card vouchers though, so my actually grocery spend was <£20 and I did get the kiddies some half price toys for Xmas, and some winter clothes too. Plus a gift for my friend who just had a baby.

I NEED TO STOP SPENDING

ETA I'm not really fussed for takeaways, but things like uncle bens egg fried rice in the microwave pouch (not mse!) and some curry or stir fry sauce might help. There is a book called the takeaway secret which a lot of peopLe on here say is very good
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Takeaway-Secret-Cook-Favourite-Fast-food/dp/0716022354

katholicos

We never have take aways so we don't have them to miss. It must be hard for those who are used to hving them though. Maybe put a little money aside each week for a monthly take away treat to be purchased, guilt-free?