June 2008 Grocery Challenge

wendywitch

Hi, I'd like to join the July challenge, but after reading the first post I have to confess I don't save my receipts so I have no idea what I spend but I bet it's shocking :eek:

I started buying lots of reduced things which was a good idea at the time but I'm sure I'm spending more on stuff I never brought before, if that makes sense.

I do keep planning to just order online so I'm not tempted by the reduced sections but I never seem to get around to it

Can someone give me a rough idea on how much I should be spending for one adult, two daughters (9 & 12), two dogs and a cat? And I promise to shop online with just the occasional visit to the reduced maybe :rolleyes:

WelshWoofer

Hi,
I've decided to declare today (a few days early - should be Friday) but I have my evening meals and lunches sorted for the next 3 nights and am away on Thursday/Friday working.
I'm just under budget -£2.18 in fact! - but its still under!

I'm going to join in again in July - this time it'll be a £100 budget MrsM - 5 week month for me but I'm holiday for one of them.

I've had a really expensive month so far (paid for holidays) and its still 3 weeks to payday so will have to really tighten the belt and dig deep!

I probably have enough in the cupboards and freezer to make evening meals until next Friday (4th July) and will try to be inventive with lunches for work to lessen the unnecessary spending even further.
I have also decided to not drink until we go on holiday (only 2 and half more weeks but seems like ages away yet!). That will reduce my outgoings by quite a lot too as its not just the booze when I'm out, it's also the taxi home(cos I can't drive afterwards!) and the obligatory weakwilled chips/curry etc afterwards. I'll still go out if there's something going on but just drive instead. It should also help with my lose at least 5 lbs before holidays crusade too!:eek:

Anyway, I'm off to see if there's anything I can think of to Ebay to raise a bit more cash.

Have a good day everyone !
R x

greent

wendywitch wrote: »

Hi, I'd like to join the July challenge, but after reading the first post I have to confess I don't save my receipts so I have no idea what I spend but I bet it's shocking :eek:

Can someone give me a rough idea on how much I should be spending for one adult, two daughters (9 & 12), two dogs and a cat? And I promise to shop online with just the occasional visit to the reduced maybe :rolleyes:

Hi wendywitch & welcome!

If you pay by debit/ credit card at the shops, have a look at one month's statements - will at least give you a starting point And then add on £10 or so if you buy the odd bottle of milk/ loaf with cash.

As to what is an acceptable amount to spend for your household - how long is a piece of string?:D Some people on here seem to manage wonders with their budgets (not me!) but it also depends on whether you insist on buying ethically/ morally, as this will often set you back a little extra. Also if you are veggie you can often do it cheaper. Depends on what supermarkets you have near you and if you are insistent on some brands (eg nothing will dissuade me from napolina tomatoes & Heinz baked beans! - but my DD has tesco's own spaghetti hoops as she prefers them to Heinz)

Sorry not to be helpful on there - but if you find a starting point from
bank/ credit card statements and then see if you think you could reduce it by say £20 this month and see how well you do and go from there......

Ooh - forgot to say that the budget you set includes what you want it to - mine includes any cleaning stuff/ toiletries/ takeaways and snacks bought out - but doesn't include 'proper' meals out (eg restaurants). Alcohol is also included in mine, but that's minimal for here (I don't drink & Dh is still on Xmas beer!!)

There are so many variables it's almost impossible for someone to say what is a reasonable amount - sorry!

GT - not really trying to be unhelpful, honest!

Flylady_Flower

MRSMCAWBER wrote: »

I have some bananas to use up :rolleyes: .. i get them so hubby can take a couple to eat on his way around the golf course... but he took them wed-fri but when i asked why we had so many left it turns out that during the competition on sat/sun they were provided with bananas and drinks..so he ate theirs and brought ours back home again :rotfl: ... luckily i don't like bananas until the skins go brown ... well they don't taste of much before then.. but there are too many..so i have tracked down a recipe i may have a bash out later will be back with the recipe if it works:D

Ooooh, looking forward to this recipe. I have made banana muffins a couple of times but no real interest - think they prefer the choc and raspberry muffin concoction I made yesterday, numnumnum - I will be waiting with interest....

