September 2007 Grocery Challenge

Jacks_xxx

lil_me wrote: »

Jacks it's been the same here, I told my partner look if we use what is in, reduce the spending and just get on with it we'll have enough for the removals costs rather than dipping in to Xmas savings, he's been much better! I'm still in a bit of shock. Kids have been the trickiest but haven't gave in yet. Hope your success so far continues I think on that thought I will go and see what is still left in and see what inventive meal plan I can come up with for next week, then make a small as possible shopping list!

WooHOO us eh? :T

I really wish I got on top of this earlier. (I would've if I'd known it would be so blimmin' easy!)

Our kids are 12 and 18 so they're old enough to know about money and debt and stuff.

I must admit I had expected some teenage strops though -but my daughter has eaten everything I've put in front of her and my son only turned his nose up at soya mince chilli. (He ate it though.)

I have worked in some treats. Woollies were doing 18 Penguins for a £1 so I grabbed a couple of packs to keep them going - and rationed them so they didn't go crazy at the mere sight of chocolate!

So Yay us honey - and roll on October's challenge!

Love Jacks xxx

meanmarie

AAAAARRRGGGGHHHH! Lost the plot to-day and spent €115.51 between butcher and supermarket...bringing my spend for September to €416.21, or €86.21 over budget....and will need milk, fruit and juice at very least between now and end of month. Only consolation is that there are main meals for at least two weeks there and we will be away from 1-8th Oct so should be able to pull back some of the deficit in October. Something else I now know is that it is never a good idea to go shopping without planning meals....all I needed to-day was potatoes and soy milk!

Will have to leave October challenge at €330 as it seems to be as low as I can go at present, but will try to recoup this month's overspend by end of year!

Marie

orchid-96

I am doing pretty well this month (so far) but have been a bit lax in keeping my receipts and I really need to see where the money is going (I suspect alcohol is taking up far to much of the budget :rolleyes: ) so basically I may well be 'forgetting' the odd thing - (but think I am pretty close)

So will carry on and next month am going to be much more organised and have got myself a folder ready to pop the receipts in straight away..

My main thing I am pleased about it is how much I am sticking to a meal plan (not always on the days planned but thereabouts) and being much stricter with myself when shopping..

I popped to tesco today to get some toiletries that we needed and managed to come away with only that and bread, milk, honey and eggs which was all I really needed..

I am getting low on a few bits like laundry stuff now, so will need to do a bit of a bigger shop this weekend, but I still have a good stock in the cupboard and a fair amount in the freezer - Thanks sooo much for all the great ideas I am getting on here....:beer:

JAMIEDODGER

just an update....

money left stands at 43.93 with 10 days to go, so still on track to be within budget:)

have enough milk to last another 2 days, bread to last the same, fruit will probably only last tomorrow so will have to buy fresh for the remaining days. have enough pots to last until the end of the month but will need a little veg.

think it is all going according to plan, and managed to stay away from the shops today. will have to go tomorrow though...

Moniker

Decided at the last minute to cancel my online delivery as I was sure I had ordered more than I really needed. (I find it hard to visualise amounts of stuff and prefer to choose my own fuit and veg). Went to Sainbury's this morning and did the whole shop for under £50, leaving nearly £17 for the rest of the month so I am well pleased. Mind you we will be out for main meals this weekend which has helped.

Next month starts for me on 28th and I think it is a five week month so I won't be reducing the budget. Both DDs are home for that weekend for a special meal for MIL's birthday so I will have to push the boat out a bit for that. But if I can keep to the budget or near it I will feel quite good. I have decided to review what I have spent on food etc over the past two months and see where savings can be made.

Good luck everyone for the final push! Off to update my signature.

Moniker

Moniker

LouiseJ wrote: »

Still baking hobnobs and shortbread & saving a fortune!

Can I have the recipe for the hobnobs please?

Moniker

LouiseJ

No problem I got this off the money saving old style thread in the recipe index they have loads of low cost recepies for everything from soup to buiscuits

These are really good though

Home Made HobNobs

8oz SR flour
8oz Sugar
8oz porridge oats
8oz marg
1tbsp Golden Syrup
1/2 tsp Bicarbonate of soda
1tbs hot water

Mix flour, oats + sugar together.
Melt marg, syrup + water in pan then stir in bic of soda
Pour into dry mix
Make small balls of mixture on a baking tray and flatten with fork or fingers
Cook for about 15mins until golden (not brown) in mod oven 180 degrees.

ENJOY!!!

Bobbykins

Hi All.....well, not doing brilliantly this month I'm afraid. OH came home from his trip a few days earlier than expected so, delightful as is was to have him home, it didn't half muck up my meal plans! :rotfl: :rotfl: .

I haven't done the sums completely yet but think I am a couple of quid over budget already and still have to get fresh veg and bread for next week.

Still, I don't feel I've done toooo badly, we'll see when I get to the end of the month. I did manage to make 3 meals for DD's freezer (for when the baby comes) out of stuff I had in, so that's a bonus.

JAMIEDODGER

been to tesco this morning to get what should be my last shop of the month.

spent 28.10 on food, which brings monthly total up to 224.17 and i have 15.83 left to last until 30th. i know there is still 9 days to go, but should have enough in with what i bought this morning to last. will be baking and have the BM on this weekend as i am refusing to buy any bread from the shops. i am still using up what i had in the freezer though:)

i still reckon that i should do it....

Angelraesunshine

Been to asda this morning only needed butter as for over a week everywhere here had sold out of willow and thats my favorite finally got some well 8 just to make sure i dont run out again. Also needed bread flour as down to my last bag. They only had 5 bags left so i bought them all lol.

I did buy myself a coat as yesterday got drenched and now cost smells i cant wear that to work as i am outside and need it on YUK and bought a dr who figure for my DH ready to put away for his bday.

Had Loads of mince on offer so i bought 5 packs that will make 10 meals of 550g and only cost me £1.24 each. s was pleased with that. got a few snack bits for the kids and t.rolls.

In all got just under £7 off in coupons had a few activia ones left that i had not given out and run out this month so thought i better use them instead. and was quite happy with a total food bill of £27.10p, means with all that meat next month will be cheaper i hope.