November 2023
I'm always in it, it's only the depth that varies....
Current debt: £10,806.75
Debt free date April 2025 (though expecting this to come forward)
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Hello Forumites! However well-intentioned, for the safety of other users we ask that you refrain from seeking or offering medical advice. This includes recommendations for medicines, procedures or over-the-counter remedies. Posts or threads found to be in breach of this rule will be removed.January 2024 Grocery Challenge
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I'd like to join the January challenge! This will be the first full year without our two daughters at home. Both are still local to us, one has moved out into their own home with their other half, the other has moved out for Uni. Our daughter at Uni still comes home once a week, or every other week, so I do make/save portions of meals in the freezer so she can take them back with her, but over the last few months I have obviously had to try and change my shopping habits! I have been spending approx £400-450 per month and that just isn't sensible anymore, but that has included stocking up of certain products when on offer that get eaten regularly or is yellow-stickered!
I have food in the freezer, so will try and work through that this month, as well as plenty of flour, sugar etc for baking, but I am also going to aim to be better at meal planning and sticking to my shopping list! I have a habit of going in for a couple of basic items, but coming out with a trolley full and over December I have been annoyed at myself for doing so on two occasions....!
We have a dog, but I don't include their food in this, nor will I include household cleaning products or things like loo roll as I have plenty, as I stocked up on those earlier this month which should last a long while.
So my targets are:
Starting January 1st Target £150 (whole month)
Yearly target: £3000 (£250/month) down from approx £4800-£5400 (£400-£450 per month)
None of the totals I have set include eating out, as they are within our Entertainment/Going Out category and we have the odd takeaway maybe every 3 months!January 2024 Grocery Challenge - January 2024 (£65.08/ £150) / Yearly (£65.08 / £3000 (£250/month) )
Mortgage free since 2013! One of our best decisions was to pay the mortgage off early!10 -
charlies_tribe said:
Yesterday we had sausage and mash and I just put 2 sausages in each, they never said a word! It might be easier than I thought.
Going to book a delivery slot and start planning for next week.
@basketcase - that's what I do if I'm cooking it all at once, however, I mostly separate the meat at the time I get it home from shopping, so it's not cooked. He wouldn't dare be so bold as to get the extra 6 chipolatas out and cook them, and seriously, I don't think he notices I've only done half the pack. With the minced meat, he definitely has no idea he's eating a handful of beef and 2 carrots! (I'm doing him a real favour here!!)
EDITING to add today's small shop to keep us going: £16.44 (£31.74 / £168)12 -
First January spend here - I know it's still December but the pay has come in, so it's January in accounting terms - of £73.40 between the butcher & the supermarket. I may have to buy a few treats for New Year's Eve as I seem to have invited some neighbours round (yaaay! Paaartaay!) but that can come out of the Festive Fund, which still has a bit left in it. Otherwise we'll be fine until next Thursday/Friday, when the market will be up & running again.Angie - GC May 24 £162.50/£450: 2024 Fashion on the Ration Challenge: 10/68: (Money's just a substitute for time & talent...)11
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charlies_tribe said:Thank you all so much for the comments. Meal planning is definitely needed here. We do only buy shop brands, except for soup.
DH does have bread with any meal he thinks I haven't made big enough.
Yesterday we had sausage and mash and I just put 2 sausages in each, they never said a word! It might be easier than I thought.
Going to book a delivery slot and start planning for next week.
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first shop of the month tomorrow and expecting it to be quite a big one as I’m hosting a dinner party on New Years Eve for 8, although I’ve gone with an Italian inspired menu which will keep the costs down with a pasta dish for the main and I’m making an orange polenta cake for dessert and other than a couple of oranges have the ingredients in the store cupboard.
I had a rummage around the freezer earlier and was pleased ito find it well stocked ( I think I know why the food bill has been creeping up, I’m ashamed to say I had forgotten I had most of the stuff ). and found a chicken, 2 joints of beef a leg of lamb and a stuffed porchetta joint as well as lots of other bits and bobs, salmon, homemade burgers some chicken thighs etc. so will be aiming to use those up in Januarys meal plans and do a proper freezer inventory going forward.
Well Behaved women seldom make history
Early retirement goal... 2026
Reduce, reuse, recycle .10 -
Hi Elsiepac
Thanks for running this challenge and I want to start afresh in Jan 24 as I’ve been ill formost of this year and my sick pay is stopping soon. So I’m going to first use food in my food storage places.My Jan target is £150 per month including cleaning products as there is only me.
Money Choices
25 July 2020 Starting Credit Card Debt £9,717.59 , Debt 27 Dec 2021 £9.550. 1 Jan 23 -£7,030.84 Debt. 30 December 23 DEBT FREE Declutter Challenge 1/50 bin bags,SPC 17 number 061 NSD challenge Jan 24 10/10, Feb 24 10/10, March 24 13/15, April 5/10 Grocery Challenge Jan 24 £98.44/£150 Feb 24 £161.49/£150, March 24 £100/£150 April £100/£150.9 -
Basketcase, i will admit I got to the point where it just goes on their plates anyway as I knew they'd go back for it. I think freezing the portions straight away may be the way to go. DH actually does most of the cooking, he actually likes doing it, i just dish up, so he knows how much there was but if ive already froze it he might not go back for more.
Thanks joedenise- it is heinz, DD2 is currently eating a tin a day for lunch. DH has been picking it up while on offer. To make our totals sound worse, DH works there so we get discount on our shop too 🙈
DH will be getting some bits on his way home tomorrow and that will be it until Tuesday and the new months budget.LBM in April 17 - £14998/£33554 (44.6%) paid. Mortgage@1 June 18 = £9935/£76350 paid.Total debt @june 18 £102311 now £84972GC Jan £40.99/£500 2021 declutter 85/2021 items 0/20 bags clothes9 -
charlies_tribe said:Basketcase, i will admit I got to the point where it just goes on their plates anyway as I knew they'd go back for it. I think freezing the portions straight away may be the way to go. DH actually does most of the cooking, he actually likes doing it, i just dish up, so he knows how much there was but if ive already froze it he might not go back for more.
Thanks joedenise- it is heinz, DD2 is currently eating a tin a day for lunch. DH has been picking it up while on offer. To make our totals sound worse, DH works there so we get discount on our shop too 🙈
DH will be getting some bits on his way home tomorrow and that will be it until Tuesday and the new months budget.November 2023
I'm always in it, it's only the depth that varies....
Current debt: £10,806.75
Debt free date April 2025 (though expecting this to come forward)8 -
mrs_motivated said:
I had a rummage around the freezer earlier and was pleased ito find it well stocked ( I think I know why the food bill has been creeping up, I’m ashamed to say I had forgotten I had most of the stuff ). and found a chicken, 2 joints of beef a leg of lamb and a stuffed porchetta joint as well as lots of other bits and bobs, salmon, homemade burgers some chicken thighs etc. so will be aiming to use those up in Januarys meal plans and do a proper freezer inventory going forward.November 2023
I'm always in it, it's only the depth that varies....
Current debt: £10,806.75
Debt free date April 2025 (though expecting this to come forward)8 -
@CMD79 Could you reshape the chicken burgers (thawed) into meatballs and have them with a tomato sauce and pasta? I seem to remember somebody I follow on Instagram doing something similar with beef burgers.Jan 2024 GC £287.21/£350
Feb 2024 GC £0.00 /£340 + £62.79 rolled over
#21 Make £2024 in 2024 £58.64/£20248
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