Return of the £12 Charity Challenge

There was a fair amount of whining and complaining in the back of the car when I reminded the kids it was £12 Challenge Time again. I'd seriously considered not bothering this year, after losing Dad, but then came round to thinking it might actually help a little. Being busy is good at the moment. Keeps the dark clouds at bay.

So, just in case you're wondering, from Sunday I'll be feeding the four of us on a tiny £12 budget for 7 days. Now, unless you know about this, I'm sure you're probably wondering why?/is she some kind of crackers…Weeell, I do like a thrifty cooking challenge, and it's for charity - the rest of the weekly shop money (guesstimated) will go to Sport Relief.

Believe it not, this will be our third £12 Challenge, and last time, in a moment of possible hunger-induced madness, I rashly promised we'd go vegetarian for the next one. Not a problem in itself - I love vegetarian food, and figure I could come up with quite a good week of cheap, wholesome meals; but despite my best efforts, the kids just aren't that keen on their greens...or any pulses for that matter. So there'll be no lentil casserole or cauliflower cheese, or mushrooms, or couscous. I've got one who won't even eat potatoes. Talk about a challenge...

Still, I'm up for it, AND the accompanying chorus of whinging that's bound to get noisy as the week goes on. 

It does mean a lot more planning and a lot more time spent preparing meals and snacks; but focusing on food in this ultra-frugal way always reminds me how easy it is to take what we have, and what we expect to have, for granted. It also makes me think about what I usually buy. I'm the world's worst for getting stuff I don't need just because it's on offer. 

Anyway, I was wondering so I was, whether I could tempt anyone else to join me for a trolley detox this time? (though, having read over the above, can't say I've done the best job selling it…) And I don't mean jump straight in at the deep end, (unless you want to that is) - I was thinking more along the lines of cutting back on the weekly shop; sticking to a meal plan; using up stuff lurking in kitchen cupboards/the freezer, and donating what you save.

there'll be a lot of this going on….

I have a few self-imposed rules to up the ante - I try, on the whole, to use only what I buy with the twelve quid, bar a few cupboard/fridge essentials. I'll get some flour, because there'll be much bread and muffin making….but I'll use up ends of bags too. Same goes for sugar and leftover marg/spuds and onions. No point duplicating and being wasteful.

I'll post my £12 shop at the weekend, but if you'd like to see last year's, it's here and my meal plan is here.

Sunday will be the first day of the Challenge, and Saturday 22nd the last. I've been organised enough to set up a Sport Relief page (http://my.sportrelief.com/sponsor/12poundchallenge) - I'd thought about doing a team page, but chickened out, in case I ended up looking like a right Norma, in a sad old team of one…

So, what do you think? Do you fancy it? I'd love some company!