March 2014 Grocery Challenge

Zippy001

meg72 wrote: »

Well done on cutting up a chicken. I could try to explain but you cant beat watching someone do it,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=2Yo4wVaxLlE

Can i just say a quick thank you , to meg72, ive just watched how to cut up a chicken,::T and may give it a go if i get two cheap ones.
I always buy breasts, and they can be expensive.

craigywv

NSC today and hopefully milk only over weekend cupboards still heaving,will need fruit and veg maybe middle of next week, meal planning is making sure I not wasting anything. Good luck all x

cllola

Zippy001 wrote: »

I have ordered two Pre-paid mastercards one for petrol and one for food / toiletries etc for me and my husband. These arrived today .
The plan is i load how much i need to use on the cards , keep some cash in house to cover Ald* shop and fresh veg off market and milk.
And when its gone , its gone.

Not sure if anyone else has used these ? or if they are any good ?

This sounds like a really good idea! It will be interesting to hear from someone who does this as i might give it a go instead of having to transfer between accounts etc.

cw18

cllola wrote: »

This sounds like a really good idea! It will be interesting to hear from someone who does this as i might give it a go instead of having to transfer between accounts etc.

I considered them, and then ditched the idea as it looked as if you'd no way of claiming back any money on them if you lose them. I'd much rather spend a few minutes now and again moving around money that's safe than risk ending up with nothing....

Even if there are any safeguards in place now, it would still take time to get a refund. I lost my bank cards last year, and it took 7-18 days (quickest to slowest) for the replacements to arrive. I no longer carry all my cards with me, but leave a subset at home. This way I always have access to my money as I can do on-line transfers to get it into the account(s) I have the cards for.

SarahB1989_2

Calling today the start of March as heading back to my flat after being away on placement for four months so need to restock the cupboard! £5.50 already gone from the budget from overspending in Feb. Discovered lidl is within cycling distance so off to check that out this afternoon.

cllola

cw18 wrote: »

I considered them, and then ditched the idea as it looked as if you'd no way of claiming back any money on them if you lose them. I'd much rather spend a few minutes now and again moving around money that's safe than risk ending up with nothing....

Even if there are any safeguards in place now, it would still take time to get a refund. I lost my bank cards last year, and it took 7-18 days (quickest to slowest) for the replacements to arrive. I no longer carry all my cards with me, but leave a subset at home. This way I always have access to my money as I can do on-line transfers to get it into the account(s) I have the cards for.

Ah ok - didnt know that. Probably best to stick to piggybanking and moving when needed then. Thanks for the reply!

Ladyluck1

Few spends this morning.. Need to check receipt.
Just a few baby bits from boots and foody bits from Lidl

Zippy001

cw18 wrote: »

I considered them, and then ditched the idea as it looked as if you'd no way of claiming back any money on them if you lose them. I'd much rather spend a few minutes now and again moving around money that's safe than risk ending up with nothing....

I have looked into this you can still get them stopped like any other card (if lost or stollen). The only difference is , if they get used before you can get them stopped , you would lose the money , but with a bank card you may be able to claim off the bank. This is a worry but then so is carrying cash around too.

I will give it a go if i don't like them, or feel money is unsafe I will just stop using them there is No monthly charge.

Thank you for the feedback, I will let you all know if i decide against it.

mintedby30?

First 2 big spends and it's not even March yet- oops. I'll be running the challenge 27th feb- 27th march, payday to payday.

£60 spent on a big meat order to be delivered this coming Thursday. This is the first time we've done this in an attempt to eat less but better quality and more ethical meat. We'll be getting an £80 order every 6 weeks but increase/reduce quantities or frequency if we wish.

£58 spent on an asda delivery which came today. I'm going to try and get to the middle of the month before needing anything more than a bread/milk top-up.

Really must meal plan so off to nosy on the meal plan thread.

Edit: I've just attempted my first bulk-out meal, a lasagne. Would usually use 500g mince, garlic, an onion, tin of toms, a carrot grated, a few chunky mushrooms, a pepper, wine, sugar, herbs and seasoning as the bolognaise and the 3 of us would polish it off. Tonight's additions included a tin of reduced salt and sugar beans, a second carrot, a second pepper, a handful of lentils and 1/2 a punned of mushrooms but chopped so finely you couldn't see them as my DD9 would usually pick them out. Anyway I got 2 lasagnes out of it so is is cooling for the freezer as I type. A great result as my DD polished off without any moaning- she loved the beans addition- and didn't spot any mushrooms. #converted!!

lushlifesaver

Zippy001 wrote: »

I have ordered two Pre-paid mastercards one for petrol and one for food / toiletries etc for me and my husband. These arrived today .
The plan is i load how much i need to use on the cards , keep some cash in house to cover Ald* shop and fresh veg off market and milk.
And when its gone , its gone.
Not sure if anyone else has used these ? or if they are any good ?

Bf and I did this for a while using O2 money cards (he kept the fuel card and I kept the household one) we bought a text alert after every spend and could track the balance online/via a phone app. It worked well for a while but then it got awkward as some places took forever to process the payment via the card machine and it just got awkward - I can imagine it being easier with one not linked with a non-financial provider.


I'm considering something similar for groceries but by using a 'gift' card as I can get a discount through a rewards scheme run by my health insurance provider (work perk).




***
Off to a shop (Iceland or Morrisons not decided yet) on lunch after I pop in to the bank for bf; we don't need much but are in need of ham, cheese, and bacon as well as a treat for dessert after tea tonight (new 'tradition' to celebrate the end of the week )