July 2009 Grocery Challenge

TotallyBroke

Yes you can freeze raw mushrooms, just slice them, lay them on a baking tray until frozen then pop them into a bag. Then pop them into a spag bol at the last moment so they are thawed. You will not be able to fry them or anything but to add into food it won't make a difference.
If you can try and get hold of a copy of the Mrs. Beaton books at the libary she tells you what you can freeze and how. I have a copy if you would like me to post up some freezing guildlines I will do.

How much do toilet rolls normally cost you per week/month? How long will an 80wash bag of soap powder last you? This will give you an idea of when you will need to buy those things and so you can meal plan accordingly. If you batch freeze some portions you could save them for the weeks you buy non food items.
My bug bear is toilet roll, if I buy the cheap stuff I use more of it so now I buy a good one and limit the amount of squares I'm allowed to use. Some people squash the roll on the holder to restrict the amount.

elantan

right i am gonna buy mushrooms in the cheap smart price box from now on and freeze them ...adding them into dishes is what i tend to do ..rarely do i fry them ...a 90 wash box ofbold lasts me oh i honestly dont know i would say about 4 months or so i know my friend usually uses three to my one (i have been trying to use just a wee bit at a time ...it seems to work) toilet paper well i dont have a holder so crushing it wouldnt help ( i saw that on the tips thread and thought ..if only..) i think i pay about £4 for 9 rolls but i am not sure ...this is alot of my problem ...i dont know the prices of what i have bought ...i basically have been very negligent in this area i think thats why the prices of mushrooms surprised me

i would be grateful for any help at all totally broke ...

i have got to grips with the money transferring 0% balance stuff that the dfw board teaches us it helped me get out of debt the last time i enjoyed it ...but this stuff is all new to me i found it hard enough keeping on top of the finances the last time ...but i honestly think it is gonna have to be a two pronged attack in order for it to work properly and i think between the two boards i should get it this time ...


right i am off to take stock of the freezer

elantan

ok freezer contents (didnt take me long did it)
brown bread (quite a bit)
baguettes(2)
pita bread
cinamon loaf
chopped spinach
sweetcorn
sorbets (various flavours 6)
frozen mixed fruit (suitable for smoothies)
frozen cherries (ditto)
ice-cream (2 tubs)
spring roll pastry wraps (approx 300 wraps worth)
1lb lamb mince
2lb steak mince
quorn fillets(4)
some bread crumb covered food (i have not got a clue hubby took them outa the box)


thats it ...painful thought i would have had more

rosieben

I changed my mind about shopping - I was in the village visiting and had letters to post so I dipped into the coop and got a few bits, including a couple of offers for the freezer so £11.40 spent and not a NSD after all

eckythump

do you like soup?
they are very cheap and easy to make,most freeze well and can really strech out a budget.
why not give the breadmaker another try because at £1.75 a loaf it would be cheaper to use the breadmaker and let Hubbie eat a loaf a time!
At least it would fill him up lol
I have a good recipe for the B.M that is just yeast,flour,salt and water...no other faffy stuff needed.
It is very cheap to make.

eckythump

which supermarkets are you able to shop at?

elantan

i do like soup ...but here we go another silly bit ...i thought soup was for winter (ok dont all hit me at once)

i do agree the bread is extortionate hence the reason i bought the bread maker to begin with ...i dont know if just now would be a good time to re-introduce it but if i can see progress (and lets face it i have no choice) then i will deff bring it back onto the table ...likewise with the slow cooker (maybe by then i wont be as fussy lol)

elantan

eckythump wrote: »

which supermarkets are you able to shop at?

without taking the car it would be somerfield and the co-op with the car tesco (30 mins each way roughly) asda (15 mins each way roughly) aldi(30 mins each way roughly ...in the other direction from tesco though) liddl (45 mins away roughly ) could all be less or more though

elf06

Hi all and thanks for all the hugs - to add insult to injury I have also just been told that he has a bi-lateral middle ear infection (or something:o) and both of his ears are really sore looking. This is probably adding to the 40.1 c temp he has so now he has a course of tamiflu, course of antibiotics and I have to keep giving him ibuprofen and calpol to keep temp down. This goes against the grain for me as I hate taking and giving meds if at all possible but I guess this time its important

As for meals I should have enough in to do me and I have a few good friends who have offered to go shopping for me and leave it at the door :rotfl:

Honestly it would be funny if it werent so scary :rotfl:

eckythump

elantan wrote: »

i do like soup ...but here we go another silly bit ...i thought soup was for winter (ok dont all hit me at once)

i do agree the bread is extortionate hence the reason i bought the bread maker to begin with ...i dont know if just now would be a good time to re-introduce it but if i can see progress (and lets face it i have no choice) then i will deff bring it back onto the table ...likewise with the slow cooker (maybe by then i wont be as fussy lol)

there are some great summer soups,tomato and basil,lettuce and pea,sweet potato.
just make sure they are lighter ones not heavy broths.