PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING
Hello Forumites! However well-intentioned, for the safety of other users we ask that you refrain from seeking or offering medical advice. This includes recommendations for medicines, procedures or over-the-counter remedies. Posts or threads found to be in breach of this rule will be removed.September 2008 Grocery Challenge. Please read first two posts.
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Pink.
Posts: 17,675 Forumite
Guidelines for posting on the Grocery Challenge thread.
What is the Grocery Challenge thread?
This is a thread where people who are taking part in the Grocery Challenge can post for help encouragement and support and talk about anything related to grocery shopping. We ask that you try to keep on topic and post things that are relevant to the challenge.
Posting grocery budgets and spends for the month
Some people like to post their grocery budget and final spend for each month. If you wish to be included in the master list then please post these in red and in a large font as this makes it easier for the volunteers to keep a record of everyone’s totals.
Number of posts
In order to make the thread easier to read it would be helpful if users would try not to post multiple posts in quick succession.
Chat
Chatty posts that are relevant to the Challenge are fine. Irrelevant chat or posts simply saying ‘Good morning/Goodnight’, ‘just popping on to say hello’, ‘I’ve sent you a pm’ etc aren’t, as they clutter up the thread and may be removed to make the thread easier for others to read. Unfortunately the board guides simply don't have the time to pm users individually when posts are removed to keep the thread on topic. If your post has been removed and you are unhappy with the decision, please feel free to send us a pm.
If you want to say thanks to another user please use the thanks button and please post any chat not related to the Grocery Challenge into the Daily Thread or use the pm function.
No Spend days (NSD’s)
A number of people like to record that they have had a no spend day. Again to reduce the number of posts we would ask that rather than post just that you had a no spend day you record it in your signature and/or add it to a post that is directly relevant to the Grocery Challenge.
Pictures
Please keep these relevant to the challenge. While photographs of produce or cooking are great, pictures of semi-naked men or large clip art aren’t.
Bargains
Please don’t forget to check out the Grabbit and Shop but Don’t drop boards for any bargains and the Discount Codes 'n Vouchers (online & offline) board to see if there are any current vouchers around.
Questions about recipes, freezing, techniques etc
These don’t always fit into the Grocery Challenge. There are a number of threads where it may be more appropriate to ask questions. There is a wealth of information available on the Old Style board so please do a search to see if there is a better thread for your question. For more help with searching see here or feel free to send a private message to a board guide who will be happy to help.
Useful Links to threads on the Old Style board
Quick Questions thread
Recipe thread
Cheap recipe threads
Don't throw food away challenge...
The Complete Cooking Collection
Old Style Daily thread General chat about Old Style (new thread started daily)
Flylady thread Cleaning thread (new thread weekly)
Enough is Enough (decluttering)
Lose weight the Old Style way
Finally if you are new to Old Style and want help to find your way around, this thread may help: Welcome to Old Style and there is some excellent practical help and advice on posting on MSE chat forums in this thread: Unofficial A-Z (Look here first)
What is the Grocery Challenge thread?
This is a thread where people who are taking part in the Grocery Challenge can post for help encouragement and support and talk about anything related to grocery shopping. We ask that you try to keep on topic and post things that are relevant to the challenge.
Posting grocery budgets and spends for the month
Some people like to post their grocery budget and final spend for each month. If you wish to be included in the master list then please post these in red and in a large font as this makes it easier for the volunteers to keep a record of everyone’s totals.
Number of posts
In order to make the thread easier to read it would be helpful if users would try not to post multiple posts in quick succession.
Chat
Chatty posts that are relevant to the Challenge are fine. Irrelevant chat or posts simply saying ‘Good morning/Goodnight’, ‘just popping on to say hello’, ‘I’ve sent you a pm’ etc aren’t, as they clutter up the thread and may be removed to make the thread easier for others to read. Unfortunately the board guides simply don't have the time to pm users individually when posts are removed to keep the thread on topic. If your post has been removed and you are unhappy with the decision, please feel free to send us a pm.
If you want to say thanks to another user please use the thanks button and please post any chat not related to the Grocery Challenge into the Daily Thread or use the pm function.
No Spend days (NSD’s)
A number of people like to record that they have had a no spend day. Again to reduce the number of posts we would ask that rather than post just that you had a no spend day you record it in your signature and/or add it to a post that is directly relevant to the Grocery Challenge.
Pictures
Please keep these relevant to the challenge. While photographs of produce or cooking are great, pictures of semi-naked men or large clip art aren’t.
