January 2017 Grocery Challenge. NEW BEGINNINGS!

zafiro1984

fairy3 wrote: »

zafiro - you are doing so well so don't be so hard on yourself - I joined the flylady challenge at the start of the week and am finding it a great distraction from shopping!!

Thanks Fairy I'll have a look at Flylady's challenge, maybe it will keep me on the straight and narrow

Franalamadingdong wrote: »

Zafiro, is it the sense of going out with a purpose? You're going out and you have a reason for doing it, you are providing things for your family. Or is it just habit?

Franalamadingdong I've always been like this, I'm not a homebird, I've always had a wandering/travel bug. Once a like minded friend and I went on a planned day's shopping to London and we ended up in Iceland (the country not the shop) for a couple of days. Our respective DH's were a bit surprised when we phoned home. Since retiring, getting away from this place is more difficult due to our livestock - it needs more planning but going to the supermarket does get me out for a short time - it's just in my genes!!

dumpling

Hi everyone :hello:

I've only gone and done it, I have finished this month's challenge under budget :j:j:j. I am amazed as I think this is the first time ever. I found it very helpful to put the shopping money in a separate account so it didn't get dipped into. We even had a couple of takeaways out of it too. My freezers are still pretty full as it's harder than I thought to use them up. I also have a couple of weeks worth of tinned food under the stairs in case of bad weather. Anyway, we get paid tomorrow so I will see you all over on the February challenge.

liz3chickens

Down to my last £2 to last until next Tuesday but still have food in cupboards and freezer. Also cabbage and kale in the garden so I predict 'bubble and squeak' will be appearing on the menu. Served with poached eggs and baked beans, this is a delicious winter meal.

I am going to do a food inventory again at the end of the month ready for next month's challenge as there is still a bit of hoarding going on.

WantToBeSE

Morning All

I'm incredibly pleased with this months food budget. For the first time ever, i have managed to stick to it

I actually have almost £10 leftover this week! Unheard of in 2016.

So i am definitely in this for the long haul and will be signing up to every month in 2017.

maria3104

Yes, I have exceeded budget again. I will have to increase my budget next month as I am failing to keep under the £250. Having 4 adults and lots of farm visitors is making my planning and budgeting a little more chaotic than normal. So frustrating. I am also of course an admitted grocery compulsive shopper. When I am in that store I have to buy buy buy. The only hope for me is not to go near.

Sigh!!!

Maria

Islandmaid

NSD here again....

Rubber Chicken continues, Sweet chilli chicken and rice tonight, from the second breast of the chicken, still enough left for chicken and veg soup for next weeks lunches

I am going to try and stretch till Monday before I need to shop - that will be 12 days between shops - Youngest comes back from Uni for a week on Monday, so will need to shop then - hollow legs......

Doom_and_Gloom

Spent another £11.06. OH needed milk and butter and was out of noodles. He got a huge pizza reduced that he just about managed to fit into the freezer. He picked me up a carton of fresh almond milk as well as loads of redued vegetables and some reduced houmous.
£148.77/£155
£6.23 left

elsiepac

Franalamadingdong wrote: »

Sounds like a win Elsie! My mum and dad are about to give me a denby dinner service because she wants a new set. Thanks for the concern, it's to do with my job. A friend thinks it's a case of bullying in the workplace, but it's really complicated and I'm unsure. I've been so miserable about it all and full of anxiety I'll be going to see the Dr. Unfortunately, before that I have an appraisal at work, but I'm not sure if it is a true appraisal or some sort of disaplinary action. I've written how I really feel so may find myself out of a job come Thursday!

That sounds horrendous, good luck for today, I'll be thinking of you with my fingers crossed x

fairy3 wrote: »

I joined the flylady challenge at the start of the week and am finding it a great distraction from shopping!!

I'm doing FlyLady, but the full system through the website. I'm a 30 day olf FlyBaby!!

meg72 wrote: »

Well last day of January for me.

Didn't manage to spend nothing but only bought eggs and toilet rolls, 2.50
so 77.50 left. Almost all of the months budget Am going to invest most of this in my own little shop. and stock up for the months ahead. Have found a half price offer on coffee, half price dishwasher tabs and an absolutely brilliant offer for gammon steaks at only 89p a pack of three huge steaks, will cut these in half, so six meals. and 2kg cooking bacon for £1.49. Oh and will need another sack of potatoes 25kg at £5.00.

Going for another month of use up freezer stocks as want to get rid of one this year to save on electric

That is AMAZING, well done you! An inspiration as always!

