December 2014 Grocery Challenge

Solstice_3

Morning all Quick update - spend of £10.23 over the last couple of days. Will have an NSD today but a bigger shop tomorrow getting Christmas extras and veg in. Am planning on popping out on Christmas Eve too, crazy I know but just want to pick up a few extra and a couple of small extra presents.

bmma

NSD today = 7 x

dingdongsaving

I've not been on here posting much this month but we're tracking as carefully as ever! Christmas shopping was done before December, so no 'surprises' sneaking in the basket this month. Hehe. Just LOTS of extra visitors!
We've been very busy with friends, family, neighbours and end of year work gatherings and ds's end of term disco and golf lesson party...and my birthday on Friday! It's been a fantastic couple of weeks, but I'll be glad to settle down now! My mum & partner are coming for 4 days as of the 23rd, then my sister and b-i-l are coming boxing day for 3 days - it'll be lovely to just have at home/family time. I always love the unwrapping and enjoying the festive food, but I enjoy sitting and admiring the tree, playing games and enjoying some Christmas telly together just as much! :staradmin

[Deleted User]

I've been gearing up for joining your happy and helpful band in 2015 but wonder how to organise it in January:(. I fund Christmas each year by using up everything in the freezer and store cupboard during the first 3 weeks of December so come January everything usually needs replacing and restocking. Just before Christmas I only buy food essential to cover Christmas and New Year. There's never much of anything left to start the New Year with:eek:. So my January spends are not going to be typical of months later in the year.

Will have a think whether to just join in without declaring targets. I'll be working in the dark anyway as a newbie.

Bobarella

CRANKY40 wrote: »

There's a lot to be said for plain cooking. The boy and I had cheese toasties for dinner tonight because that was all we fancied. When I was small egg and chips was an acceptable evening meal. I remember my teenage uncle coming home to beans on toast and a blue riband biscuit. My great aunt told me that my nana who was born in 1921 refused to eat anything but a cream cake for her evening meal once she started work (my great aunt was sent to fetch said cake every afternoon).

Sorry Cranky I didn't see this yesterday. I remember having egg and chips with bacon for my dinner on Thursdays when I was a child. I looked forward to it all week. My mum wasn't a top cook she even admits it herself. Her idea of spag bol would be tinned mince with a sauce and spaghetti. I don't think I ate fresh mince till I started cooking for myself. The irony being my grandmother was a terrific cook who cooked everything from scratch. Go figure.
Anyway. I think everything in moderation. I don't beat myself up about giving my son supernoodles for dinner once in a while as he eats a good range of fruit and veg too. Balance is important for the budget too.

Bobarella

Reporting in with £12.67 spend today. Bought a turkey in the frozen section that says it serves 5 to 7 people. We are only 3 so we will have a lot of meat spare for leftovers which OH loves for turkey sandwiches. And some YS pitta bread at 13p.

Smoosh

£2.40 on a pack of dough balls with a garlic dip (YS), a big bag of stir fry vegetables (YS), a tray of barbecue sweet potato chunks (YS), 5 ring doughnuts (YS), a bunch of spring onions (YS), a bag of mixed vegetables (YS), a chilli glazed baking camembert (YS), 4 big chocolate chip cookies (YS), a pack of coleslaw & potato salad (YS), mussels in spicy tomato and chorizo sauce (YS) & a garlic ciabatta (YS).

I have spends to add from yesterday too, but can't find the receipt at the moment!

NewShadow

carbootcrazy wrote: »

I've been gearing up for joining your happy and helpful band in 2015 but wonder how to organise it in January:(. I fund Christmas each year by using up everything in the freezer and store cupboard during the first 3 weeks of December so come January everything usually needs replacing and restocking. Just before Christmas I only buy food essential to cover Christmas and New Year. There's never much of anything left to start the New Year with:eek:. So my January spends are not going to be typical of months later in the year.

Will have a think whether to just join in without declaring targets. I'll be working in the dark anyway as a newbie.

Feel free to not declare - You're welcome either way - but I was wondering if you'd find it helpful to do your shopping list/ meal plan for Jan to help you guestimate an amount?

I've picked an arbitrary total I can live with for 2015 - £1500 - and just divided that by 12.

It actually works out a little more than I expect to spend most months (£125 when I normally aim for £80), but should be balanced out by months where I tend to spend a little more - Jan (buying reduced xmas goodies for the freezer), June or July (visiting family), Sept (birthday), and Dec (works do) are examples.

I won't be too fussed about being dead on each month or week, but it will give me a way to keep tally of my years progress.

scotmumof3

£13.50 spend today at Tesc*. Milk , bread , fresh orange juice, Giant chocolate buttons ........
I think I might be able to bring it in just on budget this month. Not too bad for december and wasn't counting on DS1 being home from Army either. Fingers crossed
Hope everyone is enjoying their Sunday

Bobarella

@scotsmum great! Chocolate buttons are a bit lovely aren't they.