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 2009 Grocery Challenge
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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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Welcome to the September 2009 Grocery Challenge. :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 2009 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 everyone's targets and totals for the month please read posts #3 and #4 on this thread.
For the Grocery Challenge recipe index please read posts #5 and #6 on this thread.
Wishing you all a great September and good luck to everyone who's taking part!
Pink0 -
annual
Allegra £2800
Angelatgraceland £6000
BigMummaF£1100 1st aug-31st dec
Cheerfulness4 £1400 £470.85
gillst £2400
JennyBee £1440
Mags50 £3000
mama67 £1970 £1140
Mrsmcawber €1680- €649.74
Mrs Money Penny £2700 £1082.84
Mummy2mygirls £3000
Mummzyof2 £1200
Nykmedia -£1200 £988.50
Penny2myName £1080
Perrywinkle £3600 - £104.28
Pip-Squeak £1250
Prudence41 £1400-£417.85
Savvystudent £1500
Sylvan £3000
Taka £1320 £778.77
The_Cat £850 -25th Dec
Toonie £2040 -£1306.97
X Spender £2650 £1618.09
Yummymummy05 -£2800
Monthly
Alipops1986 £80
Always Happy £200
AngelFeathers £450
Annie123 £250
Attentionseeker1 £120
Baileys Babe £270
Beth86 £250
Blairweech £150
BlimusOreilly £220
Boodle £150
Booklover £120
Booskyeboo £300
Botany £300
Bowsk-1011 £150
Brummiebabe £400
CardiffMatch £160
Caroline73 £250
Carolt2 £160
Catznine £100
Catzpaws £220
Changing me £260
Cheapskate £400
ChocClare £350
Clutterydrawer £30
Curlytop40 £340
CW18 £123.10
da666shooker £200
Dazzle21 £100
Ddraig £300
Determined2bdebtfree £150
Dizzy £350
Dreamer40 £200
DreamingofMoney £300
Earthmother £280
Elf06 £125
Eliza bunny £60
Ellemm £120
Eltee12 £450
Emmab2001 £250
esmf73 £350
Essex-girl £325
Fedupandskint £130
Firefox £100
FiveNations £300
FlatEric £350
Flutterby25 £70
Flying_Freesian £250
Forever Hopeful £250
Freakyogre £50
FreyaLuck £300
GemmaBuckle £150
Getting Hitched £70
Gothicfairy £150
GreenT £450
Hamish222 £200
Helen Jelly £350
Here we go again £80
Hex2 £450
Highland fling £180
Howlinwolf £350
Huston kw £250
Huxley £250
Ifonlyitwaseasier £80
Ilovetea £100
jackiegibbo £200
Jackie_W £200
Jacksmummy £400
JayJay14 £160
Jayward £100
Jedi librarian £100
*Jellie* £120
Jinky67 £200
Joshiesmum £120
Juliek1313 £100
JulieMK £150
Kalojac £380
KayJay1809 £300
Keiss21 £400
Kerfuffle $400
Kezlou £170
Kindofagilr £200
Kippers £300
KirstenC £220
Kirstygem £250
KjSam £331
Knitty8 £300
Ktpie £280-6 -8 -3 -1.5 -2.5 -3 -1.5-3.50 -
Lainz £93
Lambanana £130
Lauhen £300
Laurasbump £400
Lav1979 £250
Lilgrayfox £250
Lil-me £250
Little_Miss_moneysaver£100
Little Miss Naughty £200
Lollyfin £400
LydiaJ £305
Maitane £160
Meanmarie €290
Merlin1 £280
millieJo £290
Miss-Spent £125
MoneyFritter £80.52
Money Saving Diva£300
Money Queen £100
Moniker £295
MrsGibbs1503 £250
Mrs. Irwin £200
Mrs-Moneypenny £400
MrsTradition £200
Msgnomey £300
Mummy2mygirls £350
Mummy26 £450
Natsing £120
Newlywed £350
Nickynoo08 £200
Ninno820 £200
Notjustamum £300
Ocean spirit £75
patent girl £300
Paula Bear £300
Philsmum £140
Poohbear59 £180
Puddle glum £250
Rachelmk £160
Rachel021976 £550
Ragz £400
Raquel9 £80
Rockie4 £180
Rugbybabe77 £450
Russetred £340
Saving for Oz £50
Saving for travel £80
SAVVYMUMMY £300
ScotSaver £250
Searching Me £200
