August 2007 Grocery Challenge

FBThree

Hello,

I've been lurking for a while and really need to join this challenge. We're spending an obscene amount on nothing major. We're lucky not to be pushed with our spending since OH very well paid but we're in the wrong and if disaster hit in his job-world, we'd be stuffed. I've tried to cut back waste, (she says with a 2-person lasagne going off in the fridge) but just can't seem to meal-plan since I hate cooking and the time it takes.

My main problem is that I'm not working the moment and have few outside-of-house activities, so grocery shopping seems a "justifiable" expense. Hence I'm in Mr T or other once a week, and we're in another shop together at the weekend. We also have a Co-op in FAR too easy reach. (We don't spend much on clothes, household goods, books or other items - just groceries.) We have a sort of store-cupboard full and our freezer is stocked so I will be trying a store-cupboard challenge this month.

So I'm in for August. And I think I'll probably try to do this by logging the number of days I DIDN'T spend shopping! My month will start on 1st August (and I will sooo try not to spend tomorrow).

Bearing in mind we're 2 adults, 4 adult cats, 1 kitten, and not including OH lunches (he pays at work), this year we've averaged per month
- £340 on groceries,
- £118 on cats (includes new kitten arrival, weaning milk, costly kitten food & jabs. No new toys since still have some from other cats babyhood)
- £62 on eating out, pub visits or take-aways.

Ouch. :eek: So trying to cut back on that despite bank-hol weekend expected.

On a plus point, limited gas spend this week - we're in a no-water zone in Glos, so no hot-water for baths. :rotfl: Haven't used any washing powder either, but that'll change soon - I hope!

dawnylou

Oh my goodness I can't see me ever getting my spend down!

First spend for the month was £45.25
I never bought any meat at all. Didn't get any cans of pop or crisps or biscuits.
In fact I pretty much bought nothing but fruit and veg!! Help! Why is it so expensive?

orchid-96

Can I join you all, this is such a good idea, I have a rough idea of what I spend per month (not including take aways etc. although we don't go too mad with these) I am going to aim this month for £300.00 (excluding 17th-26th as we are away on holiday in the UK and I have saved my spending money for that) It is for 2 adults (very fussy dh) and 3 kids 16month twins and 5yr old .so this needs to include nappies, formula etc as well as stuff to keep him going over the holidays :eek:

I have a Tesco delivery coming tomorrow (approx £60) so that will be my staret - and I will sort out my signature (if I can ) to keep updated.

Looking forward to the challenge and for some reason I am quite looking forward to seeing what we really spend...

teedy23

well I,m off to a blinking great start, as I had a lovely chicken for dinner yesterday, I decided , as I was getting my waste under control, to strip the carcase for sandwiches for work and wee treat bits for cat. I made chicken stock with the bones today, then I carefully drained the bones from stock into sieve. What did I forget to do........... go on guess

Moniker

I am so excited because I made an extra meal with something I would have thrown away before the Grocery challenge. I had a leg of lamb at the weekend (special dinner for OH's birthday) which fed 4 adults. There was a lot of meat still on the bone but awkward to get off, so I put the bone in my pressure cooker(I had to break it in half to fit it in) with:
2 small carrots
2 sticks of celery
bayleaf
1 onion
salt and pepper
1 litre of water

Cooked this for about 20 mins and the result was lots of lovely meat which just fell off the bone. I put the meat and the veg into a dish with about half the stock (skimmed first to take off the fat). I will cook some potatoes and slice them tomorrow and put on top then pop in the oven to brown. (Isn't this a version of Lancashire hotpot?) I still have about half a pint of stock to freeze for soups etc. I reckon I have got 6 hearty meals for about £2 a head. My mum would be proud of me! (If you don't have a pressure cooker you can do this in a large saucepan but it takes about an hour to cook). Sorry veggies this isn't for you - but it smells wonderful!

millionaire_in_training

what teedy? tell em I'm rubbish at guessing

dlb

Hiya everyone.
Havent done the challenge before but i am going to give it a go in Aug.

There are 6 of us, made up of 2 adults, 4 kids (4,9,10,11) and a cat.

I am aimming to come in at no more than £280 (£70 a week), i do already meal plan and have managed to feed us all on £35 a week before when money is tight.
So wish me luck as hope if i can do this i am going to knock it down by £40 in Sept.
Donna

newlywed

teedy23 wrote: »

well I,m off to a blinking great start, as I had a lovely chicken for dinner yesterday, I decided , as I was getting my waste under control, to strip the carcase for sandwiches for work and wee treat bits for cat. I made chicken stock with the bones today, then I carefully drained the bones from stock into sieve. What did I forget to do........... go on guess

Erm... did you drain the stock away?

Disdisbiff

Count me in aiming for £230 for the month 1st-31st August this is for 5 of us 2 adults 3 kids (10,10,3)

Wish me luck

Gonna need it

Biff

rosieben

teedy23 wrote: »

well I,m off to a blinking great start, as I had a lovely chicken for dinner yesterday, I decided , as I was getting my waste under control, to strip the carcase for sandwiches for work and wee treat bits for cat. I made chicken stock with the bones today, then I carefully drained the bones from stock into sieve. What did I forget to do........... go on guess

Teedy, repeat after me - 'I must put a basin underneath'. 'I must put a basin underneath', 'I must put a basin underneath' ....

Been there, done that...... (not got the stock!!) :rotfl: