January 2017 Grocery Challenge. NEW BEGINNINGS!

freyasmum

Well we did a big shop on Saturday that was meant to last us till next Monday, however, the bacon was on offer and we go through quite a bit so OH went back this morning to get some more packs (he came back with 10!).

Total spend is currently £212.45/£300. We only need meals for my daughter and I until Thursday this week and then we're away for the weekend, so it will just be OH.

We have a big pot of sausages in onion gravy in the oven and enough for 10 portions of bolognese in the slow cooker. These, as well as the multiple meals that are already in the freezer mean that we will have enough for 52 meals (for lunches/dinners) - which should last us until Saturday 28th without shopping for anything other than fruit.

As an aside: DD decided on pasta salad with ham and sweetcorn for lunch this week and learned how to compare prices per unit - she said it was sneaky how some were displayed in kg and others g! She got apples and yoghurts to use with some of the stuff she had leftover from last week and came in under budget again. A great quote was "I don't want to spent a fortune, but I don't want just cheap - is this pasta any good?", which led to the comparing of ingredients and her plumping for the cheaper pasta - "it's less than 3p a portion, that's crazy!".

meg72

Think my plan not to spend anything for the whole month is about to be scuppered.

No fresh fruit, not a problem use frozen or tinned
No Salad, not a problem its too cold for salad.
No cheese, not a problem,not on meal plan anyway

but

No eggs
No toilet rolls

Now that's a problem as have guests coming for tea tomorrow, Considered asking them to bring their own but don't think I dare LOL. considered asking them to come next week instead but really looking forward to seeing them So Shopping it must be. if I can remember where they are.

FurryBeastOz

Freyasmum You should be very proud. It's great that she is learning this at an early age rather than the hard way with a credit card and debts when she is older. I think the labelling is sneaky too:mad:

greent

purpleybat - I've no Xmas leftovers now - I did originally (cheese and biscuits - since demolished by myself and DS1 ) - and I sent DD back to uni with the lo chicken (we don't eat turkey) frozen in gravy and lo roast potatoes frozen (I deliberately cooked extra) The children still have some of their choc stash left - but I don't include that

Spends in Ald1 today (needed bread flour, bacon, veggies, juice) and then OH and I each bought O2 moments Boots meal deals @ £1 (our Monday 'treat' if we're out and about) - I always save the soft drink for DS1 (16) as I rarely drink soft drinks. Off to dig out receipt to update sig... x

meg72

freyasmum wrote: »

Well we did a big shop on Saturday that was meant to last us till next Monday, however, the bacon was on offer and we go through quite a bit so OH went back this morning to get some more packs (he came back with 10!).

Total spend is currently £212.45/£300. We only need meals for my daughter and I until Thursday this week and then we're away for the weekend, so it will just be OH.

We have a big pot of sausages in onion gravy in the oven and enough for 10 portions of bolognese in the slow cooker. These, as well as the multiple meals that are already in the freezer mean that we will have enough for 52 meals (for lunches/dinners) - which should last us until Saturday 28th without shopping for anything other than fruit.

As an aside: DD decided on pasta salad with ham and sweetcorn for lunch this week and learned how to compare prices per unit - she said it was sneaky how some were displayed in kg and others g! She got apples and yoghurts to use with some of the stuff she had leftover from last week and came in under budget again. A great quote was "I don't want to spent a fortune, but I don't want just cheap - is this pasta any good?", which led to the comparing of ingredients and her plumping for the cheaper pasta - "it's less than 3p a portion, that's crazy!".

I think its absolutely brilliant that you are encouraging your DD in this way, shes learning now at a young age a life skill that will last her forever. I wish my Mum had done more to teach me instead of having to learn, usually the hard way, when the time came to leaving home and look after myself.

