Sunday 20 January 2008

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.

15 comments:

Annemarie said...

Good luck good luck. I'm rooting for you although Waitrose visits may indeed be your achilles/sciatica heel. I hope your family likes soup, since that's an excellent way of gathering together an bits that are on their way to going toward the bin.

Lydia (The Perfect Pantry) said...

We are all rooting for you!

Elle said...

Hope you are feeling better soon...sciatica is no fun. (Probably spelled that wrong)
Your goals sound wonderful, but a bit daunting, too. Looking forward to the menus and what is in the CSA box. Good luck!

Marie Rayner said...

HOpe you're able to stick to your plan Amanda! I haved that same freebie magazine and the recipes for that week are delicious! I've tried quite a few of them already!
Marie
http://journals.aol.co.uk/mariealicejoan/MariesMuses/

KJ said...

Keep the faith Amanda! You will learn tips and tricks as you go along I'm sure. And then it will seem a whole lot easier.

Anonymous said...

My therapist convinced me to give up excess wine, chocolate biscuits and shopping in Waitrose. "They are all obsessive-compulsive behaviours", she assured me, "none of which are necessary for survival". So what does she know!

Amanda at Little Foodies said...

Hi Annemarie, Thank you!! Thankfully we LOVE soup - all of us!

Hi Lydia, thank you, so far not doing too bad and we're 11hrs 30 mins into the day (it's 11.30am). I was asleep for 7 of those hours.

Hi Elle, I'm feeling much better thank you.

Hi Marie, I'm really going to try hard to stick to the plan. I'm also going to try really hard not to moan about it too much! ha ha!

Hi KJ, I'm going to make sure I learn loads from this.

Hi Mike, I think I might need therapy by the end of this... I'll surreptitiously (had to look that one up for spelling) check their shopping bags before deciding which therapist though.

Thank you for your comments.
Amanda x

Anonymous said...

Amanda, Lists, Lists, and even more Lists. I find now that if I write a list and give it to hubby to do the shopping we can halve of food bills for the week. When in London I only ever did a big shop once a month - this definitely saved money - as i often worked on a saturday it meant i didn't have time to go shopping every week and it made me think ahead about what we were going to have. The other thing was a good mother in law who always was pleased to see us if we wanted to call in for dinner on an evening. I know this isn't possible for you so I will have to bring you a big box of goodies down from the farmers markets when we come to see you at the end of February beginning of March.
Love Mxxxxx

Amanda at Little Foodies said...

Hi Mum, I always look forward to your food parcels! xx

Katie Zeller said...

I'll keep wafting encouraging thoughts your way. I'll admit, I've never tried an actual budget... I know myself too well...
Thank the gods I have a big garden and can't stand to waste anything!

Amanda at Little Foodies said...

Oh Katie, I could learn so much from you. I read your blog often but I was looking at your website for the first time today - I was in awe! I must do a link to it as proof that it's possible. Thanks for the encouraging thoughts.

Amanda x

Pig in the Kitchen said...

Dear heart, you MUST look after your back. Do the ocado delivery; online shopping is a great way of reducing costs (seriously). Also, in these times of back crisis, your hubby must help at weekends. Or you must leave him (just in case he ever reads this ;-)
Pigx

Jennywenny said...

I find wholefoods is similar for me here in the US. While I'm not on a budget, I still spend unbelievable amounts in there. I do miss waitrose and marks and sparks :(

Amanda at Little Foodies said...

Dear Pig, Had to delete my first reply to ensure family relations remain intact. Joking at Hubs expense could become addictive but would be totally unfair as he's a Superhero among husbands. Even when I'm not incapacitated he readily puts washing on, unloads the dishwasher, cleans the bathroom. Infact, as I type I'm now starting to worry does he bat for the other side? (hahahaa! - should you ever read this my love, that was a joke and if you do then I'll do as pig suggests!)
Ax

Angel said...

I'd also like to know more about your veg box. Is it similar to CSA? Me and my beau have a talked about it and think we might get a CSA membership for a farm here so we eat more fresh and ripe produce.

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