March 2008 Grocery Challenge

lil_me

findingmyfeet wrote: »

lilme- direct debit/standing order thingy arranged from next month ex-car money straight to savings and i dont have to see it. glad i did it straight away now. strike while the iron is hot and all that stuff.

Well done, I don't think you will regret it. Doing it straight away like you said hopefully you won't notice, not as if you'll miss something you didn't really have and it'll be great to watch the savings increase!

My total so far £129.83 which includes what I have just bought for the weekend, did a meal plan and have got what I need to go with it, hoping what I have will last until next Tuesday (so I don't need to spend or take the boys shopping!) I have discussed DPs coke habit with him (well diet pepsi :rotfl:) and he's agreed the effort to drink other things again, he's done it before but 'relapsed' and is back onto £10+ a week which is crippling the budget....I don't think I am doing too badly anyway, 3 weeks and 5 days down, 1 week and 2 days left to go....As we have Friday-Monday as the 'weekend' will hopefully do some baking.

As for gardens/allotments no, but my DS (he's 7) has planted about 1000 carrot seeds in a pot (tipped them in so we'll have to see what happens) and half a dozen seed potatoes in a couple of pots so he's made a start :rotfl:

egon

The last week was a funny week for us. I had to adjust the meal plan a few times, to accommodate cooking for visitors and change of plans.

I am trying very hard, to empty my freezer, so I can defrost it. But instead it seem to fill up.

All I buy is fresh stuff and dairy to top up. There must be someone else filling it up..... :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

We have only about £15 left until the end of the month, which is the 31st for us. I am optimistic and hopeful, that we will make it.

So, I am off to read the thread and update my signature.

MRSMCAWBER

egon wrote: »

The last week was a funny week for us. I had to adjust the meal plan a few times, to accommodate cooking for visitors and change of plans.

I am trying very hard, to empty my freezer, so I can defrost it. But instead it seem to fill up.

All I buy is fresh stuff and dairy to top up. There must be someone else filling it up..... :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

We have only about £15 left until the end of the month, which is the 31st for us. I am optimistic and hopeful, that we will make it.

So, I am off to read the thread and update my signature.

Ok.... i confess..its me ... does that mean i shoud come and collect the contents so you can defrost it???? :rotfl:

Keeping_Positive

Just 50p spent on milk to add to the sig. Need to menu plan for next week and build in some of the lovely baking ideas from here tomorrow. Gonna to an online shop if possible I find its much easier. Fingers crossed I can come in budget for my first month on here.

savingfortravel

School finished today.. until 16th April. Got lots of lovely pressies from my class, chocolate eggs and flowers... best of all the hand made cards from the children, so sweet... I'll miss them...

Mrs Mc-Well done for your purchases today!!!! I've packed my woollie jumper as I'm off to Germany tomorrow morning....and my boots.
Looking forward to sampling the national cusine.

March GC finishes for us on the 24th. Will ask OB to stock up on the Cravendale at Mr T. before the offer finishes (he's working on the kitchen while I'm away).

Have a great Easter weekend everyone.... enjoy the special times with those you love...enjoy making those memories...

SFT

frankerooney

chimp_choker wrote: »

Quick question good folks, do any of you grow your own veg etc and do any have an allotment?
Chimpy

Dh has very kindly built up my four 5'x10' veg beds & dug in compost & fertiliser, bless him. He's cut the raspberry canes down and is half sinking an old baby bath at the back of the plot to encourage the visiting frogs to make a home and keep the slug population down.

So... yes I am hoping to grow plenty of veg this year. I'm big on planning, so have various spreadsheets setting out my schedules!!

BUT baby 2 is due the week after next. Bad timing gardening-wise!! I'll just have to see what I can achieve. I was hoping to get a load of seed in this weekend (garlic, leek, carrot, parsnip, onion, herbs, radishes, potatoes) but the forecast looks cold so not sure if I shouldn't wait another week?

Do you grow your own Chimpy?

meanmarie

Evening all,

Went to shopping centre to get baby formula and nappies for DGD3...superdrug, Aptamil 1 is €2 odd cheaper than regular supermarkets,( not sure if that is everywhere), went and spent €10.78 in Holland and Barrett on dried fruit...including kiwis which don't seem to have any sugar added. Then spent €20 in butchers, got lovely piece of belly pork to roast for Sunday , load of mince and jar of sauce that DD2 wanted. From there to fishmonger (veg too) where I got carrots, fennel, potatoes, sea bass, mackerel, salmon...that little lot came to €43.20, OH paid so I am just counting the €30.78...leaves me with €25.61 for fruit and milk until 31st. I have been diluting the milk a little but we only buy full fat milk...grandchildren drink it...OH and I wouldn't use 2 litres a week even though I have cereal most mornings so the amount the children use is catching me off guard. Do have some powdered might make a little up in a jug for tea and the like.

Good luck to all who are, like me struggling to keep to budget.

Marie

frankerooney

It's funny, cash spending is the bane of our budgeting! :rolleyes: We buy whatever we can on debit card and I reconcile my records with the online statement every morning. But it's the cash that gets forgotten (the odd comic for ds, sending a parcel at the post office, car parking etc). Funny how so many of you swear by using cash and that's just what lets us down!

mrssnowy_2

Well fooey,had to go to Somerfield-with a shopping list-spent £41. 62,have now got £4.39 til 31st.
What a bummer,I had been doing quite well.

Got a fundraising event coming up soon so have just made 11lbs of Misers Marmalade(1lb of orange skins saved when DH eats 1 in evening!)so had to buy 3 lemons and 3 bags of sugar(sugar I had stockpiled).Also made 11 smallish pots of crabapple jelly with juice I strained in the autumn and frozen,so now no sugar left-cheap in our Post Office(!) at 74p.
Really wanted to use up the 4 bags of plums in freezer,just have to 'borrow' sugar off Mum,who has said we can have a turkey crown she has found in her freezer for Sunday!!

Could I buy sugar out of next months budget as the sale isn't til next month?

Horns of a dilema or what.
What a ramble -sorry all.
Going to have a cup of tea,then soon bed I think.
Nice thought no w@#* til Tuesday.:j

J

fallen_angel_shelley

good evening. i have spent about another £17 today, i will up date my sig later. i won't be in aprils GC, i'm going away to look after my dad next week, but i will try and keep an eye on you all if i can get an connexion for my laptop.