January 2017 Grocery Challenge. NEW BEGINNINGS!

GreenFairy

freyasmum wrote: »

We are toying with the idea of allowing her to plan, budget for and then purchase the ingredients for her own packed lunches. This will still come out of the grocery budget but will, hopefully, be an important learning tool for her. She is only ten, but always wants to cook with me. I am hoping this will teach her not only how to plan and budget, but also how to create healthy, balanced meals for herself. Fingers crossed

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I think that's a brilliant idea. I was about that age when I started my first proper experiments in the kitchen, and by the time I was fifteen was doing the family shop and most of the meal planning and cooking. I loved it, and it was amazing when I moved out at eighteen as most of my friends were living on takeaways and pot noodles - I even had to show one housemate hosts make instant mash and boil an egg!

I've managed my third NSD today, which I'm really chuffed with. I've also not bought any GC items at all yet - the eating from freezer And cupboards thread is fabulous in keeping me on track with my "creative dinners"!

Bake-a-Cake

Hi Zippy, please may I join in.
My budget for the month is

£400

t14cy_t

nsd yesterday, yipee! xx

Islandmaid

Another NSD here - not going out

Freyasmum - I would encourage her in anything like that, budgeting and cooking are both invaluable life skills - good on you both x

zafiro1984

Islandmaid:- I've already overspent my budget for this month as I bought an online course for my DH which I know he would like - then I saw your signature 'STOP SPENDING MONEY' and it brought me back to earth with a jolt. Too late:- I've paid for the course but it has seriously put the brakes on spending for the rest of this month. I'm going to try and claw back what I can, stay away from the supermarkets and be creative with meals, no takeaways, only pay the STO's, and certainly no frivolous shopping.

jedi82

NSD yesterday - yippee. Going to go to Ald! tonight as am in town and will save on petrol by not having to go again. Going to try to keep the spend down, am aiming for below £60 as no matter what I seem to get, it is always in the £70 bracket...

Freyasmum, that sounds like a great idea that I might steal

Have a good day
Jedi X

[Deleted User]

GreenFairy wrote: »

the eating from freezer And cupboards thread is fabulous in keeping me on track with my "creative dinners"!

I used to love threads like that, but any I went on, people didn't post much and it died a death. Do you have a link to it.


First spends of the month, totalling £17.50. Bit more than I wanted, some meat free frozen options, for when I can't be arsed - Linda Mc pulled chicken, i've been dying to try, loads of avocados, tomatoes and blueberries, 4 tubs £1 (the mind boggles), frozen & ready for smoothies.

Caterina

First day for me! It shouldn't be hard to make it a NSD because I am stuck in bed with a post-flu cough that's flooring me! DH is spending, haircut, but I have decided this challenge is about me, not the household, otherwise I would have to police him and his addiction to newspapers etc (I hate the news with a vengeance) and I so can't be bothered. Will only count my NSDs.

Very little food in the fridge, but plenty in the freezer and larder, and veg in the ground in the allotment. I hope to persuade DH to go get a cabbage and a winter lettuce, maybe a couple of leeks even if they are very small. If I feel better I might even go with him.

So I hope to make today a NSD, update later.

Bake-a-Cake

Unfortunately this hasn`t been a NSD for me today:sad:. Needed essentials, bread, milk and margarine, plus sausages and yorkies for dinner. So a spend of £7.15 to be added to my total.

elsiepac

Save_Dosh wrote: »

Linda Mc pulled chicken, i've been dying to try

Ooh where?! Didn't even know this existed till I've just googled based on you saying that!! Will look in my Mr T next week!