October 2012 Grocery Challenge

[Deleted User]

pernicious same as xxjoxx really, i have homemade pizzas in the the freezer, also have curry sauces and popadoms, naan bread ready to go into actions, with cooked chicken. The other night i had curry and only had to defrost the chicken breast, and arrange on a plate, add rice (i used cous cous), sauce on top with the extras, took no time. If you wanted to pre-cook stuff for such occasions, there is a book that people rave about called the take away secret, could not add link but go on Amazon and have a look.

Lovelife if you get an Oyster next time you are in London, it will only cost you £3 per day to travel on as many buses as you like, and if you have children under 16, you can apply in advance to transport for london (i think it is) for children oysters and they travel free, trains cost more, but i find buses are quick enough as you dont get massive jams, due to charging drivers to go into the city

Fjell I too have gone over budget in the past, mainly to do with alcohol. I count it in the same budget, because that is how much i want to spend on food and drink for the month and if i want to have a drink, which used to be a take out every week, then i would have to make cuts elsewhere, like eating out of stores, freezer or looking for YS. I have to say i have mainly cut down, but if its part of your lifestyle that you want to be doing, you maybe have a certain amount to be for alcohol. I do have occasions, like family birthdays, where we will go for a meal usually paid for by my parents and then i will get a round in, but i dont count this into budget as its a one off expense. You could try making alcohol, i made a large batch of cider, which was so easy to do, but i ended up drinking more than i usually would and noticed it on the scales, so didnt do that again. Good luck

becksfaz

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?

Although I'm new to this thread, it appears we all do things differently. Some would count this with their grocery budget - but I wouldn't.
We have budgets for EVERYTHING in my house and my grocery challenge budget is purely for my household shopping.
If we went to friends and took wine - this would be out of our 'spending money' budget as like you say, it's entertainment. That way when you consider you had 2 nights out for £11.90, it makes you feel good!!!!
I don't think you're clutching at straws!!!!
Do what works for you - that's the best advice I've read on here x

meg72

Postmand has just delivered, Yay I have a letter from BG to take to the post office and put 130 on my prepaid key, warm home discount, and two leaflets announcing a new Co-op opening nearby, each giving two 5.00 off 20.00 vouchers, 2 for this week 2 for next. Will give one lot to my DD and think I will use mine to stock up on Christmas bits fr pressies.

Well lovely start to my day AND the sun has come out.

meg72

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?

When I go to my Brothers for Sunday lunch I like to take a botltle of wine , as you say you cant go empty handed. I dont count it in my grocery budget though as this is so low anyway. One thing I have found helps is stocking up on wine when on special offer or I have a voucher to use.

Last time I did this I got wine from Aldi on offer and a voucher to use, meant the wine worked out at less than 3.00 a bottle, saves a last minute dash and grabbing a much more expensive bottle.

meg72

becksfaz wrote: »

I'm a newbie to this and not sure whether it's relevant to put this here but made a lovely (cheap) tea tonight and want to share it with everyone:
1 onion
2 cloves garlic
3 baking pots
3 carrots
2 parsnips
cup of peas
cup of sweetcorn
lentils
tin chick peas
2 tbsp curry paste
750ml veg stock
Raisins (optional)
= THE nicest and tastiest spicey veg casserole ever!
Both my kids cleared their plates and we have leftovers for lunch tomorrow and some for the freezer!

Thank you for sharing, I love these kind of posts where people have used up something or been a bit inventive with what they have, smetimes some really great tips are picked up.

xx_Jo_xx

I include wine in my grocery budget, because like some others, that is the total amount I want to spend... When my budget is tight, I simply dont buy any.

When I can afford it, I buy wine on offer or 3 for £10 etc so if I do need a bottle to give to someone or just fancy a glass at home, then there are some there without having to buy a more expensive bottle from the corner shop!

HTH

Godiva500

I will def be over budget this month, even though I have tried hard not to be. I made 2 big mistakes... I ordered from approved foods, "to stock up", ( good value if you have spare money)and I bought in extra ingredients to try 2 new "healthy" recipes! I won't be doing that again - basics only for the next month....

Make-it-3

Made a cake on Sunday and didn't have enough sugar in, so tripped off to MrS earlier than I would have hoped this week. Bought milk too, but had a brand match voucher of £1 so total spend was £1.72 bringing new total to £121.19/£200.

Re: takeaways we have cut right down (even tho they don't come out of this budget) I genuinely think home cooked is better. OH does far more authentic Indian (buy your ingredients from ethnic market - so much cheaper) and he does a scumpcious pizza too. We tend to only buy when we have been busy and find ourselves at say 9 pm and haven't got round to cooking yet.

I might do my weekly shop on Thursday this week, as OH has started nosing around what I've bought at the weekends and asking why we have so much value stuff.

MILLYMOLLY

Hi sorry to post here not sure if it's the right place but I have some turkey steaks .
Has anyone got any good recipes TIA

flubberyzing

I consider myself lucky that neither me nor any of my best friends are real drinkers! Of the 2 I see most often, one is tee-total and the other has stopped drinking completely while trying to conceive.
And I don't really buy alcohol for myself. I might buy the occasional single bottle of cider or sometimes have a vodka and OJ, but I don't like wine or beer! I could easily go tee-total if I needed to for medical reasons.