April 2008 Grocery Challenge

weezl74

teedy23 wrote: »

Havent spent a penny yet today. and I intend to keep it that way.

eh lass! you'll be hopping from foot to foot by bedtime...:rotfl:

Frugaldom

I caved in and went to Co-op for bread, milk and cheese so I had everything I needed to last to the end of the month. My final total has been declared on the March thread and I've started trying to catch up with the April postings. I won't be spending anything before the 1st, but it's really hard trying to keep up here. I haven't baked a single thing today, yet, and cheated by buying 2 loaves of bread so I had more time to catch up this weekend. Sad, but true.... I should be ashamed of myself and could have had an extra £4 left for savings this month. OOPS! Can I blame you lot for distracting me with all these posts? :A

mrssnowy_2

Afternoon everyone,this thread is growing rapidly not much time to catch up,but it makes fascinating reading.Good to have the support from you all,tho' I have got a few friends interested.Friends husband has actually reduced their 'lec bill via MSE and saved about £180pa,so he doesn't think I'm nuts!!
I managed to get to the market yesterday just as they were closing,I had a net of onions,new pots,bananas,toms,swedes,2 bags of carrots,oranges,peaches,sprouts, cucumber,melon all for £12,had to have help to get it to the car!!Shared it with Mum but it will last for quite a while.
Foul weather here, it doesn't know if it wants to rain or pour.
Needed to do a bit of a tidy in garden today,will have to wait for better day.
Had a cooking morning,Welsh cakes,bread,mayonnaise,coleslaw,turkey meatballs and tortilla(thanks MRSMC for those 2,for T tonight)gammon and big b's(HM oven chips) for lunch.
Think I will have a peaceful sit and a knit now,nice cup of tea and Welsh cake.
J

Keeping_Positive

MRSMCAWBER wrote: »

Hi wendy24g

I just peel and chop the carrots as normal, drop them into a pan of boiling water for about 2 mins, then tip into a colander, then fill the sink with cold water and tip them in there until cold... then i fish them all out and drop them on a tea towel on the draining board and leave to dry of..then pop them into the sized portions you will use them in and whack in the freezer.. they sometimes stick a litle but in "portion" sizes it doesn't matter..;)

Thanks for that, two portions of carrots and one of parsnips in the freezer and lots of carrots still to go. Just spent another 8.04 in Mr M on fruit, bread flour, tomato puree and a couple of other bits.

Made a chocolate loaf in the BM this morning and am half way through hot cross buns. Still to go HM pizza. Off to update the sig.

sazzledazzle

Hi I am in for this. We normally spend about £60 - 70 a week so as its a 5 week month we would normally spend £300 -£350 a month. Can I be put down for £250 please. If we manage it going to use the £100 at the end of the month towards another bill.

Really looking forward to this, all I have to do now is take some time to do my soa so I can get some advice. :eek:

Zeddy

Hi, I'd like to join this challenge please.

I think a realistic start target would be £150 for two of us.

I've just done the first shop and spent £21.64 as didn't buy any meat as we've got a lot in the freezer and only bought one portion of fish which was in the reduced section.

purplevamp

:hello: I've been waiting ages to get stuck into this challenge again (sad eh?!). Sent hubby off to Mr S today and he spent £93.51 :eek: and £1.30 on a coffee at his tutorial. Worked out we spent nearly £23 on meat alone. Also I normally get Bounty kitchen towel, I didn't realise it's £4.39 for 6 rolls. It does normally last us about 5-6 months but that is a ridiculous price. This amount of shopping [STRIKE]had better[/STRIKE] should last us at least a week, if not more. There are some things that can carry over to next week.

I did really well last month. May need to rethink some of our meals. Trouble is we do like variety and we're not having takeaways at the moment. Although next Friday is hubbys birthday so we're going out for lunch, I'm still undecided about whether to include this in the total or keep it separate "as a birthday treat" :rotfl: .

Keiss_21

Hya Folks..what a long thread already!

I haven't been on since the 25th, and it has taken me most of the afternoon to catch up!

Well done to everyone who came in under budget last month. I failed again, but I am still trying!

I am doing so much better this month already as I made a list of all freezer and cupboard contents, as well as a three week meal-plan. I printed these out and stuck them onto the freezer door. So now once we have done a meal, I highlight out the meal and what (if anything) I have taken from the freezer. I also write by hand anything I add to the freezer (eg after a mega cooking/baking session, or bargains). Doing this has meant I have done a minimal shop and had a few NSDs...much better for the budget!

We are two weeks into the 3 week plan, and I want to sort out another 2 weeks today or tomorrow, so I can keep a track of what I need to get from the shops. I can then do a shop at Mr M's tomorrow just for the stuff we need!

Hopefully I can manage it this month...but my two 6 foot+ teenage boys (18 and 15) have HUGE appetites!!!!

Another MSE thing I managed today, was to pick up an A0 drawing board as advertised on out local Freecycle site. It needs a bit of work to tidy it up...but getting it for FREE, I am not complaining!!!

Must shoot off and get things done..have a good (if rather soggy weekend!)

M

jessica_rabbit_3

Hi there! :TThis is my first post ever, despite lurking on here and other boards at MSE. I'm a theatre director married to an actor and money is going to be tight for the next few months (no work!!) so I thought this challenge could really help me!


I have to say this whole site has really helped me - I've realised I'm entitled to benefits, to reclaim my bank charges and that I do all the things already that you guys seem to do - cook from scratch, knit and even use stardrops - lol!

My challenge will be £50 for the entire month of April. It seems tough, but there is only 2 of us and as I'm veggie, I don't buy any meat except tinned fish for my husband.

sue09

Started 25th march.So far spent £60 between Tesco and Morrisons.Normally would have spent £100,so quite proud of myself.