November 2008 Grocery Challenge

Julimk

Did a top-up shop today & have updated siggy. Had DD with me this weekend & she is a right whatsit for raiding the fridge & larder for snacks!

Am a bit over 2 weeks into my 4 week month, so about where I should be & so much better than pre-GC. The reductions in the morning aren’t too great; they had some whole happy chickens but only about £1 less than normal & have 10 chicken breasts & 2 tubs of cooked roast chicken in the freezer already! But did pick up a couple of packs of minced beef @ 90p each & some fresh meatballs @ 75p.

Still haven’t done any meal planning, as I am still working my way through the tubs of individual portions from previous batch cooks. But down to last 12 (2 each of 6 different dishes) and have reorganised the freezer, so have a better idea of what is actually in there.

scotsaver

Afternoon everyone - isn't this weather just awful, feels really Wintery today so been in the Kitchen to make Soup from yesterday's Chicken Carcass. Bought a Free Range Chicken from Lidl, was whoopsied by 30% so really chuffed, had it Roasted yesterday with all the trimmings, also made some Stuffing after inspiration from MRSMC, means that the Chicken goes further, stripped it off the bones and made a chicken pie with what was left for Tonight's Dinner and there is still a little bit left so shall add that to some veg tomorrow and make a curry for tomorrow night, 3 nights Dinners, I'm really pleased. Also made a steamed syrup sponge for tonight so we are having, HM Chicken Soup, HM Chicken Pie, HM Wedges and carrots and sponge for pudding, 3 courses tonight - family are going to think that Xmas has come early.:rotfl:

Going to Asda tomorrow but have a list and shall stick to it as don't need much and then off to Aldi - does anyone know if they are still doing the Butternut Squash etc for 69p - with this weather I love making Soup and haven't had BN Squash soup for ages.

Have a good evening everyone.;)

scotsaver

Primula wrote: »

Hi everyone
Well, I was really good week one and into week two and I have spent my whole week's shopping money already and I just know I am going to run out of coffee before the week's up.........ggggggrrrrr.........never mind I am still feeling motivated and this week didn't bin as much food as I have been known to do (I am so bad at buying too much, i.e. rather than buying one pepper, buying the pack of three). Anyway, this week all I binned was carrots and almost a whole loaf of bread. I am annoyed at myself for doing that, but it is better than usual and this week I will try and bin nothing! Haven't been on the computer for 3 or 4 days and I also feel that keeping coming on here reguarly is definitely a good way of staying motivated, so I aim to be back more often!

Hi Primula - don't know if the Carrots or the bread were mouldy but how about turning excess/unused Veg into some HM Soup and then with the bread you could turn it into Breadcrumbs for HM Stuffing, Apple Charlotte, Bread Pudding. The breadcrumbs can also be frozen and used at a later date, my DD2 doesn't like the crusts on my HM bread so I always freeze the bits I cut off and then turn them into something else;) - there are loads of different recipes on the front page which will give you loads of inspiration.:D

Primula

Thank you Scotsaver for your ideas, I will go have a look at the recipes. Still trying to get my head round all the abbreviations but just cannot think what HM is?! Silly me!

Just posted this and think I have got it now - HM = HOME MADE! OMG how silly can i be?!!!

meanmarie

Spent €77.37 to day...not too happy with the amount, but I had the 68 year old child with me (OH) and he threw at least €10 worth of stuff in that I would never buy...let him off to-day but he will be buying any extra milk and bread for the rest of the month so I reckon I will come out at least even if not ahead!

Bought some hake fillets and am looking forward to trying them, love fish but try not to buy cod as it is endangered, now have 4 fish dinners in freezer, one chicken, several spag bol and enough eggs and other leftovers to do at least a couple more meals for all 4 of us.

Forgive me if I smile at people complaining about food prices in UK, not meant unkindly but feel that a week of grocery shopping here would cause heartfailure...the Lidl offers for 69p are €1.29 here for example, there is never a reduction of anything to 10c....unless it was only 11c to begin with and YS in our Tesco only ever seem to refer to things like cakes and pies that I would not buy anyway. Rumour has it that Asda may buy out our Dunnes Stores and it will be very interesting to see what happens if the deal goes through.

Off to update signature, good luck all.

Marie

OrkneyStar

Small GC spends today, milk only.
Spent some money on other stuff (lunch for me and DS being one) but that is from another budget.
Have £679 coming off my current a/c for car bill!!!!, but hoping that this years service will not be typical (last year was only £130, we needed a new timing belt this time, along with tyres, brake stuff, other service usuals- car only 5 yrs old too!).
Trying hard to be good, there is plenty food in the cupboards/freezer and I am aiming to find things to do other than food shopping (knitting, park, toddler stuff, walks in the rain and wind!, baking- yesterday I made english muffins, the flat ones not the cakey ones!- if anyone wants the recipe I can post it- its very simple!).
Keep at it everyone.
:wave:

Sunny_Donny

Flat_Eric wrote: »

Morning everyone :wave:

. Im a big fan of Heinz Mean Beanz which Ive not been able to get hold of recently but I spotted them on asda online the other day and had been thinking of doing an order from asda but at 69p a can (you used to be able to get them for about 24p), they can keep them. I wonder how long it will be before supermarkets realise we are not prepared to pay these prices and reduce them to a more sensible level. perhaps we should start a list of boycotted items!!

We moved from HM Beans to Branston beans - on special offer at Asda 4 tins for 99p - they taste just as nice and 25p per tin!!!!!

Did small tesco shop - got their muller rice on special offer 27p per tub x 8 - yum. Spent £10.82 but this included loads of reduced stuff and fruit. Not bad so far for the month. Aiming to come in under budget!!!! (rolls on floor laughing!!)

wyrdsister

Hey all, just popping on quick to update my sig and to document some spending! Popped into MrT's today for some cheese, and spent the whole £2.51 I had in my purse for a nice massive block. I'm a cheese fiend so this will go down quick! Hoping to have enough left for some HM Pizza and to have with my HM burgers on thursday and friday night

angelnikki

Just doing my MrT online shop for tomorrow. Offers at the moment:

Youngs 8 wild pink salmon fillets half price £4.99 (DS's favourite food at the mo)

Linda Mccartney vegetarian sausages half price 89p (DS loves these too!)

Utterly Butterly 500g 2 for £1.50

Farm Pride free range eggs x6 £1

Big Green Tick turkey dippers / turkey steaks was £2.29 now 59p

Muller Rice 27p

240 Typhoo teabags £3

Pampers baby wipes BOGOF £1.99

Market Value butternut squash 50p

Nikki x

KAAT_LADY

evening all

we went into Lidl this evening and got pomegranates for 29p each they are reduced to 97p? in asda,, whats going on there and in tesco they are dearer
got loads of veg while we were in there as it was cheap and nice .. also got some flour for my bread..

well I will get off now to update signature as we went to asda yesterday as well
I got some mozzarella to go in the middle of my HM burgers ,, and put the bits I had left in my mashed potato ,,it was really nice

see you soon

KAAT xx