October 2017 Grocery Challenge

chocoholic_chick · 12 October 2017 at 1:12PM

CattyCatX wrote: »

So, I had a massive disaster with my friend visiting money-wise. I did mention that things were tight at the moment but my friend didn't like any of the food I had in the freezer or drinks I had in the fridge or any of the sauces I had prepared so I had to buy new stuff and he insisted on eating out for almost every meal and we went halves on everything. Of course I don't mind paying my share at all but it would've been nice if he'd offered to pay for one meal out for both of us or something as a thank you for putting him up for 7 nights, I think? Maybe I'm being unreasonable... Anyway, he's got expensive tastes (and a very high-paying job in the city so he doesn't really understand 'budgets') so almost 2.5 weeks' budget was used up in 7 days, meaning that I've less than £90 for the rest of the month now...
At least I still have a week's worth of dinner in the freezer. Might be replacing lunches with porridge from now on though... Sigh. Hopefully November will be easier to budget for. I've started handmaking Christmas presents already so hopefully that will vastly reduce gift spending.

How ungrateful of your friend! If my friend had offered to put me up and I happened not to like the food in, I'd certainly not make a fuss and I'd certainly wouldn't expect them to buy new food just for me! If I really didn't like it and couldn't eat it I'd just say I'll treat us and buy a few bits/treat them to a takeaway!

debtfreeforlife · 12 October 2017 at 5:30PM

£10.85 spend for me today - that's topping up on vegan milk and yoghurt for the next fortnight. Veg box (already accounted for in spends) also turned up this morning, so have the basics for the week. I was lazy and didn't meal plan before the veg box turned up though, so didn't order any of the additional extras I need and that means I'll probably need another supermarket spend. But the £200 budget for the month is still very achievable, just need to be organised!

Merlin's_Beard · 12 October 2017 at 7:20PM

Had a £7 off £50 shop tonight so carefully planned a £51 shop... ended up at £59 near enough, so have paid £51.89.

That takes my total up to £78.10/£100 and gives me just under £22 for the rest of the month... oops. Have stocked up on a lot of toiletries and store food etc though so at least there's that.

pamsdish · 12 October 2017 at 7:26PM

my friend didn't like any of the food I had in the freezer or drinks I had in the fridge or any of the sauces I had prepared so I had to buy new stuff and he insisted on eating out for almost every meal
CattyCatx......IF your friend visits again ask what he does like so you can cater for him, and I think he was incredibly rude as well.

CattyCatX · 12 October 2017 at 7:51PM

pamsdish wrote: »

my friend didn't like any of the food I had in the freezer or drinks I had in the fridge or any of the sauces I had prepared so I had to buy new stuff and he insisted on eating out for almost every meal
CattyCatx......IF your friend visits again ask what he does like so you can cater for him, and I think he was incredibly rude as well.

Thanks pamdish! I did ask what he wanted before he arrived but I just got a "I'm easy; I'll eat anything" answer, which didn't help!! I tried to press him but he just insisted that he'd eat whatever... and then when it came to it that obviously wasn't the case

It's really frustrating as I really felt I'd done my best seeing as he wouldn't give me a straight answer (although he did tell me his favourite tea, which I bought in specially as neither me nor my OH drinks it). Obviously if he was gluten-free/vegan or something I would have catered to that too but he isn't. I know I can be a bit of a picky eater myself hence asking him in advance...

butterfly2507 · 12 October 2017 at 10:10PM

CattyCatX wrote: »

So, I had a massive disaster with my friend visiting money-wise. I did mention that things were tight at the moment but my friend didn't like any of the food I had in the freezer or drinks I had in the fridge or any of the sauces I had prepared so I had to buy new stuff and he insisted on eating out for almost every meal and we went halves on everything. Of course I don't mind paying my share at all but it would've been nice if he'd offered to pay for one meal out for both of us or something as a thank you for putting him up for 7 nights, I think? Maybe I'm being unreasonable... Anyway, he's got expensive tastes (and a very high-paying job in the city so he doesn't really understand 'budgets') so almost 2.5 weeks' budget was used up in 7 days, meaning that I've less than £90 for the rest of the month now...
At least I still have a week's worth of dinner in the freezer. Might be replacing lunches with porridge from now on though... Sigh. Hopefully November will be easier to budget for. I've started handmaking Christmas presents already so hopefully that will vastly reduce gift spending.

Sorry to say this but your friend sounds like a complete moron. He didn't like ANYTHING from your freezer or fridge? Who is he? The Queen of England? I personally would have still eaten something especially if my friend made all of it herself. Out of respect :beer:

I've spend 43,93 € today and I'm feeling ok-ish about it.

I had coupons for 10 % off food items and was happy with it. So I went along, put them on the items I wanted and than the cashier lady told me that it's not for that store but for the one (and only that one) in another city. :mad: Are you serious? it's the same freaking store, 5 kms away and I can't use these stamps / coupons? They did write in on the flyer but very small and easy to oversee. :mad: I should have looked twice and saved more money....

armchairexpert · 13 October 2017 at 2:07AM

Sorry for your week, Catty - agree with everyone else, your friend was very rude!

Over here, I hope I have enough in to last me through to next Saturday except for a couple of top ups. I'm at $474/1100 and Mr E isn't back until Wednesday next week. We have lots of food in, and I've made a start on things for next week's lunch boxes once school's back.

Meal plan until Wednesday is designed with the kids in mind:
Friday: minestrone (with chicken: it's a repurposing of some leftover chicken cacciatore) and HM bread
Saturday: oven pizza, garlic bread, ice cream (traditional movie night treat because their Dad is away)
Sunday: roast pork
Monday: pasties made with leftover roast pork (plus a few little ones I can send to school next week)
Tuesday: Penne puttanesca
Wednesday: Cuban pork with black beans and rice
Thursday: Spaghetti bolognese/lentil soup for me
Friday: Quiche with whatever we have left

caronc · 13 October 2017 at 1:00PM

£31 today so total so far £138/£200

NewShadow · 13 October 2017 at 1:42PM

Makes the new total = £90.48 on food/drink + £7.60 for 'Social' stuff.

Had to go into work this morning so it threw me a bit out of whack. Ended up buying a £3 greggs meal deal - only thing I could find cheap in town that was relatively healthy - ham and egg salad roll and a bottle of apple juice.

The plan is finished for this week. Now I just need to get my finger out and plan for next week. Never-ending

New total = £93.48 on food/drink + £7.60 for 'Social' stuff.

XSpender · 13 October 2017 at 5:36PM

£6 spent at the farm shop on a tray of 30 eggs and a big punnet of strawberries. The eggs have gone up a pound so will not go out of my way to get them there anymore.

£24.60 spent in Asda got everything on my list and a ys GF pie and some ys mini pork pies for DH and the lunch I am doing at my mums tomorrow.

I forgot to put crisps for tomorrow and a bottle of smart price sparkling water on the list as I am still going strong on Go Sober for October so will have to pick the up at some point.

Gave £2 to DH who wanted a fizzy drink as he is feeling very nauseous which is not like him at all, he has the constitution of an ox!

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October 2017 Grocery Challenge

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