October 2012 Grocery Challenge

WantToBeSE

My budget only lasts another 2 days, but i will need to go food shopping tomorrow.
I can't believe how quickly the months are flying by!
With this months budget, i have managed to pick up a few Christmas bits and bobs, but i'll really need to get a move on with it!

meg72

Spent 15.00 in Asda on reduced meat and veg. Very pleased with what I go as all half price or less, but am seriously considering if its wotth the risk to life and limb.

The reduced cabinet is quite small and there is really only room for two people at a time to look,Iwaited patiently for my turn but a man behind me reached over my shoulder and I got smacked in the face with a 6 pack of salmon steaks as he hauled it out. never even said sorry just went away quick.

fedupandskint

£19.90 spent in sainsbo's yesterday meaning wI have gone over budget for Oct.

Never mind I'll try hard to come in on budget next month and its a start for me to come in around £120 instead of the £100 budget set. Usually when I've set this budget before I've given up halfway through the month.

xx_Jo_xx

tattycath wrote: »

Please can I have some suggestions for a reasonable budget for a family of 5 for a month to include groceries and cleaning products, toiletries etc.
Thanks x
As it stands I think we probably spend about £400 ish :eek: + takeaways.

Hey tattycath,

Its difficult to tell you how much you should be spending because every household is different. I only have me and DS (10) here so its hard to compare. I base my budget on available cash! And obviously would still like it to be less, so that I would be left with more available cash

If you think that you are spending £400 + takeaways, why dont you set your budget at £400 this month and then make sure you count every penny you have spent (inc takeaways, or you can count them up seperately if you want.) Cutting out takeaways will save you a fortune right away, so maybe pizzas for the freezer, or make your own curries?

As you go through the month, take note of what you have at home and think pratically about what you actually NEED to buy to make meals. Make a meal plan and a shopping list of what you need and when you go shopping, Stick To It! (Thats my biggest downfall). Or buy online, then you cant be tempted by what you see instore. If you do go to the SM, I would also advise you go shopping alone...

Because you are more aware of what you are spending, you will be able to spot ways that you can save/cut back etc. Then when you get to the end of your first month, you will have a better idea of what you are spending and what you really need to spend.

The first month is the toughest, because unless you count up all your receipts for the month, you dont actually know what you are spending... You think you know! But my experience was that I didnt know at all! So dont worry too much about your figure for this month... See how much you have spent at the end of November and make a plan then

A few spends for me...

Went to Ald! for some veg etc then to Mr A... Spent a bit more than I wanted to cos I had Bratfink with me :rotfl: But I did buy lots of veg and stuff for the freezer. I bought chicken legs too, which should do a few meals for us.

Then Ill buy mince (along with milk and fruit) at the weekend, which will also do a few meals and should comfortably see us through next week Shall update spends in a sec xx

WantToBeSE

Morning all, i am off to Lidl this morning to do my food shop.
I am a bit disappointed with lidls offers this week. I normally base my weekly meal planner around what meat they have on offer, but they only really have deiced chicken on offer.
I will buy their gammon joint and use that instead, for a roast...but does anyone know if i can do the same with gammon as i do with a chicken, which is cut it up and use the leftovers for stews, curries, stirfrys etc?
I cant see any reason why not, but you never know

xx_Jo_xx

Im sure Ive read others have used Gammon for pies, stews, curries etc... Im sure you must be able to

ETA: Asd@: £45.40
Ald! : £ 7.75

Total spend £192.45

NickJW

Really need to stop spending! :mad:

59p in the corner shop
£1 in Mr S
£16.88 in Mr W (but this was mainly on desperately needed items inc mouthwash on 3 for 2, half price deodorant, half price cheese, pasta and sugar. Also got some lunch items for lunch today).

Still need to go to Mr S this morning though to get chilli's and mangetout which I forgot from Mr W

Had meatballs, with a HM basil and tomato sauce last night. Tonight will be beef stir fry with chilli, basil (needs using hence a few dishes with it!) and oyster sauce, served with rice and mangetout.

TGI Friday - that's all I can say!!!

katholicos

Yesterday, for the first time, i made the weetabix cake. Made 2 actually. 1 sliced up and in the freezer, the other one was devoured by me and dd and by norty pup who ate a piece that had been left, momentarily, by a cup of tea!

It is so good and so incredibly easy to make and bake ( i have no cooker!) just a combi microwave thingy i inherited. I am going to be making more later as i have lots of crumbly weetabix bits to make use of- the cheaper weetabix types seem to fall apart very easily....but they all go down the same way.

Think i will vary the recipe adding chocolate chunks to some too, should be yummy!

[Deleted User]

Katholicos am loving the sound of that cake. Just a quick update, have £3.96 to add to total, which was on YS yesterday. I have updated sig.

Suffolk_lass

tattycath wrote: »

I posed a question for help on here the other day-got lots of thanks but no help whatsoever-so I didn't want to read and run.

Many of us thank as we read so that we know where we are up to, not specifically to thank for the content.

For my part, where I am catching up on several days' posts on Friday morning, I have learned to read on because frequently the moment to respond is gone and others have already done so. Not my tips, but lots of other ideas. I've just read the post where the turkey steaks are already gone so little point in replying. She isn't a regular so who knows if she would pop back to read - well that is my rationale anyway

SL