August 2008 Grocery Challenge

fluffysox

Hi everyone!

Welcome to all the newbies- I'm sure this site will help you cut down on the spending and produce some quality food too!

Well done to all the parents who've survived the school hols- you'll all be glad the kids are going back soon I'm sure:rotfl: . I'm slightly depressed that there's only one week left before I have to go back to work:p . OH starts new job on the same day as our term starts though so its all a bit exciting!

Well we've had a good weekend despite the weather. Went to a fantastic wedding reception on Saturday and a birthday party on Sunday- there was nice food at both. So no evening meal required . OH was particularly impressed by bacon butties being provided at the end of the wedding reception (saved me making supper for him:p ). OH very merry both nights:rotfl: but I didn't drink alcohol at either party so taxi money saved:A .

Mum and I both bought whole chickens the other day. She does a roast on a Sunday so I asked her to cook mine while she has hers in the oven- one way to reduce the bills:T , so we had cold chicken with a few oven chips (rare treat for OH) and salad tonight. Also made a chicken and vegetable soup earlier today with chicken and stock from the bones of a chicken earlier in the week. It's a bit bland, maybe the cabbage I added has diluted the flavour- although I love cabbage soup? I definitely didn't add too much water because its nice and thick.

I think I might try to make a chicken lasagne- inspired by Mrs Mc's talk of cannelloni with some of the meat from this chicken- yum-yum- and prepare some lovely sandwiches for OH to have at work too.

Good night all!

KAAT_LADY

brummiebabe

Well - declaring my final total as £358.92 - overspent by £58.92!!

Never mind - September is a new month - my challenge starts on Wednesday so have ordered Tesco delivery for Tuesday evening. Lots of BOGOFs etc and a £13 code found on MSE - have ordered lots of staple goods/household stuff, so more expensive shop than normal - but should mean cheaper weeks for the rest of the month!:D

See everyone on the September thread!:rotfl:

pink_princess

free kikkomen recipie cards if any-one wants them they also have some good recipies (but no swede one s lol).
http://www.kikkoman.co.uk/contact/register.shtml
on the christmas theme i already have my brandy sauce and christmas pudd purchased in january but dated 2009 july.i do need to get planning though,night all.

perrywinkle

Perrywinkle

angelnikki

Can everyone please put their totals in red when they declare as I'm a bit brain dead at the mo and am getting confused and not able to read every post properly. Thanks xx

tq16 wrote: »

p.s notice alot of you are using bread mix, is that cheaper than buying bread flour etc or just easier?

HM Bread

500g / 1lb bread flour 16p (48p 1.5KG)
1tsp salt 1p (74p/750g)
1tsp sugar 1p (£1.61/2KG)
1tsp quick yeast 5p? (99p/125g)
275ml / 1/2 pint hand hot water
1tbsp oil 1p

=24p/loaf

Hovis white bread mix 29p MrT & MrA
Hovis granary bread mix 27p MrA 34p MrT

So it is cheaper to make it yourself with flour & yeast instead of using the mixes and you dont have any additives if you do it yourself; but it can be easier/quicker for some to use the hovis mix, as it's not massively more expensive. Other mixes are more expensive. Most are 50p - 75p each. HTH

Nikki x

samarnesen

hi
id love to start this for september but im at a bit of a loss on what budget to put down theres 2 adults 7 children and 2 cats im spending around £110 per week at the moment but i dont like how much that sounds on a monthly basis lol i dont currently do a meal planner but will start from sept
could someone give me a realistic budget
ps 4 of the children will be having packed lunches from sept

busy_mum_4

Can I please ask what are mystery shops that people talk about???

meanmarie

Samarneson,

Your budget of £110 per week doesn't sound too bad to me....spent that and more myself when I had my 7 at home in the 80's...why not go for £475 for September and see how you get on....that's roughly multiplying your weekly spend by 4.333...not a crime to come in below budget and you can then adjust for October if needs be.
Good luck

Marie

samarnesen

thanks for that marie

it just sounds far too much to be spending on food for the month especially as a few months back i was only spending about £85 a week