FelineFantastic wrote: »

DeniseF-- veggie box was a mixed success- will not be ordering the fruit bag again as a separate but will be ordering a veggie box as that was great and enough for me to use during the week without having tons of waste and no lugging around of heavy stuff! Will review what they have this week in what size boxes and order accordingly Also it had pak choi in it so I was a bit :eek: but then thought actually its a good thing- out of the veggie rut!! Any ideas for uses welcome- I put it into my green soup yesterday.

Sounds good, which box did you order? - must admit that was what I was worried about - I am REALLY boring with veg and salad - so a change should do us good too. What was wrong with the fruit pack?

NSD for me yesterday :T but need to get deodorant and shaving foam today, or we might end up looking a bit dishevelled by the end of the week! Must be good and only get what we desperatly need as only £10 left .... cutting it a bit fine I think!

FelineFantastic

denisefowler wrote: »

Sounds good, which box did you order? - must admit that was what I was worried about - I am REALLY boring with veg and salad - so a change should do us good too. What was wrong with the fruit pack?

NSD for me yesterday :T but need to get deodorant and shaving foam today, or we might end up looking a bit dishevelled by the end of the week! Must be good and only get what we desperatly need as only £10 left .... cutting it a bit fine I think!

Hi DF-- i ordered the Medium veg box and there is enough for the week-- I was a bit :eek: at the low number of potatoes but then I had to remind myself that its for a week and not for how ever long til I throw the unused ones away or freeze them! I am not sure what I will go for this week- there is a summer veg box too now-- ooooh decisions! We are also v boring with veg selection particularly so it will make me think a bit more. We tend to not eat as much fruit in our house- I have some for lunch- and prefer to have more of our 5 a day (plus) from veggies. I have beans to shell tonight for the first time in years- takes me back to when I was a little 'un!

Will have to get the cats out of the box before I can return it for re-use again however- its the perfect cat size box apparently as they have been fighting over it! :cool:

mandy_moo_1

welcome wendywitch :wave: i agree with what greent says above re the grocery money you'll need. i'm not bothered about buying organic, but i do make my own bread, and buy a lot of the value range when it comes to biscuits and tins. i'm a single mum with DS15 (with a mahoosive appetite :eek:) and DD18 who barely eats enough to keep a sparrow alive :rolleyes: and my 3 doggies. i've cut down on the meat the dogs eat, 1 tin does me 2 days, and i add a lot more biscuits to it now. i started my budget at £70 a week, but am currently down to £55 a week if thats any help to you i don't buy alcohol or takeaways so that obviously helps a lot

anyway, just popped on to update my spends.....nipped to Mr T's to get my gran a few bits and i picked up 5 rolls of their value foil as it was a discontinued range, and was only 34p a roll. i object to paying a fortune for the stuff when its only really used to line the grill pan

hope everyone survived the awful winds yesterday.....my poor potatoes are looking really battered

MRSMCAWBER

Afternoon all

Well I didn't end up making banana muffins -sorry denise will probably try them tomorrow.. I had some kiwi in need of use too..so i found a recipe for kiwi muffins..very strange i know... but i thought i would give them a bash :rotfl: and actually they are quite nice :T -as you can see...1 has gone missing purely for research purposes of course... i used golden kiwi..only because they are what i had -


just in case anyone wants to give them a go....

