March 2008 Grocery Challenge

lil_me

Hello everyone, thought I'd best pop in and see how everyones doing. Updated my signature after a Tesco shop but should have waited and done it after my cupboard sorting. Decided after everything fell on me from 1 I'd sort them all out so I can see what I have in, bought some things yesterday I already have.....must be more organised.

Oh when it comes to overspending (well in some people's opinion it would be) I used to spend £800++ a month.........changed what I spend because I wanted to, not because I had to, freeing up more money for other things. To be honest it's easy to spend that amount on a family of 4, very easy, too easy. Do things a bit differently now to say the least :rotfl: I make mashed potato instead of buying it ready made for a start.

Oh something I noticed yesterday, just because of being nosey, ready made Enchiladas, £8!!! Blinking heck, I thought it was rather expensive to make but at least I use good quality chicken and plenty of it, but £8!!! I think mine costs half that. Oh and I would have bought it pre OS without even looking at the price.

mumofjusttwo

Have to agree lil-me. I think that I used to be spend an awful lot of money on rubbish that would be eaten as soon as I put it away. Now I tend to buy what I need and a couple of treats etc!!
Have calculated that I should be able to put some money away but I always seem to do this then something comes up!! I can't believe that only about 3 months ago I used to eat my breakfast in a Cafe EVERY week day. Now I have lunch once a week with DD as a treat.

MRSMCAWBER

Redsquirrel....

I had similar problem late last year... I started doing my winter menu..stews, casseroles and stick to you ribs comfort foods too early and in the middle of November i was sick of them and HAD to have salads n stuff :rolleyes: and sometimes now i find myself buying bits n bobs that i could do without... but i "fancy them"

Now we are heading for summer -well so they reckon .... i split between comfort foods and salads -which we both love... It is so annoying though isn't it -when you have freezers and cupboards full -but still find yourself thinking "there is nothing i fancy" :mad: ... Thats why i now shop weekly -we still have loads in the freezer, but just knowing that the next time i shop i can accomodate my "cravings" really helps..
You are doing so well allready though -so I hope you don't beat yourself up if you do treat yourself to a litle something extra I think you would be better off having a wee bit extra out of this months money for that little something nice.....than going without -and being so fed up that when you get next months money you go crazy as you have more to spend..if that makes sense

Nykmedia..
You are right -the longer you go the harder it is to break the NSDs
We will have to see how long we can last without a spend :rotfl: .. its only bloomin salad stuff that will be my downfall (mind we eat loads)-have meat, milk, etc.... but i have white cabbage, onions, carrots to make into coleslaw, tomatoes, beetroot, and peppers.... just lettuce and cumber missing really...but i will "concoct" if need be ... have enough yogs n oranges to last a few more days hmmmm and some tinned peaches i can put in my sugar free jellies to make my oranges last longer :think: and some cauli, broccoli in the fridge -plus peas, peppers, carrots n mushrooms in the freezer....:think: oh THATS IT NOW... im on a mission to see how long i can put it off for :rotfl: lets see how we do ..

cheerfulness4

All this talk of Millionaires shortbread has me drooling. My boys love it and we're about due another batch. No condensed milk in, alas, altho noticed it in both Nettos and Farmfoods for 99p today.

Well, have to confess that I've accidentally :rolleyes: gone over budget. I got excited in Netto and got my sums wrong.

Still, got some great bargains this weekend and can't think that we'll need more than milk and bread to get by till the end of the month. I'm determined to limit the damage and I'm pretty confident.

I know what blew my budget... I got a huge turkey and a lovely piece of ham to cook, but at least those two will make loads of meals.

So my spend today was £41.95 which means I am now over budget by £1.41. I shall have fun seeing how little I can get away with spending now till the 29th March.

Well done to all those battling away triumphantly. I love reading how you're all managing so well.

BigMummaF

Oh how I envy you the space to store all your bargain finds MrsMc:D I'm trying so hard to only buy stuff for one or two meals at a time, cuz the fridge & freezers are stuffed with things ready for dinners:eek: Think I'll have to make that my mission for April..to live totally out of stores..as it is now I batch cook for the freezer then don't want to use it 'yet':p How long do you folks keep stuff for?

Summat else I've been meaning to say re:semolina....make up as usual on the top of the cooker, then remove from heat & cool for approx 2mins before adding in a beaten egg. Put it in a greased dish, sprinkle with nutmeg & bake for approx 30mins on Gas 5. My two really like this....the other offspring is v.weird & doesn't eat any milk puds, cream, custard, gravy, casseroles--think there may have been a mix-up when I brought that one home:D & definately the fly in the menu-planning ointment:rotfl:

mikeD

Hi Y'all.

On the subject of NSD's, as I'm on the GC a NSD is one which I do not spend on Groceries as defined, for me. I droke & smink :rolleyes: so if I included these then I would have no NSD's (BTW Nykmedia, that's really a cunning plan!!)