Bargains
Please don’t forget to check out the Grabbit and Shop but Don’t drop boards for any bargains and the Discount Codes 'n Vouchers (online & offline) board to see if there are any current vouchers around.
Questions about recipes, freezing, techniques etc
These don’t always fit into the Grocery Challenge. There are a number of threads where it may be more appropriate to ask questions. There is a wealth of information available on the Old Style board so please do a search to see if there is a better thread for your question. For more help with searching see here or feel free to send a private message to a board guide who will be happy to help.
Useful Links to threads on the Old Style board
Quick Questions thread
Recipe thread
Cheap recipe threads
Don't throw food away challenge...
The Complete Cooking Collection
Old Style Daily thread General chat about Old Style (new thread started daily)
Flylady thread Cleaning thread (new thread weekly)
Enough is Enough (decluttering)
Lose weight the Old Style way
Finally if you are new to Old Style and want help to find your way around, this thread may help: Welcome to Old Style and there is some excellent practical help and advice on posting on MSE chat forums in this thread: Unofficial A-Z (Look here first)
0
Comments
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Hello everyone,
Welcome to the ninth Grocery Challenge of 2008. :hello:
If your new month starts early feel free to join this thread, or if you're still working on your August budget, then keep on posting in the August Grocery Challenge.
As always this challenge is to reduce your own grocery budget to levels that you will be pleased with, not forgetting that we always recommend that you stay inside your own comfort levels and take things gently one step at a time. Remember that this is not a competition....it's designed to take you and your grocery spending to a level you are happy with.
If you are new to the challenge I have quoted the advice from Galtizz below which will help you get started.
Please post into this thread for help and advice and support at any time. Good luck to everyone taking part!Galtizz wrote:I have said this before, but for all the newbies to the challenge;
For the first month I took a guess at the budget but I really had no idea how much I was spending.
I found the best thing is to have a guess the first month but SAVE ALL OF YOUR RECEIPTS (and yes, that does include the ones from the local shop when you run out of milk ), then at the end of the month add them all up and have a look if you were on budget, if not, it doesn't matter because your budget was a guess. For the next month you can use the total of your receipts and take a bit off to get a realistic budget, just shave off as much as you think you can, it could be £1 a week or £20 a week.
If you are currently spending £200 a month don't suddenly drop it to £100 - you'll never do it but if you cut £20 a month off for a few months you'll get there eventually without feeling you're missing out on anything.
You might think you've done everything you can in the first month but someone always comes up with a new idea and, if you try it you often find you save a bit more (unless you are SarahSaver who is an expert at this and could only save more if she turned her back garden into a paddy field and lived on rice ) In the first month I thought, I'm planning meals, I couldn't possibly save any more, but then I started double cooking and freezing, and making soup instead of buying it in tins.
I've been doing this since Feb but only saved ALL of my receipts last month, it has given me a much better idea of where it is all going. Budget for next month is £80 for 2 of us, I'll start on 30/4. I could probably save more, by eating different foods but I can afford to live on £80, I have saved a lot of money since Feb. and I don't waste food or money any more. So I'm happy with my budget.
For guidelines on posting in this thread please read the second post in this thread.
For the Grocery challenge Recipe Index please see here.
For everyone's targets and totals for the month please read this post.
I hope everyone has a great month!