KIWI MUFFINS -makes 12
preheat oven to 200

1. 2 cups flour
2. 1tbs baking powder
3. 3/4tsp salt
4. 1/3 cup sugar
5. 1/4tsp cinnamon
6. 1 egg
7. 1 cup milk
8. 1/4 cup oil -i used sunflower
9. 3 kiwi -peeled and mashed

• mix 1-5 in a bowl
• mix 6-8 in a jug and then add to dry mix and stir to combine -don't over mix
• stir in mashe kiwi
• divide into 2 muffin cases and bake for 20 mins

I think i must have had someone looking out for me this last couple of weeks as for some reason i have been having lots of NSDs and running my fridge right down... and now it seems i need to go home... My sister has been battling cancer for the last year... but the last couple of weeks she has been in and out of hospital and is now back in again and in a bad way..so im going to turn up and give her a shocker So I have just rung hubby and he is now dashing round camp trying to sort out "compassionate" flights for this sunday.... just hoping hubby can get a flight too..fingers crossed...so the rest of this week will be used turning what things need using into things i can freeze... I know its not exactly important in the grand scheme of things right now ..but it will help keep me distracted and hopefuly stop me climbing the walls :eek: .... Right i will get of and get some sorting out done... have a good day everyone..and keep at it:D

annelouise_2

Half way through my to do list -

Still slurping the HM lemonade and have made a batch of Twinks hobnobs with cinnamon taken a plateful to next door and there's a few to go upstairs to my neighbour who has donated 3 jam jars for my preserve making.

Have found a box of toad in the hole,roast potatoes and 3 boxes of leftovers for tomorrow tea.

Have been to the gym and walked for 15mins,swept and mopped kitchen,bathroom and balcony.Had bacon and pepper quiche for lunch.

Sent 2 eblueys to friend and BIL in Iraq.Well done me.:T
Martin is on GMTV 3 day Special starts tomorrow re- Holiday Savings:money:

Arranged to see a friend tomorrow who has chickens so have secreted a 12 egg box into the car as I'm taking a bag of childrens clothes for a fair swop.Might also get a chicken from her freezer if I'm cheeky or do I mean lucky!!!!!!!

Well off to bleach the fridge,clean cooker,iron............ before OH gets here Thursday.

annelouise :rotfl:

Moniker

Hi everyone, hope your day's going well. I have manged two NSD in a row but had to buy bananas on my way into work this morning as we were out. I don't like to but too many at once as I like them on the green side! I have updated my sig.

I have a good banana bread recipe and a banana cake one at home - I will try and look them out when I get home tonight if I am not too tired!

This morning I made two sheperd's pies and got some sliced lamb to freeze off the joint we had yesterday - so 9 meals in total for £6-65 - about 70p a head I think, not too bad. Tonight we're having chicken pies I made last week with mash and broccoli and courgettes. I also used up the leftover veg from the roast with a few chopped potatoes and onions and bunged it all in the slow cooker with some stock to make soup for our lunch today - I added a bit of cream to make it more yummy! There's enough for another day too.

Well better get back to work. Will catch up later.

M

Flylady_Flower

MRSMCAWBER wrote: »

I think i must have had someone looking out for me this last couple of weeks as for some reason i have been having lots of NSDs and running my fridge right down... and now it seems i need to go home... My sister has been battling cancer for the last year... but the last couple of weeks she has been in and out of hospital and is now back in again and in a bad way..so im going to turn up and give her a shocker So I have just rung hubby and he is now dashing round camp trying to sort out "compassionate" flights for this sunday.... just hoping hubby can get a flight too..fingers crossed...so the rest of this week will be used turning what things need using into things i can freeze... I know its not exactly important in the grand scheme of things right now ..but it will help keep me distracted and hopefuly stop me climbing the walls :eek: .... Right i will get of and get some sorting out done... have a good day everyone..and keep at it:D

Hi Mrs M, I hope your sister is on the mend soon, I'm sure your turning up and suprising her will give her a great boost. :grouphug: to you both...

It's a hard one to battle and the more you get to help over the hard days, the better it helps you cope, so I'm sure she will be over the moon to see you.

Where in the UK is she? If it's anywhere near South Essex, give me a shout if you need anything.

As for the Kiwi muffins, they look absolutly scrummy. need you ask if we want the recipe?...:rotfl: :rotfl: