September 2014 Grocery Challenge

Solstice_3

anna-marie wrote: »

No matter how prepared I think I am something unexpected always comes up to sabotage my NSDs. Have to say it's usually child related, yesterday all three came home with school photo orders. Is it too mean to say I don't want the school photo lol!?

Spent a LOT of time in the kitchen yesterday making tea (Shepherd's Pie/Baked Jam Roll) and preparing in advance for tonight's family celebration meal. It's our 18th wedding anniversary. Having liver pate with caramelised onion/slow roasted pork shoulder/toffee apple pie washed down with a bottle of bubbly. The meal for 4-5 including wine worked out about £10 so more or less managed to work that into the budget without going too far over. Got some lovely home based entertainments planned so feeling proud of my frugal achievements today

Trying to strike a balance between standing guard on the fridge, and letting the family help themselves. If I don't keep an eye on them they randomly eat ingredients that I have planned to make meals with. Its a bit tough on them because the fridge does tend to look empty sometimes, and teenagers/hubby do like snacking. Just said they have to ask me first before they eat something but that feels a bit strict!

How about having an off limits shelf for your needed ingredients? I have the same problem with DH he likes to use stuff up which is great most of the time, not so great when it doesn't need using up :laugh:

Have to go to the shop again today, need chopped tomatoes, mushrooms (for dinner) and something for lunch (sandwich filler).

Make-it-3

Having totted up this weeks spend I have £36.48 left in my £200 pot for one weekly shop at the beginning of next week so should be do-able.

Was quite a shock seeing the October thread go up, hard to believe its proper Autumn as the temperatures are still well up here.

piglet27

Morning all,

Does anyone know if the aldi voucher is in the paper today please?

A spend of £24.49 at a!*i on Monday, then £3.40 on treats last night as I'm feeling quite low at the moment. Ice cream helps, i think lol.

Spend of £1.60ish today for milk, hopefully nothing else needed!

As it's dd and ds last day at current school tomorrow, I have promised them a hm pizza party (goodbye) tea with a friend each. So meal plan changed but hopefully I will still clear some bits out of the freezer!

Will update sig now.

anna-marie

Thanks for the tip Solstic_3 guarding only one shelf sounds a lot easier than guarding the whole fridge!

anna-marie

Frizzle wrote: »

Anybody know if the aldi voucher is in the paper today?

I haven't seen this before, but thanks so much for pointing it out how often do they do these?

XSpender

Went to Aldeee yesterday for chicken, bananas and cereal. £7.59 spent. I am loving then new aldee that has opened exactly 5 mins drive from my house:D The old one is 15 mins drive so for three items I would have just gone to Mr S or Mr T so it is saving me loads.


I was hoping for a NSD yesterday but only had sausages in and DH has been away for a few days, living on mixed grill and cooked breakfasts, so was a bit over sausages. The bananas are for his breakfasts as the 2 in the bowl looked headed for banana cake and the cereal and chicken were on my list for tomorrow so planned spends anyway.


I need to do a meal plan and shopping list for tomorrow but am struggling to reach the £30 minimum spend I need to use a £5 voucher at Aldee ( new store opening vouchers). I may have to buy the Christmas cake brandy to make up the cost which comes from another budget.

Frizzle_2

anna-marie wrote: »

I haven't seen this before, but thanks so much for pointing it out how often do they do these?

It's usually the last Thursday in the month. I normally pick up two papers and do a stock up shop of washing powder, cat food, cereal etc on the Thursday and then my normal shop on the Sunday. I hope to get three this week, as it is my sons party a week on Sunday so hoping to use one on party food!

Frizzle_2

Aldi Voucher is in today's paper.
Also vouchers for 50% off-
Sandwich thins, waffles, finest Wiltshire ham, chicken goujons, dreamy choc bars, chocolate thins, jarred mincemeat, light and dark brown sugar and something else! Bought three papers so will stock up on some of these things!
Will update my signature but £37 ish in aldi after voucher! Pleased with that. Stocked up on cereal for the month, washing powder, crisps and sweets for ds1s birthday.

Just made some delicious tomato soup using the tomatoes from the garden.
Bought some carrots and celery but had everything else homegrown toms and onions, tomato pur!e, tin of toms, stock cubes). Made about 12 portions!!! Yum!!

VickyV

Hi,

Been awol most of this month but was doing so well. I should have £50 left in the budget BUT I decided to pay for a takeaway, snacks and drinks out at a NT property :eek: (both of which would normally come out of a different pot which is very empty this month) and some unnecessary bits and bobs when we really had everything we needed.

Didn't go over so I'm happy with that. Declaring for Sept at £191/£192.

Off to October! :j
V. x

Billie-jo

Ald! today and spent £22.18 Not sure if deliveries are late or if its because they are getting more and more popular but lots of empty spaces on the shelves today.
Have £71.05 left so we will come in under budget again this month.