August 2008 Grocery Challenge

Rowan9

I'm over for this month and it doesn't end for me until end Aug. Ah well, never mind. I expected DH to be away for a week with work and hadn't banked on hungry DSS here every weekend so am pleased with what we've done. DH went out and bought a nice chicken this morning so that should supply some sandwich meat for the packed lunches this week as well as a couple of hot dinners.

Next month, can I be entered for £150 please? This is an increase but I'll be back at work after the fab long holiday and we have DH's parents for a weekend + my DD so it will be nice to have a bit of lee-way in the budget.

queen_of_string

Had a lovely afternoon yesterday. Made choc orange muffins and some cookies and toffee mallow crispies ( which havent set properly so we're eating them with a spoon lol). Then some fridge bottom roasted veg pasta which is gorgeous ( thanks for the smoked paprika tip, whoever it was) and two lots of shepherds pies with some whoppsied mince. Did a big shop in the week, all stockpiling. As mentioned before, I think i am about to be jobless so am trying to stockpile a years worth of as many things as possible from any remainder in the grocery budget to help through the leaner times. Smaller shop yesterday, mostly baking stuff, which I never object to buying. Another week left to go for me, but feeling confident.

fluffysox

EagerLearner wrote: »

It has been a while since I have made one but I'd remove as much fat as you can from the top of the stock, then make your soup as usual (ie: fry onion in oilive oil, add other ingredients inc garlic, spices/salt/pepper), then add the stock and maybe more water if needed. Just make sure the ingredients that need cooking longer are similar size chunks. A dash of white wine may go nicely too... some lentils, or rice also pad it out (depending on how many potatoes you were going to add) :T

Thankyou!:T

EagerLearner

I think we're all done on the shopping front, £20 odd under budget!

The reason for this is a friend who not only gave us filled pasta packs (he works for a company that makes Morrisons and many other brands ) but also some fresh mackrel he'd caught yesterday. I gave him & his wife (my best friend) some items my company makes as a trade. I should point out that as we're both managers, this was not theft or anything untoward...!

This means that technically we 'saved' around 10 meals worth with the trade. The fresh mackrel was delicious last night with some new potatoes, carrots and a garlic, parsley and olive oil dressing.

For September, we now have 10 meals already accounted for (3 Mackrel,3 Youngs salmon bought from reduced, 4 pasta dishes) these are in the freezer. I will still be sticking with £120 as have already meal planned for next month and there are some treats like steak and a few other nice things like one roast, as the Summer ebbs into Autumn. Plus I will be batch cooking of which some dishes will roll into October in the freezer...

Anzac_Biscuit

Hopefully a NSD for me today :j although I really want some CHOCOLATE!!!!

savingfortravel

Hi Everyone!!
Hope you are all well. Hugs to all those who need them. Really sorry but won't have time to catch up on posts.
Well we had a fantastic time in Austria (as well as day trips to Switzerland, Germany and Liechtenstein) and best of all we were full board* and the food was delicious. I tried food that I've never had before.....
So we've actually came home with money *for the lunch packs we didn't have to pay for!
Came home last night to a harvest of blackberries and tomatoes from our garden.
Went shopping this morning for a few bits which I'll add to my sig in a moment..but hope won't need too much till the end of month..
Tomorrow I'm off for a family hol in a caravan so only OB to feed and he's sworn to follow the menu planner.
Take Care everyone!!
SFT

OrkneyStar

Just popped on to update my sig. We were in town nipped into T's to get some mozarella for tonights pizza, also got some reduced bread products. Spent £5.51 but then noticed a mistake so was refunded 68p, so actually another £4.83 added to weekly and August total.
Will pop on later, after baking, to read the other posts but in the meantime hugs to all.
x
:wave:

andan

Hiya all, hope your all well. I am just popping in to let you know my total so far for this month. I am currently on £92.07 out of a total of £125 allocated. I am quite pleased with it, however i did get a lot of free food thanks to mystery shops. However doing this challenge has encouraged me to ensure i take a prepared drink out with me as i have found this is where a lot of my money is going, on small bottles of pop. Crazy really as for a cost of one of the tiny bottles i buy when i'm out, i could buy two of the big bottles i have at home.

gunsandbanjos

Am getting perilously close to my budget:eek: Shouldnt need anything else this week though hopefully, going for a weeks worth of NSD's. Have a waitrose delivery coming tomorrow but it will all be from the Bulk Buy budget.

calleyw

I now have £1.50 ish for the rest of the week :eek:

Mind you I have both a freezer and store cupboard jam packed. Will need milk and fruit. Milk will be made up powdered and fruit reduced to clear if I can get my hands on any.

Went to sainsburys to pick up some extra bits like pasta etc. Picked up some organic salmon 2 pieces for a £1 normally £4 something :eek: popped that in the freezer.

I bought two 1.5kgs of porridge oats and 2 x 1KG bags of past shapes £1.34 each :eek: and 2 X 500g of spaghetti where 64p each :eek: these are both wholemeal.

Then we over to somerfield to pick up cathedral city cheese at £2 a block. Ok until november and some frozen chips on offer and some hot pockets. I know but husband wanted to know what they where. So I bought them as they where on offer I know :rotfl:

Might get paid a the end of the week. Better do as I will have no fuel to get to work the following week :rotfl:

Again next months budget will be a £100


Yours


Calley