April 2014 Grocery Challenge

meg72

Chi-me wrote: »

Hello, I'm new, I would love to join this group. My OH has been on statutory sick pay and I work part time only as I'm disabled and can't cope with more. Money is tight but he's back at work next week :T However, I've quite had my eyes open to the waste we normally create recently whilst budgeting, freezing food rather than slinging it out and worrying about getting into debt.

I'm committed to this and although I'm joining late I hope to achieve my goals and build up our savings, which are now at nowt!

I would like a budget of £360 but hope to spend less than this amount obviously. I've based it on our previous outgoings for everything, food and provisions for two adults a chihuahua and cat who are both on a raw food diet. Every Sunday we increase our numbers to anything up to six adults and some or all of my adult children come over with various OH's for dinner. I love it but it can be pricey! I'm also appalled at the sum we previously spent on eating out and take aways :eek: It has to stop!

looking forward to 'meeting' you all and my second shop of the month tomorrow.

Hello and welcome.I think this is the nicest,
most friendly and helpful thread on MSE and certainly the best one for help and support in reducing the grocery budget. Glad you have joined us and look forward to your future posts.

Faete

Weekly shop done - Aldi £17.12 and Asda £39.05 - includes a whole leg of lamb for next weekend that cost just £9.21

Fae xx

just_the_two_of_us

Wow this thread really moves quickly!!!

Welcome to newbies and watchers - just jump in!!

Small spend this weekend 80p on Morries clotted cream scones for treat - yes I know I should bake them myself but then i would also eat them all too:rotfl:
Another small spend on YS items in Sainsb too - spent £2.54 and got £8.45 worth of stuff - mainly bread for freezer but also lovely bramley crumbel tart pudd from £3 to 74 p.

Had lovely chicken casserole in sc last night - really easy recipe and no need for a packet. Cheesey mash bacon and mushrooms planned for tonight.

Keep up the good work everyone. Sig updated.

[Deleted User]

Another NSD today, but Oh did buy a bottle or two of pinot gris, so am sitting in front of the first fire of the season enjoying the warmth and wine.


Dinner tonight was enchiladas, using the leftovers from yesterdays roast pork and homemade tortillas. OH took a photo but don't know how to post, so can't show off. Tasted amazing and will definitely be in my make again file.


Was feeling a bit down so OH took me for a drive up the beach. There is approximately 20 kms between the two rivers, and once you get a couple of kms away from the town the rest is totally deserted. Its wonderful to just walk, me OH, lots of seabirds and no other people. At times like this I realise just what a wonderful environment I am privileged to live in.
Hope everyone has a wonderful day
Cheers
Jennie

joedenise

Went to a farmers market yesterday while away for the weekend and ended up spending £18.40 which I hadn't really planned for - most of which has ended up in the freezer as not in this month's menu plan but am still within budget with only one more top up shop tomorrow to do; so am sure will still be within budget for the month. A total of £161.41/£200 spent so far.

Denise

kayester

off to butchers later, fancy spag bol just need mince and sauce, have pasta and cheese in. cant make my own sauce as run out of tomatoes, off to spend my £40 morrisons vouchers tomorrow so will stock up then!

Coxy11

Hi everyone,

Budgets list updated to here

Welcome to:
Chi-me

amiehall - welcome to you too If you'd like to set a budget and be added to the list, please let me know.

Quite a spendy few days for us. I took DD and DS2 swimming on Thursday and there's an Aldi and Asda close by. Spent £38 in Aldi and £34 in Asda (which included a whole leg of lamb for £8).

M&S on Friday for sushi lunch for DS2 and I plus some milk and bakery goods - another £6 odd, then Tesco yesterday for veg, potatoes, mint and redcurrant jellies for the roast lamb - £6.50.

The lamb was delish - did it with garlic and rosemary - and there's enough for another meal for the 5 of us. Will freeze lo in the meantime.

Meals for this week (in no particular order):
Beef casserole with mash
Thai chicken curry with rice
Macaroni and cheese (DS2 wants to cook it!)
Spaghetti bolognaise

That takes us up to Good Friday. Will need to get some more rice plus the cheese for the macaroni, so will pop to Tesco tomorrow I think.

Have a good day all.
Coxy

Crowdpleaser

Big spend of 70 quid at mr a this morning. Will need a small shop of milk and fruit next week but am hopeful that's it. However I know I am missing a couple of 2 quid receipts somewhere.... off geocaching in a bit with no spends involved at all! X

Mrs_T_M

Spend of £18.90 from the grocery budget to report. Over half of that (£11.98!) was on a single beef roasting joint! :eek: It's 2.4 kg though, so it should last for a while between the two of us.

Planning on making black bean flourless brownies sometime this week, so had to pick up a chocolate bar to turn into chunks. No clue how they will turn out, but I've seen rave reviews on the recipe. Also had to get two Easter eggs, since Aldi has them for 99p each. One for DH and one for my mom when she visits. They don't have chocolate Easter eggs in the States like we do here, and they can only buy cadbury cream eggs at Easter!

joedenise

Mrs_T_M wrote: »

Planning on making black bean flourless brownies sometime this week, so had to pick up a chocolate bar to turn into chunks. No clue how they will turn out, but I've seen rave reviews on the recipe.

Could you post the recipe please or a link to it? Thanks.

Denise