September 2007 Grocery Challenge

JAMIEDODGER

went off to farmshop this morning. went a bit further afield to one that is also a bakers and butchers too...

spent 36.85, picked up most things needed for the coming week. will however still need to buy milk and a few storecupboard items so shall pop into tesco tomorrow probably.

so total spend to date for september 1-30th: 166.76

this leaves me £73.24 to last the next 14 days, i really think i will manage to keep in budget this month:) i will be doing a storecupboard challenge for the last 7 days in the month to try and eek out the money.

trying-very-trying

I don't know if I'm doing this right, how does everyone else do it?

I don't keep all of my receipts, but what I did this month and last, was I drew my £300.00 from the bank and work my budget as whatever I have left in my purse. For example at the moment I have approx £94.00 left, so therefore I have taken £206 off as having been spent.

Now here is where I am asking myself if I am cheating.

I use this challenge as a total spend, but what happens if I get extra money? Do I add that to my spending total, putting me over budget, or can I just use that money as extra.

This month hubby gave me some extra money to take my dd away for the week. I think it actually cost me more than he gave me, but I am still budgeting on what is left in my purse, like I say £94.00.

I am also putting any £2 coins in a sealed tin, this month I reckon I've put at least £20 away in the tin. That money is not in my purse, so has been deducted from my budget.

I've been quite pleased with this new way of living on a limited budget, but am I deluding myself and cheating on this challenge??
I don't draw any more money from the bank, but is it fair for me to spend any extra money, eg money found in an old hanbag, cashback form lemonade bottles, shopping paid for in tokens, without counting it.

meanmarie

Bobbykins,

Sorry I didn't see your post until now, the original flatbread I started making was a recipe I got from Julia Penguin, ingredients as follows:

8 ozs Self raising flour
3 tablespoons natural yogurt
1 tsp yeast
1 tsp salt
6 tbs warm water

Mix all well and allow to rise for about an hour until doubled in bulk. Knead until smooth and elastic, you may need quite a bit of flour to do this, divide in 4. roll out as thinly as possible.

Heat non-stick pan to medium heat...I use a plain cast iron one and put in breads one at a time, turning after a minute or so, then cook other side until sounds hollow when tapped. This is also very nice if used as the base for a hm pizza.

Sometimes if I don't have any yogurt I make it without, it is chewier but have had no complaints. I find that I can use Lidl flour too, which is very much cheaper than the strong flour I use for bread usually

Good luck with your baking

Marie

redmel1621

Hi

Looks like most here are managing better than I am, I have gone well over BUT I did decide (for the first time) to get a huge 30L bag of cat litter from pets at home which cost £8.19 so that has thrown me out a bit. It will mean a big saving though as I was buying catsan 10L for £4.18!!

Anyway ended up at a weekly total of £94.59

of to update sig
Mel x

saveaholic68

I have managed to stay just under budget again this week. I've been baking a lot this week to save a few pennies too.
I'm running out of a few things, so I'll be shopping tomorrow, but I'm gonna try really hard to keep under budget again this week.

Moniker

Is it me or is anyone else having problems using MySupermarket.co.uk? I have found it incredibly slow and it is not my computer as it works fine on other websites and we have broadband. I tried loads of time to send my trolley to Sainsbury's but have given up and gone direct to the Sainsbury's site as I was afraid of not getting my preferred delivery slot. I have placed my order for next week and it was more expensive than if I had used MySupermarket but it was very quick and easy and I still got the Nectar points.

I think after paying for that delivery I have about £12 to last to 28th, so I must try really hard not to buy any extras! Luckily we are out on Saturday and Sunday next weekend so I won't have to cook main meals then and hopefully can make the store cupboard stretch!

We had a delicious sausage casserole last night which I cooked in the slow cooker all day. I bought a 6 pack of sausages and divided them into pairs before freezing them so I could take out two at a time. With all the other veg in there and the beans my OH didn't notice the lack of sausage and said it was very tasty!

Back to work tomorrrow so won't have time to post much during the week. Hope you all have a good one!

Moniker

LouiseJ

Not off to a good start this week, did my Tesco online shop for 1st time but ordered it for Sunday, which was a mistake as on Saturday we had offered to look after neighbours children for weekend and OH had a friend over so needed to do a shop for beer & stuff to eat on Saturday, ended up sending OH to Asda (big mistake)! bill came to £38 for 1 cooked chicken, some chrisps, btl pop, frozen chips, french stick & tray of lager:eek:

Of course he really needed a CD and some blank DVD,s. *Note to Self* NEVER SEND OH TO ASDA.

Friend also brought a tray of lager & left it here as a thank you & had more lager ordered with Tesco shop, now have enough to last at least a month I think! Unless anyone has any recepies to use it in, Lager pasta? Lager Pie?

sambamamba

After last weeks scary numbers (but it was a 10 day week I keep deluding myself) I've been trying very hard to cook to what fresh needs to be used up first. However I am unable to resist reduced packs of meat so did stock up on few more of those.

Went to OH's work fun day yesterday & managed to make a profit as free food & drink provided - paid £3.78 on tombola tickets & won a big box of food goodies worth at least £10 & a bubble bath! Result.

Just under £60 for rest of the month, should be OK with my lamb mountain, fingers crossed. I think I'm going to have to overcome my mental blockagainst meal planning though. Am loving the colcannon & flatbread recipes so will be giving those a go, many thanks chaps.

Did anyone ever find out about Clubcard + cards & T.Com orders? I did have a look but you have to go through an order & I didn't want that temptation in my way again.

Hope all are well, it's downhill now as we're more that halfway through the month.

jess444_2

Hi all,
Just updated my signiture. OH went to Mr T's today with meal plan and shopping list. He is much better than me at sticking to what is on the list, I tend to sidetracked and come home with at least £10 0f food not planned for. Will have to send him shopping every week.:D
Last week used up food already in the freezer and made some meals using some home grown veg (beetroot, carrots, spinach and corn :j ) This has definately saved money this year and I plan to grow more next year. Also last week went 'blackberrying', and have been eating blackberry pies ever since.:rolleyes:
Keep up the good work everyone.

nearlynewbie

Hi everyone- not dropped in for a while as not doing well keeping to budget.
Aim £280/month
Augsut £311- not too bad as were away on self-catering holiday and that includes the food on that. and MUCH better than June and July when I spent over £400 /moth for the 6 of us.

September- spent £204 so far and have £70 Mr T shop being delivered this week so will have to eat from freezer/stores for last week of the month to approximate to budget-(but will be over) will go to work on the menus.
September