November 2007 Grocery Challenge

brummiebabe

lil_me wrote: »

brummiebabe - My boys have a cooked meal each night, my oldest will eat very little when it comes to cold foods (packed lunches are a nightmare!!) my oldest son also will not eat anything made with mince apart from burgers, only potato product he will eat is waffles and chips, he won't eat rice, noodles or pasta (unless it's a specific brand and flavour pasta in sauce) won't touch beans, spaghetti, any veg but sweetcorn and cucumber (hence we go through boat loads of fruit!) won't touch anything apart from that pasta in a sauce so curry, chinese sauces, tomato based sauces etc etc all a no go. If I gave him anything like a soup, stew or anything else wet (inc something with gravy over it) he would sit there screaming and banging his head off the table until I moved it. That's just the oldest and the tip of the iceberg when it comes to his eating habits. Many restrictions in both of their diets as they both have autistic traits which eating issues comes part and parcel with(oldest diagnosed, youngest waiting to be basically)

I have learned that unfortunately to do cheaper nights for us, it's a case of cooking seperately for those who can't or won't have it. I know exactly how you feel when it comes to thinking 'What will everyone eat!' well in my house very little. Myself and my partner usually have the same meal, I of course have more veg as he usually refuses to eat that, occasionally the kids have the same if they can/will, I think we all eat the same once a week tops which is usually a pizza night (all different types but sort of same thing) sometimes a Sunday dinner they will have the meat, sweetcorn and yorkshires, youngest will have the mash.

Cheap meals don't need to be beans on toast, try some of the cheap meals threads on here for ideas. Unfortunately it's one of those things where if you can't find ways to save and your meal costs stay the same, then you won't be able to reduce your budget, as there just isn't room to alter it if you aren't changing anything. I am not trying to be critical, harsh or put a damper on things, just being honest.

It takes quite a bit of confidence, or dare I say balls, to change things, especially with fussy partners and children. It's took me a long time! Was scary but I am almost there, my 12th challenge is almost over, I started last December, spent 1/3 what I did the year before.

Am full of admiration for you Lil_me - you've obviously worked really hard to achieve what you've achieved in the last year!!:T :T

I thought my children were a nightmare with eating, but I'd find your situation SO difficult!!!!

I am going to have a proper look at where I can cut back - but maybe I need to accept that, at the moment, I can't really cut back that much. I am due to return to work in January which is going to be very hard going, I don't think I can stand to cook all different meals for everyone (it's something I said I'd never do;) ) aswell! You are right that to reduce my spending then I need to change something - I just need to work out for myself how/where I can do that!!

Again...thanks for the great advice - you talk a lot of sense!!!!!:A

freyasmum

Well, I came in under budget. I'm so chuffed :T

I will have another lowish budget next month, but not just as low. I'm going to put it at £30. This includes nappies (I'm trying to toilet train so she's basically just wearing wee pants all day and nappies at night), food and toiletries, etc.

I will need to buy milk. And, again, I'm going to eat everything else that I've got in.

I'm also going out at the weekend (I honestly haven't been out in about four and a half years!) but that's going to come from another budget.

Lx

izoomzoom

Well, I should have enough milk to last till Sat morning, so provided we do then I will have gone £ 33.57 over budget. Considering it was my first month, and I was blind about it, I don't think we have done too badly. Nibbles purchases over the weekend didn't help (crisps / biscuits and a slab of choc) but the nice thing is that I have all my receipts, so can do up a little spreadsheet to see what we are spending on what per month (mainly staples as freezer and cupboard were and are still pretty full). Not sure what to do for next month - it will definitely have to be more, and will include nappies for Sammy (I will get sorted with washables, but not this month) and I still don't know what we are doing for Xmas this year, but I know that we have to do New Years eve - have tonnes of beer, but meat will be expensive as we are having a BBQ !!!:cool:

I'll be snug inside whilst DH does the cooking :rotfl:

tattycath

Hi Everybody
I'll be pleased when this month's challenge is over as my spending is slowly creeping up!!! Been back to supermarket today and spent £3.04 I handed in a £1 money off coupon and only had to pay £2.04. So damage was limited and I am still under my budgeted amount!!!:j

meanmarie

Spent €5.44 today, needed milk and eggs and local shop seems to be cheapest for latter...think this leaves me with about €50 to last me until Friday...can feed us without buying anything else so an apparent success...freezers are starting to show spaces too, which is great.

Am going to use extra €50 to buy juice, t.rolls, flour, butter, sugar for month of December, will do that this week...hopefully will get mixers for Christmas spirits too...not going to set December budget until I have written a very comprehensive list...

Marie

Jacks_xxx

Just one more day for us...

Love Jacks xxx

Angelraesunshine

woo hoo £41.82 under budget for November. I am pleased after last months little brake down hehe.

Already started on December get paid Friday but i buy in the few days before as i get better offers then waiting the week after.

Spent just £99.43 again split my main shop over 2 weeks as got more money off and better offers so saved far more. near enough had all meals already but still stocking freezer ready for next month so should be no where near budget, even with lots of treats this month.

Feel like i have hardly been on this thread this month but that should be a good things not so much buying. Next delivery is on the 4th with rest of main shop. will see you on the new December thread.

hope the rest of you finish the month off well xxxxxx

MERFE

Well I actually managed not to go to the shops again so limited my over spend ok in the end (technically we did top up the milk but I bought it with my Asda christmas card when we went christmas present shopping and didn't actually spend any money on it if you see what i mean so I'm not adding it, that and we got a dvd for the kids for christmas when shopping last week which i had counted so sort of evens it out)! I am going shopping tonight although its not pay day till tomorrow but we won't be eating it overnight so its next months shopping, but I'm having a huge craving for salmon so not sure what that'll do to the budget!

JAMIEDODGER

have totally gone over this month! never mind, theres always december:D

Bobbykins

Well, I have gone over AGAIN:mad: :mad: - but it is not too horrendous. I will do the sums properly a bit later and update my siggie then, but I reckon it's by about £15.00.

I have tried and tried to get below £200 but, no matter how carefully I meal plan and budget, I never seem to be able to do it.

I think I may have to face the fact that, having got it down from almost double that originally, about £210 - £220 may be as low as I'm ever going to get! AND I used to waste a disgusting amount of food before which I don't any more. We all have to find our "level" eventually don't we

Still, I'm determined not to be downhearted and I'm not going to drop out of the challenge - I need it to keep me on the straight and narrow, otherwise I'd be spending ridiculous amounts again!

So, I'll update my signature later and look forward to seeing you over on the December challenge........I'm setting a higher budget for December at £250.00 as we are entertaining the whole family - wish me luck!