December 2008 Grocery Challenge

angelatgraceland

Well I'm just about to try out my new ice-cream maker! Never done this before and the instructions are not great so I'm hoping it turns out well. At last I'm using a vanilla pod! They have been sitting in the cupboard for 2 years unopened. I tasted the mixture-Id used half a pod-and it was lovely. Rescude the pod and will make some custard later today-Im sure there is enough flavour left for that! Just had bread and jam for lunch-sounds pathetic except that its homemade bread and homemade jam so not exactly a punishment! Still got my Xmas puds-none of us hungry enough for them yet so I'm hoping that rather than guzzle the icecream when it's made I can serve "a little" with some Xmas pudding.

lil_me

£289.38 for me, so close to Novembers.....see you on January's thread.

MRSMCAWBER

Angelatgraceland

If you don't get to use the pod to make custard today -you can just stick it in a pot/bag of sugar and leave -so you end up with vanilla sugar

sharronej

I love the tin idea and intend to implement it immediately! Last week we discovered Farm Foods, we bought some Christmas bits and pieces but I was really impressed by how cheap it seemed - does anyone have any pieces of information to guide me before I go and do a 'big' shop?

angelatgraceland

Well Ive just tasted the icecream-the frozen dregs after draining the mixture into a tub-and it is LUSH! Yes the pod itself will be in the sugar but the bit I snipped off which went in the icecream is the bit I want to use again today-its covered in icecream so will go great in custard! Thanks for reminding me tho to put the remainder of the pod in the sugar. Gives it a great flavour.
Decided to make HM pizzas for tea as Ive got mushrooms,onions,half tin of baked beans,cheese, if fridge so the dough is now mixing in the BM and we weill have one c/o one mushroom and cheese,one baked beans and onion pizza. Also have half a jar of spag bol in the fridge so I thought-pizza-when I looked in there just now. Pizza and icecream! Sounds like a kids day out. Doing hotdogs as a snack for big kids soon as Ive got some whoopsied rolls in the breadbin just screaming "sausages" at me. So that uses up the bit n pieces and I can start afresh tomorrow but as Im working Im sort of hoping that dd will feel tempted to do a pasta dish in my absence. Wonder if I can last till friday without spending??? Not necessary but it would be nice. Must try out my new steamer too-not today alas-got to check Lakeland also-still looking for whoopsied remoska!
edit-no luck on the remoska front but we used our chocolate fountain tonight-oh I'm stuffed-never want to eat any more chocolate! Its a bit of an expensive hobby by the way-definitely a "party" thing only. Was economical with the leftovers-drained it into a lined tub(lined with a silicone sheet)and will freeze the contents for next time! Didn't realise you add vegetable oil to the chocolate(unless its belgian). I think I prefer icecream!

milliejo

I'm declaring at £420 for December

please put me down for £325 for January.

I'm determined to try to get down to £300 per month during 2009 but not sure how realistic that is as I do include everything bought at the supermarket -food, cleaning stuff, wine etc rather than just food

philsmum

Thanks Mrs. M for your weight loss advice. Every time I use the word dieting I start to crave things I dont usually crave for, so will try your way.

Hope you all have a good New year:beer:

carolt2

Good afternoon all, just popped in to update signature and to declare this months total.

Had an unplanned shop at tesco this morning, so have gone slightly over budget, most of the items bought are going to be used in january.
So hopefully this will reflect in next months budget.

DECLARE FOR DEC, £200.82

Have added this to the total that has been running throughout the year and we have spent a whopping £2171.97 on groceries:eek: , (2 adults and 2 cats including packed lunch for OH)this works out to £180 per month.
Plan for 2009 is to try and cut this to approx £150 per month which is what i have set budget at.

See you all in January's thread
:beer:

JayJay14

I thought I was going way over this month as the run up to Christmas was more expensive than I anticipated, but since the 25th I have hardly spent anything (have also been laid up with flu bug so that may have had a bearing on the result).

I still have two days left so I'll be declaring on Wednesday night as I have to pick DD up from work at ASDA at 5pm that night and I may find something going cheap I just can't resist.:D

CRANKY40

I have my December total £148.01, which is under budget (but only just). My budget was £150.00. My freezer is full, and I'm cooking instead of eating junk, so I'm pleased. I'm not tempted to try and decrease my £30 a week. My real challenge will be when dh comes home from sea in March - I'd like to feed all three of us on the £30 a week.