September 2013 Grocery Challenge

KatyReed+5

An accidental spend on top up in the co-oops of £7.45 bringing my total to 92.61 / 100.00 with a whole 4 weeks to go, whoops, X

elsiepac

Hello all

I'm in for September - please put me down for £150. This is from 26th August - 25th September.
(I failed in August with around £180 spent, but almost always due to convenience food through poor planning when I know I will be working extra hours!)

This is my new monthly figure for the forseeable - it's about £30 a week which I know isn't very "budgety" but I'm really struggling on lower amounts what with a lack of time for cooking etc due to work.

I'm also going to make it more difficult for myself as I am planning to do a 30 day Vegan trial.
I'm currently veggie and don't eat TONS of dairy, but I do have a bad tendency to buy ready made things like biscuits or cakes when I want bad food quickly, hopefully veganism will stop this as I won't be able to have them! But it is just 30 days to see how I get on. If I'm okay with it, I'll commit to it after that.

I'm not sure how it will affect grocery budget either, as undoubtedly I'll need to stock up on some bits and bobs and also find replacements for things like honey (will use agave nectar instead) and milk (I haven't yet found a good non-dairy milk that doesn't make my coffee go all horrible and creamy - I like it watery and strong!!!). So there will be some experimentation this month!

My vegan trial starts tomorrow - 27th August until 25th September.
I'm considering doing a blog to chart my progress!

I'm just back off my holiday to Lanzarote - wow it was hot there - all my freckles have come out to play!!! Spent a ton, but luckily I did loads of overtime last month and also my new pay kicked in, so all my additional spending was covered by that! Also paid a big chunk of £250 off my debt to the bank of mum and dad for my car repairs a few months ago due to all my overtime so that feels nice! Overall, I still have slightly more money than usual this month, with lots put aside for presents, Christmas, car tax etc - as long as I stick to my budgets!!!

So far just a small spend in the early hours last night at M&S in Birmingham airport - just coffee, 1pt skim milk (hence vegan trial is starting tomorrow!!!) and some bread - £4.73!!! £3 was coffee though as I used the last of mine on holiday (yes I took it with me - how MSE of me!).

Hope everyone has a great September - I'm off to meal plan ready for a shop later on - my fridge is bare (going to take the opoortunity to give it a clear out of random suaces etc and a good wipe down!).

LC x

PS - cattysmum I'm sorry to hear about your wild little cat - she sounds lovely and a real character; sounds like you did everything you could for her and gave her a lovely long life with you.

Mrs-s_4

Can I be put down for £230 this month please!
That's food, cleaning and toiletries for 2 adults and 2 children (4yrs and 1yrs)
Budget will start on 1st September. Haven't declared yet for August but I think we will manage to come in under budget!

ditsykitchen

elsiepac wrote: »

I'm also going to make it more difficult for myself as I am planning to do a 30 day Vegan trial.
I'm currently veggie and don't eat TONS of dairy, but I do have a bad tendency to buy ready made things like biscuits or cakes when I want bad food quickly, hopefully veganism will stop this as I won't be able to have them! But it is just 30 days to see how I get on. If I'm okay with it, I'll commit to it after that.

I'm not sure how it will affect grocery budget either, as undoubtedly I'll need to stock up on some bits and bobs and also find replacements for things like honey (will use agave nectar instead) and milk (I haven't yet found a good non-dairy milk that doesn't make my coffee go all horrible and creamy - I like it watery and strong!!!). So there will be some experimentation this month!

My vegan trial starts tomorrow - 27th August until 25th September.
I'm considering doing a blog to chart my progress!

I'd recommend trying out making rice milk at home with value rice. It's tasty, cheap and you can make it as thick/thin as you like. It can separate in coffee but I've read that adding sunflower seeds prevents this. Can't vouch for that as i haven't tried it.

As for the treats, bourbon biscuits are vegan

What are you using honey for at the minute? I find agave's really expensive but a good alternative would depend on what it's for.

Would love to read your blog if you start one!

Bluegreen143

cattysmum - so sorry to hear about your wee cat - it's not the same not having a wee furry thing around is it?

Coxy - can you put me down for £185 this month please? It's a five weekend month, hence the extra tenner in case I need it.

Mealplan as follows:

Sun - roast ham, champ and veg with gravy
Mon - chicken and mushroom pie with veg and potatoes
Tues - tofu and veg stirfry with honey chilli sauce
Wed - vegetable chilli with rice
Thurs - Thai turkey or beanburgers with chips and salad (still using up from freezer)
Fri - gnocchi with pesto and roasted veg
Sat - homemade pizzas with salad

Yesterday made 12 rolls (though burnt the tops a wee bit), lentil soup using the stock generated by boiling the ham (in my pressure cooker), poached a whole chicken (and reduced the stock down for freezer). Meant to make scones and veggie chilli so will do that tonight.

MissRikkiC

I am Motivated and its Monday!! Whats wrong with me!

Mealplan Week 1

Monday - Chicken cheese and broccoli bake
Tuesday - Spanish Omlette (Potatoe and Onion) with beans or veg
Wednesday - Sausage and Mash with j4m13 Ol1ver red onion Jus (AMAZING)
Thursday - Chicken and veg Pie with potato and Gravy
Friday - Risotto or Gnocchi (depending what the OH decides on)

Its my last day before being back at work, the sun is out and ive become addicted to the OS threads instead of going out.

Ive plucked a chicken that i cooked last night, bunged the carcass in the slow cooker for soup, wrote my meal plan and now i want to cook again! I may see what i can find in the cupboards to make desserts with!

Hope you're all enjoying your BH!

RC

WantToBeSE

elsiepac- good luck with your vegan trial. For coffee, porridge and museli i love Almond Milk. It's divine and adds a little nuttyness (is that a word??) too.
You may want to look at http://agirlcalledjack.com/ as a lot of her recipes are vegan, and i can recommend her Apricot curry, it's yummy! I added some red lentils to mine as a extra too.
I'd love to read your blog about it, if you start one.

Islandmaid

Hi all,

Just popping in to ask for my September budget to be £250 please

Got my Winter/Xmas head on so need to get a grip of spends x

savingpennies

I've had both DDs home this summer and have not kept an eye on the grocery shop, so I've consequently spent too much and seriously need to get back on track. DD1 now home after graduating and DD2 off to uni but not until end of Sept. So 4 adults and 1 dog at home. I'm going to try for £300 and see what happens. My start is from pay day 28th Aug.

Florenceem

NSD here.
We had HM wedges + LO egg yolks + Egg + Bacon + LO Baked Beans + Tomatoes for dinner.
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