January 2014 Grocery Challenge

Nikkiclaire

Im so glad I have found this site ( and challenge ) as it keeps me so focussed. As the only adult in the house it is so easy to go off track and buy something quick and easy on my way home work. Its so good to be able to discuss savings/ budgets with others. Anyway yesterday first shopping trip while in new frame of mind. Went to Lidl instead of usual shop. Stocked up on fresh fruit and veg ( including spuds) toilet roll, and a largd frozen turkey for £7. Total spend £15. I wont be posting all my spends lol but was so pleased as a trip to supermarket nearly always costs me at least £40. In theory I should not need to shop now until weekend and then that should only be for bread/milk. I enjoy reading everyones posts by the way as it is so motivating and Iike others I plan to enjoy this challenge, rather than restricted by it.Big test is when I start back at work monday after christmas break !!

XSpender

First spend of the month yesterday. £22.31 in Mr S. I bought 2 things not on my list; 1/2 price fish fingers which we had run out of and I had forgotten to add and 3 GF wraps on offer as I use these as pizza bases. They work out a lot cheaper as 1 GF pizza base in Mr S is £1.99 and I can make 3 pizzas out of the wraps for £2.49.

I was annoyed with myself when I got home as I went to get something out of the outside freezer for tonight's buffet and saw I already had 9 wraps I had got YS last month:mad: I am on such a tight budget this month that I could have done without spending that £2.49.:( I should not need to buy anything GC related until next week when we will need more fresh fruit.

I used up 9 eggs that were BBE 29.12 last night, 5 for an omlette for 2 and 4 on egg mayo for our sandwiches today.

Tonight we are staying in as planning a walk in the lakes on NYD so need to be up early. I am making us a buffet out of the unused party bits in the freezer and cupboard and we will take a packed lunch tomorrow. I am also hoping to rustle up a chicken casserole in the slow cooker for when we get in.

Mrs-s_4

First spend £106.98 on mr T delivery! But i did a stock take last night and know exactly what we have now and the kitchen is fit to burst with food so shouldn't have a big spend like that again this month.

£243.02/£350 left for the month

empy

Hi all,

New year, new start and boy do I need one I've attempted the grocery challenge so many times last year but only succeeded twice This year I am determined to get my grocery shopping budget under control so I can save the money for nicer things/ pension etc! Could I please be put down for £300

I'm hoping over the course of the next couple of months to reduce it to at least £250.00! Just got to get my butt into gear and more importantly get myself organised regarding cooking, packed lunches etc. The most challenging aspect for me is the lack of kitchen I have a hob, a remoska, a slow cooker and a microwave and a worktop surface the size of an A4 sheet of paper! We have recently moved in to the house and are in very,very slow progress of actually choosing a kitchen and arranging fitting etc! My husband being a typical man and not ever venturing into the kitchen has no idea of the urgency- though I have been making some awesome roasts etc so maybe I ought to serve up something yukky to motivate him

Anyhoo I'd better go and get dinner in the slow cooker, we are entertaining the inlaws tonight!

I wish you all a happy new year and all the very best for the first challenge of 2014.

empy

blissfullydebtfreewannabe

Thanks for the challenge!

Can I put myself down for £100 for January?

That's for 2 adults and 1 fat cat...

Thanks :j

icontinuetodream

Hope you are feeling better Zippy....sending you dodgy hugs!!:grouphug:

Can I be put down for £15 per week please Coxy?? This is for between 1-6 adults ....I am going to stick with this figure for as long as I can this year...I have a ridiculous amount of food in my cupboards and freezers and want to have cleared the vast majority (if not all!!) of it before I purchase anything other than fresh stuff and coffee!!!

craigywv

just on to say Happy New Year to you all as I prob will be busy later. and a thank you for you all for keeping my spending down in 2013 by reading all your motivating post xxx good luck for 2014 xxx

Annie_99

Good Morning. I started my food inventory last night and we have tons in. We went for dinner to our friends house and started to walk home. I have planter fassitis in my heel and I couldn't walk, so my dh suggests we get a taxi and stops outside the T*sci metro to wait. I was beside myself to go in to look for ys food but refrained.....
This year I'm going to try to rein in my "spending for the sake of it" and last night proved I can do it!!!
Off to work in a bit. Boo!

[Deleted User]

Good Morning fellow frugallers and big welcome to anyone who has been lurking.Great place to get motivated this one :)
Can you please put me down for £60.00 for January and hopefully I will have a lot left over at the end as I am determined to use up what I have in stock before I buy any more food.its daft I have enough to feed my street for a month at least.So tomorrow when I get home from my DDs I will be menu planning and listing all of my food stuff in store.January is definitely a month for staying away from shops and supermarkets.I have lots of stuff in my bulging freezer as well so its going to be used up instead of just sitting there .Its hard cash after all that paid for it so time it was utilised
have a very happy New Year to one and all and tomorrow the GC challenge starts
Cheers Chums
JackieO xxx

angelatgraceland

I will start my food inventory tonight I think while the "kids" are out celebrating. I never do anything New Years Eve so that will be very worthwhile. I've got an approved foods order coming later today and I don't know where it will go!!! I ordered it last week but as I won't be using it until at least tomorrow I am adding it to January spends-December is now all accounted for. One thing with buying stuff online is that you have your printed food list/inventory to hand! I must shop online a bit more maybe. Looking at my cupboards and freezer you would tell me not to shop at all. I will need bread milk and salad stuff but until it is urgent I won't buy it! I can make bread, I have some longlife milk and I can manage without the salad. Money will be very tight this year and next as more is going out than coming in! Therefore falling back on savings but long term I will be ok-just not entitled to claim anything to help out and I am not going to splurge on savings unnecessarily so that I can claim! I think I still fill the cupboards in the same was as I did when my daughter lived at home and before I lost DH in Oct 12. Adjusting to buying for 3 instead of 5 takes a while. My youngest dd now has a part time job but ds now out of work. One day they will both be working! So many companies closing-especially in sales. So-very important that I practice damage limitation and spend money wisely!