January 2016 Grocery Challenge

patentgirl

Morning all Just off to update totals been good so far didn't realise how far we was in the month already only thing that's helps me is restricting myself to one shop and one top up a week usually bread! Not brought one magazine either which was my weakness Supermarkets seem to place them around till area for people like me to pick up without thinking !! Resisted so far.

mrs-moneypenny

Morning all
Will be an nsd today as I'm busy all day and we're eating out tonight which will come from a different pot (Dh will be paying)

Really pleased with how things are working so far this year we've meal planned and been working through what we have in. So are staying in budget, thus I'm saving some money back for when the freezer needs stocking up.

Wet and miserable here so try and stay safe dry and have a good day all.

cowboymum

Argh - just wrote long post and then lost it!

Top up shop yesterday:
£11.41 in sainsburys
£7.49 in off licence (bit of a fail!)

Not got much money left for month but still quite pleased how we're getting on. Planning how to reduce grocery bill next month - does making your own bread save money? No bread maker but got a machine to make the dough.

jacci45

Totally cracked it in January....202.23/225. This month is a 5 week month for me and I am going to try for £70.00 a week so £350 for the month. Did a Sains shop last night so on 31.88/350.
Take care all.

Suffolk_lass

cowboymum wrote: »

- does making your own bread save money? No bread maker but got a machine to make the dough.

I do that. I use a mixer with a dough hook and I buy my flour in bigger-than-supermarket sacks. Mine costs about 45p a loaf for organic flour. If you use sm flour it will be a bit more but it will be fantastic bread with no flour improvers (so less bloating, for those it affects). DH started a sourdough starter nearly three years ago which I use as a flavour and preservative for my standard loaf. I still add a quick-yeast sachet as I never have time to wait for the sourdough. My original recipe with a dough hook is still in the recipes section at the beginning if you want to start really simple.

Well worth trying
SL

monks

Really struggling to keep within GC this month have £21.11 to last another 9 days, have stocked up on a few things today though. Going to meal plan and try my best to be inventive with what we have and most importantly not give in to kids picky demands! I refuse to go over!!!

t14cy_t

phew!! computer crashed 6 days ago, all fixed now so glad to be back now!! can confirm ive £28 left until 31st jan...oops.... wont be going over budget though. xxxx

jayII

cowboymum wrote: »

Argh - just wrote long post and then lost it!

Top up shop yesterday:
£11.41 in sainsburys
£7.49 in off licence (bit of a fail!)

Not got much money left for month but still quite pleased how we're getting on. Planning how to reduce grocery bill next month - does making your own bread save money? No bread maker but got a machine to make the dough.

It definitely saves money. I use a bread machine these days because I work 40+ hours and have a long commute, but when I worked more from home I used to bake all our bread by hand.

I alternated making normal white bread and wholemeal or spelt 'quick bread' (more water than normal so it's a sloppy dough then you just stir it well, put in tin, leave to rise and bake).

I use Ald* or Lid* flour and my loaves cost pennies.

mrsd

Evening
Been to Ald! Did really good check of cupboards, fridge etc before I went and worked out what I needed to top up. Only spent £29!!!! Was amazed. Even got fruit and veg and some of their meat offers. Sure we can eat well from what we have in. Just need to make sure DS doesn't "snack" on it all while I'm at work. Every other day this week has been a NSD. I'm determined to get rid of overdraft.

Wysiwyg49

Spent £85.94 in total last week which I think is about average if I am reasonably careful. Pleased with some A1di swaps - Scotch pancakes (no-one could tell the difference) and goats cheese...went to butcher for chicken and mince, spent about the same but definitely got more chicken for the ££, it made about 3 meals for all of us plus a pie.

Think I have got £78 left for the final week so will have to get creative in the cupboards!