July 2014 Grocery Challenge

K9sandFelines

£5.25 spent today in the C*-*P and £1.00 in the local shop.

poolie_purse_strings

Hi folks,

I am back on the GC wagon after the disaster of June, and feeling positive.

I am aiming for £500 which is realistic or 2 adults and 2 very hungry teeneagers.

So far I have had one NSD and today bought some YS bacon and brie (brie & grape sandwiches and BLT's this week). Total spend of about £4.00 but I will check exact figures and update siggy tomorrow (purse is downstairs and I am not...too lazy to move now!:))

Looking forward to being more in control this month.:T

parsniphead

Please, please, please may I join this challenge.

I meal plan each fortnight when I shop but it always goes wrong once the top up shops start. I really need to get on top of the spending. We are generally quite good with the food budget but it could be better.

I also struggle with food as I get very bored with it so have come on hoping for inspiration. I'm getting bored of the same thing week after week.

So can I put myself down for £200

We split the food bill between the two of us and I do the shopping as I work less days so I should be able to control this. I also get a free lunch when I'm at work and the little one gets fed at kindergarten one day a week and tends to only want a small snack when he comes back as he has tea there too.

I will do this.:)

Make-it-3

Hello everyone and thanks to Coxy for keeping us all in order. June was a disaster £277.62/£200.

July is a 5 week month again for me am going to try to get back on track so will see if I can stay within £200 target. This is for me, OH, DD age 3 and a cat and includes food, alcohol, cleaning stuff and toiletries.

Is anyone else finding it harder with all the lovely seasonal fruit and wanting salad - seems so much more expensive that winter food.

First spends were yesterday £34.85 - so £165.15 remaining.

FrugalWorker

Hi all

I have to say, this has been great for focusing the mind!

End of week 1 – Budget 350 Euro for month. How've I done? 76.04 for the week. That's a little over the 70 euro per week...however, I got a few higher dollar items, toiletries that we needed. I reckon this should be fine. We've both pretty much brought packed lunches in all week – score, means I've had enough food to get us through.
Personal spends (different budget) – 15.40 – which included drinks for a weekend away, coffee in work and 5 euro in to a talk I'd wanted to see. Petrol is holding it's own, I haven't quite cycled every day, but the car has had a break from normal use. I did have chips from the chippie one night which OH bought for me.

I'm pleased.

x_raphael_xx

2nd NSD today
Will probably end up spending tomorrow, off out for a trip with the dog and my bff, will have to pay the ferry toll and will at least get the pooch an icecream

VickyV

Hi All,

First spends of the month yesterday. Spent £14.21 in Te5co on some reduced veg and some bits I can't usually get at Ald1 and 42.80 on food for the week, top ups of condiments and laundry liquid at ald1. Seems costly to buy salad stuff but I suppose it's cheaper than meat or eating out!

NSD today which makes 7 for the month so far! :A

Vicky x

lynnejk

Hiya everyone and welcome new peoples :hello:

just_the_two_of_us wrote: »

Think I have done this one and it was delicious - we had the butcher chop a whole shoulder in half rather than using lamb shanks
http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/slow_cooker_braised_lamb_01950

Not sure how it translates time wise for boneless lamb shoulder though - perhaps someone else may have an idea?

How strange - I cooked lamb shanks for DH and used a similar recipe http://allrecipes.co.uk/recipe/408/heavenly-lamb-shanks.aspx
I think you could use same for shoulder. I followed method and then slow-cooker 1 hour on high and 5 on low. Cooled and put in fridge overnight. Took out today, took off as much fat as poss, heated in micro and then 3 hours on low back in slow-cooker. DH said it was gorgeous and fell apart - just how he likes it so it should 'pull' ok hth.

FoxFace wrote: »

Had some leftover vegetable tagine/stew from Monday, so blended it up and had it as a soup for lunch, plenty left for tomorrow and to freeze for another time
QUOTE]
Hey - have you a recipe for that PLEASE - like more veggie stuff in the summer

poolie_purse_strings wrote: »

Hi folks,
I am back on the GC wagon after the disaster of June, and feeling positive.
Looking forward to being more in control this month.:T

Hi Poolie - glad to see you back in the mad house


I had another NSD today so off to a good start :j


Have plenty of eggs in so had cheese omelettes, small HM chips and coleslaw for lunch and tuna & cucumber sandwich, HM yog with berries and 2 slices malt loaf for pack-up at work this evening


Made more yoghurt today and have just potted and fridged it and put YS salmon in bottom of fridge from freezer to defrost for tomorrow :T


Hope you all have a thrifty Thursday
Lx

Frizzle_2

Joining late. Will be my first spend today. Can you put me down for £250 again please

zafiro1984

Need to join in again as spending is getting out of control.
Can you please put me down for £250.

I've already spent £98.34p this month at Sainsbobs and £19.85 at the veg and fruit stall in the market, but I know I have enough fruit and veg to last the week and hopefully enough stock cupboard items to last the month.

My problem is shopping whenever I go out, even to post a letter.