Pink0 -
Main Meals & Side Dishes
Baked potato pizza
Broad Bean Burgers
Chicken Cannelloni
Chicken & Sweetcorn Soup
Chicken Fried Rice
Chilli
Chinese style cabbage
Creamy Chicken and Potato casserole
Curry Sauce
Diet Coke Chicken
Duchesse potatoes
Fishcakes
Fish Pie
Iced cucumber soup
Individual chicken pies
Lemon Chicken
Lemon chicken with basil and tagliatelle
Meatballs
Mediterranean Mince and Potato 'Pie'
Mediterranean Vegetable Pasta
Mince & onion pie
Minced Beef Curry
Mini Goat's Cheese, Pear & Walnut Quiche
Moussaka
Open top 'pizza' pie
Parsnip & Apple Soup
Pizza / Pizza Base Recipe
Potato layer bake
Quiche Lorraine
Sausage Meat Patties
Spaghetti with courgettes, tomato and brie
Spicy Bean & Sweet Potato Stew
Super Tasty Bacon, Bean and Sausage
Sweet & Sour Chicken/Pork
Thai green curry
Toad in the Hole
Tofu burgers
Vegetable Casserole
Veggie Haggis
Bread
Bagels
Baguettes
Breadsticks MrsM's / angelnikki's (No Salt Recipe)
Cheese & Potato Bread
Cheesy Bread Rolls
Chewy Soft Flour Tortilla
Chocolate Bread
Focaccia
Herb Quick bread
HM Bread
Naan Bread MrsM's / OrkneyStar's
Oatmeal bread
soft bread rolls
Super Seedy Bread
Dips, Jams & Chutneys
Alioli / Traditional allioli
Jams & Preserves
Pineapple Salsa
Tomato Chutney
Cakes, Biscuits, Snacks & Desserts
Apple delight
Apricot Flapjack bars
Banana and lemon drizzle cake
Banana and Walnut cake
Banana Ginger Parkin
Bounty Balls
Bran Fruit Loaf
Bread & Butter Pudding
Bulk pancake mix
Cheese n marmite twists
Cheesy Biscuits
Chocolate fudge
Chocolate Fudge Cake
Chocolate Krackolates
Coconut Cake
Cookie Dough
Courgette Tea Bread/Muffins
Cranberry And Chocolate Brownies
Currant Loaf
Custard Cookies
D&DD’s Apple Braid
Date, Nut and Oat biscuits
Eggless Chocolate Cake
Flaky Bars
Flapjacks
Gingerbread Men
Ginger Raisin Crunches
Golden Syrup Tart
Iced Buns
Impossible Coconut Pie
Jammy Buns
Key lime pie
Krispie marshmallow bars
Lemon Curd Cake
Lemon Curd Ice-Cream JeniD's / MoneySavingDiva's
Malt Bread
Mascarpone and Lime Torte
Mascarpone Ice-cream
Millies Cookies
Muffins: Basic Recipe / Chocolate Orange Muffins / Gingerbread Muffins / Kiwi Muffins / Sticky Date Muffins / Strawberry Muffins / Toffee Apple Muffins
No fat sponge
Oaty Shortbread Biscuits
Peanut Butter Cookies
Scones
Spiced Apple Bars
St Peter's Mud Pie (no cooking required)
Sticky gingerbread
Teacakes
Twink’s Hobnobs
Weetabix Brownies
Weetabix Cake
Wonderbites
Yoghurt: Homemade yoghurt, Slow Cooker Yoghurt
Yoghurt Cake (the easy way)
Top Tips & Links
Grocery Challenge Top Tips
How to feed your whole family a healthy, balanced diet... (Webook)
Laundry Washing Gel/ Gloop, Fab conditioner, vinegar.....
List of conversions
Love Food Hate Waste website
Show Jamie How To Cook On A Budget Champagne Contest:A0 -
Hiya,
I have been 'challenging' my grocery spend for the last few months, reducing it by £10 each month, but I don't normally post on here although I often read - so here goes!
Two adults all the time, plus the cat, with 3 teenagers (DH's) staying for a long weekend alternate weekends. We started out on £300 month, then got down to and stayed at £250 for a while, now down to about £200 month.
We have a week's holiday in Sept, and I have a few bits & pieces in the freezer and storecupboard, so I'm hoping to manage on £130 this month - £70 more to spend on holiday - yay!
Good luck everyone!The best advice you can give your children: "Take responsibility for your own actions...and always Read the Small Print!"
..."Mind yer a*se on the step!"
TTC with FI - RIP my 2 MC Angels - 3rd full ICSI starts May/June 2009 - BFP!!! Please let it be 'third time lucky'..... EDD 7th March 2010.0 -
hello everybody ive only got 2 weeks left of september... arkward pay lol only got £30 left lets see hope i go... im going out for a meal and a pub quiz :rotfl: DD at her aunts so going to enjoy this not been out for a meal in over a year its coming out of a different budget so yay! see you all later or tomorrow depending on what time i get back hope your all good xxxStill searching .....:)0
