August 2013 Grocery Challenge

meg72

XSpender wrote: »

Yes It is baked beans on offer I am looking for. I will have a look in sainsburys as branston are my fave, they were still at £2.50 for 4 last Friday so I will see if they have gone down again.

£1.39 to add for last nights dog food so my total is £210.73 with 7 days including today until pay day. I was hoping to stay under £250 for the month but my Mum and Stepdad are coming up on Saturday (only found out last night) and I like to cook them a decent meal so that my Mum, who is nearly 73 and will be driving an hour and a half each way doesnt have to bother cooking when she gets in. I make her sound old and doddery but she is fitter and healthier than me!

I am planning to make a chicken and leek gratin with new pots and veg followed by a peach and butterscotch upside pudding with custard. Oh and a carrot cake for when they get here. I will need to add chicken, leeks, baking margerine and tinned peaches to my list.

HM GF macaroni and cheese with bacon and peas for tea tonight and fish fingers and saute potatoes and mushy peas for tea tomorrow and that will be the first time I have stuck to the meals on my meal plan ever!

The Asda offer of 4 x 1.00 has now finished but I think Sainsburys
4 x 1.50 is still on.

XSpender

meg72 wrote: »

The Asda offer of 4 x 1.00 has now finished but I think Sainsburys
4 x 1.50 is still on.

Thanks. I drive past it on my way home so I will pop in for a look tonight.

girlatplay

I thought this might be useful for the GF people here: Bouillon mix I haven't tried it but I might just do it as I use LOADS of stock cubes (I am not GF).


Spent £33.68 in Mr M's yesterday. I have absolutely no inspiration for meals this week. We will have pork chops tonight, with a recipe I have found but not tried before, potatoes and broccoli. The rest of the week I will just scrape stuff together. We have enough food in now. I usually have the whole week thoroughly planned well in advance but I just can't seem to get it together this week I have about £8 left in the budget for incidentals. Going for a Toby carvery with DD and my sis on Sunday but that will come out of the treats budget.

sketchingkari

WantToBeSE wrote: »

I'd like to ask a very important question...WHAT HAS THE OS LIFESTYLE DONE TO MEEEEE??? :rotfl:

A few years ago i would easily spend about £120 a week on feeding myself and my 2 children, and i only managed to keep it that 'low' by denying myself a few treats.

Fast Forward to this morning. "Great" I think, "I have been paid and will blow the budget and do a huge shop"...45 mins later i had managed to spend £50.

£50!!! And the last £10 of that took sheer willpower to think what i could stock up on! AND it includes £4 delivery charge (was online).

I think this OS/Grocery budget thingy is slightly addictive!!

:T what an inspirational post, thank you for sharing, you have done amazingly well!
I haven't joined the challenge yet, but plan to for September. At the moment, I spend £120-£140 per week for a family of 5 and keeping it that low is difficult! I have no idea how I can cut it down, but I have to try, the money just isn't there, then at the end of the month (like now) the money is all gone, but we still have a (very stressful) week to get through

dylan2011

sketchingkari wrote: »

:T what an inspirational post, thank you for sharing, you have done amazingly well!
I haven't joined the challenge yet, but plan to for September. At the moment, I spend £120-£140 per week for a family of 5 and keeping it that low is difficult! I have no idea how I can cut it down, but I have to try, the money just isn't there, then at the end of the month (like now) the money is all gone, but we still have a (very stressful) week to get through

It isn't easy to begin with, but once you get into the swing of it you may surprise yourself. Batch cooking, meal planning, YS bargains, brand dropping, home baking etc. all play a big part in what can be achieved. But it also depends on your own circumstances, such as where you live and the shops you have local and the time you have spare as well on what can be done and how best to try and tackle it. One step at a time is often one of the best ways to do it as well. Eg. don't expect to halve your budget overnight. Good luck and welcome.

b_girl

Spent £1.25 today on milk.
Had some unexpected car trouble yesterday which set me back £118 just what I need! But at least the car is safe now.
Never mind, will just have to keep my groceries within my budget for the rest of the month or even lower if possible.

I have my 12 year old sister coming to stay with me for 2 nights and have planned out what I'm cooking so hopefully no unexpected spends there!

lizalloareds

spends to add £8.05

80p Mr S
£1 Icld
75p Ald*
£3 Mr T
£1 Mr A
£1.50 market

WantToBeSE

sketchingkari wrote: »

:T what an inspirational post, thank you for sharing, you have done amazingly well!
I haven't joined the challenge yet, but plan to for September. At the moment, I spend £120-£140 per week for a family of 5 and keeping it that low is difficult! I have no idea how I can cut it down, but I have to try, the money just isn't there, then at the end of the month (like now) the money is all gone, but we still have a (very stressful) week to get through

Thanks, Sketchingkari

I really don't know how i managed to spend £120 a week for just the 3 of us.
That said, i know that i will have to do a top up at some point, as the kids are home for the holidays and eat SO much!
But to think that i have come so far in the last 12 months is amazing and i feel (for the first time in my life) that i really have a grip on our finances and household budgets.

i just have to feel the same about saving now, so thats my next aim!

Mrs-s_4

Spent £5.20 yesterday, £2.20 in greggs on pirate cupcakes and £3 in £land on ketchup, mini Oreos for the lunchbox stash and 4 bounty bars! Will update sig.

Florenceem

NSD here on groceries. Been out and spent on paint - got enough to decorate all the rooms in the house now.