February 2014 Grocery Challenge

lynnejk

Another NSD for me today.


Spent ALL day cleaning and so easy dinner. We had a YS meal for 2 out freezer - M&S Spanish style chicken/veg/pots cooked in micro-oven. We were pleasantly surprised - really good portions, tasty and at £2.10 very economical for take-out (wouldn't have paid full price at over £6 though) :rotfl:


My mini-oven has now totally failed so having to search for a new one. Very sad as bit short of the reddies and could have done without the expense - but no oven means lots of meals not possible, eg Yorkshires, pies, pastry, quiche, pizza etc but will have to wait a week or so :mad:


My month finishes on 28th so only 4 days left for budget


Hope you all have a Tremendous Tuesday
Lx

[Deleted User]

another NSD to report, which makes it certain that I will be well under budget for the month.

Anzac_Biscuit

NSD for me today and lunch from home for work :j
Scored some Thai T/A last night care of wonderful BF, so I'll add the leftovers from that to my chicken for tonight's dinner. Yum.

I think I have one more batch of lamb mince for tomorrow and then I'll have to make something else, lol.

Should easily come in well under budget for my 2-week stint in Feb, then on to March. Payday will come halfway through the GC challenge month so will see how I cope with that.

I'm kind of in shock at how little I apparently need to spend - and conversely how much money I've been wasting :eek::mad: Has anyone else been shocked at how much they were spending?? (Granted, I haven't had to buy any toiletries or house stuff recently, which would bump it up a little bit)

cw18

Anzac_Biscuit wrote: »

I'm kind of in shock at how little I apparently need to spend - and conversely how much money I've been wasting :eek::mad: Has anyone else been shocked at how much they were spending??

Oh yes. I used to earn silly money (compared to most people I knew outside of work), and still spent every penny before the next pay cheque hit my bank account

My Frugal Living budget for this year is just under half of what I used to bring home 9 years ago, and would be about 25% lower again if I weren't planning my Spanish Camino for later this year. Whilst I accept I now have to support less people on it (1 of me, rather than me, hubby and DS2), there's also only the 1 income now (small widows pension topped topped up every month from savings) instead of 2 (the second was about half mine) plus child benefit and (minimal) child tax credits.

A lot of my overheads are the same (in the same house, so same insurance. heating and maintainance costs etc, and running the same car over roughly the same annual mileage), so I've cut back on the food spends (my monthly grocery budget, which includes some meals for DS1 that he covers the cost of and some for OH, is about what I used to spend of my large weekly shop for 3 adults - and I still had to do top-ups. but I seem to eat better quality food than I ever did before!), cut out junk food snacks, and do a lot less impulse buying (demonstrated by the fact I own very few CDs or DVDs released in the last 8 years, and those I have acquired in that time frame have almost all been presents if they weren't purchased second hand - and I've also taught at least one of my offspring to buy me second hand as presents as it means she either spends less of her limited income or I get more for what she budgets on spending on me )

sefilby

completely blown my budget - I know where I went wrong but that doesn't make it any easier so declaring MEGA over budget. Clearing the slate & starting fresh for March x

just_the_two_of_us

Hi - update - seem to have just £5.23 left until Friday of GC money and need one more meal. That doesn't take account of a very expensive five days away last week - but that will have to come out of another budget.:eek:

Sig updated - off to do some baking to cheer myself up - but I won't be feeling better when I get on the scales later:rotfl:
ETA - I know that it doesn't balance- what is left and what I've spent - must have missed a receipt somewhere!!!

charlies_tribe

I haven't done too well this month, with the kids being off school I have completely lost track. Going to go for a fresh start in March, still trying to get used to writing everything down.

mags50_2

Anzac_Biscuit wrote: »

I'm kind of in shock at how little I apparently need to spend - and conversely how much money I've been wasting :eek::mad: Has anyone else been shocked at how much they were spending?? (Granted, I haven't had to buy any toiletries or house stuff recently, which would bump it up a little bit)

I feel the same! There's just the two of us at home now, instead of five and their friends etc., and looking back, I've wasted so much :mad: I think you get into a habit of spending, and until you really sit down and think about it, you don't realise IYKWIM

Anyway, that's all in the past, now I enjoy saving the money and spending on treats.... Having lots of emergency food in is great and if things are tight money wise I always know we can eat :T

bmma

NSD for me today
mon---vegan 'beef' stew
tues---aduki bean stew
wed--- vegan 'fish steak,potatoes & veg
thur---aduki bean stew
fri---- saucage rolls home made (vegan)
sat--- lentil flan
sun--- lentil flan
written down main meals to keep me on the straight and narrow x

sinner2winner

Well I don't believe I did it but I came in on target ))
Can I go for £90 again this month please ?