January 2009 Grocery Challenge

Rachel021967

£1.43 a kilo.

rosieben

Slightly OT but there are two new series starting this week, which might be of interest to some OS'ers -

Victorian Farm, series starting on Thurs 8th 9:00pm on BBC2; covers food prep etc as well as farming – we may learn something new about making butter, or poultry keeping

Kitchen Pharmacy, on Thurs 8th at 12:30pm on Ch 4
Thurs prog looks at anti-ageing remedies, probably the least interesting thing for me (way too late! ) but hopefully there may be more interesting subjects in the series

Edited to say, the Kitchen Pharmacy started today, sorry!

Tracey.32

Had a NSD today but I NEEEEEED to SHOP!!!!! The house is rammed with food actually - it's not that kind of need... I haven't really done a proper shop since 30th Dec. Now, I know that's only just over a week but that would usually mean that it's time for me to go again and I am suffering from withdrawal symptoms! All the little bits and pieces I have been getting my mother to pick up for me while I am at work and she is pottering round town. That way I only get what I ask for.

We had the chilli for tea and DD wanted more (oats and all)! Think I'll do chickpea curry tomorrow. Night all

elizabunny

fedupandskint wrote: »

Thanks elizabunny!!!:T I just made this and it was scrummy!

The only difference was I put a half cup of red lentils in instead of oats. I had mine with dumplings made from the recipe on the side of the atora packet and had a massive portion for tea!

I can't believe how much I've got out of one pack of mince with the addition of lentils and 3 grated carrots! I've just split the rest into 5 portions for freezing!

Not bad to say I had everything in the cupboard and fridge already:rotfl:

fedupandskint -Really pleased it worked for you too. I managed to make 8 portions as well, 3 used up today and 5 in the freezer. Isn't it amazing what you can make just throwing a few things together and even better if you already have everything in and don't have to spend a penny:D

freyasmum

gillst wrote: »

A quick question - does anyone know if I can freeze breadcrumbs from a previously frozen loaf of bread?

Just popping in here... Yes, you definitely can

Well done guys, you are an inspiration :j

igaveupnowimback

Hi folks,

I need to join this challenge please as I'm going to be on a really low budget this year - it's always been pretty tight but this takes the (home baked) biscuit. Am student and not entitled to any help rent/council tax etc, so just student loan & money from son and daughter.
Will need to get p/t work later, but coursework and placement enough for now, need pace self cos have fibro.

Don't know if I can do this but need try to get by on @ £80 month for groceries, cleaning stuff / toiletries etc for self and 20 yr old son, plus things like gifts and any items. Need encouragement of like minded people !

Cheers in advance !

fallen_angel_shelley

Hi, igiveup and welcome to the GC. MrsM will be a along in the morning and add you to the list on the 1st page. what is it you are studying? i'm a student as well, doing a foundation year at uni.

Shelley x

greent

Eek! Only a week into January and I have spent almost half this month's budget! Although I had to buy lots of loo rolls (we actually got to the point where we had only 1 spare one), kitchen roll and stocked up on wipes and pull ups on offer (got 2 packs huggies pull ups for £3.75 for the 2 with an offer and coupons) and shower gel/ shampoo (I actually don't have a large stock of these - we are good at only having one or two sorts onthe go (for a family of 5) Also 2nd freezer has stopped working -so have lost some food from there Not enough to claim on insurance, just enough to annoy me and mean I had to replace some of the things in there and rethink some meals (none of which were whoopsies) I also bought DS2 a birthday cake (4.98) - which he thoroughly enjoyed. As he is very faddy and doesn't normally like cake I was pleased - he can get away with the calories!


We have about 1/2 dozen crackers left from Xmas and no Xmas cheese, just the usual cheddar - I have had cheese and crackers for lunch loads to ensure they weren't wasted! Most of Xmas chocs have also been eaten - found a box of after 8s in the cupboard last night when friends were round - so they got demolished then!

We have no joints in teh freezer, but do have a pack of loain steaks which I can use this week. Got a leaflet from Abel & Cole yesterday and they have 25% off if you spend £25, so might get a couple of organic chickens from them later in the month (have no freezer room at the mo, as have had to wedge the contents of freezer 2 into freezer 1 )


Oh - offers I got from Asda yesterday included:
4 pints Cravendale at £1.25 (I got 4 bottles, but between teh 5 of us we drink red, green & blue milks and that will last less than a week - we get through about 24 pints/ week)
2 packs of Country Life butter for £1.50 (£1.03 each) - I like unsalted butter
Frubes - box of 9 for £1. They are £2.02 for the same box in Tesco - so I bought 4 boxes. Again these will be gone before month end
Pasta (fusilli) at £1/ kilo - only bought a couple of these as I have a reasonable stock


Have told Dh we need to eat from freezer as there is no room in there (have lots of frozen fruit, so pies and crumbles on the menu, too). He is happy in principle with this - but if the mood takes him is liable to get bored and hit the chip shop (such as last night - but he only spent £1.20 on chips and had fried eggs (out of date but passed the float test) and bread and butter with them - so still quite cheap, I suppose.) This is where menu planning is quite difficult with him - I can plan and give him options but he'll still say 'no, don't fancy that...' Grr!

Anyway, must wake the children up now! Might bake some muffins today - although children are using up contents of selection boxes for puddings in lunchboxes this week. Not that healthy, but at least it's getting eaten and they're eating (say) a flake instead of cake - rather than a cake and a flake!


greent
x

LittleAnna

I want to play,am just keeping a record of spends for Jan so I can plan for Feb as I have no idea how much I spend-thats the point right,Do we include things like newspapers,vet costs etc or just food ,washing powder etc
Ta Anna

Flylady_Flower

LittleAnna wrote: »

I want to play,am just keeping a record of spends for Jan so I can plan for Feb as I have no idea how much I spend-thats the point right,Do we include things like newspapers,vet costs etc or just food ,washing powder etc
Ta Anna

Hi LittleAnna - I include everything in mine that I would buy in Mr T's - food, toiletries, cleaning stuff, etc. I have a seperate budget for clothing/ink for computers/etc - the odds & sods as I think of them - and also a seperate budget for fuel costs, but everyone is different. Pure laziness on my part - I can't be asked to seperate everything up off the bill.

Just do what's right for you, no hard or fast rules here...