Just Say NOvember 2013!!!

MrsGSR

thriftylass wrote: »

Agree, I don't buy extra ingredients either. But a packet of mince is too big for one meal so I freeze the rest. The cooking I did today I would have done anyway this week, so it's my normal weekly ingredients list but not cooked on the day I need it but rather in advance to save me cooking on a couple of days.

Same here. A pack of mince will make a lasagne for the 4 of us for a meal then another meal for DH and I with some chips and beans. Then I'll freeze a portion for a pasta bolonaise tea for DH and I and two kiddy size portions for quick pasta based teas for the children. I bulk out with mushrooms and carrots so that probably helps it go further along with my 29p tinned tomatoes;)

I batch cook for the children more than us as they generally eat earlier due to the hours we work.

cottage_retreatist

MrsGSR wrote: »

Same here. A pack of mince will make a lasagne for the 4 of us for a meal then another meal for DH and I with some chips and beans. Then I'll freeze a portion for a pasta bolonaise tea for DH and I and two kiddy size portions for quick pasta based teas for the children. I bulk out with mushrooms and carrots so that probably helps it go further along with my 29p tinned tomatoes;)

I batch cook for the children more than us as they generally eat earlier due to the hours we work.

I agree - when making batch cooking it only goes so far because of all the veg I use - that's what really makes the cost per portion pence rather than pounds!! And of course all those OS bulking tricks such as using grated carrot, oats and pulses to make them go even further! :D

I always just chuck in an allotment's worth of vegetables but I'm lucky to have some very large pots to cook it all up in!!!!!!

I think a pack of mince would feed us more than it should - if we didn't eat portion sizes large enough for 4 people EACH!!! :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

C-R and her big food baby!!!! :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

xx

Liliyanna

@applemuncher...I read on another thread about someone whose husband had to work away for 10 days, so she set herself challenges to complete while he wasn't there. I've nicked the idea and split NOvember into 3, with things to complete or do in each section. I do like lists, especially crossing things off them!

What a brill idea, think I'm going to steal it

I've got everything planned down to the last penny for this month so need a challenge to keep me occupied whilst it all plays out. Will think on what I'm going to do and post is in the next few days.

The scores on the doors so far ...

SFD…………….………….2/25
Food........................£56.80/£150
Petrol.......................£110/£160
Entertainment...........£16.97/£100
Food Bank………...…..£0/£3
Going Out…………..……0/1
Lunch to Work…….……1/18
20 Item Declutter.……….0/20
Make £80………………£0/£80

Only the second day but feeling pretty positive . Went for a couple of hours geocaching this afternoon in the stormy (but dry) weather it was great Going to watch the OH play football tomorrow afternoon which is always a good day out, unfortunately it's away so about a hundred mile round trip which will cripple the days off petrol budget, at least it's spend free

See you all tomorrow

Lily x x

MrsGSR

My friends cannot believe my shopping budget and how I stretch our meals, use leftovers and not turn my heating on. I'm becoming very aware now that things like this might make me seem "tight" (which admittedly I am:rotfl:)

I don't know my friends financial situations as we don't discuss that sort of thing but they are a lot more affluent than us. When they mention that they bought this and bought that and went for coffee after swimming with the kids, or out for an impromptu lunch I sometimes feel like I wish I could do that but in my heart I've never been the sort of person that does that, I just find it unnecessary. That said we have all started bringing a dish when we meet up for play dates and they love my homemade bread.

Sorry, went off on a tangent there! What I like about these challenges is simplicity, cutting out non necessities and thinking of others in need which is what is important to me anyway. I would rather be sharing food with my friends than frivolous spending and coffee drinking.

Kerfuffle

Hi everybody,

Reporting in for day 2 of the challenge.

Today has been a SFD as I haven't been anywhere. :T

Scores on the doors are:-

Food 39.96 / 187.50
Petrol 0 / 225.00
Local food bank 0 / 3.00
Hair 0 / 62.50
Works Xmas Party 0 / 3.25 (Raffle contribution - goes to local charity)
Dentist 0 / 18.75

Total 500.00 GBP

SFD 1 / 25
Declutter 0 / 20
Extra money earned/made 0 / 80.00
Kilometres:
Start of challenge figure 93008 }
End of day 2 figure 93068 } driven 60km (37.5 miles)

[Deleted User]

Well, off to a good start with having a SFD on 1st November! Planning to have a SFD today but rather update tomorrow to be sure. I had my online food shop delivery with Asda yesterday but will have to wait for some items to be refunded as they were either damaged or missing - which is a first with Asda for me (Hope I don't get too many).

I used to do the envelope challenge before I did online shopping, but I always found I caved into bargins in store. Instead, as done last month successfully I did a delivery pass for £8 and managed to squeeze 5 deliveries in and not going over budget, saving nearly £25 (after taking out the delivery pass fee). I have decided to pay £15 for 3 months shopping which will cover Christmas as well. I have been a lot less stressed shopping without the children and hubby!!!

Can anyone tell me how much you would budget for a family of 4 for food? (2 adults, 7 year old and 3 year old)

I have also upgraded my phone Wednesday and have sold my old phone online yesterday, but again will update when I have the funds in my account.

Well done to all that are joining the challenge.

Fmess

clippy_girl wrote: »

Hello all

Sfd for me again today have been out for a meal but family paid 'bought' 6 new free books for my new kindle, can't wait for it to arrive! Have started added a few CDs to my wishlist for Xmas as well as adding some presents for family to my basket so can keep track on the prices.

Fmess can you just do the app do you know or do you have to go through swagbugs? Not signed up to them but would be interested in doing the survey as I wear lenses

Tomorrow will be a spendy day got three items on eBay but they are not cheap ones and don't think they will sell will just keep delisting until
Xmas

I'm not sure, the app is called lumi survey and you can just download it but I had a login code sent to my email via Swagbugs. The company running it is called Insight, so maybe you could contact them directly.

andrar

Phew 12 pages and only day 3!

Had my two spends days with food shop Friday and getting my poppy yesterday (first ones I've seen selling so wanted to get my donation in there and then)

Did a run and swim, sauna & steam yesterday so feeling accomplished. Won't be leaving the house today as batch cooking for the next couple of weeks meals to see me through so declaring my first nsd.

Only thing on the list I'm going to struggle with is making £80 - I decluttered when I moved, my house is made up of freecycle and freegle stuff and I don't get paid overtime at work. I'm going to go survey crazy if I can and see what I get. Although this throws up a whole host of problems too as my job always discounts me from surveys boo!

I've no planned nights/days out as I've still no social life here but I suppose that helps my cause! I've got cub camp and cub group to look forward to though so I'm not a total loser.

Have a good sunday

Avogirly

Good morning everyone! Just checking in as I'm dashing off!
Yesterday was sfd nr 2.
Have a great thrifty day everyone!!! Catch up later tonight.

MagicLily

Question for Kat, Will you be doing this next year to save, as you have so inspired me to see if I can clear the same amount of debt by next xmas?

What's new for me is I start my full time job tomorrow.:T So I now have a chance to clear the debt.

Ok I have all my purses and envelopes ready.
I brought everything I needed on 1st. Big food shop, and a birthday present
Then a NSD yesterday.

Food: 60/240
Petrol 0/50
School Dinner Card 10/40
Misc 5.50/90
Beauty 0/20
xmas fund 0/100

Lily xx