September 2008 Grocery Challenge. Please read first two posts.

ailz95

Went to Mr S this morning and spent £34.83. Mostly Basics items. They had OH's toothbrush refills on half price (Colgate) so I bought 2 and 2 deodorants - Sanex - also at half price (88p) for the aeresols. Roll ons are 8 but they didn't have the sensitive, and it's the only deodorant that doesn't have me walking around scratching my 'pits like a monkey :rotfl: . Not too bad a spend I suppose. No more shopping until next Wednesday anyway.

*BigBird*

Hi all. Got the rest of my shopping at MrT yesterday (after forgetting my list on Monday). Spent a little more than planned as I got a few whoopsies. One of the whoopsies was some cheese rolls, which I have just had for lunch and they were gorgeous. I'd like to have a go at making something like them myself. They seemed to have onion in them too - would it work if I used a basic bread roll recipe, but added some chopped and fried onion into the dough, and then sprinkled cheese on before baking them?

I think there will be some experimenting going on this weekend...

Also have some cooking apples to use up, so think I'll make an apple crumble (maybe blackberry and apple - if the rain keeps off tomorrow, I'll go out and pick some more). Is it OK to add the crumble and then freeze? Or is it better to just freeze the filling and add the crumble topping when you're ready to eat it?

Sorry for all the questions today

echelon101

Back from France

Went to Co-op + Sainsburies with some dosh

Best buy was probably a 10p brown Walburton loaf
Surprise 1kg of F.Veg from Sainsburies is only 91p
A grapefruit is bigger yet cheaper than an orange.

Total Shop for the week came to a lovely - £7.60

OrkneyStar

hi there,
Just wanted to pop on and say hello to everyone and give you all a big pat on the back for trying hard (and a gentle kick to the slackers ). Yesterday I went to Lidl/Tesco to get a few more bits with the rest of this weeks money- no offers to report really, other than that our Tesco had lots of dried fruit/nuts reduced (decent length of time) so got DS some raisins and some hazelnuts for us (for cookies ). No more spends needed this week as we are well stocked up, will pop on on Friday night though to declare the end of this week (and the month so far). DH also came in with another free box of eggs- lovely, good job we are having quiche tonight- need to find some more egg ideas (will have a good nosey around the OS threads).
I am struggling energy wise so not had time to read all your posts but hugs to all who need them.
Take care
x OS

Money_saving_Diva_2

Hi all!

My OH popped down to Lidls last night to pick up a few items we needed.. came back having spent £14!! I could have cried. It isn't that he bought anything silly, just that it is another big chunk out of our budget. I got a bit down actually, I feel like I am failing my own challenge and I made our budget ridiculously generous I thought,(though it was a lot less than we had been spending)

Oh well - I come here and I read how well everyone is doing and it perks me up no end! This is only my first month and if I don't make it, I will just try again next month, but I haven't given up yet!!

Made Lemon curd icecream last night and peanut butter cookies - they were fab!! (made the lemon curd from scratch with cheap value lemons and cream knocked down cos of sell by date)

Hugs to all who need them

Diva.x

scotsaver

*BigBird* wrote: »

Also have some cooking apples to use up, so think I'll make an apple crumble (maybe blackberry and apple - if the rain keeps off tomorrow, I'll go out and pick some more). Is it OK to add the crumble and then freeze? Or is it better to just freeze the filling and add the crumble topping when you're ready to eat it?

Sorry for all the questions today

Hi *BigBird* - I think you should be ok to freeze the crumble with the topping - I too am swamped with Apples, 5 fallen off today alone and they are "whoppers" - we are also having crumble tonight and the rest of the apples I have peeled, cored and sliced and stashed into the Freezer.:D

Today I have also picked a load of Raspberries, this year has been a bumper crop, have boiled them down with a bit of sugar and water to make a Sauce for the girls to have on their yoghurt, they have started having this for breakfast in the morning before their toast/cereal.

Dinner tonight is going to be a bit of a trial for me - using a couple of the Indian dishes that were on the "feed your family for £5" competition, making the Yellow Split Pea Dahl, Spicy Potatoes and putting it with some HM Curry we had in the Freezer. Never made the Dahl or Spicy Potatoes before so hope it goes well.:cool:

Have a good day everyone.:D

ysatiss

It's all gone wrong!
I've spent £86.22 out of my £80 monthly budget... And it's only the 10th!

So I'm trying to cheer myself up:
- I realistically don't need to go shopping until the 25th as I'll be away for 3 days and I have loads in.
- I bought loads at the start of the month that will carry over into October.
- My freezer is overflowing as I have been cooking in bulk (also part of the reason why I don't need to go shopping until the 25th-ish).
- It's still a lot less than I was spending a few months ago.
- OH is over the moon as I'm being more creative and cooking from scratch.

Still... I'm over budget... I don't like it! It means I need to cut back elsewhere.

mummygems

I *think* I am doing okay at the moment. Am currently (desperately) trying to lose weight and am finding that I am spending heaps on fruit & veg as I am trying to get my 5 portions a day.

Does anyone have any tips to get my 5 a day without breaking the bank? I buy from supermarket (Tesco/Asda) and sometimes from Farm Shop/Market (although this weeks fruit & veg from the market has been disgusting and moudly etc so was not impressed).

We really need to tighten our belts (still and again). I think this is my 7th or so challenge and I still havent managed to cut the shopping bills down and I really could cry and to top it all off the veg I have been growing in the garden has either been eaten by various pests not grown/established or have tasted gross - waahhhh

MrsHayes

Hi everyone sorry I haven't been around computer is playing up again and I am just so tired at the moment I can't seem to concentrate on anything. Went to Lidl and Asda on Monday night. Spent £37 in Lidl so under budget by £3 then went to Asda for some toiletries. Was charged twice for some toothpaste when we only bought one but because I was tired and wanted to go home I didn't check my receipt until I got home so couldn't do anything about it which was very annoying. I am definitely not impressed with Asda at the moment corned beef has gone up from around 80-90p to £1.17 and that is for the smartprice stuff! Everything seems to be shooting up there so I am trying to do 95% of my shopping in Lidl/homebargains etc. Hope everyone is doing ok. I am now £4 over for the month so will try and make some back next week xxx

rosieben

Money_saving_Diva wrote: »

... My OH popped down to Lidls last night to pick up a few items we needed.. came back having spent £14!! I could have cried. It isn't that he bought anything silly, just that it is another big chunk out of our budget. I got a bit down actually, I feel like I am failing my own challenge and I made our budget ridiculously generous I thought,(though it was a lot less than we had been spending) ...

ysatiss wrote: »

It's all gone wrong!
I've spent £86.22 out of my £80 monthly budget... And it's only the 10th!
... .

Don't beat yourselves up if you don't make the budget - it takes a while to get there - took me several months to make target and that's catering just for myself! Just look back at what you used to spend and you'll see how much progress you've made :T

mummygems wrote: »

I *think* I am doing okay at the moment. Am currently (desperately) trying to lose weight and am finding that I am spending heaps on fruit & veg as I am trying to get my 5 portions a day.

Does anyone have any tips to get my 5 a day without breaking the bank?

I'm sure you'll get lots of help re your 5 a day but just wanted to check that you've seen the OS Losing Weight thread?