December 2012 Grocery Challenge!!!!! REALLLY?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Bluegreen143

Hope everyone is in the Christmas spirit - I certainly am! Last day in the office yesterday (have to work at an event on Sunday but will get a day back in lieu after Christmas), I've had my work do & Secret Santa and last night met my grandparents and exchanged presents (they go down South for Christmas).

My nana went completely overboard and as well as money, me and my sister got loads of goodies, including Jamie's 15 minute meals , a fluffy dressing gown (the one thing I'd asked for lol), pyjamas, socks, tights & undies, makeup, perfume and a lovely toiletries bag stuffed with goodies!! We gave them one of our homemade hampers plus some wee bits, it's the first hamper we've given out this year

So Santa has already made his first stop for me! I'm quite unstressed this year as decorations are up, flat is tidy, presents are all bought and wrapped, hampers are made up - all I have to do is get some whisky for OH and make mince pies!

No grocery spends yesterday, OH bought some bread this morning for his mum's toast (she's staying with us just now) but I'll need to check with him how much it was. Hope everyone else is doing well and enjoying the season!!

Billie-jo

Now up to £147.71 but think that is it. Cant think of anything else that is needed but have more than enough left in the GC if so.
We have plenty in and if I have forgotten something then its just tough, I am sure that we will not starve because of it. My bread is ordered and paid for and will be ready for picking up Monday morning.

I will NOT be out Christmas eve looking for ys items as just couldnt stand the crowds and the hassle of it. Have no where to put it even if I did get something.

Not sure if will be spending anything between Boxing day and New Year so will not declare yet but am going to have a think about January budget. There is lots in and should be lots of left overs so need to think. We ususally go for £240-260 but am thinking of £200 for Jan. Will decide then post on the new thread.

Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy and debt free New Year to everyone. x

she_who_can_not_cook

Billie-jo wrote: »

I will NOT be out Christmas eve looking for ys items as just couldnt stand the crowds and the hassle of it. Have no where to put it even if I did get something.


Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy and debt free New Year to everyone. x

As its on the way home :rotfl: that will be my excuse for popping in to tesco we close at 3.00pm and its 25 min walk but i too dont much room in the freezer but will give it go just to be christmas minded and all that
and thank you and merry xmas to you too

redbooties

My OH decided to pop out today and do his last minute Christmas shopping, instead of buying gifts he bought more grocerys, he is the worst shopper I have ever met, we now have for dessert Christmas week:-
Christmas pudding
Christmas Cake
berry cheesecake
New York cheesecake
A trifle
Chocolate log
Some type of chocolate moose trifle thing
One lemon trifle type dessert

How on earth are 3 adults and 1 child going to eat all of that in a week!
I haven't even asked him how much it all came too, he's probably gone over my budget by at least £100

Suffolk_lass

redbooties wrote: »

My OH decided to pop out today and do his last minute Christmas shopping, instead of buying gifts he bought more grocerys, he is the worst shopper I have ever met, we now have for dessert Christmas week:-
Christmas pudding
Christmas Cake
berry cheesecake
New York cheesecake
A trifle
Chocolate log
Some type of chocolate moose trifle thing
One lemon trifle type dessert

How on earth are 3 adults and 1 child going to eat all of that in a week!
I haven't even asked him how much it all came too, he's probably gone over my budget by at least £100

Oh dear, I do sympathise. You could freeze one, both or part of each cheesecake and the chocolate log - in portions, individually wrapped to fill your freezer nooks and crannies (tetris-style). And whatever the date label says, the christmas pud will keep for another day. The cake will be fine for weeks so it is just trifle and mousse to contend with (and the mousse might freeze too).

Best of luck, keep smiling girl!
SL

Dreamer80

Hi,

Another £68 spent today on fresh turkey, salami platter, nibbles, rum and wine. That is definately it now!! Should only need some meat (lamb perhaps) and a few fresh bits before New Year. The grocery challenge has certainly opened my eyes as to how much we are spending!

Am thinking £400 for January with the view to reducing it to £300 eventually. Food has been our luxury for a long time so it's a bit daunting....

D80

njk2125

A quick update of £143.65 spent beween 3 shops mainly aldi, I don't plan on going near a shop now till next year, though probably will have to send the kids for milk. Going to try and be super frugal in January and use up what we have in, which is a ridiculous amount of food.
Right off to do battle with the stuffed chest freezer to try and find the cheese and the turkey for defrosting.

Bluegreen143

Found out that the bread was 90p so will add to signature.

OH went to get his shopping in (I'm off to my mum's tomorrow but he and his mum will be staying at our flat until Boxing Day). I said he had £50 to spend (since its for 2 days worth of food this seemed more than generous), he won't tell me how much he spent, but he bought it on his credit card and said he'll just transfer £50 from the joint account lol. Must have been a fortune as the fridge is completely packed! But he did get me some booze so I'll give him that back lol.

Hope everyone else's Christmases are organised!!

meg72

Was going to go shopping tommorow as dont really need anything but wanted to look for reduced. However decided to go today instead.

Incredible bargains on fish, veg, fruit and bread in Asda. Really silly prices and just too good to miss. I spent 22.02 but that included leg of pork joint at 6.64, so for my DD so 15.38. So was well pleased, However on checking my receipt at home,didnt have time in store as running for my bus,I findI have been overcharged for 3 items,3.00 for Wensleydale Parsnip bake instead of 47p and two lots of caeser salad
at 1.50 each instead of 20p. Wouldnt have bought at full price any which way.

So will be going back tommorow for a 5.11 refund andwill stick out for my 2.00 per item for being overcharged, 2 different items .

So 15.38 less 9.11 .means my shop will have cost 6.27.

I would normally have known straight away if I had been overcharged but they were mega reduced items and I had so much.

Coxy11

Oh Meg72 that is so annoying :mad:

Will be popping to MrT in a bit. Luckily I can walk there, but this then limits the amount I can buy. I need potatoes and steaky bacon, plus beer as DH and my best friend's OH polished off the best part of two boxes on Saturday night :eek: DH is working today so no chance of him getting to the shops.

I finished my Christmas job last night at B**ts. Thank goodness as it was awful. Have a bad headache today, but I think it's because I didn't sleep well last night. Physically exhausted after working, but brain working overtime at all the things I need to do today.

I had a bit of a disaster on Saturday as I made a chocolate pavlova and used double cream which I had frozen. I defrosted it during the day, in the fridge, but it had little blobs in it. Tasted fine so I know it wasn't off, but very embarrassing when you are cooking for a chef :eek: Any ideas where I went wrong?

Just wanted to finish my mammoth posting by wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas. Hope you all have a great time and look forward to 'seeing' you all later in the week.

Coxy