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Hi everyone , just a quick note ... could everyone please put their targets and their final totals in bold bright type for me It just makes it easier for me to see with there being soooo many people involved now:T
thankyou
Just a quick note folks -the banana + ginger parkin recipe on the list DOES NOT save for 2 months as stated..they be fibbin
Monthly
4moneysaver £90 £91.64
AAngel £300
Ailz95 £150
Airedaleterrier £200
Allegra £250 £247.37
Alexelisey £180
Almar £430
Andan £100
Andrinaperry £320
Andyslinz £50
Angelatgraceland £300
AngelNikki £375
Angelraesunshine £250 £216.95
Annelouise £300 £297.50
Annie123 £325 £304
Anzac Biscuit £168 £232.54
Aril £160 £141.74
Astonished £400
BabyMother £300
Bails £95
Beemuzed £230
belfastgirl23 £80 £71.51
*Big Bird* £350 £339.52
BigMummaF £350 £304.16
Blairweech £100
Blondie Bear £280
boredofbeingathome £140
Borneogirl £130 £119.66
Brighton Belle £195 £194.38
Brummiebabe £400 £384.92
Bumblebeeandboy £130
CalleyW £100
Cammumof3 £200
Candygirl £160 £150.82
Carolt2 £160 £157.29
Cashwise £
CasperthefriendlyGhost £40 £92.48
Catnap53 £230 £271.52
Cheerfulness4 £75 £100.40
Cherrie1122 £200
CherryBlossom £230 £235.45
Choccybix £300 £377.57
Chocolate teddy £275 £300.45
Claire £280
Cleosmum £200
Coco2972 £
Cookinmummy £210
Coolmum66 £220 £184.10
Craftingqueen £400 £312
Curly Cabbage £200
Dark-666-Angel £350
Dazzle21 £235
DdraigGoch £200
Debbiemc £100
Debz66 £80
Denisefowler £240+£100 extras £230 + £126.53 extras
Don'tPanicYet £300 £336.71
Downsizing_for_sanity £250
EagerLearner £120
Echelon101 £60 £34.37
Egon £195 £203.04
Erin go Bragh £400
Essix £300
Eveie189 £400 £415
FairyElephant £130 - £130
FallenAnglShelly £160 £156.24
FedupNow £96.50 £173.85
Fertyskids £350
Findingmyfeet £375 £380.25
Fizzle81 £150
Fluffysox £120
Frugalswan £160
FunkyFunkyMonkey £150
FuzzyFelt £200 £227
GalacticGreen £200
Genkijen £250
Gillaman £120 £93.21
Girl least likely to £200
Greent £475
gtx £200 £197.37
Guns n banjos £170
Heatherbelle £200
Heather2409 £240
HelenM2008 £200 £204.76
Here we go again £95 £90.30
Hoglet121 £350
Hollysan £300 £298.77
Howskint? £200
Huxley £215 £231.16
IceMaiden £250
Ifonlyitwaseasier £115 £138.88
Inamess200 £450 £556
Isthatreduced £130
Iwanttogoonholiday £100
jackiegibbo £200 £239.83
Jackie-W £250 £237.25
Jackk £200 £200.20
Jacksxxx £350 £279.20
Jane2112 £250
Janey 51 £100
JayJay14 £220
Jaycee1972 £150
Jediteacher £250
Jessie18 £250
Jexysbird £300 £502.63
Jinky67 £200
Johanne £160
Jules £225
Julie-Jukes £200
JuliMk £200 £175.15
Jumps £200
KAAT_LADY £200 £201.99
Kalojac £300
Kellitots £200 £136
Kimmie32 £160
Kindlesgirl £320 £227.98
Kippers £280
KITTY £350
KPrice580 £300
Kymbogs £330 - £260.33
lady roughneck £190
lainz £100 £111.12
Lauren_1 £200
Learningtosave £50
Lee Barton £300
Lelc £250
Likabu £300
LilacPixie £250
Lisey100 £300
Little_belle £200
Lizzieanne £400
Loobylee £400
Lucifa73 £200 £129
Lumpycustard £95 £107.28
MadKats £250
Madmitten £70 £48.34
mama67 £200 £201.28
Mariel £200 £159.63
*mari* £250
Married to the seas £200
Meanmarie €300 €280
Melsen69 £350
Mhe £200
MieMie £200
MillieJo £300 £400
Millyscarlett £210 £214.91
Mistogst £120
Moneysaving Diva £375 £310.55
Moniker £350 £349.19
Mooloo £275 £444.63
Mouche £100 £89.30
Mr+Mrs T £250 £330
Mrs Money Penny £190 £174.90
MrsBartolozzi £250
Mrs-MoneyPenny £500
mrssnowy £180 £132.15
Mrsmcawber €100 -€88.23
Mrs Pinky Binks £200
Mumofjusttwo £250
mummy gems £350 £364.91
Mummy saver £450
NannyOgg £50
natzini £125
Nessquic80 £200
newlywed £350
Nickynoo08 £110 £139
Nicnacnoo £150
nykmedia £50 £87.22
Penny-Pincher!! £200
PerryWinkle £270 £269.70
PetitePeche £250
Philsmum £160
Phoolgrrl £120 £118
PinkJen £120 £112.04
PinkPrincess £350
Pip-squeak £100 £88.07
Piquant £200
PizzaLover £320
Pollysg £200
princess leia £250
Procrastinator £200 £200
Punkrock06 €160
Purple Skies £30
