December 2014 Grocery Challenge

lynnejk

Kerfuffle wrote: »

Hi everybody,
I'd like to join in if I may. I'm going to declare a budget of $300.00 for 2 people (Hubby and myself) and 2 fish.
$4.47 / $300.00

Welcome to the thread - whereabouts on the planet are you based, just nosy interested

why_not wrote: »

Can I join please. £300 for the month for three of us.
So far we have spend £71.59 in Aldi.

Welcome to the thread and hope you enjoy being here


I think it does become easier each month if you keep going. As I said in last post - just don't try to cut back too much at first and become despondent. It will take a few months to find what level of spending you can manage and still be happy with the meals you have.


Remember - this thread is not a competition to the bottom but some support to help you manage your budget with like-minded people. We have different likes/dislikes, live in various part of the country from city to rural and some people have the ability to grow their own or have chickies to help stretch the budget.


Things I find useful are batch-baking and buying extra when I spot a bargain (if something I use frequently). I also bulk out meals with plenty of seasonal veggies and different canned beans. I try to shop as seldom as possible, always with a list and never hungry. I wouldn't go to a Sm for just one thing - usually can manage without - or if it's milk I send DH :rotfl:


This is a very friendly and helpful thread so just ask if you need some help/advice.
HTH.


I managed another NSD today


Hope you all have a fantastic Friday
Lx


:xmassign:

maria3104

Hi all,

just saying, I miss by chickens. Tomorrow Mr T delivers and will include bought eggs. Shame. My poor girls.

Hope for a NSD today. Yesterday would have been one but I went out for a lunch. Wow it cost £8, I mean £8 for lunch. Insane.! I used to pay for lunch everyday. No wonder I never had any money.
Looking forward to tomorrow. am bored with fish and rabbit.

Happygreen

peaceandfreedom wrote: »

I will confess that I hide stuff that I don't want people to eat. If I buy a BOGOF I will hide one of the items otherwise both will get eaten in quick succession and I haven't saved any money.

Cheaper cuts of meat are definitely a good idea but DH will not bother much with cooking things like that, so I will have to meal plan and batch cook some meals in advance.

Really need to get my head around meal planning!

This made me laugh :rotfl: OH finds it weird that us girls hide stuff from him :rotfl: I'm glad I'm not that alone in this :rotfl:.

Just as one suggestion - instead of 2 expensive steaks for the boys I would buy a cheap brisket joint or braising steaks (whichever is cheaper by weight), cut it up and make a Goulash. I add lots of veg too, like sliced pepper, sweetcorn, spinach, thinly sliced cucumber or courgettes and lots of onions, with rice or couscous. This way the same amount of meat feeds at least twice as many people. Then we usually have some leftover which again I add some chopped tomato and creme fraiche and serve with pasta.

For me , back to the GC - NSD yesterday. Today I'll have to go into town so will probably spend some. Will update my signature later as no power today due to repairs on the line

craigywv

Nsd here too spent 16.00 in mr t yeaterday alot of it ys meat and veg so wont need too much only milk hopefully,.

StrawberryJam132

Hi everyone :wave:

This is a great thread. Please could I join?

Budget for one this month of £40, please! I thought I was pretty savvy with bulk cooking etc, but I can't wait to find ways to be cheaper again! It's all so exciting

If I eliminate all chocolate and crisps, I can keep it at £40 I think! .... Or I hope :eek: haha.

I've already spent £36.71. But this is my monthly shop done! (fingers crossed)...

quidsy

Why have I not know about this thread before.

I wont join this month as it's Christmas & we tend to splurge a bit with extra vouchers & whatnot but I am def joining in the new year.

meg72

Had a very strange week, got really nasty mouth ulcers and couldn't wear my dentures so lived on porridge, yoghurt and soup mainly so
still have all meals planned left. Have decided not to shop at all this week as don't need anything.

Solstice_3

I find now I take part in this thread I am more aware when shopping, I used to just walk in grab and buy. I didn't look at the price let alone closer and would have easily been taken in by so called offers. The other day I saw margarine on offer 2 500g tubs for £3, well the 1kg tubs sell for £2 from the same store! It just goes to show how being aware while shopping makes a difference. I now check unit prices and make good use of the scales, they have ones where you can print out a price label, and compare prepacked to loose. I've found loose is sometimes cheaper but not always, it does depend on what you are buying and how much of it you are buying.

Anyway my total so far includes my monthly online shop, my Christmas meat (am now buying veg from shops), my recipe box (had voucher) and all spends up to today and it is £233.08 :eek:

All I need now is top up shops and cake ingredients. Still it's going to be hard to stay strict!

Oh and NSD 1 today ^_^

smokies

Well do today was my shopping day - went to M*rris*ns and spent £67.40 - I am hoping that its going to see me till next Friday, with only milk and bread to buy during the week - should be on track..


Yesterday was a no spend day - so that's 3 for me so far...


Hope every one is have a great day xxxx


Smokies

bmma

Hope you feel better soon meg72:)

• spends to day which include£38.29p total spends = £51.70/£100.00p
• the vegan roast x 2(christmas dinner)
• cranberry jelly
• two weeks vegan food (Fry',Violife,V bites these will make meals + sheese (cream)
• 2 bottles of Rock's ginger cordial
• mini sausage rolls:)
• Having a break from cooking from scratch-resting up before cooking for christmas day:rotfl:x