Anyone want to join me on my $100 per week food challenge

[Halex]

Just doing menu plan for the week

[judydawn]

I'm the opposite here.  I bought so much food with my 2 on-line orders before Christmas that I am still living on that.  I had a $0 last week which wasn't surprising as that always happens after Christmas with me but then as this week progressed and I still haven't been to the shops, it will be another $0 week after I get through today.  Never before have I gone 2 consecutive weeks without needing to go to the shops.  I had 2 boxes of LL milk, bought when they were on special so that alone was the main reason I have been able to last this long. OK, I am out of fresh fruit and the vegie bin is looking decidedly empty apart from carrots and potatoes but freezer & pantry stocks have got me through.  My neighbour bought over a few nectarines and yesterday's visitors a pile of tomatoes - music to my ears but once I got to just 3 days away from another $0 week, I was determined I was going to get there. You would think by now I would be able to see empty spaces in the pantry and freezer but honestly, it looks no different    The fruit bowl and virtually empty vegie crisper are the only signs I need to go shopping - that is not counting 3 fruit bowls full of lemons

[Halex]

Wow JD

Great savings, 2   0spend weeks.

The only time I managed when I stock piled milk

Milk is my problem, new 3 litre carton opened yesterday, nearly finished now

[obbie]

Judy, I bought up bigger the week before chrissie, and have only spent $200 since about 20 December, thats including snacks for this week.

[judydawn]

I think we all stock up over Christmas then there are leftovers and lack of enthusiasm about food around that time as well with the  overeating and heat.  Most people should be able to have a very light week after Christmas.  It is a very expensive time so it's nice to be able to balance the budget with some low grocery shopping bills for a little while after.

I will only be buying what I have run out of when my new week starts tomorrow as I really would like to see the pantry and freezer stocks deplete a lot more - it has always been a problem of mine and I know it is ridiculous when the shops are just around the corner from me.  I was looking for some cannelloni beans in the pantry the other day and found 10 cans of tomatoes instead.  I can never resist picking up a few cans when they are on special regardless of how many are already in there.  Today's main meal will definitely include a can of tomatoes

[obbie]

i get home tomorrow, and will have to meal plan.

[Halex]

Menu plan sorted. So as long as I stick to it there is no reason to go over budget.

I need milk today whch means I am at gc with dh & cp, I will just have to say NO, NO,NO.

 

[EmeraldSue]

I've just tidied up my kitchen cupboards today, and I still have way too much food. I think I have too much chocolate, and at least 4 packets of prunes!
I am going to try harder to use what I have in my cupboards. Not sure what to do with all the prunes though

[judydawn]

Gentleman's Relish

HP sauce

Prune Puree

Pumpkin & prune cheesecake

Pork, apple & prune hotpot

Cherry fruit mince

From the EDC - Farr Breton aux Pruneaux (Prune cake)

From In the Mix - Pastilla

[astarra]

Was going to try another $0 week but now have DHs grandparents coming over to BILs for a week, we are having them in for dinner tomorrow night, then having about 20 in for a light meal on Sunday night! But even with all that happening, I only need a few things like cream, bacon etc. 

[goldfish]

Gentleman's Relish

HP sauce

Prune Puree

Pumpkin & prune cheesecake

Pork, apple & prune hotpot

Cherry fruit mince

From the EDC - Farr Breton aux Pruneaux (Prune cake)

From In the Mix - Pastilla

Wow, Judy!!! This couldn't have come at a better time! I have oodles of prunes to use up and this helped!!  Thank you!

[judydawn]

There are recipes out there for everything GF, glad it helped.

I did my first shop in 2 weeks yesterday and got carried away a bit.  Spent $186 but am bound to have very low spends for the next 2 weeks so it is sure to even out in the end.  What makes my grocery shopping go over the top is by pulling out recipes to do then buying the ingredients for them when I know full well it is going to take me 3 weeks to get through the pile of new recipes.  I am much better off just working out the day beforehand what meat I want to take from the freezer and working around that.  Could kick myself when I lose control like that.  Having said that, it takes my total spend so far in January to just $223.05 which is very good but it's not about the money - it's more about having too much food in the house again

[Halex]

My budget is $115, spent $86, (which includes aussie farmer deliveries) done mst of my shopping, will need milk (lots) but thats about it. So really hoping to stay in budget. Got to get on a roll of being in budget, much easier when you are in the zone

 

[obbie]

I came in at $95 this week...

[Jude59]

My fridge is only just starting to look lean and mean again after the festive season excesses.  I tried to freeze as much as possible but there was still a lot of food.

Judy I know what you mean by buying  ingredients for recipes......   Our veggie patch is in full swing so  trying to work with that.  Lots of potato salad with pesto and beetroot salads at the mo.

This month has been good as far as shopping excursions go.  Just so sick of the shops anyway so no hardship.  Haven't spent more than $200 on groceries.  Good thing DH buys the wine because we get through a fair bit of that