September 2008 Grocery Challenge. Please read first two posts.

Coolmum66

Morning all

The sun is shining here and I feel quite positiv about life!

Did my shopping yesterday, walked into town (dragged son along to help carry the bags!) Spent a total of £25.14 - including 2 big bags of bananas from the local market - baking banana & walnut cakes later.

Now spent £113.86 from the total of £220.

Thinking I may be able to drop to £50 a week next month?

Anway - hope you all enjoy the sun today

Take care

Coolmum. xx

Rowan9

ahem........can I please retire from the challenge, having blown it?
Ta
Will be back next month and make a concentrated effort!!

Pitlanepiglet

Optimisticpair wrote: »

Top Banana the person who thought of the IOU vouchers. I think it's a great idea.

Could you present hubby with vouchers that entitle him to claim something immediately, a kiss, cuddles, snogs as well as in the future? Something erm 'exciting' a striptease? maybe like "this voucher entitles Mr Shelbell to *Xrated* between Monday 22nd and Sunday 28th?

That's a fantastic idea....that would make my hubby's year I'm sure :rotfl:

savingfortravel

Hi Everyone!!
Been a bit slack with menu planning lately so OB and I have just sat down and planned until 26th Oct. Feels much better and we will be using up a lot of whats in the freezer so next month 'could' be a good month.
OB's birthday tomorrow .. he always has the day off so he's planning to make crumble with some of our 'free' blackberries and apples. We never normally have puddings so it will be a real treat. Also might make some more raspberry muffins.
Won't need too much before we finish this month on the 26th-stir fry veg only I think. But I did notice in Mr T:
Clover lighter spread 500g-half price about 89p
Youngs King Prawns at 1.99 - great for our fish pies.
2 x Liver-1.50
So we'll be getting these for next month.
Going to catch up on posts now. Keep up the good work everyone. Should have enough for my Costa Rica trip by Friday. Have to think about what my next travel challenge from Grocery Savings will be..(I'm just sneaking that in).. will prob be the only way we'll get to go away since OB still has no job to go to.
SFT

Optimisticpair

annelouise wrote: »

Menu planner going well,I just circle unused meals to use up in future weeks to make space in the freezer.
annelouise :rotfl:

Doh, Thick or what! :embarasse A written list of what's in the freezer, of course, that's the answer to me not being able to remember what is in there. I hope it is just because I am house-and freezer-sharing and not down to the menopause.

Are you like me get sick of making the same things after a while? I have picked up some really good meal ideas from you people. I'll post some up as soon as things stop being so hectic. Is there a special thread I should post recipes to?

WelshWoofer

Afternoon all! Lovely sunny day here in Manchester.

Did my final big shop of the month yesterday at Mr S and managed to spend exactly £27. I think I'm a pound or two over my target for the month but I'm not too bothered as it was the first month shopping for two after the OH moved in and my target was really a guess at what I would spend. I think that I could actualy reduce it a bit as I went a bit bonkers some weeks with all of the excitement and alos had visitors for the weekend last week so I'm going to aim at £150 next month.

I won't declare yet as my month finishes on Friday and we may need milk etc before then buut all of the meals are catered for and there's plenty of loo roll, cleaning stuff and toiletries in to last well into next week too.

Just faffing about on the laptop waiting for the groomer to ring for me to pick up the dog after his haircut/makeover! Its bangers and mash for tea tonight and its the dog's favourite to make up for the trauma of the haircut - OH will have to like it or lump it!

Have a good afternoon.....

russetred

Hi all, just on to update my sigy.I was getting a bit panicky when I was adding up this week as there were some big numbers but still have about £50 left to play with till friday and heaps in.I couldn't pass on a few reduced bits like a big gammon joint,a silverside and a rolled lamb shoulder.All of those will do a Sunday roast and at least one more meal beside, knowing me more than one.I'm having a roast chicken with lemon and thyme stuffing,carrots and roasties for tea and I should have enough left over to make chicken and bacon carbonnara for tomorrow and a large pot of soup for lunches during the week.Its finally dry today so I even have washing out.

ShelBell

thanks all x really appreciate the suggestions. Have decided to throw him a small party next weekend as I get paid on Thursday, and will keep it cheap and cheerful. So I'll run off a nice voucher and slip it in his card. Will try out the icing on a slab idea too tomorrow while he's at work.

Have just sorted out my cupboards so I know whats in there, next comes the freezer. It's full so there should be no problems tiding over.

mrssnowy_2

nykmedia wrote: »

Just popping in to say ...

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarg.............. why is everything getting so expensive? £10 for a gammon joint? (OK, it's advertised at £5 HALF PRICE but still....

Do you buy from your local butchers? I had a 3kg slipper gammon(odd shape) for £5.30,plus 2.5kg brisket which was £5.26 from our local.Cooked the brisket for lunch today fantastic flavour,very little fat and scrummy gravy.Gammon is vac packed so will keep for a bit ,but when I need to cook it usually cut in half and freeze other piece.

Back on track with GC after hol,went to dentist tother day(28 miles away),only had £9 (hadn't time to go to bank)and a £5 MrM voucher,came home with 3 big bags full of stuff as went to newly opened Lidls as well:D
Have made bread,choc muffins(nomnom),soup(Mon lunch),yogurt,stewed 2 big pans apples(freezer fare)and enough lunch for a few days.
Really need to tidy garden but have run out of enthusiasm as I have rotten throat.
Girls at work (and there are some 30 years younger than me:o ) now coming round to GC and want cooking tips,have young children and boy to they buy carp and waste money.(One has 2 bags of crisps every morning for coffee,followed by a choc bar.)

Hugs to all
mrss
PS Scotsaver,I have an original Frugal Delia which I do use ,lovely easy dahl recipe!!

BigMummaF

I am 100% sure that recipes are allowed guys so if you wouldn't mind posting the veggie haggis & Orkney's wonderful finds please
Iwas peeling some squidgy apples today to put into a fruit jelly & musing on the idea of using the peelings like I did with the taiters. How do you think spraying with oil & sprinkling with sugar, or just dribbling with honey, & flashing under the grill would work?