Fire Fox's Debt-Free in 2009 Diary

Fire_Fox

In the mood for cooking so have made the vegetarian curry - onion, garlic, ginger, spicy chickpeas and a jar of tomato sauce, frozen spinach and creamed coconut. Decided not to use homemade tomato sauce as it has red wine in.

Edited to add: the curry is lovely, I had a quarter for lunch and was stuffed. I think adding coconut gives it a more rounded flavour and stops me missing meat. Mr. Fire Fox made smoked fishcakes for dinner and, after all my worry, they were quite tasty!

*Jellie*

You're making me hungry again!!

Fire_Fox

A little late night spending of £20 of my Amazon vouchers (free delivery and Nectar points). £10 on a frugal cookery book for me and £10 towards Mr. Fire Fox's birthday next month.

This morning in the post I got my first Tesco Wine Club mailing, inluding lots of lovely vouchers. Hoping to use these in conjunction with the remaining £20 of double up vouchers and conditional spend vouchers from my normal Clubcard mailing! :j

Fire_Fox

The last two days I have eaten chickpea curry on my own, and then chuck-it-in-the-oven food with Mr. Fire Fox when he gets in from a late shift. He's home today so have taken the chicken breast out of the freezer for chicken tikka and rice OR chicken satay and noodles. Have plenty of onions, a wrinkly yellow pepper and frozen peas so should be able to pad the meat to both meals. :beer:

Fire_Fox

Another Clubcard mailing arrived this morning with yet more coupons! The ones for my next Tesco trip are too specific to be of use, but got 50p off organic cheddar and £1 off £4 on organic products for later in the month both of which I can use (presumably together!). :j And checked my Clubcard balance to find I already have £2 due in the next quarter.

Just been to Tesco Express for yoghurt to add to chicken tikka and chocolate because it's Friday night, and come back having spent £3.30 on crisps (offer) and fresh cream cakes (reduced). Remembered to use my Clubcard, to add 8 points from Mr. Fire Fox's previous visit, and picked up the previous customer's receipt for another 12 points.

Fire_Fox

Back from Asda having spent £41 on groceries and £6 on transportation. :T Expensive items were:
Three Smartprice containers £2.70
Two frozen pizzas £2 (offer)
Three litres Cravendale milk £2 (offer)
Fifteen free range eggs (offer with cheddar)
Two large blocks Cathedral City cheddar £5
Two packs healthy cheese £3.10
One block Emmental £2
Two packs pork rib chops £6 (offer)
Two bags Granny Smiths £2 (offer)

Went with a list and stuck to it, bought mainly fresh products as planned. Now at £48 for the Grocery Challenge, which means I need to hammer the vouchers in Tesco in a fortnight!

Fire_Fox

Fire_Fox wrote: »

In the Freezer
[STRIKE]Cooked chicken breast[/STRIKE]
Breaded chicken
Two chicken pizzas
Turkey in white sauce (needs eating)
Two meals of cooked turkey
Turkey mince
One meal of bolognese sauce
Beef & sundried tomato burgers
One pack of pork sausages
Four meals of pork rib chops
[STRIKE]Piece of leg of lamb[/STRIKE]

Two whole fresh trout
[STRIKE]One smoked trout[/STRIKE]
One battered cod (needs eating)
Two portions salmon
[STRIKE]Bag of[/STRIKE] few king prawns
Three portions chicken stock
Two portions turkey stock
One portion fish stock (needs eating)

Three portions of tomato sauce
[STRIKE]Egg fried rice (needs eating)[/STRIKE]
Hash browns
Southern fried wedges
Half a bag of curly chips
Petit pois
Supersweet corn
Corn on the cob (needs eating)
Brocolli and cauliflower
Spinach
Chopped garlic

Waste this week was quite bad - two carrots, two nectarines and a pack of strawberries. :mad: Just discovered Raisin Wheats, which are Mr. Fire Fox's favourite cereal, are on offer at Tesco until the 15th. This throws out my schedule a bit ...

ZiggyStardust_2

Fire_Fox wrote: »

Waste this week was quite bad - two carrots, two nectarines and a pack of strawberries. :mad: Just discovered Raisin Wheats, which are Mr. Fire Fox's favourite cereal, are on offer at Tesco until the 15th. This throws out my schedule a bit ...

I've actually stopped buying strawberries as I always seemed to have to throw them out and used to drive me mad

*Jellie*

Which frugal cookery book did you buy? Any good?
I've just realised Economy Gastronomy failed to record last week so I'll have to look it up on i-player. It's a shame as I might have wanted to rewatch how to do some of the recipes when I actually come to make them and I won't be able to now.

Fire_Fox

I ordered Delia's 'Frugal Food' and I already have Jocasta Innes 'Paupers Cookbook'. I can't watch Economy Gastronomy as we still don't have a functioning TV!! Looks like I will need to amend my budget as I think it will be just me here soon.