January 2009 Grocery Challenge

gillst_2

scotsaver wrote: »

The new Lakeland catalogue arrived in the post today, keep debating about the Remoska but frightened to spend that amount of money but thinking about it today I have decided to start saving a little each month and then maybe ask for one for my Birthday which is a while away yet so should have enough saved by then.;)

I have been debating whether or not to get a Remoska, having read how everyone with one seems to enthuse about it, and the potential savings in electricity. I wonder how long it will take to recoup the cost of over £100 (for the large one) with the saving on electricity. However, having just got my electricity bill in - nearly £300, the gas being the same, I am now very tempted to get one. My DSs turn my main oven on just to cook a pizza or something similar, so obviously this is a big waste. Hopefully the Remoska is easy to use and they will use that instead.

Updating my spend - I think I have totally underestimated what we spend. I have got quite a stock in, but had to get veggies, etc from Mr S and ended up spending £44 :eek: (knew I should not have taken DH with me). With bread of £1.20 this morning and the sack of potatoes I bought yesterday (£8), I have not got much left this month. First month and I HAVE FAILED!!!! :embarasse Feel really bad about this. Must try harder next month. I WILL NOT GIVE UP

orchid-96

gillst bet you have got loads in now though and can make what you stretch much better with all the help and advice on here, especially the veggies, I now make sure I use them up and if I think I won't I cook them somehow and freeze them for later (especially potatoes) and before coming on here I didn't realise I could do that.

I know what you mean about underestimating as well, Think I am guilty of that too...

I am planning a nsd today, the only thing I may need is a bottle of wine as my inlaws are treating us to a takeaway curry tonight so might just nip out later to aldi for one of their cheap and cheerful bottles of plonk..

MRSMCAWBER

Morning all

Gillst -Im not encouraging you to buy a remoska BUT I cook every day and have a standard remoska (well 2 actually)...and I must have had mine about 5-6 months now and the big gas guzzling oven has been on twice in that time -both hubby zapping a pizza when I was in hospital :rolleyes:
Not only does it use less fuel, but I have prefered everything cooked in there so far... plus it seems like less effort to make a few buns, scones in it than in the cooker

fallen_angel_shelley

The free food offer is in the MIRROR not the daily mail, sorry if this has caused anyone any inconvenience.

Shelley x

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=17515833&postcount=2

huxley

Hi all hope everyone is doing alright and aren't too cold. Just popped on to update my signature, then off to make some carrot and corriander soup cheap,cheeful and warming. Hope you all have a good day.

kunekune

Went into town to get the missing ingredients for the rest of the week:

bananas
apples
tomatoes
cucumber
houmous
cranberry jelly
2 loaves bread

Total spend: £10

We are nearly out of fruit juice, and OH will probably get some later, when he goes to pick up the other kind of fruit juice (not on the grocery budget).

sashanut

Hi all I hope you are doing well & staying warm inside today - good baking day here! Staff shop at wk has now re-opened & I am going in each work day to stock up against my eventual end of contract (poss end Jan). Freezers are fully stocked but need to re-jig to make more room over the weekend - no work till Monday so hopefully 2NSDs coming up!
Also went to Mr Ms yesterday to stock up on things I can't get at work: pleased to find the Branston beans cheap as we all like those (75p/4), also big sacks of spuds (27.5 lb)are still £3.49, thought they would go up after Christmas for sure, they are nice spuds bt do need washing, also 2 bags of lentils at 84p ea, cooking ingredients, etc. & a little bit of pasta - shocked at some prices - value pasta 47p a bag now, value kidney beans 48p, you really have to be selective in what you buy these days. With staff discount card (DDs friend's) total was £28.94, then in evening went into work to buy something in the sale I'd reserved - only to find shop was shut!!! Who didn't check the opening hours??? As DH came with me it could have been a disaster but quickly drove round to staff entrance & staff shop was still - just - open.....had to rush but got large leeks for 6p each, beansprouts & peppers 12p each, spent £14.49 -total adjusted.

Then I got an email from Mr Ts - I bought a new washer from them last year to get points; but as I thought missed out on a promotion because it only involved specific white goods - now they've honoured the promotion with the cheap W/M - so I have £40 free groceries to be delivered in Jan. Very pleased - so will stock up with store cupboard stuff..

Lunch today will be HM chicken soup & HM chinese tonight, SW egg fried rice, chicken chow mein & some nibbles from M&S promotion over New Year...mmmm

sharronej

gillst wrote: »

I have been debating whether or not to get a Remoska, having read how everyone with one seems to enthuse about it, and the potential savings in electricity. I wonder how long it will take to recoup the cost of over £100 (for the large one) with the saving on electricity. However, having just got my electricity bill in - nearly £300, the gas being the same, I am now very tempted to get one. My DSs turn my main oven on just to cook a pizza or something similar, so obviously this is a big waste. Hopefully the Remoska is easy to use and they will use that instead.

Updating my spend - I think I have totally underestimated what we spend. I have got quite a stock in, but had to get veggies, etc from Mr S and ended up spending £44 :eek: (knew I should not have taken DH with me). With bread of £1.20 this morning and the sack of potatoes I bought yesterday (£8), I have not got much left this month. First month and I HAVE FAILED!!!! :embarasse Feel really bad about this. Must try harder next month. I WILL NOT GIVE UP

No don't give up and you haven't failed yet! How much have you got left and what have you got in the house? Let's have a look and see what we can do.

It might be that like me you have to revise your budget maybe adding ten or twenty pounds BUT with a plan of action you can still have a fabulous result. Have a look at Farmfoods in future for froaen veg and fruit, most of it is 39p so that's 20 bags for less than £8.00!

Changingme

Just got back from shopping spent £50.00,would really like to get another airer,this will have to come out of shopping money next week.I have £100 left also hopping to use some of this for DS2 school trip £160 in total:eek: but have deposit of £30 put buy.

CRANKY40

Seeing posts about vegetables reminded me of the baking potatoes doing nothing in the veg rack. I fished them out and put them in the oven with the chicken that was roasting. I found a couple of small bags of grated cheese in the freezer, so I've made cheesy baked potatoes. I'm going to freeze them when they've cooled down.

While I had the cheese out I decided to make some cheese scones too. They were quick and easy, and went in with the chicken after the baked potatoes were done. I'll probably freeze all but one of those too (assuming I can find a space in the freezer). I was feeling a bit miserable earlier, but making proper things to eat out of ingredients always cheers me up a bit :T