ShellSmithCat £400
Shirleytch £280
Shroplass £200
Sistercas £350
Skint-Catt £50
Slowandsteady £150
Soupfan £247.35
Spendaholic £200
Steph112 £60
SunnyDonny£80
Tessamum £250
The_Cat £174.05
Tinkerbellsmum £350
Trinny £180
Toolittletime £100
TopsyTurphy £180
Turbo5019 £155
Twilightgirl £450
**UpsyDaisy** £500
Wannabedebtfree £200
Wilf55 £350
Winky the house elf £200
Winniepooh £360
Yellow Monkey £330
Yummymummy05 300
ZiggyStardust £200
Weekly
Bitsy~Beans £40
Hels50 £40
Penny -Pincher !! £40-6 -8 -3 -1.5 -2.5 -3 -1.5-3.50 -
Microwave Recipes
Main Meals & Side Dishes (Soups now listed separately, below)
Bacon and Cheese Fritatta with Tomato Salsa
Bacon and potato salad -Warm
Baked potato pizza
Baked Beans (home made)
Baked Bean Tart
Bean Curry (Slow Cooker)
Beef - Brisket
Beef Casserole
Beef Curry Dopiaza (Delia recipe)
Beef Stifado (Jamie Olive recipe)
Beef Stroganoff
Beef and Root Veg Curry
Belly Pork
Bolognaise (Remoska)
Broad Bean Burgers
Burgers
Cheese and Onion Flan
Chicken Cannelloni
Chicken - Cheat's Chicken Cassoulet
Cheat's Chicken Lasagne in the S - Here and Here
Chicken - Parmesan Chicken
Chicken - Sticky Chicken
Chicken Fried Rice
Chicken, leek and bacon pie / pasties
Chicken with Cannellini Beans
Chicken with Garlic, Cider & Cream
Chicken and Potato Curry
Chicken and Vegetable Slice
Chilli
Chilli (Remoska)
Chilli Bean Tortillas
Chilli Cheese Crostini
Chilli chicken with jasmine rice (BBC food)
Chinese style cabbage
Cobbler (topping) see below for Minced Beef with Cobbler Topping
Coconut Rice
Coleslaw
Corned Beef Hash - MrsMCawber's recipe
Corned Beef Pasties
Courgette Fritters (1) Courgette Fritters (2)
Courgette Pie
Courgette and Tomato Layer Bake
Cranberry & Soy glazed cocktail sausages
Creamy Chicken and Potato casserole
Creamy Lentil and Rice Dish (Khircheri) (BBC website)
Curry Sauce
Diet Coke Chicken
Duchesse potatoes
Faggoty Pea Stew
Falafel burgers
Fishcakes
Fish Pie and Fish Pie
Fusilli with Broccoli
Ham Hock (slow cooker)
Ham Salad (sandwich filling) external link
Hummus and Garlic Pitta Breads
Individual chicken pies
Lamb curry and paratha
Lamb Hotpot
Lasagne
Lemon Chicken
Lemon chicken with basil and tagliatelle
Lemon potatoes
Liver and onions stir fry
Macaroni Cheese
Marrow - Veggie stuffed marrow
Meatballs
Meatloaf (1) Meatloaf (2) Meatloaf (3)
Mediterranean Mince and Potato 'Pie'
Mediterranean Vegetable Pasta
Mince & onion pie
Minced Beef Curry
Mince - Mexican Style Mince
Minced Beef with Cobbler Topping
Mini Goat's Cheese, Pear & Walnut Quiche
Monday Pie
Moussaka
Naan bread - see 'Bread' below
Onion Bhaji
Open top 'pizza' pie
Pasta with Tomato Sauce
Pasta Cheese and Onion Bake
Pizza / Pizza Base Recipe
Pork Burgers with Salad
Pork and Beef Meatballs
Pork Steaks in Mustard and Cider Sauce
Potatoes - Slow Cooker Jacket Potatoes
Potato Kebabs
Potato layer bake
Potato Layer Bake
Potato layer bake (Teisen datws)
Potatoes - Lemon Potatoes
Potatoes - Twice Baked Potatoes
Potato Wedges, Home Made
Quiche Lorraine
Refried Beans
Russian Salad and Russian Salad
Salmon and Dill Fishcakes
Sausage and Rice bake
Sausage and Stuffing Plait
Sausage and Tomato Spaghetti
Sausage Casserole or Sausage Casserole
Sausage Meat Patties
Smoked salmon soda breads
Smoked Salmon - Tagliatelle with Smoked Salmon
Spaghetti Bolognaise
Spaghetti with courgettes, tomato and brie
Spicy Bean and Lentil Loaf