___

Yesterday I had my Tipping Point audition! I think it went well, they said even if we don't get shortlisted from it, we still beat thousands of people to get that far! Which was nice :rotfl:
I could hear anytime between now and May as they are shortlisting whilst they film, which is Feb-May, and is 135 episodes for series 8!!!

Anyway, I've had a couple of small spends, basically on junk food. I've been feeling really tired so maybe I've been craving energy, but conversely I've been doing well on my FlyLady routines and as a result been going to bed at a decent time, so maybe just the dark mornings are catching up with me!!

I got paid today so new Challenge starts today, I came in over budget, which I identified last week and said I wanted to keep it under £30 over If you see what I mean, well I went nearly £60 over, so an epic fail there. Totally let it all go at the end and really annoyed again. It was a longer month and I should have been more careful at the beginning. Roll on Feb...here I go again!

Declaring at £199.08/£140 - Fail!!!




Date.......Where.....Amount.....Remaining from £140 Budget
21 Dec.....T35c0.....£09.00.....£131.00 (Veggie Mains and Prepared Veg - lazy)
23 Dec.....T35c0.....£06.14.....£124.86 (Crisps, Nuts and Snacks for get together)
24 Dec.....H&B.......£03.88.....£120.98 (Mushroom Tofu Pate and Sandwich slices)
24 Dec.....T35c0.....£21.20.....£99.78 (Proper Grocery Shop and Toiletries)
29 Dec.....A1d1......£01.64.....£98.14 (Red Onions and Basil)
29 Dec.....Chippy....£06.95.....£91.19 (Oops!)
1 Jan......T35c0.....£23.53.....£67.66 (proper grocery shop)
2 Jan......T35c0.....£01.00.....£66.66 (kale)
3 Jan......M&S.......£02.50.....£64.16 (sandwich!)
4 Jan......C0-0p.....£03.51.....£60.65 (Cauliflower, spinach, more kale(!), packet of crisps and choccy bar for the boyfriend - that was 63p and I used 70p of points so really it was free lol)
7 Jan......Viaduct...£04.25.....£56.40 (cafe)
7 Jan......T35c0.....£00.75.....£55.65 (reduced new potatoes)
9 Jan......C0-0p.....£00.89.....£54.76 (milk for the boyfriend)
11 Jan.....T35c0.....£28.77.....£25.99 (Proper grocery shop except for loo roll!)
13 Jan.....T35c0.....£05.35.....£20.64 (Chips, Onion Rings and Ketchup - none needed!)
14 Jan.....T35c0.....£13.44.....£7.20 (more crappy and prepared food, not needed)
16 Jan.....Ald1......£02.70.....£4.50 (pasta, crumpets, chocolate and biscuits)
19 Jan.....T35c0.....£14.55....-£10.05 (prepared food, YS items and stir fry stuff)
20 Jan.....T35c0.....£38.43....-£48.48 (Groceries and Party food (which came to £15.48 by the way!)
22 Jan.....M&S.......£5.82....-£54.30 (potatoes, and treats)
25 Jan.....T35c0.....£4.78....-£59.08 (pure junk food)

Franalamadingdong

Haha zafiro! I wish I could be such a free spirit!

That's so exciting Elsie I hope you get through.

Big well done to everyone who tried and another to those who came in under budget!

I emailed my side of the appraisal yesterday and we started the appraisal today and I was told we'd not be going through my section. We made headway and I was clear about not getting pushed around and that I can only know something if it is communicated to me. I suggested a few things we can put in place. Anyway, I wasn't fired and we're trying to make things more positive. Sadly there were no apologies offered by my employer for her behaviour, which means that this is likely to be a recurring issue. The upside is that it is all written and recorded so if I have future issues and end up having to leave I have her signature acknowledging and accepting what I have submitted as being the truth.

Still no spends on grocery. DS has been poorly but he has his appetite back now so we might go tomorrow to buy food!

Suffolk_lass

Franalamadingdong wrote: »

I emailed my side of the appraisal yesterday and we started the appraisal today and I was told we'd not be going through my section. We made headway and I was clear about not getting pushed around and that I can only know something if it is communicated to me. I suggested a few things we can put in place. Anyway, I wasn't fired and we're trying to make things more positive. Sadly there were no apologies offered by my employer for her behaviour, which means that this is likely to be a recurring issue. The upside is that it is all written and recorded so if I have future issues and end up having to leave I have her signature acknowledging and accepting what I have submitted as being the truth.

Well done! I really hope this lets much of the stress you have been feeling go. It really sounds as though you prepared thoroughly and knew going in what you wanted to say and clear up. I really hope things settle down for you

SL