September 2008 Grocery Challenge. Please read first two posts.

shaz_mum_of__2

looking for ideas fora glut of apples plums,green tomatoes, courgettes and runner beans and assorted squash not got much freezer space left and already got lots of chutney any ideas ?

Seriously considering one of these
http://www2.westfalia.net/shops/household/kitchen/cooking_desiccating_grilling/desiccating_appliances/193811-food_dehydrator.htm


what do you think ??


My fave crumble is gooseberry quite tart but counteracted with cream its perfect


First day of the challenge for me well swimming lessons to pay but not from GB

seriously tempted to do a CO-OP run at 6 as they have the reduced stuff then but beginning to realise to save money it's best to stay out of the shops

Shaz

gunsandbanjos

shaz_mum_of__2 wrote: »

Social science at Lincoln

But not at Lincoln at my local college !!

what you doing

Shaz

Doing a BSc in Mathematics at Heriot Watt, i'm a little scared:o

ravylesley

Day 1 of my first challenge and feeling quite smug as its a NSD for me.Don't worry the smugness wont last as I've got to do some shopping before Wed as need juices etc for lunchboxes for the kids:o

Shaz mum of 2 how about bottling some of the glut in syrup?
TJ Hughes had the preserving jars in last time I looked and they were only a couple of quid

Lesleyxx

OrkneyStar

Hi all,
Hope Sept GC going well for all of you.
I am finding setting a weekly budget really working for us, and so this is the second month doing this. The pattern seems to be, make a rough meal plan/list of what we always need and go to supermarket (Tesco or sometimes Lidl) and get this stuff. Comes to about £15-25 depending on what we need.
Then the rest of the money is used throughout the week (spent more locally in Coop or local shops) to stock up on perishables like milk, whoopsies and any COOP offers. £40 per week gets all we need without having too much money to over-spend and waste yet keeping us happily and healthily fed . The next weeks meal plan is largely built round what we have in plus we do another £15-25 shop at the start of the week for the other bits, and so it goes on.
In the COOP today I got more washing stuff (all of their own brand washing powder/liquid seems to be on special)- got Bio liquid £2.99 BOGOF, also got 2 x washing liquid for £1, some milk, Munch Bunch at 79p (seems to be on offer everywhere right now) and a Haddock Mornay meal reduced to £1.50 (don't normally do ready meals- this is 2 pieces of haddock with a separate portion of creamy cheese sauce so will likely beef this up to a fish pie one day next week).
Ok, signing off for now. Off to make a creamy sauce to go with the roasted veg and chicken pasta for tea.
:wave:
xxx

shaz_mum_of__2

gunsandbanjos wrote: »

Doing a BSc in Mathematics at Heriot Watt, i'm a little scared:o

I am dead excited already did a little couse for mature degree students so met a few people already and the tutor was great and i realised ............................theres nothing to be scared about ,well other than the lack of money and childcare:rotfl: :rotfl:

I have bought a flask and a little cool bag,i will stay out of the refetory even though they sell posh lattes

my grant payment schedule has arrived and i have worked out a budget ..............we will see if reality matches the spreadsheet:rotfl: :rotfl:


Shaz

Chell

A weekly budget is working for me too, I was well under last month and the cupboards aren't bare at all.

We picked blackberries earlier but I washed them in a colander several times and they still looked manky so I threw them into the garden for the birds. I'm not sure if it was because they were over ripe or just too close to a busy road. They were full of flies too.

I prepared a veggie casserole last night ready for us to have this evening as I find the flavour improves with time. We are having that with puff pastry squares and some cauliflower.

I'm feeling like a domestic goddess today. :rotfl: I made some bread dough using a Hovis mix which I made into little flat breads covered with cheese and mushrooms. I've froze these for DS to take for his packed lunches as he isn't a sandwich lover. I then made another pack of the Hovis mix for a loaf and now I've two Yoghurt cakes in the oven.

I told DH that his dinner might not be on the table as soon as he walks in, his response was, 'why not?'. He better have been joking! It has been my first day alone with DS, DD and DD who is just three weeks old.

I spent about £5 in Morrisons. I only went for milk but they had some potatoes that looked nice for jacket spuds so they'll make a cheap meal. I also got two packs of School bars (fruity snacks that children like) as they were reduced to 50p (allegedly from £1.09 but they've been cheaper than that everywhere lately but still a good buy).

MrsM, I am rubbish with pastry, I think my hands are just too sweaty and hot all the time to make it. I can never get it to be short enough.

Hugs to all those who need them. Good luck to those starting at college or Uni and welcome to all the new posters.

Can I be put down for £55 per week please.

Instore have 3 packs of granulated sugar for £1. I'm not sure how much it is in the supermarkets but this sounded very cheap.

Chell

OrkneyStar wrote: »

Munch Bunch at 79p (seems to be on offer everywhere right now)

Pack of 6 small ones are 50p in Morrisons.

Also the Muller Corners are on 10 for £2 - all varieties (Morrisons). I didn't get these today as I'd got the mini ones reduced in Asda last week.

turbo5019

Thanks Mrs M for the roasted tomatoes advice they are lovely. Also cooked Chewy Soft Flour Tortilla for lunch, 2 x Weetabix Brownies, 2 x lemon drizzle cakes and sausage rolls, will be putting on the BM in a while once I have had a rest.

I noticed that Mr A is doing smart price curry sauce in jars for 5p. That was in the Lowestoft store.

Had my first spend of this month 55p on curry sauce well I didn't get them my sister got them I am trying to stay out of the shops as I don't really need anything.

A quick question can you freeze natural yogurt is goes out of date today?

sashanut

Hi all

Have just declared on the August thread - underbudget for the first time ever......must have forgotten something methinks! Anyhow, not an NSD today as milk needed but don't know how much as DH went to get it.

Other than that, today should have been an NSD as we are off to a fancy do tonight. gosh it means I have to get all dressed up, hair makeup & the lot.....at least the tickets don't come out of the GC otherwise I would be out of pocket before the start. Not to mention the amount of ££ needed in case we have to buy a round of drinks at the table :eek: (hope not!!) Only 2 hours now to get ready, spose I better make a start as it takes a while...can you tell I don't do this very often???

:mad: BTW, I have a frozen milk problem,not sure what to do....the big 6-pinters I froze when they were on offer (whole milk) have separated when thawed & you can't use it in tea/on cereal as it it too clumpy & DH complains a lot. Managed to use it for custard but there is a limit to have much custard you can eat (is there?) Any ideas welcome or do I have to chuck it??? TIA if you can help........................:D

c_l_a_i_r_e

Hi everyone :hello:

I just want to say what a great idea this thread is. Hopefully i can join in and have september as my first grocery challenge month. I am aiming to spend £280 this month.

Our spending has got a bit out of control recently, we just nip into tesco after work etc and end up spending a fortune:eek: Hopefully by doing the challenge and keeping receipts will force me to look at our spending and see where we can cut it down. I know £280 may seem high for two people and a dog going by other peoples budgets, but its less than we're spending now and hopefully i can reduce it down over the next few months.

I have started doing some cooking from scratch this past fortnight, so i'm really grateful to all who post recipes on this board. It really helps a complete novice like myself so thanks again to everyone :A

I'm off to read through this whole thread, wish me luck lol :hello: