January 2017 Grocery Challenge. NEW BEGINNINGS!

NewShadow

WantToBeSE wrote: »

Thanks IAMTO What do you mean by a 5 day rolling plan? Not sure what that means?

Hi SE.

I think it means plan 5 days of meals but don't plan which day you have the meal on - so plan to have the ingredients in for something 'meaty' and something 'vegi' but don't say meat monday, vegi tuesday.

I do this with quick vs cook meals - I might plan a roast and a soup'n'sarnie night - which day is which will depend on how late it is when I get out of work and if I managed a lunch break.

DomRavioli

Hi all

Wondered if I could join? lost my job xmas eve so tightening the belts.

I'm going for £30 a week for the two of us (so £130 overall).

Thanks!

Cappella

I've just done my first shop for the January challenge.
Audited the freezer, pantry and cleaning supplies:made a menu plan for a fortnigh when I'd finished then wrote a shopping list, went shopping and stuck to my list :-)
Today's shop was partly to make sure I had everything I needed to make the meals I'd planned and partly to plug the gaps I'd found when I audited the bathroom cupboard and pantry.dog food, freezer boxes, coffee, tea, washing liquids, toothpaste, soap, fresh fruit for the week and the months milk, cheese and yogurt.
Total spend was £70.82 which is a biggish chunk out of £250 BUT am now planning 14 shopping free days before anything may need replenishing. Lots of apples in the shed from our own tree, and lots of oranges and clementines so shouldn't need a lot more fruit.
Fingers crossed - it would really cheer me up if I could succeed this time

Soworried

My first shop today, came to £6.83. Milk, a stock up on the 19p Maris piper potatoes and broccoli and some mixers/soft drinks for new years eve. I will need some buffet bits and pieces on Saturday but it shouldn't come to much then pull our belts right in and use everything up.

emylou

I have continued to lurk recently as haven't posted in ages!

I need to keep a serious check on our shopping total for the month as often slip back into silly ways buying "bargains", wasting food or constantly buying the same food/eating the same meals week in and week out. There's me, my non-veg eating OH, our almost 2yr old DS and our 2 cats. I need to go through receipts and work our what we are actually spending but will say £200/month (although just compiling shop with Mr T online & payment will go out on day of delivery -30.12).

Looking forward to being inspired by everyone and learning of true bargains and recipe plans

zafiro1984

I am all fired up for this grocery challenge, in years gone past I've failed miserably but this year is going to be different.............

I know I am a 'food shopaholic' as my 'bursting at the seams' freezers prove. I have to beat this addiction and and return to normality.

I've made myself a spreadsheet, not only for food spending but it includes all of our incoming and outgoings (gosh - it took ages to do as I kept testing it and adjusting it). I've set a budget for each section and my aim is to certainly stay within budget overall and if possible to save on some of the other sections.

The aim/reward if I'm successful - a new driveway to the road.

Savings so far since Christmas - changed electric supplier, saved on one of the insurance policies, saved on the landline cost.
My allowed budget for Jan food/cleaning/toiletries is £310 so here goes..............wish me luck

Fibro_Friend

Please can you add me to the challenge and put me down for £400.

suzeesu2000

This has never happened to me before and I am praying it now becomes a habit....4 NO SPEND DAYS IN A ROW!!!!

am in shock but so loving it.

have cancelled 3 magazine subs today and feel very righteous about that lol.

Have change pet insurance and saved just over £5 per month on the D/D for same cover so pleased there too.

just done my menus for the month

This is so much fun already, thank you for having me!!

iammumtoone

WantToBeSE wrote: »

Thanks IAMTO What do you mean by a 5 day rolling plan? Not sure what that means?

so you always have 5 days meals to pick from.

I do mine 5 days then to zero and start afresh but you could start with say 10 days worth, once you get down to 5 days then add another day/meal or more to the list. Make it so you always have 5 days/meals minimum to choose from, that way in theory you should always have something available that your son with eat.

At the same time as NewShadow says being flexible with the days.

If you freeze most ready to defrost overnight or even microwave defrost on the day (if your son doesn't decide until the same day) it should work.

DomRavioli sorry to hear about your job I have found one of the biggest savings people can make is normally on grocery shopping.

zafiro1984 a spreadsheet I am impressed I will confess to being a bit of an Excel geek

Had some spends today I will update later once I locate the receipt!

mookiepook

Hello everyone - thanks to all for organising and sharing. Not been on these forums for yonks but as DH is not working at the moment and I just temp now and again, we decided we need to tighten our belts and take up the Grocery Challenge. Please put us down for £400 from 1-31 January - quite a high amount for us two plus dog and cat - but the idea is to start at that figure and see how we get on, hopefully we can lower the amount as we get used to meal planning etc. Bye for now - and good luck everyone xx