How Is It?

purpleivy

How is it? At the beginning of Jan I started to sort of follow in Dee's method of trying to use up all the stuff that I already had in the cupboard and the freezer. I also set myself the challenge of putting money into a separate purse for food shopping. I've spent a lot less than I normally would. Haven't bought any wine yet. Still some in the cellar (not a smart wine cellar, you understand! Just the cold damp bit under the front of the house!)

Now, half way through February, I find that I still have as much in the freezer and cupboards that are well stocked. I have different stuff in the freezer, lots of meals ready to eat, also a good supply of ready cooked beans. Plenty of veggie alternatives as well.

We have been eating very well, hardly any meals away from the house.

I'm amazed.

What also amazed me is that someone I know, just her and her dh, spending about £350 per month on food & household.

champys

Purpleivy - I have been doing the same thing, and am also amazed that there is still plenty in stock and the freezer is not nearly as depleted as I would have liked it to be. I will carry on with this practice! Excellent points were my going away for a work trip, which meant OH eat a lot of the frozen 'leftover' meals, and last Sunday I gave a brunch which was attended by 9 of our neighbours, and I was thrilled I hardly had to buy anything for it! It got rid of a lot of accumulated baked things from the freezer as well, like muffins. At this rate, there will be freezer space again for the new harvest of vegetables from the garden and shelf space for jams and chutneys etc. etc. and all the 2007 stock will have been put to good use. As it should be! Thanks to OS!

MRSMCAWBER

Hi there

I know just what you mean :T .. I ran my freezer down during the January Grocery challenge... and some how during this months challenge my chest freezer and fridge freezer are jam packed again, I know i have been taking advantage of the Whoopsies -free renge corn fed chickens for €3 :eek: etc.. It has mainly been meat, mozarella etc . But we have been eating so well -just all from scratch, and i have only spent about €145 since xmas..and for the March grocery challenge im looking at only having to buy salad, fruit n veg..i have loads of everything else..including toiletries, cleaning stuff etc...

I just can't wait for all the veggies im planting to be ready...saving even more :j

I get €450 a month housekeeping..just for food, toiletries n cleaning things...god knows what i was doing with it before :eek: now it all gets stashed in a new savings account:T ...long may it continue

purpleivy

That's the thing. I started to do this for several reasons.

1. When I lived at home I was always fed good OS cooking. I went and did a basic catering diploma when I left school at 16, so well equipped to cook. After looking after a family in Germany for most of a year as a housekeeper I then Worked as a cook in a boarding school. Plenty of experience. I guess the toll of work and family and cheap bogoffs got me into a rut and spending more and getting less.

2. Being for a large part of a year without a proper kitchen made me realise how much I missed it.

3. I now have a fab new kitchen for creating in.

4. I now have a veggie daughter and am keen for her to establish good eating habits before going on gap year and Uni.

5. I'm much more health aware now than I was, I guess I'm of an age where it starts to matter.

6. There's still quite a large amount on the 0% credit card that needs paying off by August.

7. I want dining furniture and sitting room furniture and a wood burning stove as well!

8. Every £1 that you actually save on your food is worth at least £1.28 you have to earn if you're a normal tax payer, even more if you are on higher rate. Haven't expressed that very well.

maypole

I used to be always popping out to the shops for things I ran out of and I found that is where you spend a lot of money. You go for one thing and you end up with a basket full.

We tend to now buy all cleaning and household things in bulk also bread for the freezer ( well, as much as space will allow) so I don't have to nip to the shops, because we never run out of them. I also think cooking from scratch helps, if you have the basic ingredients to make a meal at any time.

Yesterday, I had nothing planned, but I had a couple of leeks,from last weeks shopping trip, pasta in the store cupboard and cheese, so leek and macaroni gratin ( posh eh! ) was our dinner last night with crusty bread. You get a great deal of satisfaction from this and of course especially when you are spending less. I don't like scrimping on food cos I love it!! but you can eat well and not spend a fortune.

vanoonoo

absolutely agree - I have shopped from my storecuboard for years until I met and subsequently married the man that is now known as my husband!

I've had to change my eating habits to match his somewhat - which means I dont have to cook two meals everynight, but I do need to vary my meals more on a weekly basis, no more eating lasagne four nights and carbonara four nights and chili four night etc now its a different meal every night but it doesnt vary that much week on week, just the days and the occasional combination.

But, my storecupboard is still healthy, my freezers and fridges (two of each) all still have goodies in galore, I have tins with cakes and flapjacks, a bowl of fresh fruit, a drawer of fresh veg and a very good stock of wine and beer (yes yes including guinness). All that and I have reduced our shopping spends to £200 per month - for everything including the cleaning stuff, toiletries and cat food and litter, and we're under budget so far for feb!

purpleivy

How many of you for £200 per month Vanoonoo?Hope you don't mind me asking.

Penelope_Penguin

I've been doing this too - using what I have in my freezer and pantry. I've spent about £15/week on milk and fruit/veg. I've been able to free up space as well as reduce my bills.

This week I did my first big shop if the year, which coincided with Tesco giving its first money-off codes for the year :j

Penny. x

vanoonoo

purpleivy wrote: »

How many of you for £200 per month Vanoonoo?Hope you don't mind me asking.

its just the two of us and two fussy cats - but we have everything out of that £200 including any snacks if we are on the road and also our packup lunches for work. we're only just getting set with this budget so its a bit of a moving feast but we are doing well so far this month! Last year was expensive for us wiht a move and getting engaged and married so its time to get into a bit more of a routine this year with less expense hopefully!

purpleivy

Hmm, must confess that I'm still being a bit 'flexible' about what comes out of the food purse! However, mustn't be too hard on myself, as I'm new to doing this and even a rough idea of what I spend on food would be a help.... that was one of the principal reasons for this project, along with saving as much as possible to pay off the 0% credit card!