November 2017 Grocery Challenge

elsiepac

Mrs_Cheshire wrote: »

Got a few pumpkins that need using so going to roast the small ones for pumpkin puree. I use the puree for cupcakes and want to try making pumpkin pie. I'll then chop the larger ones to make soup. Does anyone have any other ideas for pumpkin?

Roasted pumpkin in salads, as part of roast vegetable medley, stirred in chunk or puree form into chillies or curries, incorporated into houmous, and best of all, use the puree to make a lovely autumnal porridge with warming spices like cinnamon, as well as your oats and milk and sweetener of choice if desired.

Unplanned spends yesterday on 2x smoked tofu, tempeh bacon and Fry's burgers... that little lot was £12 odd in Holland and B4rrett - basically I fancied some tofu this week and got carried away
Also bought couple of veggies and a pack of their new vegan mince from M&5 to try.

My meals are planned for this week and I have salad and veggies to go with them. I don't have any fruit though except a couple of odd bits so I'll need some, and I did want to get more choc almond milk if it's still on offer. All this will be straight out of week 5 budget though (which is 1 day at the end of this month for me).

Still, I'm still on track for the lowest spend month I've had in over a year. :j

Weekly Budget Guide - £165 Total - £33 per week
Week......Total......Remaining
Week 1.....£35.90....-£02.90
Week 2.....£43.91....-£10.91
Week 3.....£41.69.....-£08.69
Week 4.....£00.00.....£33.00
Week 5.....£22.50.....£10.50 (overspend from prior weeks)

...............................£165 Budget
Date.......Shop......Amount....Remaining
26 Oct.....Sains.....£29.55....£135.45(WEEK 1)
26 Oct.....A1d1......£00.65....£134.80(WEEK 1)
27 Oct.....Tesc0.....£00.50....£134.30(WEEK 1)
27 Oct.....Fete......£00.50....£133.80(WEEK 1)
30 Oct.....Co-0p.....£04.70....£129.10(WEEK 1)
02 Nov.....Tesc0.....£13.12....£115.98(WEEK 2)
02 Nov.....M&5.......£10.21....£105.77(WEEK 2)
02 Nov.....A1d1......£04.93....£100.84(WEEK 2)
05 Nov.....Tesc0.....£06.59....£94.25(WEEK 2)
05 Nov.....M&S.......£02.31....£91.94(WEEK 2)
07 Nov.....M&S.......£04.65....£87.29(WEEK 2)
08 Nov.....Tesc0.....£02.10....£85.19(WEEK 2)
09 Nov.....Tesc0.....£02.75....£82.44(WEEK 3)
09 Nov.....Ald1......£04.49....£77.95(WEEK 3)
09 Nov.....Tesc0.....£15.79....£62.16(WEEK 3)
10 Nov.....H&B.......£12.46....£49.70(WEEK 3)
10 Nov.....M&S.......£06.20....£43.50(WEEK 3)

Faete

Just bought some bits and pieces this week and missed doing a big shop (I have a cold ) so just £24.80 spent.

Fae xx

Merlin's_Beard

iammumtoone wrote: »

I am finding the meal planing helps with this. I will write it today (non work day) and go shopping tomorrow. I like that I don't have to think when I get home what are we eating and everything is in ready for that nights meal.

Can you try batch cooking at the weekend so you have something ready to chuck in the oven/freezer. I try to do our meal plan so some are easy meals some take a bit more cooking that way I have the option to swap if I've had a bad day at work and want an easier meal that night.

Normally I do a reasonable job of batch cooking on my days off so when I get in at 8.30 I can just reheat it, but the freezer and fridge have been cleared out, I'm on omelette with beans on toast as an emergency meal, and I haven't reached a point where the joined up thinking to do meal planning is happening just yet - and I have work stuff to do this weekend so when the brain returns, that's the priority.

So it's likely to be a dash to the supermarket and what falls in the basket, falls in. At least for the next two weeks and then hopefully things will calm down and I might get two days off in a row!

BrassicWoman

Merlin's_Beard wrote: »

S
Horrendous month with work draining all my energy, with nothing leftover to plan meals, or cook them, or anything.

I'm paying extra for pre-chopped veg which I just have to open and sling in the slow cooker with a stock cube and whatever protein I like - chickpeas and veg sausages for me.

A true old styler would probably spend an horu at the weekend chopping onions, but in stress weeks, I know at least having a bag of soup that I make by just opening the bag and adding water and a stock cube, is going to get made. Slow cooker means I can start it off and walk away while I deal with something else.

I view that few extra quid as important self care.

debtfreeforlife

The less said about how I am doing on groceries this month the better - currently on £98.39. About half of that is on 'lazy' food or sandwiches from the local shop for lunch because I haven't bothered to make food in advance. But I ordered a veg box this week and the fridge is full to the brim as is the store cupboard. It's still possible to meet this month on target.

BrassicWoman - I completely agree! I ended up ordering a recipe box instead of my usual veg box this week. Costs more, but it's helping me focus on eating healthily without the effort of meal planning on a busy work week.

butterfly2507

Another one here who overspent this week :mad: We spent 98,94 € yesterday which is almost DOUBLE of what I had planned. But we bought things to stock up (deodorant, buy 4 get 2 for free) or stuff that will last at least 2-3 years (a swiffer for 12,90 €). We just gotta take it slow the next week and we will be back on track :rotfl::rotfl:

iammumtoone

Where do peope get their veg boxes from?

I have always liked the idea of them but they are expensive and I think the veg might go off before I get chance to eat it all.

Merlin's_Beard

BrassicWoman wrote: »

I'm paying extra for pre-chopped veg which I just have to open and sling in the slow cooker with a stock cube and whatever protein I like - chickpeas and veg sausages for me.

A true old styler would probably spend an horu at the weekend chopping onions, but in stress weeks, I know at least having a bag of soup that I make by just opening the bag and adding water and a stock cube, is going to get made. Slow cooker means I can start it off and walk away while I deal with something else.

I view that few extra quid as important self care.

Slow cooker is definitely on the Christmas list this year so hopefully this will be me soon

iammumtoone

Merlin's_Beard wrote: »

So it's likely to be a dash to the supermarket and what falls in the basket, falls in. At least for the next two weeks and then hopefully things will calm down and I might get two days off in a row!

You can still do a simple meal plan and buy everything for the week

For eample for 7 days worth
3 ready meals (not ideal but needs must - pick out three on the day whatever you fancy)
- jacket potato (cook in microwave) beans and cheese topping
- packet frozen fish in sauce, ready made mash, frozen peas
- pizza and garlic bread
- egg/omelette and frozen chips
- fruit enought to eat two different pieces a day

All simple and quick not the healthiest but at least you get variety and its not forever, the fruit will mean you get at least 2 a day which is better than nothing and needs no cooking/prep.

Good luck I know what is like to have nothing but work on your brain, hope it eases up for you soon.

[Deleted User]

Hope everyone is well. Had planned to go to a vintage faye, it's such a lovely sunny day, but really couldn't be arsed as I have so much catching up to do at home and here I am, still sat in bed on my laptop (go figure). Will do some batch cooking & catching up on other things that have been neglected - ermmm, quite a lot really and hopefully get myself back on track. Next week is gonna be busy - I hate busy, so need to get organized. I think if the only thing I have to worry about is how s*** I am at barre chords, then I really need to get a grip. On a plus note, I'm very much on budget £24.89/£80 - and not intending spending much - if anything, 'till Friday. Have a lovely rest of w/e everyone. Have updated sig.