February 2020 Grocery Challenge

candygirl

pamsdish said:

£21.66 in Aldi, loads of veg, milk and eggs, fully stocked for Storm Dennis in the days ahead, although still have to walk the dog so can`t fully hibernate.

My Bonnie won't go out in any bad weather,  it's a nightmare! 

supersaver1000

Hi @carolinerunner

I think you are right about the splurging at the start of the month/week, but we also get lazy towards the end of the week/month and get fed up with sticking to the plan.

There was  mention of a takeaway on Thursday night, but I had leftover veg in the fridge and stuck to my guns and made a lovely tomatoey veggie pasta sauce.  It was lucky that we had to pop out anyway so I nipped into Aldi and picked up some of their 32p garlic breads and some grated cheese (which I use for sandwiches anyway).  It was a really low cost meal, and as the veg was on the verge of going over I felt good for not wasting it, and was very glad that we didn't spend £25 on a takeaway.  

My biggest shop week so far was £95 (trying to stick to under £60) but it included a 16 pack of toilet rolls, 4 kitchen rolls, lots of cat food, clothes washing liquid, a big bag of onions and some lemsips - which came to around £30 alone.  Then the following week, I spent only £25 - there were things to use up from my £95 week and I planned my menu around that e.g. eggs, part of a huge pack of mushrooms from Asda, leftover pepper from pack of three, leftover onions.   It is so difficult to plan ahead though, as I just don't know what I will fancy on the night or if I will have the energy to cook it or fight off the urge for a takeaway.    I'm trying to build up a stock of easy recipes and ingredients to keep on hand with bits that we can keep in the freezer or dry stores.

Toonie

Had a small spend in Tesco of £5.75 on some lamb chops and sweet potatoes instead of getting takeaway lamb chops which are £14 (didn't have time to cook what I had planned). Takes the total £66.72 so far. Tonight is gammon (currently in the slow cooker) along with potatoes and veggies.

Herbyme

Reading this thread has galvanised/encouraged/booted me into doing a menu plan for the rest of Feb and into March. Feeling much better as a result! Pretty much nothing in the cupboards/freezer/fridge so that made it easier 

Suffolk_lass

Hey elsiepac, I was wondering what you plan to do to get recipes flagged up as so many people cannot use colours in text on the new forum?

tessie_bear

hello im still badgering on spent £40 again last week...its half term hols this week and we are normally a bit more relaxed might get pizza and some chips at some point. Im starting to get cabin fever these bloomin storms...bring on spring 

boultdj

Another £15.46 spent, bread was essential and I am sick of OH moaning about the wind so a bottle of wine went in the basket as well:| .

supersaver1000

Trip to Aldi this morning - cost £28.57.  

Still have to go to Mr S or Mr T for the cat food, coffee and a few other bits  - but will do that during the week.  Mr SS loves the bread I get from Mr S and it always has a long date.  I find the Aldi bread can be a short date - must be when I go I guess.  Hoping to stay within the average £55/week spend for the month.

Nellbell21

Spent £603 so far this month.  This leaves £197 for rest of moth.  However, I have loads of stuff and should be able to bring it in on budget.  Did some batch cooking this afternoon hoping it will save me some time and money.  Made a lasagne and a chilli, kids won’t eat either but made extra bechamel for macaroni.  Hubby takes a full meal to work and kids are pack lunch and home for lunch.  Kids are quite picky though!  Making risotto tonight (telling youngest it’s pasta), I just hope they eat it!  

jam2019

Today logging a total spend of £8.16 - £3.46 for the weekly food and £4.70 for ingredients for nutella chocolate brownies. Something about the bad weather just makes this feel like a brownies kind of week!