February 2013 Grocery Challenge

thehappybutterfly

Just finished the January challenge and it was a success! Beat my target so will go for £400 for February please. Still shockingly high but baby steps.

Roadside

Not a bad start to the month, the larder is stocked up to the eyeballs with basics. I was very brave and went to Mr Ts, I hate our one with a vengeance, too big and too many people, but at least they have the scanners so I can keep track of how much I have spent. I went with a rough list and stocked up on cleaning and toiletry bits, I bought very little meat, not really impressed with the quality of it there. I have kind of decided to buy meat from Waitrose, they do some reasonable deals and I think the quality is much better, I will get this delivered once a month, do not need to do it this month, the freezer has plenty in already.
I am being very OS tonight, three maybe four nights dinners on the cooker all bubbling away,(mince and potatoes[couldn't be bothered to turn on the oven for cottage pie], chilli and Bolognese)
Spend in Mr Ts was £65.01, will update signature in a bit.

76rosie

Put me down for 60 again.

[Deleted User]

First spend on this months grocery challenge came to £6.76 for the week. I didnt need any meat, poultry or fish as i have a freezer full. Im still living off last months YS products which should keep me going for a few months. This weeks spends were all on YS products, mainly veg, bread and cheese. Two good bargains which were 10 slices of cooked chicken reduced from £1.65 to 59p and a convenience meal slipped in (a healthy one, Hot Smoked Salmon pasta) which was reduced from £2.75 to 99p). I also treated myself to 2 YS raspberry turnovers reduced from £1.00 to 40p, i felt cold and needed a hot pudding as i dont normally eat puddings. Also got a DTD refund on reduced veg as they charged me full price instead of the reduced price :T (oh and i think i saved money this week as i dropped 17eggs so as theres only me i had to find ways to use them up. So i had omlettes, pancakes, fried eggs etc. (I dont want to see another egg for a few weeks now) :rotfl:

elizabunny

Well we eventually ended up with Steak Pie for tea:D It was home made but not in my house:D and very nice it was too.

Had my shop at the Butchers £38, for around 2-3 weeks worth. sounds expensive but it wasn't for what we had and the quality is really excellent. Popped into MrL* and spent another £31 on all the fresh fruit and veggies. So I am hoping now not to need another shop (apart from odds) & ends until at least 8th Feb.

Have popped some dried chick peas in to soak. Not exactly sure what I will create with them tomorrow, but I do like chick peas even as a snack with a little salt on them -I think they are as nice as crisps or nuts. Just got to make sure I cook them for long enough.

Princess_nola1

Ok, looks like you guys are already posting spends, so I'll include mine from today! Visited Mr A, and spent £53.12.

mossy

Nipped in to Waitrose and picked up some yoghurts while they're still on offer plus ys bread loaf. £3.34

Plus cereal from Mossy's Market £1.

Hollygym

I'd like to budget £250 for Feb. I went way over in jan but it was an estimate. I'm hoping that a short month and a week away might help this!! I am loving the GC and it does help me become more focused. My biggest spend is fruit and veg. Anyone got any good ideas? We are a family of 6 and seem to be spending £20+ on it from either Ald* or Mr A. I don't want to cut down on spending on healthy food but wondered if we could buy more carefully.

Will watch this thread until end f jan, as my month runs til 31 Jan..:

cornishchick

:jok just posted my jan total and I was £73 under budget, but worried it was just a fluke , so gonna post a feb budget of the same. £180.00 and see if I can do it again.

I used to hate the self scan and pay machines , but now i love them lol. I can stand there and feed in my bags of pennies and change and theres no one to tut or complain that the till person is having to count them out, and i get a little thrill when i see the total going down every time i chuck a hand full of pennies in, instead of reaching for the plastic. :rotfl:

Gorgeestwo

Hi, just declared for Jan, was pleased with how we did, but dont really feel like it was a true reflection of our spends, so going to include the children's school dinners in the budget this time and allow a bit extra as we've got half term coming up too :j
So please could I be put down for £450 in feb please.
Have had my first spend of feb today of £95.03 got lots of ys meat and bread and stocked up on washing liquid that was on offer, have meal planned for the next week or so, forgot a couple of bits so will pick them up Monday.
Good luck to everyone. Off to sort out my sig