Spicy Bean & Sweet Potato Stew
Spinach pancakes
Steak and Kidney stew/pie filling
Steamed Oriental Buns
Stifado - Beef Stew With Tiny Onions Recipe
Stuffing - MrsMcawber's recipe
Suet crust pie with quorn
Super Tasty Bacon, Bean and Sausage
Sweet & Sour Chicken/Pork
TexMex Skillett
Thai green curry
Toad in the Hole
Tofu burgers
Tuna Fish Mousse
Tuna Fishcakes
Tuna Lasagne
Turkey and Bubble and Squeak Pie
Turkey Pasta
Turkey Pasta Cacciatore
Vegetable Casserole
Veggie Haggis
Soups
Bacon and Carrot Soup
Broccoli and Cheese Soup
Carrot, parsnip and lentil soup
Chicken & Sweetcorn Soup
Cream of Tomato Soup
Curried Parsnip Soup
Gammon and lentil soup
Ham and Lentil Soup
Iced cucumber soup
Leek and Potato Soup
Moniker’s Leek and Potato Soup
Leek and sweet potato soup
Moroccan Chickpea and Broad Bean Soup
Onion Soup
Oxtail Stew + Oxtail Soup
Parsnip & Apple Soup
Pea & Ham Soup
Real Tomato Soup
Slow Cooker French Onion Soup
Soup - Red pepper, carrot & lentil soup
Spicy Carrot and Tomato Soup
Spinach Soup
Split Pea and Courgette Soup
Vegetable Soup
Bread
Bagels
Baguettes
Bara Brith (Welsh Tea Bread)
Basic white bread recipe (makes a 2lb loaf)
Bread - Mrs McC's recipe for Remoska
Breadsticks MrsM's / angelnikki's (No Salt Recipe)
Chapatis
Cheese & Potato Bread
Cheesy Bread Rolls
Chewy Soft Flour Tortilla
Chocolate Bread
Courgette Flatbread
Focaccia
Garlic Dough Balls
Herb Quick bread
HM Bread
Lahmachun
Naan Bread .. see also .. Curry Queen's ...... Mrs McCawber's ...... OrkneyStar's
Oatmeal bread
soft bread rolls
Super Seedy Bread... don't throw the string away. You always need string!
C.R.A.P.R.O.L.L.Z Head Sharpener0 -
Dips, Jams & Chutneys and Drinks
Alioli / Traditional allioli
Bean Pickle
Beetroot and Apple Chutney
Chilli Jam
Elderberry cordial
Feisty Rhubarb Relish
Jams & Preserves
Lemon Squash
Onion Marmalade
Pineapple Salsa
Riata - Mint, yoghurt and Cucumber Dip
Tomato/Chili Salsa
Red Tomato Chutney
Tomato Chutney
Mango Chutney
Xmas Chutney
Cakes, Biscuits, Snacks & Desserts
Apple Braid
Apple delight
Apple Charlotte
Apple - Microwave Autumn Apple Cake
Apricot Flapjack bars
Bakewell Tart
Banana Cake (bread)
Banana and lemon drizzle cake
Banana Muffins (wholemeal)
Banana Muffins
Banana and Walnut cake
Banana Ginger Parkin
Blackberries - Grated Blackberry Bake
Branflake cake
Brownies
Bounty Balls
Bran Fruit Loaf
Bread & Butter Pudding
Bulk pancake mix
Buttercream topping
Caramel Shortbread (Millionaire's Shortbread)
Caramel Shortbread (2)
Cheese n marmite twists
Chocolate Biscuit Thins
Cheesy Biscuits
Chocolate Concrete
Chocolate Coookies - Cheap and Easy
Chocolate fudge
Chocolate Fudge Cake
Chocolate Krackolates
Chocolate yoghurt cake
Chocolate pudding
Coconut Cake
Coconut Flapjacks
Cookie Dough
Cornflake Tart
Courgette Tea Bread/Muffins
Cranberry And Chocolate Brownies
Currant Loaf
Custard Cookies
D&DD’s Apple Braid
Date, Nut and Oat biscuits
Easy Syrup Sponge Pudding
Eggless Chocolate Cake
Fifteens
Flaky Bars
Flapjacks and Flapjacks
Fruit and Mascarpone dessert
Gingerbread Men
Ginger Raisin Crunches
Golden Syrup Tart
Healthy Snack Bars
Honey Frosted Buns
Iced Buns
Impossible Coconut Pie
Jam Buns
Jammy Buns
Key lime pie
Krispie marshmallow bars
Lemon cakes
Lemon Curd Cake
Lemon Curd Ice-Cream JeniD's / MoneySavingDiva's
Magic Lemon Pudding
Malt Bread
Marshmallow Squares
Mascarpone and Lime Torte
Mascarpone Ice-cream
