May 2014 Grocery Challenge

Florenceem

Miss_Bea wrote: »

So my 5-week May is finally over - and despite having 19 NSDs in total, I ended up blowing my food budget really badly in the last week.

This was the first time I've ever created a food budget, and I think the most important lesson I have learned is that when you're self-employed and work from home, you need to budget for some quick and easy meals that you can just chuck in the oven while you continue to work. I had planned on cooking healthy meals from scratch every day, but I was fortunate enough to get lots of work in, and then I just didn't have time to cook. Instead I ended up going hungry until the evening, and then going shopping while I was really hungry. Such a rookie mistake! ;-)

So for June I will stock up on some bean burgers and other quick and easy meals that will 'cook themselves' in the oven while I meet my deadlines. I have also learned that I need to budget for the odd day of sunshine - they don't come around very often, but when they do I like to spend as much time as possible outdoors, which means eating on the go. I hadn't factored that in either.

While I'm a bit disappointed in myself that I messed up my challenge so close to the end, I have learned some very good lessons. Better luck next time, eh? ;-)

A good way to keep the budget low - bulk cook when you have some free time. Then freeze in portions - result - home cooked economical food.

Mystikia

Morning everyone :wave:

Been Ill last few weeks... So some easy, convenient meal options for OH (I was unable to eat meals for 2 weeks ) means that I finished £19.80 over budget
Oh well... New month, new opportunity to do better!
See you on the June thread

Solstice_3

I had to go looking for the thread today lol. Spent £14.18 in Asda to cover the next few days, hopefully don't need anything except maybe milk until Fri ^_^

Changed my meal plan tonight to use up leftover lamb and potato, and still use my veg box veg. Best get cooking soon!