Jackie_W - There are always people who like to PUT DOWN others without realising what hurt they are causing. The best advice I can give is to ignore them and live your life in the way that suits you best. Remember the Desiderata extract "You are a child of the Universe, you have a right to be here". It also advocates that you "Go placidly amidst the noise and the haste, and see what peace there may be in silence".

Went to the shop at last so now have veggies for today and tomorrows din-dins. Thank the Lord for that!!

Love the FM

purplevamp

jackie_w wrote: »

Do you know what she is a b**ch. This is the same person who critised me when DS was younger because I was feeding him lots of fatty foods, HOWEVER this was on the advice from a dietician & pediatrician. DS was very underweight when he was born, and had problems swallowing until he was 5 and had to undergo quite a few operations, so, when all his operations were finished and he could eat lumpy food, and chew, we had to start feeding him foods that were high in fat so he could try to put on weight, and I had to try to give him AT LEAST 3000 calories a day:eek: :eek: :eek: . Easier said than done.
She thought I was kidding about feeding him all that kind of stuff, and said " I must have misheard the professionals as there was no way they would tell me to feed a child all that sort of junk". Aye right hen I wasnt listening when they were telling me about my childs health problems (Glaswegian accent coming out on me now can you tell lol:rotfl: ). Anyway, DS is fine now (is eating me out of house and home, still underweight, but, we think thats just the way he is going to be). really cant be bothered with people like that, infact I actually feel like telling the boss im not coming back because of her snidy comments. Im the one doing him a favour covering for people that are off, cos, I actually work for DH, and my old boss has asked me to work for him on a temporary/part time basis cos hes got quote a few staff off.
Jackie xx

I hope your DS is ok now, my work colleagues granddaughter has similar problems. She's been unable to drink since she was born and now she's about 18 months she's still like that. She can't eat anything sloppy and her poo is green (always has been). Her Mum took her to the doctors, health visitor, hospital, etc for help but they just thought she was neglecting her and have got Social Services involved. The Mum has got a solicitor involved now and the whole thing is one big mess, she's very upset and thinks the baby will be taken away.

The best thing to do with people like your work colleague is just ignore them, let them have their little rant, because you know you're better than they are . She'll see that one day when it's too late and she'll grovel :rotfl: .

JayneC

Afternoon everyone,

Red Squirrel I think there must be something inthe air because I felt just the same this morning!! And I'm usually quite positive.
I was checking my freezer and cupboards and then trying to plan my menus til I start next month and I just thought ' I'm sick of this just want to go and buy fish n chips or summat' but have no monet left:(

had to give myself a bit of a talking to:rolleyes:

Anyway I've done my plan til 25th

Sat HM burgers on buns with veg sticks
Sun Sausage plait, mini roasties and beans
Mon chilli n rice/pasties with mash and veg
Tues sweet chilli chicken tortillas with salad
wed Potato and leek bake with beans
THurs cottage pie/pasta bolognaise
Fri cauli/broccolicheese with garlic bread
Sat Bolognaise Tortillas with salad
Sun Pizza, spicy wedges, salad.
Mon Plaice in breadcrumbs mash and veg
Tues Baked Spuds with cheese and beans.

I think I will only need some more spuds, salad and beans, but I'm not gonna make it under budget (maybe that's why I'm a bit down ) as I'll need milk everday too and probably some cereal for breakfasts (how expensive is cereal? It's ridiculous:eek: ) unless i make them have toast:rolleyes:

We had a very imaginative tea last night of fried egg, chips and beans:rotfl:
Well I think I'm off to do some baking - millionaires shortbread is sounding good and the infamous Twinks hob nobs too!
May be back later:hello:

funkyfunkymonkey

JayneC wrote: »

(how expensive is cereal? It's ridiculous:eek: ) unless i make them have toast:rolleyes:

Can you persuade them to eat porridge? I love porridge.

Tesco Value Oats are only 59p for a kg. If you have large 40g servings (I have 25g myself) that would work out at 25 servings per pack, just under 2 1/2 pence per breakfast (plus milk). You could also trying using half milk half water.

A lot of people have said that Value Cereals are not very nice, so I won't suggest those.

FFM

curly_cabbage

I am soooo hacked off with myself. :mad: :mad: I have spent £21 today and this has now knocked me over my buget by £ 8.00, i have weighted myself this morning and i have put on a 1 Lb :eek: and OH has lost 2Lb and he hasn't been to the gym (I have swam 4 times this week) and he ate out wednesday night and he drank too.

Going to do the baking inprep for next weeks menu, give the house the once over and when thats done i'll have a couple of glasses of wine and one of the creme eggs i got for free in th post yesterday, and back to the gym tomorrow and no shops for erm........... well i'll set myself a target of 7 NSD's in a row.

CC