February 2013 Grocery Challenge

judi24

Can I join the challenge please? Need to get my grocery shopping down! Budget is £400 for Me, 2 adult kids (contadiction in terms but they are 19 and 21) and 2 kids 10 and 8!
Would like to get it under £300. Today did a menu plan - wnated to go to Al** but can never get everything I want in there so wnet to both Al** and T***o. Went with a list based on menu plans for 2 weeks but deviated as saw lots that would do good cheap meals so ended up with enough meals for at least 3 weeks. Just need to suppliment with fresh fruit and ve plus bread and milk.
In theory thats fine but so easy to nip into supermarket and pick up 'a few bits' with a £50 bill!!!

So today spent £87 in Al** filled boot of car
£71 in Te*** in 2 bags!!!

Really shouldn't need to go shopping for at least 3 weeks with top up of 'bits' and that is the problem! need to stay away from supermarkets!

dizzy_lizzie

XSpender I like our local Ald*. Their fruit and veg is usually good quality too.

Judi I think supermarkets use a tractor beam system that just draws us in. Rather like OH when he walks past a poundshop. I moan about it but then end up putting the most in the basket! Of course OH has to pay, I wouldn't have gone in if he hadn't

If anyone shops regularly at Mr Ts there was Martins reminder about unused te*co vouchers. I went on their site today and have £6 worth of vouchers I hadn't used. You can print them off or put them towards an online shop.
x

forever_saving

I have spent £38.77 so far. I didn't really get too much as i am full of cold so just got some essentials really. We will no doubt need more bread and milk in the next couple of days.
Son and his gf are coming for dinner today. I was hoping to make the chicken last for two days but it will be difficult now. I'll make stuffing and do extra veg so you never know.
FS

XSpender

Added yesterday's spends to my total and now stand at £295.68 out of £400 with 8 days of my GC month left. I forgot to take the £10 discount off my Aldi shop yesterday so only spent £45 on enough stuff for the best part of 2 weeks. I will need fruit and basics next week as well as some beer for DH oh and dog food. I would be chuffed to bits if I could come in at £350. Either way I am going to cut my budget next month.

My meal plan for next week is

Su - slow cooker lemon and herb chicken, minty pots and veg
Mo - ham and cheese omelette wedges and veg
Tu - slow cooker sausage & leek casserole with mash( DH fav as his birthday)
We - jackets with cheese and beans ( me at college)
Th - 5 tin chilli with spicy wedges and cheese
F - HM pepperoni pizza
Sa- hunters chicken with chips and veg

Lunches will be ham or tuna sandwiches, jackets with cheese or tuna and HM lentil and tomato soup with fruit, yogurts and HM GF cake for me and ald1 t1tans for DH. I might rustle up some scones too if I have time today when I have the oven on to bake the cake.

loveasale

Happy Feb to one and all!
Please put me down for .....

150

Already spent £50-64 :eek:

But that was good food stock up from Al@i and household & toiletries from £land.
So should not NEED a big shop for two weeks just milk and odd bits!

jedi82

Morning, spent £65 in L!dl yesterday but that included £7 alcohol which comes on a different budget. It was £70 but I got that £5 off a £35 shop that you get from fbook so was quite pleased but went with OH and the troublesome trio and so the fiver off mainly went on crisps and sweets and snacks (which we do not get if i go on my own!!)

Thanks for the tips re using gammon stock, have got a gammon to sc today so will use the stock to make a soup tomorrow (and thanks for the tip about potatoes if too salty).

Have a nice day
Jedi x

Coxy11

Morning!

Budgets done to here

Welcome to:
GlasweJen, pixie1980, chessiex and judi24

DS1 and friend just had A!di choc chip brioche for breakfast. They looked much nicer than the T's ones I usually get - and cheaper :money:

Will have DR beef rib in the sc today. Not sure what time DH will be back from Leeds (and in what state ) so it will keep for when he does arrive.

Have a good day everyone
Coxy

KatyReed+5

So far i've read up to page 16, but i will get there.

So far spent £65.41 this month, but considering this is an all in month for me and £30ish was only things for my nephews birthday at mine yesterday balloons, presents, cards, wrapping paper things to make a cake etc, i'm not that upset by this.

Although i have just checked my bank and i only have £21.30 in there to last till next Wednesday, i also have £7 in bagged up change my mum gave me last week, £6.03 in my purse in cash a nd £9.30 in Healthy start vouchers for fruit veg and milk, so i should be fine, i'm currently defrosting 3 cupcakes for the kids to have as pudding later. Also defrosting some chicken i found to make a big pot of chunky chicken and veg soup, with onions, carrots and potatoes i have in the fridge, does anyone have any good recipes or should i just chuck it all in and hope for the best?

X

*stargirl*_2

im finding this really difficult.
spent £7.50 on rabbit food, hay and treats yesterday. and £0.75 on a tin of beans.

next month i think I'll have a separate pet budget.

need to pick up a few bits today as well- don't think i will be in budget this month

mildredalien

Oops bit late on this one, put me down for another £200 please for this month's budget!

Last month I went way over I've not been great at tracking in January! Starting fresh this month, I know I've already spent £27 and off for another small shop today, must get a handle on it and plan a bit better...