January 2008 Grocery Challenge

Mollymop5

mumzyof2 wrote: »

well ive spent what is in my sig so far and its been over a week now! I think im below target seen as though my monthly target is £120 and i have spent £12 something (cant see sig lol)

does everyone think thats ok?

I think that's amazing that you've managed to keep it so low.Well done

Bobbykins

Just nipped out to Sainsbury's for a bag of spuds (got the basics ones for 99p) - had tried to persuade DH to go, in the hopes he would pay, but he wasn't having any! (boo!)

So had to go myself, still, managed to pick up 6 brown rolls for 10p whilst I was there(YAY). So, just added another £1.09 to my total for week 1 - it's going OK so far

NEgirl

im annoyed with myself today as i knew i was going out and even standing in m&s paying for my lunch i knew i could have made sandwiches etc to take with me - maybe thats why i didnt enjoy them much (sandwiches and chopped fruit selection), i resented paying for them!! :rotfl: Anyways added a £5.32 spend in my sig - pleased i did go out though as i managed to sell a few bits of things (artsy stuff) i dont use anymore and made £57 which ive added to the other line in my sig!!

oops just added £2.68 for 2 cartons of milk too!!

kbl

hi, wanted to post tonight while my sig is still looking good, am going for a big shop tomorrow so hopefully will do ok. Still have loads of dinners in freezer so think Jan should be ok, but am worried about Feb, think it would be best for me to buy more dinners than I actually need for Jan to tide me over for Feb. Know this defeats the purpose, but I paid for the freezer dinners in Dec so they don't count, this would kind of cancel that out leaving me a bit of room for manoever (hopefully) in April for my fortieth, does that make sense? Anyway, will update my sig tonight cos I only spent €3.10. Am doing great for me, normally would have spent a fortune during hols on biscuits, cake and takeaways by now!!

catralense

Well, we're DOOMED to be financial failiures forever! I've already failed my very first MSE challenge . I had a target of £25 until the 15th and have already spent approx £30. Grrrrr.

Will try not to spend anything else until the 15th.....

Mollymop5

catralense wrote: »

Well, we're DOOMED to be financial failiures forever! I've already failed my very first MSE challenge . I had a target of £25 until the 15th and have already spent approx £30. Grrrrr.

Will try not to spend anything else until the 15th.....

Don't see it as failure! I work on a monthly target.If i broke it down into weekly then i too would have failed.But hopefully my spending this week means i won't next week.Maybe you could do the same.

rosieben

catralense wrote: »

Well, we're DOOMED to be financial failiures forever! I've already failed my very first MSE challenge . I had a target of £25 until the 15th and have already spent approx £30. Grrrrr.

Will try not to spend anything else until the 15th.....

Its very difficult to stick rigidly to a weekly budget; better to have a monthly budget and say 'I have around xx to spend this week' so if you go over one week you may be able to cut back another. one or two expensive items can play havoc iwth a weekly budget but over the month they dont seem so bad

And think about what would you have spent by now if you hadnt joined the GC? this will probably put this small overspend into perspective!

edited to say - oops crossposted with mollymops, but we are in total agreement!!

tattycath

Hi everyone. I need to update my sig again. I feel really proud tonight as I had 5 over ripe bananas and last time I left them too long OH decided to throw them away before I had chance to do anything with them. Tonight however I have made 2 banana cakes (in loaf tins) they look very nice so I hope they taste nice too!!! the proof of the pudding and all that. Should save me some money from my grocery challenge budget (as I won't have to buy any more desserts for a couple of days or so). Quick question though. Please can someone tell me how long they will keep? and if I could freeze one of them (if they don't keep more than a couple of days?? Any advice/hints/tips are very much appreciated. Thanks in anticipation.

catralense

Thank you both! You're right, I'd probably have spent over £100 by now knowing me .

I will be working on a monthly budget from the 15th onwards to tie in with my husband's payday. Hopefully I can do better next month!

belfastgirl23

sweetpea03 wrote: »

I tried the ciabatta just after xmas & thought it a bit weird too in that shape! apart from that I've made the white loaf, wheatgerm loaf, cheese & bacon loaf & 50% wholemeal loaf. I've made french sticks & done a few batches of rolls & pizza today using the dough ( :eek: all that makes me sound really greedy! but it is for 5 of us in case anyones wondering!) Are you managing to slice yours ok? Mine are still very thick slices! so i think we get on better with rolls Let me know how your fruit loaf turns out, I might try a sweet loaf next week if it turns out ok Really pleased all your loaves are turning out so well

Made it to Julian Graves in the end & bought almonds, sultanas, mixed peel, coconut, dates, mixed fruit, walnuts for my baking & humbugs lol for £7.55 + 2 milks for £2.20 on the way home so I've added it on to my total

The fruit loaf turned out pretty well altho a bit blackened at the bottom, that said DH kind of likes it like that so okay for us I did make the wholewheat fruit one by accident though and I think next time I'd go for the pure indulgence of white flour. I also know it would be much better with butter on top but **sigh** that's out for the foreseeable. It's also very heavy and filling.

I'm keen to try the french bread myself - might give it a go the next time we need some. I def preferred the ciabatta done as dough and cooked in the oven altho both it and the focaccia had quite a solid crust which I wasn't used to.

The slices are prob a bit thick but I'm getting around that by having open sandwiches I do have a proper breadknife and that helps. I also think the wholewheat ones slice better (are more dense maybe).