Millies Cookies
Mince Squares
Muffins: Basic Recipe / Chocolate Orange Muffins (1) / Chocolate Orange Muffins (2) / Gingerbread Muffins / Kiwi Muffins / Sticky Date Muffins / Strawberry Muffins / Toffee Apple Muffins
No fat sponge
Oaty Pancakes
Oaty Shortbread Biscuits
Orange and Poppy Seed Cake
Peanut Butter Cookies
Pineapple, Fried
Rhubarb and Orange Jelly
Rock Buns
Scones
Scotch pancakes
Spiced Apple Bars
St Peter's Mud Pie (no cooking required)
Sticky gingerbread
Sticky toffee apple crumble
Teacakes
Twink’s Hobnobs
Weetabix Brownies
Weetabix Cake
Weetabix Fruit Loaf
Wonderbites
Yoghurt: Homemade yoghurt, Slow Cooker Yoghurt
Yoghurt Cake (the easy way)
Pastry
The best mince pie pastry ever
Pastry economics
Making pastry
Basic pastry
Flaky Pastry (BBC Food)
Home Made Dog Biscuits
Home Made Dog Biscuits (2)
Top Tips (OS threads)
Batch cooking ideas
Complete Menu Plans Collection
Cooking for the Freezer
Meal building blocks for the freezer
Grocery Challenge Top Tips
Laundry Washing Gel/ Gloop, Fab conditioner, vinegar.....
External links
Batch Bake Minced Beef Recipe
How to feed your whole family a healthy, balanced diet... (Webook)
List of conversions
Love Food Hate Waste website
Show Jamie How To Cook On A Budget Champagne Contest
... don't throw the string away. You always need string!
C.R.A.P.R.O.L.L.Z Head Sharpener0 -
Hi All!
£250 again for me for me, Mr Fresian and our two cats for the month.
Long time till payday...0 -
Woo Hoo a new thread! :j Good luck everyone!
I am yet again ahead of where I should be in my annual budget :rolleyes: but not by too much! Hopefully I can regain some ground this month as I'm away on hols for 6 days and that comes from a different budget! :rolleyes: :rotfl: I'll post my end of month numbers this weekend sometime.Mortgage free as of 12/08/20!
MFiT-5 no 45You can't fly with one foot on the ground!0 -
YAY, new thread!!!!
good luck everyone!!!!!
ioiwe xNonny mouse and Proud!!
Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level then beat you with experience!!
Debtfightingdivaextraordinaire!!!!
Amor et metus. Lac? Sugar? Quisque massa vel duo? (stolen from a lovely forumite!)0 -
Hello everyone. I would like to join this month please. I'm off the work treadmill for a while. I have unpaid leave to settle ds into school, so I should be able to actually cook this month instead of reheating and/or hoping for the best.
I reckon that with a few additions here and there, my freezer contains enough food to see myself and ds through September (dh works away, due back mid October). Ds will be taking packed lunches to school, but he doesn't drink juice, so no outlay there. He is a big milk drinker though, and I'll still be giving him milk with his evening meal and at supper time, so I reckon I will need to buy bread, milk and fruit.
My target therefore, is not to set myself a "spend", but merely to spend as little as possible, and to keep it that way. I realise that this means I can't go on the list at the start of the post, but I'd love to join in the chat and let you know how I do.0 -
my last shopping day off the month today so gonna add my first total i came in at just under 370 which is 80 pound under what i said but i have been trying i'm gonna aim for 350 next month if thats ok0
This discussion has been closed.
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