January 2008 Grocery Challenge

In_Search_Of_Me

Evening all. Did a tesco shop & came in much cheaper than normal so dead chuffed - 20 as opposed to the normal 50 and some of thats isnt grocery stuff so need to go through the recsipt. There's a slight chance I may make it to the end of the month on target (just! Got loads of pasta today to try & make it happen!!) but think next month will up the budget to £170 due to my decision to buy only free range/organic meat...will see how I go for the rest of the month!

Bobbykins

Had a trip to Mr T's today to get the rest of what I need to see us through next week. Total spend £12.86. signature updated.

Touch wood, I seem to be doing OK so far - but then that's probably due to the £70 :eek: :eek: overspend in December (yes, just plucked up the courage to work it out, oh dear) which left me with groaning cupboards and freezers.

Still, on the bright side, if I looked at it as a yearly total like a couple of other posters (I think Mrs Mcawber and a couple of others), then some December's overspend could be made up for in January's underspend.............hmmmmmmmmmmmm, grasping at straws methinks! :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

No, put December behind me once and for all and move on!

Keep up the good work everyone.

shelovestobuystuff

I tried this last year and was really pleased at how far I got my grocery shopping down.We usually managed well on an average of £50 a week for all food,toiletries and cleaning products,thanks to the money off codes for tesco which are always available on this site.This year however we have 2 big dogs to keep also(rescue dogs) and although I would like to reduce the target again I think keeping it at £50 a week is enough of a challenge.
School dinners are now free in my area as part of a trial to get the kids eating healthier food so I will at least save on the cost of packed lunches.
My target then for January is £200.For 3 adults(my eldest is 16)1 child and 2 big dogs.Now that I have written it down it looks impossible.If I manage it I will give myself a medal!

I will have to try to be more inventive with the recipes though as hubby was getting really sick of the frequency of the pasta dishes before so we had to allow him a steak now and then.

Angelmummy

This is only my first month at becoming an MSE but already I'm quite proud of how well I'm doing.

I'm spending less on food, buying less food, throwing away less food and yet we're having proper home cooked dinners every night. I've surprised myself with what I can produce from the food that's already in the cupboards.

Lets hope I can keep the momentum going!

tattycath

Hi everyone. I managed an nsd today!!! I'm so pleased-they don't come up very often with me. No doubt I will have to buy something tomorrow-will have to see. Not feeling well today had to go back to bed this morning and think I might be going back again soon!!! Well done to everyone in this grocery challenge.
continued good luck for the rest of the month!!!

arbroath_lass

Bobbykins wrote: »

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 )

Me too :rotfl:but no I only had one packet :A and brought the rest home (it was a 12 pack). DH takes crisps to work every day.

**purpleprincess**

I am going to join this! Started it last week and am aiming for £25 a week, this includes Tesco delivery charge.

Week 1 was £20.03, inc charge
Week 2 looks like to be £20.64, inc charge

I get paid weekly so will just post within each month about my weeks.

I also have a bulk order in which will be delivered in a couple of weeks time, this is £47.90! But includes 12 bags of pasta, 6 boxes of organic porridge oats, 5 litres of Ecover washing up liquid, 1kg marigold veg bouillon, 12 packets of organic almonds and 6 boxes of green tea. These all will last AGES though, so will try and calculate later down the line just how much each week these cost.

Good luck all!!

nopot2pin

windowshopper100 wrote: »

Just read nopot's brilliant tip for the cheap slow cooker (thanks nopot:money: ) and I have been deliberating this for ages... but at £8.49 I'm not sure I can pass it up even as an experiment and possibly trade up later.

jpe(?) - re your request for stainless steel - there was a link on the Argos page to similar items, and there were some branded ones for less than £20 if your still looking.

I do have a question for you knowledgeable lot though - 3.5l capacity - is that enough? (well presumably it is otherwise they wouldn't make them:o ). There's only us 2 but I would definitely want it big enough to be able to freeze at least half.

WS100

Thanks WS100
I think I would have preferred a stainless steel type one, as Jools is looking for, but TBH when mine is not in use, it is inside the big gadget and nik naks cupboard... I dont really have worktop space for it to be out all the time. And I also thought that it was too good an offer to miss.

I made veggie mince in mine the other day... enough for 4 portions and there was still loads of room in it.... I reckon I could have easily had 8 to 10 portions in it.
I havent spent anything today :T
I am working over the weekend. So hopefully, wont spend anything then either.
When I am off work next week may be problematic:rolleyes: .
I may need to gaffer tape myself to the couch to keep me out of the shops.
Actually - might be healthier all round to be gaffer taped to the air walker

carolt2

Hello All,
Went to Mr T and spent a total of 36.78. Getting close to limit but I have not done this challenge before so I can class it as an experiment to see how much we spend.
I tend to shop better without other half being there as extra things that we don't need end up in trolley.
Just got some HM vegetable and lentil soup on the go for OH when he gets home from work.
Signature updated.

lauradora

Right i am now up to a total of £46.11 which leaves me with £3.89 left for the next 14 days!!:eek: and i'm throwing a dinner party on saturday so this will be an interesting finish to this month.:beer: