January 2020 Grocery Challenge

Herbyme

supersaver1000 wrote: »

Oh Stripey - Mr Socks is a bit like my DH so I do sympathise.

My DH's stock answer to what do you fancy for dinner used to be 'shall we have a takeaway'. Cue my heart sinking as I really don't like takeaway curries and I really really don't like spending half a weeks groceries on one. In fact I'd actually prefer to get a ready curry than a takeaway.

There is something in DH's head that says getting a takeaway is a treat, even though he prefers my home cooked curries. I've almost cured him of the habit, so it can be done. And I am going to make sure going forward that there is always a home made curry in the freezer for when he gets the takeaway urge.

Good luck with Mr Socks.

Mr Runner says 'let's go out, it's xxxday'. that's just after he's said 'I haven't got any money left til payday, how do you manage your money so you don't run out?'

:eek:

jayniee1964

Some good advice here!

Hettyhound

Oh dear, maybe I was too optimistic in my hopes for January grocery spend. Spent £25.56 in Aldee so I’ve used £144.55 out of £150. There’s considerably more month left than money :eek: challenge now is keeping my inevitable overspend to a minimum

Suffolk_lass

janiebaby29 wrote: »

just spent ages reading through this , Im late for the January challenge but just sorted my freezer and pantry and have enough for two people to eat meals for a good month or so . I really do want to cut down how much I spend on food . I will only need to buy bread , milk and fruit and veg . gonna do the Feb challenge

There is an "eating out of your freezer and cupboards" challenge you could join in with, if you want to make yourself "accountable" before Feb - it is here

Suffolk_lass

supersaver1000 wrote: »

Oh Stripey - Mr Socks is a bit like my DH so I do sympathise.

My DH's stock answer to what do you fancy for dinner used to be 'shall we have a takeaway'. Cue my heart sinking as I really don't like takeaway curries and I really really don't like spending half a weeks groceries on one. In fact I'd actually prefer to get a ready curry than a takeaway.

There is something in DH's head that says getting a takeaway is a treat, even though he prefers my home cooked curries. I've almost cured him of the habit, so it can be done. And I am going to make sure going forward that there is always a home made curry in the freezer for when he gets the takeaway urge.

Good luck with Mr Socks.

We do a "buy some, make some" as a compromise take-away occasionally. I make a mean vegetable side dish with chick peas, onion, butternut squash and spinach and also do the rice while DH goes and gets the onion bhajis, naan bread and any meat dish we agree to have. It really keeps the cost down

Islandmaid

Another NSD here, as I’m not going out

Prepping for work, making pea soup with chicken stock frozen after Christmas and a bag of peas, that appear to be breeding in the freezer LOL

Dinner is a chicken and chorizo paella using the last of the fresh chorizo I bought back from Spain and froze, as well as the last of our HG frozen peppers

poohbear59

I would like to rejoin please. It is about 3 years since I was last here. It household has changed from 7 adults to 2. It only took 33 years for them all to fly the nest.

We counted every penny. Since they ask left we have become very lax in our spending on groceries and now really need to take more care. I am setting a challenge for the month for
£200

I have told DH I would like him to save to save every receipt. I am but often in the shops but he is.

StripeyTightsSpottySocks

supersaver1000, carolinerunner and Suffolk Lass Thank you for your words of support and suggestions. It is really appreciated. When i posted the other day it made me realise just how much of my money i was spending on us when this happens (it happened a lot - such a lot of money wasted ) It isn't all bad - if we have takeaway Mr Socks pays and there are lots of times lately when he's suggested buying us a takeaway and i've said no let's have X meal - something to tempt him away from spends. Invariably though if we get a takeaway a week later he is grumbling about having no money as though it's my fault. By cutting down the amount of times we get a takeaway i am hoping to change this.
Friday was the first time i'd said no to his suggestion of ready meals - we still went in 3 shops to see if they had any reduced enough to make it reasonable to buy But the conversation wasn't pleasant I need to remember to try and have something which is a favourite of his in ready for when these occasions occur.
I realise I have let a situation occur - probably from when we were both earning more money and in the early heady days of our relationship where he'd suggest me buying something else for tea and i'd go along with it. It is a change for both of us and I hope he gets used to it fast Without this thread i wouldn't have had such a focus on this area of spending and wouldn't have realised just how much these shops mounted up.

Islandmaid could you share your recipe for the pea soup please? i have both home made chicken stock and peas in my freezer - big bag of peas bought for making keema - was cheaper to get the 1kg Mr Al's bag.

We had the casserole yesterday and today i decided to use stuff from the freezer rather than cook. I have a bit of meat and fish in the freezer to be turned into meals but i was sure there were a couple of tubs of food in there as well. I have lifted one of said tubs out ready for tea today - it's either chilli, meat pie filling or lasagne - not checked yet :rotfl:

I'm enjoying everyones posts. I'll probably be spending a bit more this week shopping as i will need to pick up the herbs and veg put off from this week, as well as foil. This will be the last week of shopping for me as my month is 27th - 26th. I think i may pop to the supermarket before work tomorrow for the herbs i need as that is all i need from that shop.

Islandmaid

Stripeysocks - I’m a bit bung it in and hope for the best, I gently fried a diced onion and 2 cloves of garlic with salt and pepper, added peas (I had 700g) then added 700ml stock (just use equal measures peas to stock), simmer for 10 minutes, I added a handful of mint leaves, but only because I had them. Blend till smooth, adjust seasoning add a glug of cream if you have it - yum �� a weeks lunch’s for approx £1

jasminesaver

Hello all,

Last week's total spend was £16.64/£25, so I had £8.36 left over. Just done my weekly shop in Lidl and Iceland, and my total spend was £20.57/£25. So now I have £4.43 left this week to buy extra stuff! :rotfl: