January's No-Shopping Challenge

EitherWalnut

I have had an absolutely mental week, and honestly - it's been really hard to come home and think about being inventive. I resorted to having cheese and biscuits for my packed dinner on Thursday because it was the easy option. I have however managed to not buy a single thing this week, so that has spurred me on. The 11p milk I got the week before, is still good - now twelve days past the date on the bottle. How much unnecessary food waste does that mean these dates are generating? I know plenty of people who wouldnt even check the milk before putting it down the drain if it's at the date. Makes me so sad.

Buffythedebtslayer

Will you be doing this challenge in February?

Does it have to be food based? Could it be for other spends?

I am quite into not wasting food, but don't buy loads, various assorted crap tho - I can waste oodles! No worries if it isn't, been a good read tho cheers

pandora205

I've more or less stuck to the challenge and have spent very little and used up lots of stuff. I'm relying more on tins and frozen food as the weeks progress and trying my best to be inventive on the recipe front.
However, I am becoming a bit bored with certain foods (bananas are the only fruit on my list). I was really glad to go out with my book group for Sunday lunch last week! Still, I'm going to stick with the challenge for the rest of January.

How's everyone else doing?

CJRyder

Veg box arrived Wednesday, so £15.50 for that. I also spent £1.50 on a 6pt of milk. £36.48/£45.00 spent.

Whilst I don't do food waste, and can get by on just the contents of the veg box, doing this challenge I am running out of staples that I can't replace. Dried lentils etc last a while, but once I've eaten them I can't replace. I might go for categories next time (dried staples).

I am going to be doing a slight cheat and getting some bread, cold cuts of meat etc. as a friend is babysitting. He's doing it for free though, so the least I can do is feed him - sandwich materials were requested. Anything left is ours, as it were. However, strict list when getting stuff.

EitherWalnut

Hey everyone - sorry I've been a bit silent, I've just been so busy the past couple of weeks!

Buffythedebtslayer - I hadn't intended on specifically doing it in February, but I actually think it would be a really good idea to extend it. I also like the idea of expanding the remit so if someone wants to try it for a category other than food, they can. If anyone wants to go for it, I'll happily start a new thread!

pandora205 - Well done for sticking with it. I have found fruit the hardest part of the challenge. On that note - I have to confess I caved and bought some apples and oranges on Wednesday as I had used up every last bit of fresh and frozen fruit I had! It was however still yellow-labelled so for the two bags of organic oranges and a bag of apples, i only spent another £2.55, and I'm still just about within my budget for the month.

CJRyder - some of the staples are what I needed to use up. I had waaay too many porridge oats - a result of buying more without checking the cupboard and then only realising that I had plenty when I went to put them away! However, an absolute revelation this week has been a thing called porridge bread. A mixture of yoghurt, oats, bicarb of soda, an egg and a little salt. Into the oven and 45mins later it comes out like wheaten loaf. Delicious!

Used up the last of my veg making soup, so really have to work on the freezer contents now amd use up some of my home-made ready meals.

Would anyone else be keen for trying it again next month?

CJRyder

I would be up for trying again, same budget but not sure that I could stick to just 5 as my staples have been run right down. Also having family down who will need feeding. I might either go for categories or just the budget.

EitherWalnut

I have really missed fresh fruit and veg, but I probably have enough stuff to keep going for a bit otherwise, so maybe I'll just set a budget for that category. Or restrict myself to only buying yellow-label food - that coud be interesting!