January 2008 Grocery Challenge

Justamum

I sort of cheated this week. Week 2 started today, but I spent some money yesterday and decided to only include it in this week's spend, so what was left from last week has been put to one side for savings. I've still got loads in the freezer and would like to try and get it down to a minimum as we are moving next week. Hopefully this means I won't really need to buy much this week and have more to save next week. I wish I'd started on the GC months ago!!!

egon

orchid-96 wrote: »

You are all doing so great with all the baking/batch cooking etc. I find it hard as I don't have a lot of time with my little ones, but I do have a breadmaker on the way...so I will need to get to grips with that as I am fed up with the expensive and rubbish bread in the supermarkets...

We have 2 DS under three, and batch cooking seem to be easier. I just cook double portions and freeze. Once a week we have no cooking day, and use up what is in the freezer. It gives everyone a break, and the boys still get a good meal.

angelavdavis wrote: »

We had trout on Saturday - I steamed it with lemon and we had it with saute!d potatoes and steamed spinach. It was delicious and as I had filleted it, I used the bones and bits to make up some fish stock.

Great idea, I never thought of that! I always get my fish filleted by the fishmonger, as I hate this job! Next time I will ask him to just put the bones etc in a bag!

Another NSD day for me today. :T
Tomorrow will be a LIDL run, but I hope to spend no more then £15.
I need to stock up on a few veg, fruit and dairy stuff.

egon

orchid-96 wrote: »

You are all doing so great with all the baking/batch cooking etc. I find it hard as I don't have a lot of time with my little ones, but I do have a breadmaker on the way...so I will need to get to grips with that as I am fed up with the expensive and rubbish bread in the supermarkets...

We have 2 DS under three, and batch cooking seem to be easier. I just cook double portions and freeze. Once a week we have no cooking day, and use up what is in the freezer. It gives everyone a break, and the boys still get a good meal.

angelavdavis wrote: »

We had trout on Saturday - I steamed it with lemon and we had it with saute!d potatoes and steamed spinach. It was delicious and as I had filleted it, I used the bones and bits to make up some fish stock.

Great idea, I never thought of that! I always get my fish filleted by the fishmonger, as I hate this job! Next time I will ask him to just put the bones etc in a bag!

Another NSD day for me today. :T
Tomorrow will be a LIDL run, but I hope to spend no more then £15.
I need to stock up on a few veg, fruit and dairy stuff.

DH just made some HM rolls.
But they have risen to small loaf size :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

lingojingo

Got 2 lots of cat food 1/2 price in Somerfields today (Felix pouches, £1.69 for 12), bringing my total grocery spend for 16 days to £26.88, but I will need to do a big shop soon, we've nearly used up all the surplus Xmas food now! Just 2 more meals worth of turkey in the freezer. Also getting low on loo rolls and shower gel. I usually have a delivery from Mr. T every 3 weeks, as we don't have a car and it's easier than struggling on the bus, plus the bus fare to town and back is £3.20, and I can't carry anywhere near as much stuff. I haven't had a delivery for nearly 5 weeks now thanks to joining this challenge. But I'm thinking of going to Lidl to see how much I can save by shopping there, then have to weigh up whether it's worth it overall.

bebee_2

Hi,
i would love to join in on this challenge if i may. i know it is a bit late in the month for january but OH lost his job 2 weeks before xmas then to cut a long story short he now has a job and wages are going to be paid weekly so i need to do some finance/shopping changes .
When you set your shopping challenge and i have a rough idea of what it was on food per month (before the changes) do you include just:
Food & cleaning products
include the petrol/smokes/dog food
or include everything but bills??

advice greatly and humbly accepted

jackiegibbo

Hi i include ANYTHING i buy in the local supermarket except petrol.
Good luck with your challenge:beer: :beer: :beer:

egon

bebee wrote: »

Hi,
i would love to join in on this challenge if i may. i know it is a bit late in the month for january but OH lost his job 2 weeks before xmas then to cut a long story short he now has a job and wages are going to be paid weekly so i need to do some finance/shopping changes .
When you set your shopping challenge and i have a rough idea of what it was on food per month (before the changes) do you include just:
Food & cleaning products
include the petrol/smokes/dog food
or include everything but bills??

advice greatly and humbly accepted

Hi bebee,

first, welcome in this great group!
Everyone has their own things, they include in ones own budget.

We (DH, 2xDS and me) include all food and cleaning products and nappies and toiletries in our budget.
I have a seperate budget for fuel (Car budget).
Only DH smokes, and he is paying that out of his "allowance".

HTH

Egon

Little_Miss_Naughty

Hi All

Thank you to you all, I have saved a small fortune on my shopping this month and it is all down to you guys and the help and support you give.

As you can see from my sig I have come in well below budget for the month!

The reason i am saying this now is i go on holiday for a week and a bit as of Friday and i have food in the fridge to last until then, so no more shopping before then.

Thanks again and good luck to the rest of you!

Bobbykins

arbroath_lass wrote: »

:mad: Out of the office today and spent £3.49 at lunchtime. Although I ded get a big mutipack of Hula Hoops for 87p :T

Wot...for your lunch?? :eek: :eek: :eek: (actually, that's just the sort of thing I would LOVE for my lunch, I'm a carboholic and have been known to eat my way through a party pack of Hula Hoops all by myself )

Reporting in for today folks...got to the end of my NSD's unfortunately. I had hoped to put it off to tomorrow but DH was moaning that he had none of the yoghurt/ricie things that he takes with his lunch so I had to stock up in Aldi. Bought some of their special offer 39p fruit and veg while I was there. Also had to buy some bits in Mr T's - bread flour, yeast and [STRIKE]some crumpets [/STRIKE] some other absolute essentials, so in total have spent just under £12.00. Have updated signature.

Reasonably happy with how it's going so far. Good luck to everyone, keep up the good work

FROGMASTER MikeD -so glad to hear Mrs Mike is recovering well....must be all that TLC you've lavished on her.

Sassamac

bebee wrote: »

Hi,
i would love to join in on this challenge if i may. i know it is a bit late in the month for january but OH lost his job 2 weeks before xmas then to cut a long story short he now has a job and wages are going to be paid weekly so i need to do some finance/shopping changes .
When you set your shopping challenge and i have a rough idea of what it was on food per month (before the changes) do you include just:
Food & cleaning products
include the petrol/smokes/dog food
or include everything but bills??

advice greatly and humbly accepted

welcome to the GC.
I include all food, as well as nappies, toiletries and cleaning products in my challenge, but I have a separate budget for that (£120 and £30). I only show the total for both together in my sig to make it easier but I keep a spreadsheet which lists food and non-food stuff separately.
I also have a separate petrol budget as this is something I would like to keep track of and reduce too, but not at the expense of not eating. I would suggest you use a separate budget for the fags as otherwise its not very reflective.