November 2018 Grocery Challenge

ancientmum

Good morning,
I have updated my signature, and have definitely blown the budgets, but I have excuses:p

Firstly, I have been spending more than I anticipated when DS is home from uni as I like to spoil him a little as he does work hard to keep within his own budgets, and pay off his overdrafts each term.

Then I have been using MOCs to stock up so have got full cupboards and freezer and I have been having DS1 and his family to Sunday lunch more often. (He is the only DS who lives nearby)

With the cats, when I moved to this flat they had to become house cats and I noticed they were losing weight, especially the bigger boy I thought at first that they were ill or just getting old but I think I underestimated how much they were supplementing their diet with small birds and mammals. they were not eating so much of the dried food so I have increased the number of wet sachets they have and they seem to be putting the weight back on and are more contented. They still have some dried food in their bowls all day to graze on.

I am going to carry on keeping a record of what I spend to make a more realistic budget next year, without wasting food or being extravagant. I am saving for a big holiday next year so I still need to be careful,

Best wishes all, A. x

medsdemon

Did a big shop yesterday at Aldee of £42.60 but forgot a couple of bits. Will try to do without till next week. Still under and I’d like to keep it this way.

I think I’ve got enough in to feed us, just will need milk and bread top ups,

It’s nice to have fruit and veg back in the cupboard because I pretty much completely run out and we normally eat so much. Last night after our shop, I practically swallowed an orange whole and had a huge salad for my tea!

Will be a no spend day today.

Am making a couple of soups for lunches and I might make up some lentil shepherds pies for the freezer for emergency teas.

CRANKY40

I fed us from the freezer yesterday - home made enchilada lasagne for me and home made spag bol for the house troll. I've just hauled some sausages out of there for my evening meal today and I have a pan of soup on the hob for my lunches.

The freezer is still very full and I'd like to make some space in it for christmas stuff. I actually buy very little extra but I'd like to put a small turkey crown in there and make sure that I don't have to join in the mad shopping frenzy that happens the week before the actual day. You know that bit where the queues to pay go right up the supermarket aisles? The reason for not buying much extra isn't thrift - it's just that the HT has very little interest in food beyond pasta, pizza and a roast dinner on Sundays. I bought a tub of sweets last Christmas and we opened them about April I think. I have been asked by one of my friends if I'll make mince pies this year so I probably will as I love mince pies (I use the best mince pie pastry recipe from the recipe index on here).

It's my friend's birthday today but we're not seeing him until the end of next week so I'll make him a birthday cake to take when we go. He's also the reason for the attempted dairy free cheesecake. I have all the things in already that I need for both of those though. Right, I'm off to put the stick blender on my soup. I do like soup season - I'm not so keen on the icy weather that goes with it though!

pamsdish

Budget well blown, £40 - £10 voucher =£30 in Lild, £70 in Morries, should reap £10 worth of cash back vouchers, only bought stock items and Christmas food, so forward stocking.

NeverendingDMP

I'm at 407/433 with my new month starting on the 26th. I've been offered lots of points for spending 30 at Morrisons so I'm going there tommorow for buying the some Xmas presents and chocolate gifts. But also some milk and wine for this weekend. Xmas presents are different budget as I'd not buy all that chocolate normally. The wine is my food budget but will sort of be free once i receive my next voucher....I'll declare properly once I'm finished but it appears I may make it with a few quid to spare which is good as it allows for my ad-hoc maths throughout the month. Fourth time lucky? It seems possible I may finally beat my challenge budget. I'll let you know on Sunday.

selloptape

Not sure if I’m going to make it under budget... I’ve been to the shop every day after work and checking my receipts they all have things not on the list, need to stop being tempted by extras!

On the plus side veg box was delivered as planned and I’m really happy with it. Contents were potatoes, carrots, greens, beets, broccoli, spring onion, leek, green toms and pumpkin.

So far I’ve cooked a pumpkin and chilli soup (it’s very fiery, going in the freezer for winter lunches), a pesto with the greens and had veggie sausage with gravy, some of the broccoli and mash. Not sure what we’ll have for the next couple of days, need to think of something easy for Friday eve and might do a roast one day at the weekend

K9sandFelines

My Aldi shopping was £17.20. It would have been less, but I had to get icing and also picked up some decorative daisies to decorate my granddaughters cake, as she is 2 tomorrow. I also indulged in a salted caramel hot chocolate which is vegan. Very decadent, but can't taste the caramel. The last extra was some lebukken hearts for a little treat for Christmas (we don't go all out, just one.or two nice things ).

Suffolk_lass

pamsdish wrote: »

Budget well blown, £40 - £10 voucher =£30 in Lild, £70 in Morries, should reap £10 worth of cash back vouchers, only bought stock items and Christmas food, so forward stocking.

That's why I have a 13th month in my annual budget - for my [STRIKE]hoard [/STRIKE]stores. I spend the same, it is just budgeted and feels less like failure

DippyHippy86

Thank you for letting me join the challenge :-)

My total was £306.25 - £6.25 over budget BUT I am still happy as normally spend £350 per month.

I will be more focused next time x

flubberyzing

A £26.80 Tesco spend for me. Quite a large one by my "cooking for one" standards, but I was mostly buying tins and re-stocking the cupboards with the likes of beans and peas.
I will still need a bit of fruit for next week, but I'll probably get that on Sunday.