November 2013 Grocery Challenge

want2Bfrugal

Approaching the last week of Nov and I have done well - thanks to the challenge - and I have come in under budget so far by £100.

Have manage to do this by eating stuff out of the freezer and walking past the bargains/YS when shopping.

Walking past YS, I can hear the cries. Yes, I made this conscious decision as I realise that I have got in this situation (full freezer, spending too much) because I was not eating the stuff that went into my freezer first and was dazzled by the bargains every time I went shopping. My Bad, a very full freezer and high shopping bills.

Glad to report that as I am making every effort (it's been hard) to eat what I have first and then buy what I need even if it means walking past YS for now.

When I can control my magpie tendencies I can start buying YS but in moderation. Do not want to slip back into my bad habits.

Thank you everyone and the challenge. I hope by the new year I will be reporting that my freezer has a frequent stock turnover and I'm buying YS to reduce spending even further.

fairy3

Good afternoon to all!
just reporting my menu for the week on the last week of this months challenge - will come in under this month so plan on increasing my budget to £200 for December to include Christmas day food with my sister as we are sharing this year. Have really enjoyed the month even though it has been tough my freezers are now under control and it has had a knock on effect of being more organised with other areas in the house, have decluttered and cleared cupboards and started a donation box for the food bank to give a little back, donated some bedding and towels to the Philippines appeal and generally quite positive about my finances in the coming month.
Sorry I digress
Sunday - Roast chicken leg dinner (hope noone asks where I got a four legged chicken! They were YS at £1.25)
Monday - Shepherds pie with veggies (its on the go at the moment and only used 250g steak mince with a tablespoon of dry stuffing and grated carrots for extra padding)
Tuesday - Pasta carbonara with HM garlic bread
Wednesday - Toad in the hole with veggies (65p Richmond ones)
Thursday - YS peppered steak pie 89p x 2 with jacket potatoes and veggies
Friday - Grilled mackerel with salad and potatoes
Saturday - Slow roast ham hock with lentils and root vegetables
hopefully that will be it on the spending front but never say never...

Hope everyone has a lovely Sunday

F x

Sequeena

£12.39 spent today in Lidls and Morrisons. I got 2 packs of the half price mince in morrisons and a pack of baby wipes. In Lidls I got 2 packs of the half price pork shanks, rinse aid, dog food and cat food. I have £31.98 left to last 4 days. £15 of that will be spent on dog food. Hoping to come in under budget again and I can't see how we'll go over as we have plenty in, we'll just need some fresh bits.

We are having chicken korma, rice, naan bread and poppadoms tonight using leftover chicken. I'll also be making a chicken, leek, potato and carrot soup.

Bookworm42

Small spend of £4.30 in Mr T for paper and bread ready for sandwiches for Monday. Happy to be under budget for the month at the moment. Just off to meal plan for the week. Got lots of fish in the freezer so I might make a fish pie. Really want to defrost the freezer next weekend ready for some Christmas goodies.

Nelly11

My last day today, Ive come under budget by approx 35.00, thrilled! Now I need to seek out the December thread. This is going to be a tough one.

Soworried

A spend of £4.19 today on soap powder and a piece of ys fish. I will update my signature soon.

Dinner will a curry made with the fish and bits of vegetables that need used up.

Congratulations on your new job Annie99 :j

First_Trouble

[QUOTE=Thanks for the link ! I had the same problem with DH until I said that unless he justified the 'extras' he had to pay for them out of his own budget. Haha it seems to have worked so far


A little shopping today for DS mainly so Mr A £16.25 and Mar*s for £3.58. Added to total. WHY are the smilies not working?


Hope you all have a good weekend
Lx[/QUOTE]

I have already banned him from coming on the big food shop with me as we always end up spending huge amounts.

Sequeena

Tesco have a good deal on whole chickens from tomorrow. £6 bogof

Billie-jo

NSD today. Used up some chicken breasts out of the freezer and we had them today with cauli & broccoli cheese, roast potatoes, tomato and onions. Then made a bread & butter pudding using up the last few pieces of bread that had been in a few days and a couple of eggs that were past their date. Delicious.

marris

spent £6,52 today (£4 on 960 YS Yorkshire teabags--will last me ages)