Purple-Sparkles £80 £28.96
Puss14 $400 $396.95
Rachel 83 £400
rachelmk £160 £161.18
Ravylesley £400
Razra £70
Reader88 £100
Red Bailey £200
Redmel1621 £280 £373.57
Rellaella £250
Rockie4 £150
Rosieben £80 £89.55
Russetred £340 £342.29
Saffouri £200 £246.52
Salster £100
Samarnesen £475
Sammyjig £300 £205.15
Sashanut £215
Savingfortravel £200 £57.87
SavingPennies £300
Savvystudent £90
SAV3R £400 £399.11
Scenic route £120
Scotrae £200
ScotSaver £250 £249.56
Shaz_Mum_of_Two £200
Shelly1977 £100 £89.42
Shelovestobuystuff £200 £184.63
Shezza £150
Sistercas £300 £349.06
Smetf £350 £360.38
Smileys £400
SmlSave £200 £268
Snow White £70
Sosh £260 £255.52
SparklyMessyGirl £150 £236.27
Strumpet £150
SummerCherry £150
Supertottie £280
susan946 £350
SuziQ £180
Suzybloo £300 £320
Taffy1969 £350 £389.65
Taka £125 £145.75
Taplady £285
Teedy23 £45 £37.53
TheBees £350
the_cat £200
Tinkabell25 £200
Toottifrootti £100 £98.43
Tq16 £145 £140.54
Turbo5019 £200 £156.45
Urg123 £90
Vixtress £160
Webitha £300 £188.49
Wendywitch £230
Winky-The House Elf £160
Wmf £150
Wornoutmumoftwo £200
Yellow Monkey £310
YorkshireBelle £400
Ysatiss £80
Zoegirl $ 80
Weekly
Angelaf £20
Cammumof3 £50
CheapSkate £100 £496 for the month
Chell £55 - £212.17 4 the month
CornishPixie £70 -£69.58
Cuddlymarm £40
Macwah97 £80
Mandymoo 1 £50
MegC £40
*MrsHayes £50 £19 under for the month
Nicki £30
Orkneystar £40 - £156.50 4 the month
Shelbell £50
Sian the Green £10
Victoriajj £50-6 -8 -3 -1.5 -2.5 -3 -1.5-3.50 -
You girls are so efficient with the lists! Moments after the thread airs you have got us up and running. :T
That recipe index is going to be a great help this months. Thanking you.0 -
Hi everyone :hello:
Thanks for starting the thread Pink :A
My budget for september is £375 as its a 5 week month for me. This will be £75/wk. Thanks MrsM for doing the list again
Good luck everyone & welcome all newbies :wave:
Nikki x:A0 -
That snook in quietly didn't it :rotfl:
Managed to get the list on the 1st page :T not as quick of the mark as AngelNikki mind
hope everyone has a nice shiney new budget to play with ..well apart from searching me :rotfl:
AngelNikki... you are welcome, I really appretiate you having looked after it whilst my head was all over the place.. well more than usual that is
Ok I'm back already remembered what i needed to add... The recipe i posted for the banana n ginger parkin DOES NOT keep for 2 months ... big fibbers :rolleyes: ...Luckily im a suspicious kinda gal..so froze lots and left 1 piece in a box.. and it started to go mouldy today -so the birdies got it ..just in case anyone was planning on doing it -don't want to be responsible for wasting food-6 -8 -3 -1.5 -2.5 -3 -1.5-3.50 -
Hi
Would it be ok for me to join in this month,my grocery budget has gone haywire the last couple of months with the kids being off school and family visiting:eek: .
Ok their is me,oh,dd,ds,1 cat,1 rabbit, 1 guinea pig, tropical fish, hubby pays for dog food as he gets it cheaper through work.
Cupboard are looking not too bad,freezer 1 is full and freezer 2 half full.looking ok for toiletries.
Right decided £200 for the month.
Many thanks Miemie0 -
shiny shiny shiny........... well today has been a nsd which im pleased about, dont really need anything....oh chicken, just need chicken, but thats not urgent!
Had a surprise today when i opened pay slip, i got back pay which i wasnt expecting so an extra £97 for the pot, i mean me!!
Ds has gone to nanas and is sleeping over, hubby not to keen but i dont mind, he loves his nana and always wants to go there, if she didnt want him there she'd say NO!!Which means we can go out for dinner but then again its our 1st wedding anniversary on 1st sept so hopefully we'll be going out then too, im not complaining, eating out twice in one week, am i feeling ok..
Take care everyone
Valways on the lookout for a bargin always better when its free!!:T0
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