January 2009 Grocery Challenge

dazzle21

ragz wrote: »

I'm hoping to bulk cook things like bolognese so I can give them some for lunch but MW is bust so can't defrost quickly

Hi this sounds a bit silly, but i have started to lift things out the freezer the night before, it means we do eat what i have planned as i refuse to waste it an it means that although i have to think well in advance i can relax each day in the knowledge lunch is organised (and start thinking about dinner!)

Did a supermarket run today and spent £29.65 (give or take) I will put the accurate amount into my signature this afternoon. Brought lots of basics, hamster bedding, dog treats (reduced 75% in Sainsburys!) and a Turkey Joint (50% off Tesco!)which i hope to keep for easter (dated May 2009) also got some naughty bits (75% off in Sainsbury!) including nuts and dried fruit and 2 (eek!) fruit cakes, but they will last until Easter and I'm going to be strict with spending this Year as i'd like to not have to worry about the odd treat for Birthdays etc. :T

nickynoo08

picked up a few bits n pieces today from s.field, mainly bogofs plus i get get staff discount so only spent £11.03.
Going to do a list of everything i've got in my freezer and cupboard and attempt meal planning again. Wish me luck!

dumpling

Hi, well I went shopping this morning to Morrisons and it was absolute mayhem!:mad: I took two of my daughters too so I was very hot and grumpy by the time I got home.

On the plus side, I spent time yesterday making a meal plan for the week and writing a shopping list (which I mostly stuck to) so I actually only spent £59.66. As I normally spend around £90 this was a bit of an eye opener. I just went through my receipt and added up all the extra bits I bought and it came to £13.28 :eek:. This was just from odd bits and offers I had spotted in store - it's quite a hefty chunk out of my total.

I still have quite a bit of food in though so I expect to spend more next week.
Anyway, all I'm planning to get for the rest of the week is some more milk and bread but I'l have to see how it goes.

azjh77

May I join please? I am going to say $100 (American keyboard I mean pounds) purely because that is all I have - which will be a challenge as there are 6 of us. I will go from 1st Jan to 1st feb - using up what I have. I keep all my receipts as I am currently on a 'Nothing New for 2009' challenge on my other website, and will only be buying food and necessary toiletries for..well as long as I can. And I'm going to not buy as much 'junk' foodwise. And I'm going to cut down on the waste...we'll see how it goes!

jtb2412

Hi everyone ...... back from visiting my parents and just sitting having a cuppa and catching up

Got a few bargains in the Mr Ts local to where mum and dad live (their frozen pork/stuffing and turkey crown joints were half price so picked up a couple of each) and the dog food was half price so i've bought a month's worth of that. Good news is though that I got them from Dec budget so still not broken into January's money yet :j

I think we've got enough food for the next 2 weeks (although I will have to get some packed lunch bits for the kids and a sack of spuds) ..... so, hopefully, i'll come in well under budget for January .... watch this space !

Got lots of nice toiletries for Xmas so won't have to buy any for a while yet (plus got a fair bit left in my Boots stash - think we'll be ok for at least 6 months :rotfl: ).

A few biccies and chocs left but trying to get through them as both me and hubby need to lose a few lbs before the summer. We're going for the homecooked, healthy but smaller portions diet (taken from the inspiring MRS.M ) to see if that works better than the last few diets i've done ....... got to be worth a try ! Coupled with all the work we'll be doing on the allotment it should be a healthy and less costly 2009 for us.

Off to do the unpacking and washing (ughhhhh !) ..... back later to catch up

Jane2112

Trying hard not to through anything away. What can I do with a bit of cold turkey and mashed potato?

moneysavingyvonne

I have just found this thread!! What a wonderful idea!!

I am just trying to work out what i normally spend and what i would like to spend.

I got a Slow Cooker from my mum and have no idea what i do with it - i saw a slow cooker thread one day last week that shows how to make cheap and easy meals - i know this is a bit off topic but could anyone point me in the right direction of this.

If i find this, i may be able to start to meal plans etc and adhere to the challenge.

Many thanks in advance.

Yvonne

dink1

hi guys!
Been to mr a's to get my first weeks shop and spent £15, so far so good, determined not to do big shop til i have done my meal plan. Dink1 - Happy New Year to all you fellow grocery challengers

OrkneyStar

Jane2112 wrote: »

Trying hard not to through anything away. What can I do with a bit of cold turkey and mashed potato?

Make the mash into a flat pancake shape, coat in a beaten egg and bread crumbs (make more than one if it looks too big). Fry through gently (or bake if you prefer). Shred turkey and cook with a little cream, some seasoning, maybe a little paprika or something like that (taste til you like it). Serve together, with cranberry sauce if you have some.

moneysavingyvonne wrote: »

I got a Slow Cooker from my mum and have no idea what i do with it - i saw a slow cooker thread one day last week that shows how to make cheap and easy meals - i know this is a bit off topic but could anyone point me in the right direction of this.
If i find this, i may be able to start to meal plans etc and adhere to the challenge.

This link to the slow cooker recipe collection might help.
Or maybe this one.
You can also search for links using the search function at the top.
x

moneysavingyvonne

OrkneyStar wrote: »

This might help.
x

Thanks for this, it looks great

But there was another link that had an index of recipes that i can't seem to find - can anyone help me please??

Many thanks