WantToBeSE

lynnejk wrote: »

Haha. I often browse the ready meal section to see if there is anything new I fancy trying - no, I don't buy it but look at the ingredients and how it looks - so I can copy it at home:rotfl:
Lx

I'm glad I'm not the only one Lynne! I get some great ideas doing this. :rotfl:

purpleybat wrote: »

am i the only one with no leftovers from crimble????

Nope, not the only one. I dont go mad at Christmas though, i generally just buy the usual roast dinner food, plus 1 box of Quality Street or Roses. So no leftovers here either. And i dont drink any alcohol either.

Spent £10 on various food bits today, still £15 left for the rest of the week. No problem.

Getting a bit more experimental with using food up. So making a vegan version of 'Deviled Eggs' today, using potatoes. So it's basically like twice cooked potatoes. Looks yummy though, so that's dinner. With salad, veg and any other leftovers.

Meg72, Loo Roll is a must Although, i dont understand how my kids get through so much of it! about 7 rolls a WEEK.

freyasmum

FurryBeastOz wrote: »

Freyasmum You should be very proud. It's great that she is learning this at an early age rather than the hard way with a credit card and debts when she is older. I think the labelling is sneaky too:mad:

meg72 wrote: »

I think its absolutely brilliant that you are encouraging your DD in this way, shes learning now at a young age a life skill that will last her forever. I wish my Mum had done more to teach me instead of having to learn, usually the hard way, when the time came to leaving home and look after myself.

Thank you both

She is showing a great interest in cooking, so it seemed like the most logical step. I was brought up in the kitchen (it's still the heart of my parents' house - the livingroom is rarely used) and both of my parents are qualified chefs, so I knew how to read a recipe and could feed myself (her father asked me - at age 25 - what a 'floz' was. I was stumped until I realised he had been trying to microwave a packet of pasta and meant fluid ounce...). But I had to learn to budget, like you both, the harder way myself. I'm definitely going to keep encouraging her for as long as she is interested.

Lauralozzle

Okay - spent a lot at supermarkets today (ones we don't usually go to so stocked up on some of our favourite items).

Sainos - £30.75
Morrisons - £11.40
Butchers - £31.90

We now have enough meat to last at least 6 weeks!!! Stock-piled things that we should not run out of for a long time.

I also spent £39.99 at Pets at Home but this wasn't for pet food it was for flea/worming treatment so I won't include that in the shopping budget. It'll have to come out of savings!

Total is now £205.19/£300 any future shop for the rest of the month should just be for fresh things now

zafiro1984

meg72 wrote: »

Think my plan not to spend anything for the whole month is about to be scuppered.

No fresh fruit, not a problem use frozen or tinned
No Salad, not a problem its too cold for salad.
No cheese, not a problem,not on meal plan anyway

but

No eggs
No toilet rolls

Now that's a problem as have guests coming for tea tomorrow, Considered asking them to bring their own but don't think I dare LOL. considered asking them to come next week instead but really looking forward to seeing them So Shopping it must be. if I can remember where they are.

I thought your original idea was great and tried it myself but failed at the first hurdle. At least I've stayed within budget so far, which is a first for me.

Franalamadingdong

Haha meg. Byobr (bring your own big roll) instead of byob!

Freyasmum, your daughter sounds like a real credit to you.

Mum and dad decided they'd rather have me for 5 hours on Wednesday than 3 today so I went shopping today. Loads of ys stuff (thank you baked beans, kidney beans, shampoo, food bags, chillis, hot chocolate, etc). They must have had someone clumsy out the back! I even got some little packs of smarties for DSs birthday in march.

Spent £42.50 in total (household, toiletries and food and drink).

£65.11 of the budget left and we have everything in for the next week and then some! The chickens all looked pathetic at the SM so I picked up a turkey thigh for Sunday instead and some turkey mince as it was reduced and seemed better value than other things. Most of the SM fresh side was a bit of a let down, "because of Spain" I was told when I asked where the courgettes were.

Red kidney bean curry and rice tonight, with ys onion bahji. Debating making a flat bread.