August 2008 Grocery Challenge

susan946

EagerLearner wrote: »

Susan - do you have a slow cooker? I use mine to make 1 litre yoghurt weekly and it works so well... £0.95p for 1 litre. Plus the yoghurt maker itself is pricey and can only be used for yoghurt, whereas slow cooker can be used for loads, and the yoghurt sachets are also expensive as a running cost

Yes, I've been using the sc very successfully, but the sc is huge - looked OK in the shop but when I got it home..... It's wonderful for cooking casseroles etc in bulk but I find the bowl awkward to use for the yog. Also use the sc so much it often isn't available when I want to use it. :mad:

I've been using the recipe posted on this thread - listed on the first page - but adding sweetner and mixed spice. I then chop some plums, and add sweetner and spice to them (and if I'm feeling naughty a slug of cassis!), and pop them in the mw for a couple of minutes. Put a layer of cool plums in th bottom of a ramekin dish and spoon the yog over the top. Fantabulous!!!!:T

I would use the same recipe in the yog maker and not use the sachets. They are expensive as you say and I'm sure they contain loads of additives I should prefer not to eat!!! Hubby is diabetic and I wouldn't be able to use anything with sugar in it - not that I've looked at the ingredients in the sachets I hasten to add; I might be prejudging the contents.

Sue

nessquic80

Thats it folks im declaring £183 for augusts GC. I think i'll give myself a pat on the back:j :j :j

OrkneyStar

Ok, firstly MrsM can we please have a budget of £40 per week again for September (4 weeks this month so £160 in total) for 2 adults and 1 DS (14 months) to include all food, toiletries, cleaning, loo roll, pet food.
Am close to declaring for Aug (2 days left)- we have been under every week and so hopefully will be under totally (unless it all goes pear-shaped in the next two days :eek: ). I have hummed and hawed and oooed and ahhhed about this £20 per month bargain/BOGOF budget I decided to start in Aug but finally decided to do away with it as it was too confusing. (This month we spent £19.77 of the £20 so technically were under budget on that too. TBH I want to stick to the £40 per week and direct the £5 or so per week that the BOGOF equates to to something more useful!! Hope this makes some sense! Have put this alternative total on my sig too- in italic font but will remove it once we are on a new month).
Well done to all those who were under and hugs to those who were over, good luck to those still plodding on through Augs.
x

Astonished_2

denisefowler wrote: »

Do they not deliver? sorry, thought it might be more use than that. Still cheaper than the loaf tho eh! can't believe you pay so much for such a small loaf - just proves a point that they charge throught the nose to anyone with something that is not ordinary or if they need it... sorry, rambling again...:D

No worries - the link was very helpful!

You feel free to ramble - having to pay over the odds for normal every day stuff like pasta (£1.69 for the last bag of penne!) just about breaks my heart but I love pasta so what do you do!! However, I am making a concerted effort to concoct my own gluten free recipes rather than paying ott prices in the shops - and it is involving loads more home cooking for me which is saving me lots of pennies - every cloud has a silver lining...:D

Thanks letting me know what you do/don't include in your budgets EagerLearner, SavvyStudent and Orkneystar. I think I'm going to continue as I was and include everything as I usually do because otherwise I won't be able to see if I really have made a saving (although if I were take off alcohol and bathroom stuff we'd probably be well under!).

scotsaver

Alexelisey wrote: »

Scotsaver - many thanks for that, it's made my mind up and I'll probably pop along to Dartford Thursday of next week when I have some money in the kitty At least I can usually find somewhere to park in Dartford.

Alexelisey - Hope you enjoy browsing round the Market and find some bargains.

chocolateteddy

Hi all, Although I haven't posted much I have been reading all the posts I have decided to give up on counting my spends for August as we had a holiday for the first 11 days . I think I will start fresh again on Monday for September. I have been within budget since we came back so not too bothered and the schools go back next week making it easier to not overspend! So Nikki/Mrs M I declare technically £280 for August and will set a budget of £275 for september 4 week month Now I've got the hang of this I hope to start reducing my budget each month Got to really just had notification Elec is going up 19.2% and Gas 32.2%:eek: And school dinners are going up as well :mad: so more packed lunches I think! and sitting in the dark:rotfl: Had a baking day today - courgette teabread, weetabix brownies, and hm rolls (can't keep production up to them eating them all!!!) Off out tomorrow so nsd except for icecreams at the wildlife park (Kids go free with birthday vouchers:D ), and friday going to beach for day so portion of chips for tea I think;) with sand of course! Will sign off now till september thread. Off to start making labels for Christams Card envelopes Been meaning to do it for years and save my wrist writing all the addresses out.

scotsaver

Evening everyone - I have been shopping today to Sainsburys with my shiny new September budget, managed to get some whoopsied Beef Mince, Lamb Mince and Pork Chops so quite pleased. So updated my Sept figure and also included what I spent last week at Dartford Market and stashed in the freezer as it won't be used until September - hope that makes sense.;)

Dinner tonight was Spag Bol with salad from the Garden, tomatoes were from a shop but looks like I may be able to pick my first tomatoes tomorrow.:D Pudding was yoghurt with Raspberries picked from the Garden, we are getting quite a few now but the girls just want to eat them and I want to make them into Jam. So, I have a plan, when they are back at School next week I shall pick some and make some Jam when I have some time to myself.:cool:

Have a good evening everyone and good luck with those still declare their totals.:D

MrsBartolozzi

Nt been on much this month as we've been busy, and I lost my pile of receipts for a while there! Found them and was pleasantly surprised as I had spent less than I thought!! So far my total is £242.65 out of £250. I don't expect to need anything before the end of the month so I will declare this total for August, anything I do spend will come out of September's budget.

My September runs from the 1st til 30th and I will stick at £250 again please MrsM.
This is for 2 adults, our 16 year old and 11 year old sons with huge appetites and covers food, cleaning products and bath stuff etc.

MrsM.

AlwaysHappy

Thankfully a no spend day for me today - I needed it, my spends so far have been truly horrific - the only thing I keep thinking is that they usually probably are but at least now I'm focussing on them and can hopefully learn from this, and also stretch the small remaining budget to the hilt - I see some of your monthly totals and can just look on in amazement - well done to you all!

KAAT_LADY

hi there all

Its an NSD for me today but I will have to go out tomorrow and get some things for my chutney,, i do not have all the ingredients. I have tomorrows lunch picked out already

DH would like his favourite which is

Roberts Lunch

spinach
2 Mozzarellaa
2 eggs
butter
2 ramikins

butter the inside of the ramikins,, and line with spinach,,leaving enough to fold over and cover top to make a lid
half fill with mozzarella
cover mozzarella with a rw unbeaten egg
Season with a pinch of salt & black pepper
then cover the top with the spinach

place in a pan of hot water, enough to go halfway up the ramikins

gently poach for 15-20 minutes until egg is cooked

turn out onto a plate

(if using large spinach leaves ,,blanche first)

he just loves this ,, he first had it in Italy about 40 years ago

See you later

KAAT xx