February 2014 Grocery Challenge

kayester

£8.05 spend for this weeks lottery and a small treat for DD.

marks and spencers chicken cheese and bacon with croquettes tonight.

ikesmummy

Still holding on to the hope that I may come in within budget this month but if I do it's going to be only just, pretty happy with how I have done on for my first go at this challenge a think I was spending closer to £400 a month prior to giving this a go and pretty sure it was even more some months.

We have cut down on the amount of meat we eat more to do with health than budget but would like to use more beans/lentils than I currently do. I have chickpeas, salad bean mix and butter beans all in the cupboard but other than the butter beans (which I use for lovely butter bean stew) not really sure what to do with the others - any ideas??

I also have Quinoa which I was assuming I would just be used in place of couscous or rice - do other people use it more creatively? Would like to have March's meal plan drafted by the end of the week, it worked well having the whole month planned for February, think we have stuck to it 95%, swapped a couple of days and had to drop a couple of things off it where unexpected plans made timings impossible but haven't had to resort to a single take away

Have loved how supportive and friendly this post has been my first month so think you may all be stuck with me!!

Beckyy

I'm a bit late updating but I did a weekly grocery shop and also stocked up on some things from shops I don't get to visit often, and will last over the next couple of months.

I have £45 of this months budget left and I do think I'm going to manage to stick to it!

Frugalsod

I have only spent about £100 this month and think I can make it through to the end without spending any more, except dairy items. I will be doing a shop at the end of the month to get cash back (for milk etc) for the next month, and to set me up for the next month, topping up things that I need to replace. I have plenty in stock so that should be minimal.

spendinglikemad

NSD yesterday
DD made some fabulous peanut butter cookies - hopefully she will make some more today. Had stir fry for dinner with milk and cookies for pud.


To make today:
Fruit loaf in the breadmaker (recipe online)
Cream of celery soup (from Delhias frugal food) - had a bit of cream in freezer along with fresh chicken stock so hopefully will taste good
Beef casserole in SC (to eat tomorrow)


I have meal plans for this week and maybe will take me to next Friday with only needing bread, milk, sandwich meat. So if I am strict with the shopping may stick to budget.


Been reading the posts and very inspired by the posts - KiwiBlue I love the sound of your life sounds ideal to be growing your own F&V and I just love fresh fish - your posts make me hungry!!!


SLM

Make-it-3

Receipts a-gathered and my remaining budget for Feb sits at a very healthy £81.45/£200. I'll have to do a top up shop at the weekend and another weekly shop next Wednesday but can't see how I can't come in under budget with that much to play with.

Really can't believe how disciplined I have been this month. Just as well, my darling LO dropped my phone down the toilet yesterday. It is now sitting in a bag of rice and I am keeping everything crossed that it can be rescued.

craigywv

nsd here so far, made shepherds pie for tonight and a ys cabbage 3p buttered it and added pepper and it looks lush! will do Yorkshire pud with it. good luck all

newthrift

I only came across this thread last week. I think we should be able to manage our food shop at £200 a month as there is only me and my OH. If we are a little extra thrifty I reckon I could manage on £160 a month - but starting a £200. I need pack up 3 days a week and my OH 6 days a week (although on one day he can have soup but the others he needs sandwichs for ease). We are big on Aldi for almost everything and then all our meat from the butchers - but this doesn't really cost anymore usually than the supermarket. Food shop day is tomorrow morning and will be first day i'm being savvy when I'm shopping. Will report back, hope to stop on budget of £50!!

sinner2winner

Im finding this challenge quite hard now - my month ends on the 25th - thank goodness but i am really trying hard to make sure i come in on budget.

Im out of coffee and sugar , and everything of what i fancy - i have plenty for dinners - just not what i fancy. Wish i could come up with a fatless sweet cake or biscuit .

Sorry for my little moan - roll on the 25th!!!

Anzac_Biscuit

dogmom wrote: »

Hi Anzac
Lamb mince is nice made into morroccan lamb balls. Mix the meat with some cooked rice, chopped fried onion, garlic, 1 tsp brown sugar and morroccan spices (any you like from cumin, coriander, chili, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, thyme). Form into little balls or burgers. You can shallow fry or bake them in a medium oven. Delicious served with lemon wedges, bread and salad.

Yum! Thanks! I was thinking of doing something Moroccan-ish - have some prunes in the fridge to use up as well as lots of spices Might have to try this