May 2007 Grocery Challenge

SoggyMoggy

Joining in for the first time, hoping I can get by on £250 for two adults, two children (4 and 5) and the cat (nearly 14). Have already spent an alarming amount of my budget and we're only a week in, but my cupboards and freezer are stuffed full, and I've already made chilli and turkey marengo which are portioned off and heading for the freezer, just about to do spag bol for tonight, and will use the spare from that (there's always some) to make a lasagne for the freezer. Got some nice fish portions from Mr Cohen's a while back (they didn't have any this week), pollack fillets in a blue stripy bag, but there was loads of it, not expensive, and nice firm fish that "doesn't taste too fishy" according to OH, so I may try making a pie or two with that.

WelshWoofer

Hi,
Just popped to Tesco for some small bits and pieces and sepent £14.00.
I have bought lots of diet yoghurts, snacks and drinks though that will last a while.

An unscheduled shop that has taken me up to £22.00 running total.

samsampotts

Oh sod, just wrote a big long post explaining why my spend was so high this week and lost it! Can't be bothered to write it again so lets just say my freezer is stocked with enough meals to last two to three months! My shopping bills should be considerably lower from now on!

Solwaykid

Hey, how's everyone doing with their challenge? I'm not doing too badly yet! Last week I lived on what was left over from weekend visitors and then had 3 days away. I always make too much much for visitors and my mum did bring a roast chicken which lasted me 'til Wednesday in various disguises!

I did a £16 health food shop at the start of the month and started a big sweetie jar of muesli with things I like in it, I'll see if it lasts the month and take it from there. One thing I'm really impressed with (easy done tho) I bought a bag of dried chick peas for the price of 2 cans of ready to use and although the cooking took some minding, I reckon there's at least the equivalent of 5 cans now in the freezer. Definitely do that again and with other beans too. A £14 supermarket shop of store cupboard things I'd run out of but included lots of reduced price milk for the freezer. I did a £5 shop today and got stacks of veg all reduced to 29p - popular price in my local co-op. They'll all need using up this week but at least I'll get my greens down me!

I've just been playing on the 'different meal for everyday of the month' thread to get inspiration to use up some lingering ingredients and to boost my lazy repertoir. I reckon I won't need to shop this week again. Famous last words..

Back again in a week with an update, keep at it folks.

I haven't updated my sig. yet and just remembered at £16 catfood shop. Oh b*ms.

southern_chick

i've been putting off posting on here since Saturday when i went shopping, i had invited some friends round for a bbq on Saturday so needed to stock up on meat, crisps, salad stuff, alcohol etc........ i spent £54.60 :eek: which is almost as much as i have spend of the entire month in Feb, March and April!! i am still (just) in budget and we did have a really lovely time all getting together, there is a bit of food left in the freezer but even so it was a huge amount of money.

having said that though before i found MSE i used to spend at least that amount ever week so i have come a long way.........i think!!!! :rotfl:

SC XX

ilovecakes

Hiya,

I just bought my first groceries of the month...I am trying really hard to eat whats in my store cupboards and freezer but i got so bored of rice/pasta/buckwheat/lentil based meals that I spent about 7 quid in m and s on nice lunch. not very OS. ah well, I enjoyed it and haven't been near the shops so far this month. will need to do a big fruit and veg shop at some point this week though cos I am running really low.
good luck everyone

ilovecakes x

rosieben

ilovecakes wrote: »

... I spent about 7 quid in m and s on nice lunch...

I think you're doing well if you've only spent £7 - I was over half my budget on first shop! :eek:

we should treat outrselves occasionally, and we'll appreciate it more when its not very often.

lil_me

If you don't have a treat, however small, every now and again you'll probably get frustrated and bored. So well done for giving yourself a little break

dm1465

Start of second week and I am up to £54.36, everything was going so well until we got invited out and had to take food and wine, hence the £25.83 shop in Aldi. Never mind a great time was had by all, and I should only need to to a top up shop this week. Have to remember to budget for paying the milkman next Saturday as well. Everyone else sounds like they are doing so well, don't know how you do it on such small amounts. Have a great day everyone.

Hapless_2

Ok here goes.
Usually I spend £130 (+£40 fuel) a week (there are 6 of us, 1 still in dry-nights) but hubby has just quit his job to become carer for my daughter and myself.
Last week I spent £107.94 and that included 3 DVD's! (naughty)

Hopefully as hubby not needing a packed lunch in 2 weeks that will go down even more. Well it will have to! mind you fuel will cost less as we won't be using the car so much.