January 2009 Grocery Challenge

Baileys_Babe

We've had a spend day today as I had ordered 2 Hampers from Tescos (75% off) which have arrived and been unpacked a few bits going we are planning to give as birthday presents. The rest is treats for us. The best before dates are spread from Feb 2009 - Dec 2011!!
My mum asked if we had any of Twinks Hobnobs in, which is a complement to both Twink & me. Think I'll try & find time to make her a batch for Friday when my parents are looking after DS so me & DP can go out for a meal.
Thanks Goldfinch for the soup recipe, will give it a try next weekend, can't wait.

katholicos

Steel wrote: »

Probably looking at going about £5.00 over.

Which I guess isn't too bad as this is the first time I've done the challenge, but there's definitely some changes I would make to the way I've done things.

I know what you mean about doing things differently next time. This is my first time too and i think i thought wow i have £320 to spend on groceries....let's go shopping!!! And the second day of the challenge i spent about £50 and the third day about £60...so it wasn't boding well for the rest of the month

As it happens i have £71 left so i think i might just crack it, but i really want to do another online shop and don't think i can last another week without doing one...i'll see if i can hold out though.

Well done to you if you only go a fiver over!

redmel1621

I can't believe I am on here updating sig, again.....
I bought some much needed fruit today, we didn't have any last week:eek: and I forgot the spuds so will get them tomorrow.
spent today £6.55

I will be doing things slightly differently next month too;)

Mel x

Sunny_Donny

Hi All
Did Netto on the way home from work with OH.
Well trained at bargain spotting now!!! 4 pints of normal milk £0.75 and 4 individual pints of milk for £0.23 in reduced bit - have slung them in the freezer, but diluting the full fat milk into another bottle when I have washed it, then freezing the remainder of the big bottle.
3 lots of pate for 30p - that's 3 weeks worth of lunches as I have cut all into individual portions and have ryvita's at work.
Only spent £18.61 for 26 items so very happy - will just need fruit at the weekend and fresh veg so will be under budget - not got any spare to go over!!!! Pay day on 28th, so Asda order going in then!!

furndire

orchid-96 wrote: »

day and have a question if anyone can help, I was thinking of adding, raisins or choc chips or maybe some coconut to them, would I just throw this in with the dry ingredients?

I put the bits in with dry ingredients.

I've made a couple of lots this past week. The first lot I had some Stem Ginger which I chopped up, and used the syrup out of the jar instead of the golden treacle. I whizzed porridge oats up in the liquidiser to make them into fine oatmeal.
These tasted gorgeous, as good as the expensive stem ginger cookies you can buy. They were a bit sweet, so, the next lot,

did the same with oats, cut the sugar back to 6 oz, and added chopped apricots & figs & a dessertspoon of dried ginger.

This recipe has opened up loads of possibilities so easy to make. Dark chocolate chunks is going to be one.
Doubled up the quantity made 46 hobnob/cookies.

CurlyTop

Hi

Just updated signature. Another NSD for me. I didn't put myself down for any but have done 7 up to now, which I suppose isn't so bad. Had to keep going out at weekend for milk and eggs as was making cakes for DN1 birthday party. All eaten. All went down well. Can't complain. Am still on target for being under budget for my first month of doing GC. Have £100.84 to last me till 30th. Freezer 3/4 full and cupboards still full so no reason, I shouldn't come in on target. Am loving this challenge. Well done to everyone else also. Together we can make it happen !

Tracey.32

Steel wrote: »

Probably looking at going about £5.00 over.

Which I guess isn't too bad as this is the first time I've done the challenge, but there's definitely some changes I would make to the way I've done things.

Don't be too hard on yourself, Steel - I think that's excellent if you only go £5 over. Besides, if you hadn't been doing the GC just think how much you might have spent! My budget is £200 and I might just make it - but if I go a bit over I'll still be pleased - pre-GC I spent around the £320-£350 a month. Give yourself a pat on the back!! :T

orchid-96

Thanks nykmedia and furndire for your 'twinks hobnobs' info...some great ideas that I am going to try, I hadn't thought about making up the dough and keeping some in the fridge thats a good one! Maybe there should be a thread dedicated to adapatations of the original twinks recipe, bet there are hundreds!!!

I am aiming for more nsd's next month, think I have only managed a couple this month, although I have definitely been very selective with my purchases...

Julimk

Thanks angelatgraceland:A . It is astounding when you look at the annual saving isn’t it? Me & DD are planning a trip to Oz in the summer hols (she has rellies over there – long story). Should get a bonus from work in April’s pay to cover the ticket cost, so anything that can be saved elsewhere will give us spending money.

Well, I have started on February’s budget & spent £80.85:eek: already! But I am really pleased with this:D ; I have enough meat & fish for a month’s meals (& already have a month’s meals cooked up & frozen in individual portions) including whoopsied mince @ £2.44 for 1kg & whoopsied white & smoked fish. And a couple of packs of Lincolnshire sausages (my fave – 2 for £3 @ Mr S).

There is enough non-perishable stuff for the month including loo roll, toiletries, fruit juice (Mr T’s long-life OJ is currently 50p a litre – bought 6) & coffee (nescafe currently £3 for 200g in Mr T or Mr S); 8 x canned toms, 4 x baked beans, 4 x other canned beans …Even some expensive stuff that I had run out of, such as olive oil & saffron. And enough fresh stuff for at least a week.

It is a bit scary to be 2/3 through the budget so early in the month, but looking at last month I had spent ¾ in the 1st 10 days & then just topped up on fresh bits, and I did it. And I am much happier with what I have bought this time, more ‘real’ food! And last month I only spent about £20 on the milk & fresh f&v, so should have a bit of leeway if there are any good whoopsies around.

So there is really no need for me to venture into a food shop for at least a week. Trouble is I enjoy food shopping! :rolleyes: Good luck to all those still working on January’s budgets.

fatcattaff

Just updated the signature. Spent loads today, but now have enough cereal and coffee for the next couple of months. I've also got toilet cleaner for £1 from Somerfields (Harpic Power cleaner, usually £1.62). Got 8 cans of HP beans from the same place for £2 and Andrex, 18 rolls for £6.50. And I got my BF lillies for helping out at the party for £8 (I know, a bit extravagant, but she was such a help and she loves lillies - part of the reason for the bonkers spending this week though).

Sainsbury's bargains were 1% fat milk, 4 pints for a pound; organic semi-skimmed, 8 pints for £3 (so was cheaper than standard semi-skimmed).

I've got a fair chunk of the budget left and I've got cottage pie for tomorrow, chicken casserole for Wednesday, pasta and pesto sauce for Thursday and fish for Friday. From then on, I'm planning on eating up what's left from Christmas...1 quiche, some chicken goujons, party bites, pizza, more mince and whatever else we happen to find in there. Anything rather than spend any money unnecessarily. January is 3 parts gone and I'm looking forward to February