February 2016 Grocery Challenge

Scrimps

I have spent £36 today at @ldi and sains. I was hoping to eek the budget out to the end of the month rather than payday which is the 25th, looks like I shall be able to do it. DH is fully on board with keeping the spending as low as possible and is trying some new meals The low carb eating is taking a hit though

pollys

Evening All

Shopping now done. I shopped at MrT today. I usually do my main shop at MrA but it's a little further afield and time was an issue today. I was pleased to pick up some Ecover fabric conditioner for £1.13 a bottle and half price shredded wheat bite size. Both not on my list for this week but will be next. In total shopping came to £43.01, signature updated.

Stay warm everyone.

Polly

Itsa_Longshot

Hope you don't mind a late arrival!

I'm going to stick with £27 per week, so targeting £104 for February. Two shops done so far, £39.44 and £25.81 so I'm at £65.24 for the month.

Not really surprising the first one was expensive - in January I was at £110.21/£135.00 so needed stocking up a little. Might still make the target though if I can resist the treats!

Shortypie

I've been lurking on this post (and others) since end of December (I pop on when I'm at work sometimes). Am going to have to lurk and start properly in March as I have NOT been good in Feb! 3 McD's in a week (my twins' birthday treat, then one eve I was out so hubby took them for one, another night was Parents Evening straight from work and we were all tired and hungry by the time we were heading home at 7.30pm). Chinese takewaway another night as I'd asked hubby to turn the pork in the slow cooker on but he forgot.

Did the food shop yesterday:£79 Lidl,£21 S'bury (included pull-ups, cat food, shampoo/conditioner/toothpaste, sandwich bags.) So £100 but that should last us 11 days (2 adults, 2 9 year olds and a 5 year old. But then Hubby gave me his card to buy steak and wine for Valentine's Day today, but I'm not counting that as it's not my money!!

I'm finding hubby an obstacle to my attempts to spend less money on grocery - particularly when he has days off when I'm at work; the biscuit tin gets "mysteriously" empty, he cuts inch thick slices of tiger bread as a "snack", stuff I've bought/am saving for lunch disappears and I don't realise til I'm about to run out the door and then have to buy lunch.. . . . oh and one of the kids raided the fridge before I woke up and ate half a pack of the mini sausages I'd bought for half term lunches. :mad:

I'm overdrawn at the moment :eek: not massively but I need to start getting my finances back on track, and not "popping in" to the shops for 2 items and coming out with 2 bags is high on the agenda - which for me is easier if I just don't run out of stuff and go into the shops in the first place. Also I want to cut down on food waste - today I've thrown 4 eggs and 2 green peppers away, and I have 5 browning banana's (I should really make them into muffins or something, but I can't see it happening.)

I have a real lack of organisation/time/energy, oh and children who apparently can't eat something simple like pasta, sauce and cheese ;)n (tbf, the 2 boys are on the autistic spectrum, one has a problem with textures and both are borderline underweight so I'm not a "eat what you're given or go hungry" mum).

Shortypie

Oh and could someone please help me out with doing a signature?I can't figure it out.

Have managed to sell a few bits and bobs this weekend, and won a £10 gift card for Te$co today (spent £2 on the raffle tickets so £8 profit), even managed ONE NSD this month :rotfl:

lynnejk

Shortypie wrote: »

....I've been lurking on this post (and others) since end of December (I pop on when I'm at work sometimes). Am going to have to lurk and start properly in March as I have NOT been good in Feb! ...........

I'm finding hubby an obstacle to my attempts to spend less money on grocery - particularly when he has days off when I'm at work; the biscuit tin gets "mysteriously" empty, he cuts inch thick slices of tiger bread as a "snack", stuff I've bought/am saving for lunch disappears and I don't realise til I'm about to run out the door and then have to buy lunch.. . . . oh and one of the kids raided the fridge before I woke up and ate half a pack of the mini sausages I'd bought for half term lunches. :mad:

I'm overdrawn at the moment :eek: not massively but I need to start getting my finances back on track, and not "popping in" to the shops for 2 items and coming out with 2 bags is high on the agenda - which for me is easier if I just don't run out of stuff and go into the shops in the first place. Also I want to cut down on food waste - today I've thrown 4 eggs and 2 green peppers away, and I have 5 browning banana's (I should really make them into muffins or something, but I can't see it happening.)

I have a real lack of organisation/time/energy......

Firstly, welcome and look forward to you joining in March.


Meanwhile -
Have you thought of making a weekly or, even better, monthly meal plan and then a shopping list from/for that.


You could buy some red stickers and explain to all the family that if you put a red sticker on something then they are not to help themselves, as you have a plan for that.


Put a note in the biscuit tin - if you take more than two then you buy the next packet or something along those lines :rotfl:


If things are going ood then chop them up and throw them in the freezer. You can use old bananas frozen for smoothies and veg for soups or stews. Eggs can be hard-boiled, kept in the fridge for a few days and used in salads, fish pies or curries etc.


You can get your signature at the User CP on the green bar. Click and then scroll down to signature and click. Add what you want to put and remember to SAVE
HTH
Lx

so_very_confused

Hi everyone
Not checked in for awhile but realy motivating reading everyone's progress.
I'm very pleased as thus far within budget even though I had a garage bought sandwich and crisp day last week. Just about stayed within budget for first two weeks.
Stocked up at T's today usually go to A's but didn't have time. Pleased as weekly shop cost me £21.30 and this included stocking up on a few herbs and spices I was running low on. Freezer and store cupboards now full, plenty of fresh fruit and veg which I will top up with frozen veg in casseroles, chilli, bolognaise etc. so looking to have several NSD's this week.
Batch cooking going great added bonus of shedding a few pounds in weight.
svc

Dizzy_Imp

Whaaa! This month has gone to pot and I've no idea what we have spent so far. I'm blaming DH completely as it couldn't possibly have been me...ahem...

I'll try to reign it in until month end the rejoin with renewed determination in March x

t14cy_t

nsd yesterday, yipee!! x

Savvy_sewing

I spent £18.49 in Waitrose, as I took Mum shopping there and thought I would just save time.
I did save on Ariel, 38 tablets, for £7
But the cereal set me back £3.99!
I'm at home alone this week, so I must be careful not to drift to the ready meals I have been having a lot since I was ill a few weeks ago.
I have no energy and become lazy.