Little Foodies set for a fall possibly?!

Before we've even started I have a feeling that I might fail with this whole budget thing. Maybe not the budget but staying away from Waitrose. That's before I even begin with the pain of meal planning. I'm the sort who likes to look at what we've got and decide on the spur of the moment what we're going to eat. With the flu and then my back, I hadn't been into Waitrose since before Christmas, infact I know the time and date that I was last there - Friday 21st December at 5pm. Saying it like that makes me think I may be some sort of addict! I've been trying to kid myself all these years that we do the right thing, but...

I'll admit that one reason I was able to commit to this whole different housekeeping trial thing is because, for now atleast, I'm not allowed to push a trolley and certainly shouldn't be carrying a basket, I thought it would be easy. However, after seeing Nan at the hospital today I popped into Waitrose (I wasn't breaking any rules - the trial starts tomorrow). My sole intention was to get some Thai Curry Pastes/Sauces (I'd like to do a taste test when we look at Thailand).

Anyway, blow me away if the whole marketing thing went and worked its magic, all of my senses were hit at once and I felt pleased to be there. Big NO NO!, I got a basket when I saw that pulses and couscous in the Wholesome range were on offer - I put a few in, it felt okay. I made my way to the eggs, I went for freerange and not organic and freerange, this was my way of trying to justify what I was doing. Onto the sauces aisle. WHAM! - it felt like I'd been kicked hard in the base of my spine. I put the basket down, quickly got the curry pastes and sauce, thought about asking a member of staff to pick the basket up for me but would have felt stupid doing that. I picked it up, trying to lift correctly (that's incase my physio or husband ever reads this!), and made my way to the cashier.

I picked up a copy of their free magazine, Waitrose Seasons January/February 2008. It still felt good to be in there, I also knew that if I was going to stick to the plan I wouldn't be going in there again for another month. (throws self to floor and sobs!)

I got home, by now sciatica running from my bum to my toes and realise that my physio talks a lot of sense. That will teach me!! I spent £10.19!! Was it worth it?! Well, I think so, as flicking through the free magazine I came across an article with the title - Waste not, want not... (I've always loved that phrase) - it continued ...it may sound quaint but as figures show we now throw away a third of the food we buy, Fran Quinn explains how the humble shopping list could help transform the environment. It then gave a seven day menu plan for main meals and a shopping list. How could I abandon this marvellous supermarket when they were so clearly in touch... and so very, very clever? Easy! Remember the plan Amanda! Remember the plan! So fairwell my humble supermarket - I'll see you in a month - maybe?!

If I had a crystal ball, I think it would show that at the end of this trial I will be better at budgeting and I probably won't be going into Waitrose so much. But I don't honestly think I can say I will be able to preclude Waitrose from my life altogether.

Tomorrow I will post our meal plan for the week, including breakfasts, lunches and dinners. I'll list what's coming in our organic veg box on Wednesday, (we're trialing Abel and Cole as they were doing an offer of a free cookbook if you spent over £40.00. ), and note any extra shopping we'll need to do. Then a week today I'll be honest about what we actually ate and how much I spent.